Bangkok

Its hot and busy. This has to be a super quick post as I've spent all my time uploading and editing photos. Yesterday was a pretty good first day in Bangkok and first day of my trip. I woke early and revived after a good 7 hour sleep. I slept on the top of my bed in my silk inner liner as that was warm enough and I knew it was clean. I didn't fancy sleeping in the Bangkok bed, but maybe i'm overeacting. Either way I had a pleasant sleep and I got up, showered, secured my luggage, and left the room at 9am to have the complimentary breakfast on the ground floor. Breakfast was buffet style and I filled my plate. {Damn, I'm so close to finishing my time on the computer and I can't concentrate because I know this. Shit...Okay, I've paid for another hour so all is well. Fewh!} Anyway, I polished breakfast off and it was great. I even had a English Breakfast Tea, which, funnily enough, I'm becoming quite fond of. On the plane I had three on the way to Thailand. It just has a more relaxed feeling about it, instead of the hyped sort of feeling surrounding coffee. Its also harder to screw up compared with coffee. I think i'll wait until Paris before I head back to the coffees (although starbucks is good). Following my eggs and french toast and tea I stepped out of the hotel and received a copy of punches to the head. First a left from Bangkok's heat and then a stronger right from Bangkok's pollution. I could actually see the air pollution. It was like a light smokey fog surrounding everything. I was greeted (as I have become accustomed to) by a small throng of taxi drivers, it felt like I was some sort of taxi driver celebrity or something but instead of wanted an autograph, they all wanted to give me a ride somewhere, or help me find something or buy something. I politely declined and started on my walk. I headed down Th Ratchadamnoen Nai and past Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. After walking for about an hour I realised I'd been coughing and had a sore throat. It took me an additional 15 minutes to work out it was the polution causing this. (It is disgusting - in your breathe, eyes and mouth. When you wet your lips with your tongue to keep them moist you can taste the salt and dirt from the air.)

I took a left and headed towards chinatown to have a look at the market and the real city and people. I became lost a heap of times, having to backtrack to where I was not lost because the streets and lanes are so crazy and underneath those awnings you lose track of everything. I somehow managed to eventually make it through. It was terribly dirty and smelly with almost every building in a state of disrepair with cracks and puddles and rubbish everywhere. Along with the buildings, people are also everywhere - lying on almost every bench, huddled next to building and shops, on the street corners, in parks. Some are selling things, some are talking, but most are sleeping. Lots of people.

After a few hours walking, I eventually made my way to the other side of the river Mae Nam Chao Phraya. There I was conned into a 100 baht tuk-tuk ride (this guy caught me off guard i forgot about the whole haggling thing, damn it, I hate being a schmuk) that lasted about 3 mins. It probably should have cost 30 baht. He took me to the Hualamphong train station (ultra clean and elegant) where i took the subway train to Chatuchak Park and the Weekend Markets.

The Weekend Market was huge, like a Vic Market on steroids. Literally at least ten times the size of a normal market. It had everything cheap and nasty. A fake Diesel watch I was looking at broke as the lady took it off my wrist. I left the market after my legs and body could handle it (it was raining but I was already drenched from the heat) and took the new skytrain to Siam station then found myself in Siam Paragon, a huge beautiful high-class shopping centre. There I relaxed and got out of the heat and the rain. I went on the internet at True and then grabbed a coffee at Starbucks.

As I wanted to be home by dark I left and started walking back, only stopping to find my way and to buy dinner at a 7-11 and ask directions. I made it back to the hotel by 6pm and had dinner in my room. It was a tiring day overall but i pushed myself through minor jetlag and had a fun and interesting day.

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