After a short flight with
Vietnam Airlines departing from Hanoi in Vietnam – Robin and I (I
almost feel like batman saying that...) arrive in Bangkok.
Temperature is back to 30° with a clear blue cloudless sky. I am
really surprised: big four lanes and impeccable motorways – sky
high buildings connected by a sky train and undergound tube. Mopeds
and cyclos have disapeared – leaving space to modern japanese cars,
pickup trucks, bright pink / yellow taxis and Tuk Tuks. No more bumpy
roads nor constant horning. Thailand is ahead of Vietnam by about 10
at the very least.
We head directly to
Kohsan road : backpacker's heaven. Plenty of travellers and a long
street of shops, food stalls, bars, tatoo parlors and hotels.
Ambiance is relaxed – street vendors are way less aggressive and
can take the first « no » for an answer which
is rather enjoyable. We walk a bit and find this hotel with swimming
pool on the roof : 700 Baht per night for a double room. The place is
decently clean and the roof terrace gives an impressive view on the
giant 14 million inhabitant capital of Thailand.
We head out and start
exploring the street – the street is really animated. We walk
around the shops and stalls, bargain for fun on fake ipods and pirate
dvds sets. Then we sit down at a terrace for a fresh beer and watch
people pass by. Robin had told me about and I had seen some in
Vietnam : here they are called « Catois » or
more commonly named transexuals. It is really funny to watch them
walk around the streets and some of them can look suprisingly
feminine. However there are certain give aways: the adam's apple, the
joints, the muscles and square shoulders. It is recommended not to
laugh at them: firstly because it is disrespectful and secondly since
they are (like most men in Thailand) trained in the art of Muay Thai
boxing.
We get in a Burger King.
This is the first time since I entered Vietnam that I can taste a
good old burger – a real treat for my stomach as the beef noodle
soup I had in Hanoi's airport left me in a painful and weakened
state.
The next day we decide to
go see « Tchatutchak » week-end's market and
hop on a Tuk Tuk (some kind of ong three wheels motorbike for tourist
which often tries to offer a free ride to annoying and aggressive
shops from which they get commission after forcing you into buying
something – and when they don't take you on a shop tour, their
service is expensive – pics are in the « Bangkok
madness » album) to take the Skytrain. We arrive a
« Siam » skytrain stop which also has bigger
and even more modern shopping malls than I have ever seen (even in
Singapour or Europe). Here you can find anything you want. We end up
in the electronics department where numerous shops are selling all
sorts of USB devices, mobile phone (original ones and replicas) and
modified consoles. Prices can be interesting but without warranty or
possibility of returning to the shop – any purchase becomes really
hazardous. I try a « Mini I-phone » which costs
about 100 euros. When switching language to French, half of the menus
are still in chinese and the rest seems to have been translated by a
monkey using an online translator.
We hop on the sky train
which is very clean, convenient and offer a great city tour for the
price of mass transportation. The city is really modern and at the
same time some curbs are destroyed and buildings look really
derelict. We pass by the « Victory Monument »
built after the victory in the second world war and finally end up in
Tchatuchak area. This is a giant market with all the gadgets,
clothing, local foods and other wonders one can imagine. We stop for
a drink and watch people pass by before continuing our visit of the
city. Then we head off to the Nana area which is the red light
district of Bangkok – a very animated place with gogo bars, neon
flashing lights signs and as many sexual tourists as regular city
visitors (including families). The entertainement around here are
« ping pong », « darts »
and many other shows. This part of the city is much more lively
and colorful. elephant owners walk around with elephants on leash
offering to buy and give food or take a ride. The poor animals are
walking in the crazy Bangkok trafic on drugs so that they don't go
crazy and stay compliant.
The next day we decide to
go cruise on Bangkok's river which is also a great way to see the
city (see the « Bangkok madness » album). Once
again we are under bright blue sky, cruising for a two hours city
tour with a stop at the « snake farm » (SNAKE
SCARE THE S*** OUT OF ME...). After one hour cruising, we arrive at
the farm: derelict animals stuck in cages – they look tired and
depressed: snakes, monkeys, deers, turtles and even a tiger that
which we watched ingurgitate a kilo meat and bones in about a minute.
The snake show was scary as hell for me – especially when the
presenter held a deadly poisonous viper by the tail and starting
twirling round few meters away from us. Half the people ran off, I
stood there petrified. It is always to confront one's fear, athough
things have to be taken one step at a time.
One our way back, we
stopped at « Wat Arun Ratcha Wararam » a
magnificent buddhist temple of which you'll be able to see pictures
in my album. Near the temple we also found flowers which open when
one claps his hands near them, it is very fun to watch – even
flowers like applause.
In a few hours Robin and I are taking a plane to Phuket to hop a few paradisiac islands for
diving and snorkelling for a week :) should be good so...
Stay tuned ;)
C.
