Blogs from Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 731

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Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 24th 2005

24th March 2005 Bangkok, Thailand. Last night was lovely, Brooke, Scott and I went to the Imperial Shopping Centre, very western, and had dinner and a movie and they're really great people, I like them a lot. And it was such a relief to know - no, to SEE - that there are familiar things in this country, like proper Western department stores and Cinemax's and such forth. Then earlier today we went to Khao San Rd by Thai canal boat and then a taxi. The boat was fun - you've got to be super fast at jumping on and off - but massively overcrowded. Khao San Rd was crawling with Westerners, which was reassuring after my first 24hrs in Thailand, and a massive head-spin.....every inch of space packed with somebody selling something. And the tailor's ... read more
Khao San Road during the day

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 23rd 2005

March 23rd 2005 Bangkok, Thailand. Wow, where to start? The food poisoning must have begun almost two days ago on the plane to Bangkok, because until forty minutes ago I had not eaten anything at all in Thailand, yet I've lost a lot of time into a haze of nausea and confusion, and am only now beginning to get my bearings. Also, should note, the plane ride was excellent service and free drinks and everything(!), BUT hugely hugely uncomfortable seats for trying to sleep, plus was next to a very hairy guy who took up the armchair seats and who's arm hairs drove me nuts. It's so very frustrating, being stuck in a plane with nowhere comfy to sleep and nothing else to do, and just counting down the almost nine hours til arrival. Anyway, I ... read more

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 20th 2005

Hi Momma Jones/Nord and the rest. We made it to Bangkok after a long trip and as a gift we got scammed right off the bat. We were told taxis were 300 baht almost anywhere in the city for some reason we decided to pay an unmetered taxi 700 baht for a ride out of the airport. Must have been Ben's idea. Ok probably not. Clayton was glad to see us but was to tired to talk much, we arrived at 2 am Bangkok time. He did have time to tell us that the tuk-tuk drivers liked to take foriegnors on rides to travel agencies for kickbacks...but... We must not have heard or listened too well, because the next day on our way to the park we were stopped by a very nice Thai lawyer. By ... read more

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 19th 2005

Last night we got back from our 4-night overland trip through Thailand, traveling from Bangkok on the coast north to the other end of Thailand (old Siam). The border is several hundred miles away in the mountains where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) meet in the “Golden Triangle.” This takes its name from the lucrative opium farming and trade that used to go on in the decades before Thailand did its best to put a stop to it. Nowadays the farmers raise legal flowers and vegetables instead of poppies. Thailand reminded me a lot of South Carolina, with a coastal region in the south, a flat midlands area, and foothills and mountains at the north end. Even the rural farms and farmhouses reminded me of SC when I was a child. The chief difference was occasional ... read more
Oriental Hotel in Bangkok
Rong Khun Temple, Chiang Rai
Prasart Museum, Bangkok

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 19th 2005

Pappa Jones/Nord and the rest of you (didn't want the pappas to be left out), First we have to finish up our experiences in Bangkok but will keep it short. After Ben and I got taken for an exciting tuk-tuk ride to the travel agency we walked around for a while grumbling. Walking in Bangkok is an experience in itself, I don't recommend it if it can be avoided. Besides the heat and humidity, and second hand monoxide there are no rules on the roads and pedestrian right of way seems to be an outdated American fantasy here. In Bangkok you have to fend for yourself. Ben's favorite person we met on the street was a man who actually helped us find our way and didn't ask for a kickback, and he even yelled at a ... read more
Ben Hollywood in Lumphini Park, BKK
Thai Chi in Lumphini Park, BKK
Kris, Ben, and the Demon at Wat Phra Kheow

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 19th 2005

Only nine months after I arrived here, I have finally decided to embark upon a Splore Bangers mission. My rule is to go to somewhere new or do something new every weekend. There are minimum standards for this - i.e. going to a restaurant I've never been to in my own neighbourhood doesn't really count, but going to a new restaurant in a neighbourhood I rarely frequent, and it being a bit of a mission to get there, does count. Ditto for bars. However, going to an art exhibition counts regardless of where it is. My friends reckon that making a new friend counts, but pashing a new person doesn't.The point, obviously, is to do something I don't usually do. Err, not that I pash people that often... anyway. Little excursions will go in this blog, ... read more
Sathira Dhammasathan

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 15th 2005

On the night of the 23rd January we were airlifted from Hanoi and flown to Bangkok so that Denise could receive more sophisticated tests and treatment at the 5 star Bumrungrad Hospital (fortunately our travel insurance were paying!). As mentioned in the last entry she was finally diagnosed with strongyloides followed by pneumonia. While Denise was suffering with all manner of nasty discomforts I (Gerry) also had developed a nasty rash on both my legs. Being concerned that the strongyloides worm had wiggled its way into my body I decided to take advantage of the world class medical expertise and go and consult a skin specialist at the hospital. The doctor didn't even get off her seat to examine me, she simply said my legs were dry and try some moisturiser on them! It cleared within ... read more
Elephant guarding the entrance to Chakri Maha Prasat Hall, the Grand Palace, Bangkok
The Meridien Hotel, Bangkok
Boy playing in park opposite Grand Palace, Bangkok

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 15th 2005

when King Bhumidol makes it... No, not entirely true - the rain falls quite frequently during the rainy season without any intervention by the King, but the King of Thailand is able to make rain fall. I kid you not. Right now, it is bucketing down in 66 provinces of Thailand, including Bangkok, because it's been incredibly dry and the King has made it rain. No, it's not hocus-pocus. The King, who invests a lot of money in researching sustainable agriculture and development, funds the Royal Rain-Making Research and Development Project. The King has been researching artificial rain since 1956 and the first successful attempt occurred in 1969. The process involves sending up planes to clouds which have suitable levels of humidity, and "seeding chemicals and dry ice from a certain altitude and over specified areas ... read more

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 13th 2005

Clayton A. Jones is the first member of the Laos or Bust party to depart for Bangkok Thailand. He is flying China Air and leaves from San Fransisco Saturday night at 11:30. Let us know how it goes Clayton. Ben Jones and I (Kris Nord) are right behind ya.... read more

Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok March 12th 2005

Well, we are just getting back to civilization after 4 days with little to no electricity and boats that nearly tipped with each voyage and a bus trip like no other...but I will save all that for the next log, this one is about our trip to this place. It started right after we got back from Koh Samet, we had originally booke dour train tickets to leave on the 2nd of March, after we waited in Bangkok for our Irish counterpart. The whole time we were away from Sean and Fiona we with held the information that we bought a train ticket on the same train and it was all going to be this magical suprise when we waited until the train began leaving the station and we came strolling along...you all know me and ... read more




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