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Published: October 31st 2005
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I arrived in Bangkok yesterday afternoon after bidding farewell to the friendly city of Chiang Mai in the north.
Bangkok is a bit crazy. It's hot, humid, busy, smoggy, huge, and impossible to navigate by foot. Right after dropping my stuff off at my guest house, I walked to the nearby road where I was greeted by a friendly tuk-tuk (pronounced took took) driver.
Now for a quick introduction to tuk-tuk's. These are the small beasts that roam the streets of the large cities of Thailand. Part motorcycle, Part car, Totally Thai. These three wheeled machine are powered by small (80 or 150cc) motorcycle engines, and have two compartments- one for the driver, and the other for the passenger. It operates like a motorcycle except for a stick shift that sits between the drivers legs (which I find amusing). The passenger compartment has a bench seat, and it all open except for a roof. Each has a custom exhaust system that makes them sound like a supercharged mustang from back home.
Anyhow, I wanted a ride to the Chat-u-Chuck (can't remember how to spell it) weekend market... and the driver offered to take me for an extremely low
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One of many sights at the weekend market in Bangkok price If I would look at a tailor shop for him. I thought about it for a second and thought... why not? He explained that if I go to the shop for him, he gets a coupon for a free tank of gas. Ahhh... now it all made sense... and we were off.
Riding in the back of a tuk-tuk is like sitting in a radio flyer wagon being pulled by a motorcycle... you feel even little bump in your spine as you get thrown about on your vinyl slippery seat. The nuttiest part is that here in Bangkok the drivers use the imaginary third lane that exists directly above the line in the middle of the road to navigate.. and for some reason the other drivers respect this!
The tailor shops here function in a manner where they sit you down and you look through clothing catalogs... Ralph Lauren, whatever.... and they will custom tailor anything you want. They will make a custom silk suit for only around $150 (before bargaining). Nice. After 10 minutes in there we made one more stop at the Thai souvenir center because it was on the way to the market (and
Halloweener
"You want sucky sucky?" the driver might get another coupon there). This place was nuts- armed guards with sub-machine gun outside, and beautiful Thai women inside leading you through two tremendous rooms housing precious and semi-precious stones. The most impressive part was that they had 4 L-shaped saltwater fish tanks, each about 15 feet in each direction long with awesome fish. I know, I was supposed to be looking at the stones.
After paying my $1.25 fair, I visited the Chat-u-Chuck weekend market which was insanely crowded. I'd read that there are more than 15,000 stalls there, and 200,000 visitors each weekend. You could buy anything from a pet snake, to a new wok, to some great prepared Thai food there (and yes I had a lot). After 2 hours the heat and humidity and crowd left me exhausted.
All of a sudden a large number of police parted the crowds in front of the skytrain exit and I found out that the Princess of Thailand would be coming by soon. I stood there for 20 minutes, then the crowd went to their knees and sat in almost total silence, and we sat there for another 30 minutes... dripping in sweat. Finally
the Princess walked right by... and that was it. It was cool though to see the people so respectful of their royalty.. can't say that would happen at home.
Last night I got another Thai massage, which left me sore once again and concluding that I don't in fact like most of what goes on in Thai massage (except for the head, neck and arm parts)- lesson learned. I then hit the infamous Khao San road area which was absolutely packed with Thais and Farang for their Halloween celebration. 5 live (and most non-cover) bands lined the streets. After taking almost an hour to walk the street I enjoyed a bowl of hot noodle soup and retired for the evening.
After peeling my sticky self off my bed this morning (There is only a ceiling fan cooling my 5th floor room), I stumbled out of my Guesthouse to find another tuk-tuk driver offering me a similar deal to yesterday. First he took me to a great whole in the wall Thai restaurant where I enjoyed a wonderful stir-fried vegetable over rice dish and we chatted. Then it was off to see the Big Buddha, and then the Happy
Happy Buddha
Check out the smile on him Buddha, and some other Buddha I can't remember the name of, and 2 jewelry stores and 2 tailors and then the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It was an adventure.
The temple of the Emerald Buddha is one of the most holy sites in Thailand. I had to borrow a pair of thick, brown pants in order to appear more modest at this site. Now mind you it's like 90 degrees with 90% humidity... which made walking around in these things (over my shorts) a real chore.
Yum, the driver, was a nice and honest guy and said "You help me, I help you". I got him 3 gas coupons before the day was done, and he showed me around Bangkok waiting me me outside each place- except he never showed up outside the last to pick me up and for his payment... which actually turned out fine. I met a french-canadian girl haggling with her own tuk-tuk adventure guide and we chatted for a while. This was her FIRST day of six-months of traveling in Thailand and Australia. Jealous I am.
I ramble... so much to say... I could type for hours it
Don't mess with this guy
Outside the temple of the emerald buddha seems. Being on vacation is like having Saturday nights and Sundays repeat in succession until you return home. I feel that I've experienced so much in these few weeks out here... more than I have in the last couple years- and it has been amazing.
Thailand is a wonderful country, and it will be sad to leave tomorrow. If any of you ever has the opportunity, you MUST come here to visit its beautiful people, beaches, mountains, food, architecture, religion... and the list goes on.
I will write one final entry on my return to the States. Until then, cheers.
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