Farang in a Far Land

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*Pronounced FAR-ONG, this often uttered word is the Thai equivalent to gringo, but nicer, much nicer. Or so we have been told. We're not so sure our hospitable Thai hosts didn't tell us that to be nice. But if you see a FARANG sign outside of any business, you are assured they understand English. You are also assured the FARANG rate--roughly 2.5 times more than the locals. So as a foreigner, you have to bargain, somthing Mark and I aren't very good at (yet), especially when we were bartering for our first Tuk Tuk ride.

Pronounced Took-took, these quitessential Thai motorcycle taxis are Thailand's version of Mr.Toad's Wild Ride. But on this ride, you pay not only in Baht, but in years off your life. After talking our tuk tuk driver down from 200 Baht to 150 (the going rate is arounf 50 Baht), Mark and I jumped in the back of the horse cart-turned death trap. We sped through traffic, weaving in-and-out of food carts and scooters, inhaling noxious gas fumes and passing by a blur of roadside shops selling everything from gold Buddahs to pad thai. The tuk tuk driver must have mistaken my loud, nervous laughter to mean "take this turn like we were on rails," because he sped up and started laughing, like he knew something we didn't. At that moment, Mark and I realized that we weren't taking the most direct route to the train station. But we eventually made it. Safe and sound, and with a Farang rate to prove it.

Yes, my friends, we made it to Bangkok. And our good Thai hosts are making sure we are having a good time. Montha and Lerstin and their two twenty-something kids live just off the main river in Bangkok. Lerstin, who is recently retired, greets us every morning with orange juice and sends us to bed with a gurgling belly full of spicy thai food and Singha beer. In fact, Lerstin enjoys having the two-beer-drinking-Farang's around so much, he bought the three of us a half a case of beer (which we finished) and then broke out the Cognac. We were perfectly inebriated to stumble down the notorious Koh San Road (imagine spring break-meets-the carnies meets the Oregon Country Fair).

That was a few days ago, and we are now on our way to Chang Mai...a 14 hour train ride to Northern Thailand. Lerstin dropped us off for our journey north, but not before filling us with some fire hot tom yum, a few bottles of Thai beer and some toilet paper.

*Okay, no one can hold me accoutable for misspellings or typos, especially when there aren't any letters on the keyboard.

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Photos

Train Sleeping Berth
Train to Chiang Mai

Comments

[madge-pie]

this adventure called life
i admire your spirts of adventure and love your souls of spirtuality. im so grateful to be living your journey through your insightful and compassionate exchanges with the outside world. loveyou both very much. xoxo

[Sandra & Matt]

Silly Farangs
Oh wow, looks like you two are having fun and seeing lots of great things. As for us, our washer kicked the bucket, and today we're off to some big-name box store to throw money at a new one. So...enjoy your reality break, we can't wait to see the photos!

[Yonna]

Relieved Farang!
Not to scold, but I was getting a little worried! You're not exactly going to Club Med on this journey! Watch out for those pesky mosquitos! Miss you lots! ys

[Lauren]

You guys are Amzing! I love you guys!