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Published: November 29th 2006
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Aaagh! My hair!!!
I did it. I finally got rid of the mop. Mom, Dad: you're welcome! Hey everyone, I'm currently in Ban Krut (hope I spelled it right) soaking up the rays on the beach. We're here for one week, then off to another beach in Pha Ngan. I can think of worse places to be.
We just got here 2 days ago from Bangkok, and let me tell you, that is one crazy place!!! I'm sure that Bangkok isn't Thailand, much like Amsterdam isn't Holland or Tokyo isn't Japan. Still, it's definitely a fun and interesting place to be. And you will spend money here, no matter how much you might not want to. It's too easy, and the prices are cheap. Hell, maybe you'll even get sucked into buying a suit, like yours truly. Actually, if it works out, I'll have a tailor-made cashmere suit complete with two shirts. If it doesn't work out, I'm out $345.00! It's getting mailed back home, so time will tell, I guess...
Like I said though, Bangkok is an interesting place. It's a blend of the old and new. There are highrises beside beat-up old shacks, food carts parked right in front of food stores, and fancy cars driving beside motorcyles with jerry-rigged attachments carrying fruits.
Poolside
This is the pool on the roof of our hostel. Ahh, life is good!!! What really makes Bangkok special though is the people; they are full of personality and charm; are very laid back, yet quite agressive. Take for example the tuk-tuk drivers. Tuk-tuks are motorized 3-wheel carts driven by certifiably insane people. People like Samchai, our crazy-ass driver. They will hound you for a ride and offer you a very reasonable rate to haul your ass around town, provided you stop to check out a store or two. The deal is they get a gas and food coupon if they bring someone to a particular store, doesn't matter if you buy something or not. Usually it's a jewelry store or a silk store (and that's how I bought a suit!).
Another good example is Beary, who worked at the government tourist agency. We had already checked out a different government office, but Beary was outside and just started talking to us. That's something you'll notice in Thailand: people will stop to talk to for no reason. They are an incredibly friendly people, whether or not they're trying to sell you something like Beary was. By the way, that's not a typo, that's how he spelled his name. OK, it's his nickname, but
Tuk-Tuk Drivers
The view from a tuk-tuk. still, that's how he spelled it...
Anyway, Rob had some questions about buddhism, and Beary, a buddhist (as is everyone in Thailand) was more than happy to answer his questions. So after a while, Beary sends his wife out for some beers and shifts the conversation towards shop. We take a look at some of his tours, and tell him we'll think about it (Rob and I need to discuss what we want to do in Thailand before we book too far ahead). The three of us end up going out for dinner and at the end of the night, Beary wants a, "canadian promise" that we'll come back and book a tour with him. See what I mean about laid back but agressive? Sorry Beary, but never trust a Canadian, we just pretend to be nice so we can screw you over later!!! Right people, right? ... Anyone? Oh come on, not all of you can be that nice! Ahh, just forget it!
There is certainly a dark side to Bangkok though, and it's not difficult to find. An older fellow at one of the shopping malls was helping us out with directions and asked what we
Siam Square
Shop 'til ya drop! wanted to see, and before we even answered, he was showing us where the, "entertainment" district was. This area is talked about quite openly and its a little disturbing, at least to me. Look, this kind of shit goes on everywhere in the world, but I've never seen it so openly thrown out there as it is in Bangkok. It's one thing to have people proposition you by the bars at the market - I've seen that. It's another thing when your tuk-tuk driver wants to take you to where the ladies are, or if a dirty old man is showing you how to get there on your map when you don't even ask them. Hell, even our buddhist travel agent Beary was getting in on the action. Let's just say its a little creepy to me.
On the whole, however, Bangkok is a marvellous place. Its unlike anywhere I've ever been, and I look forward to going back. The people are extraordinary! Maybe it's a person on the street who helps you with directions when you're staring at your map like a dumb-fuck and end up talking to for 15 minutes, or maybe its someone at the markets
Mmm, spicy food!
This is the dish with the fireball sauce I was talking about in the comment section. Banzai!!! trying to sell you shit. Maybe it's the cute waitress who flirts with you even after you butcher the Thai language by trying to say thank-you (I swear I'll get it, I've just got to say it faster, that's all...). Regardless, the Thai people are among the friendliest I've ever encountered and that will always make Bangkok special.
That's it for now people. I probably won't have much of a blog up for a while, and if I do it'll be brief. There won't be much to say other than I swam, snorkeled, and did sweet fuck all!
Later!
-End Transmission-
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paul
non-member comment
holy crap
holy crap, watch out for the tuk-tuks. The pictures look great. Kick-ass whitey.