Blogs from Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 706

One day later we were back to Bangkok. Here Vaj left me again, for a flight to Mynamar. I had enjoyed traveling with him a lot. Being back to Bangkok meant also being back to the backpacker circus at Khao San Road. Since the last time I had been here a lot had changed. Everything got even more expensive, bigger, more noisy, poshed up, and morst of all, more crowded. Still I managed to find a not so noisy, not so expensive place, and having everything you need at walking distance, including cheap and fast internet connection is just convenient.... read more

Bangkok One night in Bangkok turned out to be four as we arranged our Vietnam visa and a beach holiday to the South. The hype that surrounded Bangkok (Oriental City) was lived up to in certain aspects. The ever present (where do they hide) Tuk Tuk drivers were constantly on hand to ferry you from one side of the street to the other, Elephants cruised the high street in the thick of traffic (both pedestrian and road) and the food was out of this world. Even more so than China. We had been warned that the locals would try and charm you from your money. However, their sole goal appeared to be the complete and blatant removal of notes from your wallet whilst smiling at you profusely (sawat dee). You even had to keep an eye ... read more

To be honest i'm not actually in Bangkok - i'm also in Chang Mai where Claires writing from but we wanted to look more well travelled to everyone. First of all i'll get a few questions out the way. the best thing for palolem is to get the sleeper train down from mumbai and then a bus to margoan. from there a bus to paloleom. once you get there it really is a case of get down on the beach and take your pick from whats on offer. we went witht the first once the rickshaw guy gave to us and luckily it was pretty good put it's well worth walking up and down and just asking to see a few rooms - dot pay anymore than 300-400 rupees per night. they will try to get ... read more

Monday morning, caught taxi to the Myanmar embassy to arrange visa. Absolute chaos! Picked up application and came back to Khao San Road. Visited Chaiwat Tours, as on previous trips and was advised that it would take 5 (working) days of processing to obtain the visa for me, which would mean next Monday/Tuesday at earliest to receive passport and visa back. Decided to head north to Chiang Mai for a few days, to visit Tom & Lori, so purchased a train ticket for Thursday night, November 24. Paid 803Bhat (app$24C) for a 2nd class a/c berth. There was potential in Chiang Mai to arrange the visa as well, allowing a continuation on to Mandalay directly from Chiang Mai, i.e. without back-tracking to Bangkok next week. Checked around various other travel agents on Khao San Road advertising ... read more

Russell - Well according to our travel agent we will be picked up at our hotel by the air-con, reclining seats super-bus to Phuket at 6pm. Bit of a worry as the hotel is down a side alley, but I assume they have a plan. They do - we walk to the end of the road. Around the corner, down the road, across a big juction, through some back streets, across a market and to the bus park. Thanks. Anyway on we get and the bus is nice which it needs to be if we are to sleep on this 15 hour over-nighter. The bus sets off fine and I catch a last look at the streets of Bangkok by night. An hour and half later we are still moving through the city streets when I ... read more