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I only slept a few hours and at 8:30 am in the morning I quite awake again. I tried to force my self to sleep but it didn’t work. Also I had a bit of a headache because of the strong AC in my room. I decided to go out for some breakfast and have a chill day and maybe walk the Lumphini park after 4 pm when the sun is not so strong. I was about to go out when I run into my roommate. We had a cup of coffee and went over the maps and places to visit. Lumpini Park:
http://www.bangkok.com/sport-parks---activities/lumpini-park.htm After our chat, I changed plans and decided just to go out and force my self to stay awake until the nighttime to correct my sleeping schedule. I left just before noon walked through the park towards Century 21 which is a few blocks from my school. I thought maybe I could catch the school open for a Saturday class. The walk took me hours. I want to say about 3-4 hrs. By 13:30 I was dead and I had to stop and eat something. But it was so hot outside I did not feel like
anything hot and everything in the streets is hot. I found a little place with AC and I just went inside. I ordered a coconut juice and a vegetable salad the only thing that my belly could take. Then I continued my walk towards the school. I passed Therminal 21 and walked and walked and walked. I guess distances are longer under the sun.My camera bag started to get heavy and I really think I need a chest or writs strap for it. I could have taken a bike ride or a cab but I wanted to physically feel the walking distance and it is definitely a long way. There is no way that I am going to walk all of that every morning. I mapped the distance 4.6 km (59 min walking 22 minutes and $1 by BTS) and it doesn’t seem as much because its hard to take into consideration that you have to go to specific walk throughs to cross high traffic streets so even if I take public transportation I will be doing a lot of walking. The area where the school is, is awesome and I really like it a lot, full of nice cafes,
restaurants and pubs. Very cozy and cosmopolita. I almost felt in Soho but prettier. Also very close to the Air train and shopping and eating areas. I saw an aparta hotel and I went to ask for a room out of curiosity. $1500 a month..no breakfast. Hm a bit high for my budget.
When I arrived to the school I was very pleased. It is small but very clean and organized. They were finishing a fruit carving class and I got the opportunity to meet Pim, my teacher for next week. She is a super funny and speaks perfect English and has traveled all over Asia, Australia and New Zealand. She is also a restaurant owner and has a cooking school in another area. She goes back and forward at different times of the year.
She showed me my book and how busy we are going to be. I am very exited.
One of the guys in class is a Brazilian chef and told me about a hostel 5 minutes away. We all walked together that way. Yes the hostel was awesome, super clean and modern, but shared rooms. They also had private rooms but
at a higher rate that I am paying now. I have to do the math maybe its just worth it to stay where I am at. My room is huge, comfortable, my roomate is super nice and I have a pool to myself on the top floor and incredible view of Bagkok Skyline....I will post some photos of it later. So Im going not to force myself in making a decision yet about changing accomodation yet. Im paid for the week and I can extended to a month if I want to.
Then I went to Therminal 21, which is an incredible 7 floor shopping center where every floor is a different country. Very impressive.
http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-mall/terminal21.htm The top floor is all about communications and technology. So far I haven't really found WiFi spots so I really want to fing a why to get internet on my phone. But my phone is unlockable and can't accept a Thai Sim card. I must have talked to each of the cellphone providers until I got to Metro. They offered me an aircard for 1490 Bahts No contract and unlimited Wifi and 5 Gb of 3 G for 900 Bath a month so
for $80 bucks total I would be able to connect online everywhere I go as long as they have coverage. I didn’t have enough cash with me to get it right there but I think that is the way I am going to go. The other option is to get a used unlocked phone and get a sim card with service for it....
I stopped in one of the floors to have Vietnamese food and headed back home right after. I was exhausted. The ride back on the airtrain was 34 Bahts about $1 and it was pretty fast, less than half hour, so I don’t think I have to worry about trasnportation cost.
I saw the Lumphini Park from the train for first time and it is pretty impressive with downtown behind. But unless I get up on the highway bridge or I take a photo of the park from the train I wont be able to show you what I saw. : (
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Bangkok
We miss all the craziness that is Bangkok. The wonderful people the crazy drivers and the joys of tuk tuks.