moving through bangkok

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traveling around bangkok is an adventure, a hassel, a smog inhalation, a bargain, and a sight seeing experience. there are magnificent temples in the shadow of large industrial buildings. yesterday Tania and i chartered a boat up the river. we were the only ones in the boat, and we took it with no stops all the way from Sathorn pier up to Khao San Rd area. we didn't stop at any of the sights because we want to wait for hilla to arrive. our mission was to find a hostel so that hilla knew exactly where to meet us today (7/21) when she flys in. the water in the river was pretty brown and we tried to take in as little spray as possible. we got out and rented a tuk-tuk to take us to the hostel, but they operate differently then i realized. each driver has a sponser. for example, this tuk-tuk driver told us that he would take us to the hostel after he took is to see this "big budda" (which was really massive) and to the Thai Tourism Authority so we could make any arrangements we needed for more of our travels. but the thing is that we don't need to make any other arrangements yet, so we basically walked into the Thai Tourism Authority, looked around, and walked out. the driver, his name was Lan, gets a commission for even bringing us there. so he charged is 20 baht, which is about 80 cents to drive us all around the area, as long as we stopped at the TTA. by agreeing to stop, we can get cheap rides around the area.
so we made reservations at the hostel, called Thai Cozy House (sounds nice) which is 2 streets up from Khao San Rd. the aforementioned street is a big backpacker area. we are going to stay there for 2 nights so hilla can get settled, and then head down to Ko Samui to meet ashley and her friends. i'm actually pretty excited to get out of Bangkok. it's so touristy, and though things are really inexpensive, its also pretty americanized and not the cultural experience i'm lusting after.
Ik and Pip (friends of my dad and Julie that live in Bangkok) have been so awesome to us. Tania and I feel very grateful to have been able to stay with them. This hostel should be fun though cause it is more in the thick of things.
i'll write again as soon as i can.. i miss you guys and love you!!

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Comments

[dad]

thanks for th update
Hi Lindsay, thanks for the great posting......I think you'll notice Thai's are about the nicest people in the world.......grace and a true humble nature combined with an awesome sense of humor......have you departed from Ik's?....d