I've been in Bangkok for 24hrs now and I've been feeling a bit useless again - mainly because of the heat, the expensive hostel rooms, the tiny streets and the swarming and constant crowds.
I left Sihanoukville for Phnom Penh on the 24th. The bus trip was fairly standard - a bumpy road, no leg room, screaming children, loud Khmer pop music emanating from the television at the front of the bus and of course, the constant ear-piercing beeping of the bus horn.
We swerved to miss all manner of things on the road; herds of cows, pedestrians, chickens, motorbikes, trucks overflowing with logs or cages of chicken, and at one point we had to stop to avoid a toddler who'd wandered onto the road; naked from the waist down, his mother screaming as she ran out to get him.
After four months in Asia I've become quite patient and none of this shocked or aggravated me. On such noisy trips you can't read, sleep or even just sit and think. You're constantly aware of your sourroundings, so it really is just like...well, it's like sitting on a noisy bus for hours. Luckily this bus trip wasn't too long, so it could've been worse.
I only stayed one night in Phnom Penh this time, which was just enough time to book my flight to Bangkok and say my good byes to Cambodia with one last gin and tonic at the Foreign Correspondent's Club and a stroll by the river.
The flight to Bangkok was short and trouble free - I even got a quite delicious dinner with organic red rice and curried Thai fish.
I arrived in Bangkok at 9pm and got a registered taxi straight to Khao San Road to find a hotel. A lot of places around this area are full which seemed pretty strange to me. I thought tourism in Bangkok would be suffering because of the protest troubles late last year. It seems, as ever, tourism is alive and well in BK. If only because it's the largest city in South East Asia and a stop over for many in transit.
The streets are filled with backpackers, hawkers, buskers and at night - prostitutes and drug dealers shamelessly skulk around in full view of everyone.
Because of its state of development, Bangkok reminds me of Hong Kong - except it's more spread out and there aren't as many high rise buildings. It's like a cross between Hanoi, Shanghai and Hong Kong...Everything is western and geared towards tourism, and it's just SO DAMN CROWDED.
Today was my first day here and I managed to get quite a lot done including printing out my British visa application form, sending a bunch of stuff home as well as a birthday present for my sister and I even got my existing tattoo extended!! (See photo)
Khao San Road is the place everyone said is the best to stay. Everything you need is within walking distance, there are loads of friendly backpackers and although it's not exactly keeping it real (as in not very Thai) it's a fun place to stay if only for a few days, especially between transit.
I don't much like it much my self. There are just too many people. I stayed in a hostel on the road last night and this morning decided it was best to move one street over. I miss the quiet of Luang Prabang and Laos in general. Still, over the next few days I will get out and see the sights of Bangkok as well as organising my U.K. visa/flights etc.
As it turns out I've got a friend who is here and tomorrow I'm meeting him for drinks. Lyb and Graeme are also due to arrive on the 28th - so I'm sure I'll have much to do before my flight to London which will be in about 8-9 days if all goes to plan. :)
PS: HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!! :)
