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Published: March 20th 2007
Shangri La
View at the Shangri LaI apologize for not keeping on top of my blog, but nothing beats my last entry. I’m back in Bangkok and my parents left Saturday morning. While they were here we saw the worlds largest teak mansion (home of the royal family a couple generations ago). We went on a Dinner Cruise on the river and one night my Dad and I went to Radio City to see a Thai Elvis and Tom Jones.
After my parents left Saturday, I checked into one of the sleaziest hotels I’ve ever seen. The lobby looked ok and it was on a main road, but the room was musty with torn carpet, rusty orange patched blankets, and dim lighting. I figured I would find another hotel later and enjoy the day, so I hopped on BTS (the sky train) to the weekend market. The weekend market is bigger than any outdoor vending I’ve ever seen (including all those hippie concerts). There is just no way to describe the monstrosity or commotion of this event. While I was wandering the hot maze of booths, I got very dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out. Worried about heat stroke, I got a
Weekend Market
Weekend Market pineapple smoothie, water, and headed back for the hotel. As the day progressed my throat and sinuses ached, so I went to a pharmacist to get some Sudafed. You don’t need a prescription in Thailand to get any medications, and the pharmacist said, “you can take Sudafed, but in Thailand we give other medications for sore throats.” I took her advice and was bed ridden the rest of the day and Sunday.
Feeling like shit, I tried to check in at The Atlanta on Sunday (a famous cheap hotel in Bangkok)*. After a 5-hour run around, I was escorted to the 4th floor (no elevators) to a small room with a ceiling fan and no AC! My head was pounding and I slept the rest of the day. Last night I had to use a wet towel for a blanket to cool off enough to sleep. I finally felt better today and went to Khao San Road (the backpackers mecca), the royal Barges, and ate dinner at the Blue Elephant. Tomorrow I’m going to the floating market and the Tiger Temple.
* The Atlanta has a very strict no sex tourists and no drugs policy. I was attracted
The Atlanata
My Sauna Closet to their anti-riff raff policy, but the more I learn about the owner the more I hate this place. He has a “no complaints” rule and has quoted “at these prices you are lucky the staff even talk to you.” I agree that it is cheap (I’m paying 500 Baht for my sauna closet) but I found many places today that are the same price or cheaper with AC and better customer service. He is also anti-business and only charges enough to cover the costs. I think that is an excuse for him to make just enough for as little work possible.
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