From the airport to Bangkok

Lovely Jeff took me to the airport and we decided 10 mins before I had to leave, that we would completely change our original plan and meet in Chiang Rai instead of Chiang Khong. No problemo.

My plane arrived in Bangkok at 2130 but this was to be the start of a very lng adventure to get to my accom - Shanti Lodge. I got talking to an Italian chef living in Perth in the hope we could split a taxi fare but to no avail; he was on his way to the islands. Not wanting to be ripped off, I joined the metered taxi line; local buses had ceased running for the day. I had my accom written down in Thai in order to avoid confusion. In the end, I may as well have had it written down in Hebrew.

My driver collected me from the line as well as the directions and looked confused. He said something to the lady I had registered with and all I could understand was the words, 'Shanti Lodge' and I figured she was providing further directions. I figured the poor guy was just confused because I wasn't heading to Khao San Road. That would be because it is a hole. I asked the driver if he knew where he was going and he said he did. He turned the metre on and off we went. Once we were well and truly travelling down the overpass, he turned off the metre and told me the fare would be 400 Baht. I said no and told him to turn the metre back on. He said, 'ok, you get out'. Getting out would mean I was screwed coz the airport was far behind us now and we were on a main highway. I tried to bargain, and every time i did, he slowed out and reminded me that I had the option of getting out of the taxi. Fine. 400 Baht it was. I was bitter though, because I knew I was being ripped off coz there was hardly any traffic on the road and I was being charged 3 times what was normal. I had lined up in the metered taxi line to avoid this bullshit.

We drove for ages until I started recognising various places. He had no idea where he was going and pulled over about 3 times to ask other drivers. One driver indicated a direction and motioned his arm that suggested it was quite far. We turned down a back alley and it was clear the driver was becomig agitated. Just down the road, a taxi stopped infront of us to let some foreign passengers out. This was due to roadworks immediately ahead. The only way out was to turn left but we were stuck whilst the tourists got all their bags out and paid the driver. I thought my driver was going to have kittens on the spot. When the taxi moved and the driver saw that the reality of our situation was that we could not go straight ahead, he told me to get out of his taxi. I said no, that he needed to take me to the door of where I was staying. He said that my accom was just past the roadblock but I knew it wasn't. I had no idea where we were, and I have stayed at the Shanti before and this was no where I recognised. He was more forceful, and told me again to get out. When I tried to speak, he got out, opened up the back door and threw my bag out onto the street so I had to get out. Bastard.

This was bad. Very bad. I could no longer see the other tourists who had walked on ahead and lots of Thai people were peering at me from behind curtains infront of their homes. As I walked, men who had been drinking and talking with friends called out to me. I was shit scared. It was well after midnight and it was dark and scary. By this time, it was well after midnight. I was still wearing the dress I had on the plane, far too short to be walking in this neighbourhood with these characters. At this moment, I hated my stupid long white legs.

I eventually found a hotel manned by 2 Muslim women and a man. I explained my situation and with no time to waste, they had printed out directions to the Shanti from their website and called a taxi for me. I thanked them profusely. It took about 15 mins (in a metered taxi) to get there which goes to show how far off my first driver had been.

The Shanti had been expecting me at midnight and by now it was 0215. Luckily one of the girls was awake and showed me to my room. A well deserved Chang was ordered.

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