If Pai is Heaven, then Bangkok must be Hell

Bangkok as expected is shit. I don't really know how else to describe it. It is hot, busy, smoggy, hot, overcrowded, polluted, expensive, hot, people are unfriendly, toursty, oh and did I mention hot?

We arrived in Bangkok from Chang Mai on an overnight bus at about 5am. We got off the air-con bus, that like Vietnam has two temperature controls, desert and arctic (ours was on north pole). When we walked off the bus we realized that even at 5 am bangkok is ungodly hot and humid. Thank God we booked a hotel that was recommended to us in advance. When we showed up at 5 am expecting no way in hell are we going to be able to check in we were pleasantly surprised to know that the room was empty and we could go on up. That was the first and only pleasant surprise of my bangkok experience. After sleeping for a few hours, we headed to the hotel pool. The pool was a nice addition to the hotel (we booked this place knowing about the pool), and I don't know if I would have survived Bangkok without the pool and the elephant statue fountain spitting a spout of water into the pool center.


We went to a market the first night in Bangkok that was ENORMOUS, and after the market headed to the Banyon Tree Hotel for a "drink" at the skybar. Now I say "drink" with quotations, because when we got there, I couldn't even afford a glass of water. So we went up to the 60th floor and after having to wear loner shoes that didn't fit in order to get in (flip flops were not allowed) we took a couple pictures, clearly stuck out like sore thumbs, and busted a move out of there.

Now the thing I was not aware of when I got to Thailand was that upon arrival overland you only get a 15 day visa. Yes, you read correctly 15 days!!! WTF. So, I had to do what they call a "visa run" in order to get an additional 15 days. I booked a bus to Cambodia that left at 5 am (meaning I woke up at 4am) got to the border, left Thailand, entered cambodia, left cambodia, entered Thailand, and got an additional 15 days. On my way back from the border the bus told me the closest stop to my hotel (Rikka Inn, on Khao San Road) was the first stop. After getting off the bus and having 3 taxis tell me they refuse to bring me to the hotel because it was too far, I finally found a taxi to bring me. What one cab said would take 2 hours, took a mere 20 mins.

Khao San Road where our hotel was, is tourist and backpacker central. Carts line the streets selling ANYTHING you could possibly dream of. Bars line each side of the street, food stalls, more tattoo shops than I have ever seen, people grabbing you, blocking you, and trying to sell you everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Khao San is Mayhem.

Heidi and I tried to take a day trip and go to an Island (not a lay out, chill out, get tan, island) but a local inhabited island with some culture, the last day I was there. However after the complete lack of help from the boat operators, and getting yelled at we decided it wasn't worth our time or money, and decided to retreat back to our elephant fountain pool.

For dinner we went to what is known as "Bangkok's best Pad Thai". While we were at this outdoor restaurant a thai couple (one of the only friendly people we found) helped us order and told us this is "the best Pad Thai in all of Thailand, and the most authentic". Well, sorry Bangkok, outdoor restaurant, and nice couple. I didn't like it. I much prefer the westernized pad thai that I can get off the street stalls for much less money. Or really, I prefer the Pad Thai that I now am an expert at making. :)

I took an overnight bus to Koh Tao last night that arrived in a town called Champon at 5am. It connected to a boat that left at 7 am and arrived at the island a little after 9am. As you can imagine I am well tired. I finally found a place to stay here which was a bit tricky. The island is totally catered to divers, and since I am not diving most accommodation refuse to have guests if they don't dive with their company, OR their prices for a room are out of control. After walking for a bit, and finding a place not within my budget but as close as I could find, I found a small room, with electricity that comes and goes, a fan that doesn't really work, and a bed that is super uncomfortable. On the upside, the island is beautiful, and very relaxing. MUCH better than Bangkok, just more expensive, also it is equally as hot during the day, although at night I think it will cool down. Good thing I am on a beach here.

Ill be in Koh Tao for a couple nights then keep on island hoping, next on the list is Koh Phangan. 16 days left in Asia. Crazy how fast time has flown.