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Published: October 27th 2006
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Single&Fab on the Love Boat
Me on a romantic long boat ride down the Choa Praya River with Korean newlyweds. So I'm still in Bangkok - my fourth day here. My inability to read maps and horrible sense of direction means that I've been hopelessly lost every time I step out of Khoa San Rd. but this has led to some interesting (mis)adventures. Some highlights include getting a free ride down the Khao Praya River on a long boat courtesy of a group of Korean couples on their honeymoon. I wandered onto the pier saw a group of my "peoples" and just followed them on. No one seemed to think it was weird that I was single and not Korean. They had a guide with them that only spoke Thai so no one really understood what she was saying. Hmmm. I parted ways with them when we docked at some place called River City. Turns out it was near Chinatown so I aimlessly rambled through a bunch of narrow crooked alleyways. No one paid much attention to me - it seems I also look Thai (as well as like a Korean newlywed?). I wandered through some very sketchy back alleys full of strange greasy mechanic types and oily piles of machine parts before I finally stumbled into the main streets of
Falang on Tuk tuk
A random tuk-tuk. Not the one that scammed me - but I'm sure he would if he could! Wouldn't you? I know I would. Chinatown. Talk about chaotic. Lots of interesting smells coming from street vendors. Bangkok really likes it's neon lights and gaudy street decor. It was heading towards rush hour and the streets kept getting busier and I was beginning to tire out from walking all day in such intense muggy heat. Luckily just when I was ready to drop from exhaustion I came across a bus stop and a really nice Thai girl told me she was heading in a similar direction and I could follow her. She gave me a quick Bangkok bus orientation and I found myself riding my first public bus in Bangkok. I can't remember her name but it I remember that it means "New Year" in Thai cuz she was born on Jan. 1. She's originally from Chang Mai (north Thailand) and was here to study at the university - Law (every Thai female I met seems to study Law).
Another highlight was being taking for a ride (both literally and figuratively) by a Tuk-tuk driver. I fell for the oldest trick in the book (Lonely Planet, that is). There I was studying a map and trying to orientate myself - I had already gotten
Mini-Buddha & Me
This mini golden Buddha stood in front of the giant one which you can't see. Ha, ha. lost a few times yet I knew that the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (my destination) was only a few blocks from Khao San, when a "good Samaritan" stopped to give me directions. I was totally bamboozled! He told me that it was a Thai holy day and that the Grand Palace wasn't open until 1pm (it was about 10am at the time), but that I should visit these 2 other Wats (Buddhist temples) because it was "only open today" or some crap like that. And "wham" magically a tuk-tuk driver stepped up and offered to take me to them. At least I was smart enough to get him to agree on a set price at the beginning. And hence began my epic tuk-tuk journey where I got to see some Wats, a big standing gold Buddha along with a jewelry store, tailor shop and travel agency. Tuk-tuk drivers get gas coupons for every tourist they ensnare for one of these fine merchants. Oh well, I feel that it is a rite of passage for every tourist to be taken in by a tuk-tuk driver. And really I lost nothing more than 20 baht (less than Cdn $1) and
Go-go girls
I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside, but here's one of the many neon signs. The place was ridiculous - it remsembled Market Square (Victoria) but with go-go bars instead of shops. about 2 hours. I did eventually get to see the Grand Palace and my Wat of choice (with the Jade Buddha) and for free! It cost 250 baht for foreigners but I noticed a gate that said it was free for Thais so I went through it and nobody noticed. Thais have no concept of immigration so it pays to not look like a falang.
This is turning out to be a very long blog, but I also wanted to mention that I had a tour of one of Bangkok's many red light districts last night. Craig took me to his favorite hood for such things- I think it was called Nana (I wanted to go to Cowboy Soi - but Craig knew this area better). We checked out 3 different Go-Go bars: one that was high class where the girls danced on stage with poles looking extremely bored but beautiful; another that was a lot of fun where the girls interacted with the crowd more; and a really raunchy one with a mechanical bull (enough said). In a way I was glad I went (it was my idea after all) but I definitely witnessed some things that made me incredibly sad and angry. The Thai government has cracked down somewhat on the sex trade here; at least at Go-go bars where no one gets naked in public anymore (they save that for the private backrooms). I tried to keep an open mind but...anyway, let's just say I was more than a little disturbed.
It was a late night last night so I'm taking it easy even though it's a Friday. Tomorrow I've been invited to attend an ex-pat house party with Craig, Apple and Geoff. Should be fun. I'm hopping to head up north to Chang Mai early next week. A week in Bangkok is much too long but I wanted to check out the weekend market and hang out with Geoff again. I am in much need of some nature so I might try to do a little trek whil
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Holly and Norm
non-member comment
miss you
You have been getting lost because you forgot to bring your trusty map reader along! Thanks for writing all the details, we can travel vicariously through you.