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Published: March 25th 2005
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March 25th 2005
Bangkok, Thailand.
Well, still here. I thought I'd be on my way to Pattaya by now but got the bus times mixed up - that's okay, though, I hadn't actually bought one anyway. So now am staying at the Rainbow Guest House, just off Khao San Rd, and it seems okay though the bed is only a little softer than the floor - literally. I went down to ask if that was the bed or if it was a base and the mattress was coming up later...apparently not. I only spent two minutes in there but it seems bigger than the last, and only 200baht, that's less than $8AU.
Have been wandering and wandering and wandering some more. I talked to some people, they said Pattaya is crap, just old dudes and prossies, so on their advice I am probably going to Koh Chang or one of the islands instead. Still haven't heard back from the people in Pattaya about the swimming with dolphins, so for now I'll give that up.
As my backpack was stuffed full before I even got here I have refrained from buying anything, with the exception of some locks. Only
Busy Bangkok Road
Some of the roads here are so busy (and insane) that the lights have times attached so that drivers know, when it's red, how long it will be red for, and when it's green, how long they have to race through it before it turns green. $4 each, Jess, that's gotta beat the $15 back home! And even then I think I could have bargained them down more. But it's too much hassle.
You have no idea how hot it is here. I had read so before coming, of course, but I thought, pussy American's, I'm a Queenslander, I was made for heat. And after reading about the very modest cultural values I had planned on wearing my half-dozen pin-stripe pants. Not a chance! Thank heaven I packed some skirts! The air is almost literally heavy with heat and your back is drenched in sweat within half an hour. Plus the place still smells awful but I think it could be acclimatised to. I have even determined to eat from some roadside stalls, as I had planned to do before arriving and smelling them. Just not today.
The traffic here is over-the-top amazing. What's more amazing, though, is how few vehicles (tuk-tuks, cars, taxis, buses, motorcycles, etc) have any damage to them. People don't use their blinkers 7 out of 10 times, they change lanes and drift continuously, they're pushy, and yet it seems to work for them - I've yet to see an
Bangkok Cosmetics Counter
You'd never believe it....all stacked like a market stall, but in the middle of a popular shopping centre, are 'cosmetics' such as breast-enhancing pills, vagina-tightening creams(no, not a misprint!), cellulite-eliminators.....and the more traditional perfumes and such. accident. And in a city with this many vehicles that's pretty good.
I spend most days and evenings outside, walking about, though I don't always want to. I've always mocked those travellers who go across the world to sit in their rooms watching tv and so couldn't do so myself (not that my level of accomm has tvs) but sometimes it's hard not to. Even sitting here in an internet cafe right now seems a cop-out, but...... bite me.
The motorcycles here roam the streets in groups of five or so like bikey gangs, swerving in and out of traffic. I want to try them soon but not just for the sake of it - I need to have somewhere to go. Right now I'm happy roaming the streets of the Khaosan district. I should be checking out the temples ("wats") and all of that but damned if I actually want to.
Soon enough I'm going to get around to having a massage - 1 hr Thai massage is about $8! And that's apparently pretty expensive; cheaper down south. My sprend-thrift little heart is very very happy - London will be painful, though. I've been told to
High Fashion, Thai Style
How sexy is this....lady's bags in the style of cereal boxes....because everybody wants to walk around carrying a box of Corn Flakes. stay only a few days in London and then get out to Belfast, which is where I'm trying for a job. I checked out the cheap inter-europe airlines' website - about 5 pounds London-Belfast, which works out less than $20AU!! For a plane!! Pretty damned cool....
Anyway must run. Will write when I can - WARNING, photo uploading will be very sporadic and it will pay to check out older entries for new photos as I will be entering them only when I can and feel like it. So some photos I upload next week might have been taken yesterday and therefore go into that journal....just be aware. Sorry for the inconvenience. Also, I often don't feel comfortable taking photos at all and so do not expect reams of them.
All my love to those I left behind. Some days I miss you so much I can barely breathe and some days it's more of a quiet ache. But I do miss you; must cure that with more alcohol. Just joking, Ma, don't be worrying.
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