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Published: January 21st 2008
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Khao San Road
Night time on the Khao San Yes, it does seem like I have nothing else to do but write blogs on the internet doesn't it?
Well, I met a couple of Welsh girls last night and there ensued a night on the razzle. Still hating Khao San Road though, a couple of days here is more than enough. So last night I met up with George again and we all sat and had a few drinks at the guest house until around 3am again! I met an Irish couple with a penchant for hefty piercings and tattoos who seem nice, and a Polish couple on their honeymoon.
Today I went out with Jess and Clare (the Welsh posse) to take a river boat on one of those organised tours. Pics attached. It was quite fun at first although every couple of seconds I was expecting the boat to flip over and capsize! The driver took us on a tour that was meant to be an hour and a half for 600 Baht stopping at the Temple of Dawn for 20 minutes before docking back at the pier. He took us round all the shanty places and at first I was interested, then after 20minutes of
it started feeling really depressed. There is a really weird contrast of rich and poor here. On one side of the river you see these amazing houses with satellite dishes and on the other you see people living in wooden huts with all their laundry hanging outside. I say I felt depressed because we all know how sensitive I can be and I thought how weird it is that this is a tourist attraction. What's an attraction? Isn't it meant to be something fun? I'm sure these people really appreciate being snapped all day long so that people can marvel at the way they live. I took some shots but started to feel really weird about it. Would I like it if I was poor and rich people were taking photos of me?? I don't know but it seemed odd. I've never really been material so I didn't sit there feeling guilty for the things I have but it made me think that we have these divides all over the world and nothing can prepare you for realising that you were born lucky in some instances. I couldn't wait to get off the ride because I was feeling so awful
about what I was taking in.
We stopped at the Temple of Dawn and it was nice. I'm not sure if living in London has jaded me to tourist attractions because everything I have seen is new rather than amazing. If that's the case then city life is really bad for your spirit. I'm not sure if it's still too new to me or I am just numb to the impressive sites. They are impressive but quite hard to take in. I guess I feel like I am still at home or will be going home in a few days. When we got back to retrieve our driver he had long gone leaving us on the wrong side of the river. I had a feeling that this was going to happen as I have learned pretty quick that Bangkok is all about chasing the tourist for money so I doubt he saw the point waiting for tourists at the end of their trip when he could go and pick up a new fare. 600Baht is about 10Pounds and these people don't have much so I can see why it happens when they see people with money. If it was
Boy George
George and Moi the other way round I would probably do the same, but it's the feeling of being cheated I don't like and a few others I have met have said the same thing. You are constantly saying "no" to people here and although it feels bad to do it, you really have to. So I guess I am learning how to say no now... finally!
I can't get a flight out of here as everything is booked up until I am due to fly anyway. So the choices are; that I stay at this guest house until Friday then book into a swanky hotel and spend my last week reading, go to Hua Hin with the two Irish people I only met yesterday (they are only going for a couple of days so I will be back in the same lone travel situation). take an organised tour for two nights to Phuket for 14,000Baht!😱 - If that sucked I would feel so bad as that's about 250quid! Or I can fly to Phuket on my own and pray that I meet people there even though it is really pricey but at least I can fly back up to get my
Take That!
Squatted vermin, best viewed in zoom for the full effect! flight out so that might take some looking into. I dunno.
There was talk of going to China Town tonight so maybe we will meet some more travelers there. The organised tour thing sounds great but that Phuket one is a lot of money. I've tried looking online for organised tours but can't really find any so if anyone has any ideas you know what to do!
Anyway, it's not terrible here, just not what I was expecting and I have surprised myself by the way I have reacted to traveling solo. I really didn't think this would happen but the language barrier can be quite a problem and I don't want to have that traveling long distance on my own. Ultimately I have realised I never want to live in a city again. London is intense but Bangkok is something else and I have no desire to see anymore of either of them.
Countryside and fresh air awaits! Roll on New Zealand!😉
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new_wave
Ames
Finally!!!
I experienced some sort of panic attack last night when I was in bed, not as bad as I have had them before but it made me wake up with a real need to get out of Bangkok whatever the cost. So I have booked a flight to Phuket which leaves tomorrow morning. I was offered somewhere to stay at a pricey 1200 Baht but looking for somewhere to stay is becoming quite taxing so I might just pay it. I'll just have to get a job as soon as I land in New Zealand otherwise cash flow will be a problem. I don't know how people can do hostels and that in Thailand, I don't think I would have coped without my own room so I guess it's time to fork out the 139quid for 7 nights in Phuket, flights were 60 so really my two weeks in Thailand has cost me nearly 400 which isn't what I pictured really!