Thailand – Day 1
So, I have arrived in one
piece after sleeping all the way on the plane.
When I checked in at Tullamarine, I asked for the aisle seat in the last
row because they always fill the plane front first and sometimes you get lucky
with no one sitting next to you.
Everytime I’ve flown overseas I’ve done this and everytime, except once,
I’ve been able to stretch out on the next seat.
But last night I really got lucky.
The whole row was vacant except for me so I grabbed 3 pillows and 2
blankets, lifted the arm rests, lay down and went to sleep 20 minutes after
takeoff, to be woken up when breakfast was being served an hour out of Bangkok
at 5am. I was so tired last night I
nearly fell asleep before the plane got off the ground but I had to stay awake
to feel the rush of hurtling down the runway, engines roaring!!!! What a buzz!!!!! I love it.
I had the biggest, stupidest smile on my face when it was taking
off. I look forward to that the most
when I go away.
Arrived at Bangkok and was literally knocked over by the
humidity. I contemplated getting an air
conditioned taxi but I thought it would be more challenging to get the train,
plus the taxi was 650 baht and the train was 10 baht. No contest.
Found the train station and the platform - that was easy. Waiting for the train, I was dying for a
ciggie even in this humidity. I looked
around at the other people waiting for the train - no-one smoking except for a
scary looking guy in some sort of uniform. So I didn't have one, thought there
may be a reason why no-one was smoking.
Got on the train and had to stand for the hour trip into town. I was so bloody hot that my hair was dripping
wet!! Thankfully all the windows were
open so I got some breeze.
Got to the main train station
and found a taxi rank. When I got in, I
told the driver where I wanted to go, but he didn't seem to know what I was
talking about so I showed him on a map.
He mumbled something and I just said yeah, ok. So off we went. Driving around little streets, dodging the
trillions of motorbikes and pedestrians, I had no idea where I was. I was feeling slightly anxious after about 20
minutes when we went over the train line which I had just got off (I recognised
a big shop on the corner) - but it was the opposite direction to where I
thought we were supposed to be going. I
thought to myself - he's just taken me around the block, a big, big block. Then I thought "oh no - I’m lost in a
city I’ve never been to, don't know the language, don't know anyone and I’ve no
idea where the hell I am or how to get to where I want to be!". I really started panicking so I asked him if
he was taking me where I asked originally then showed him on the map again just
to make sure. He said something that I
took to mean yes, so I sat back, tried to relax and enjoy the adventure. Ha!
Then we passed the Democracy Monument
which I recognised from the map, quickly checked on the map its location in
relation to where I wanted to go and was so, so relieved to see we were going
in the right direction. Ten minutes
later he dropped me off in Khao
San Road. I
found the guesthouse I’d booked from the internet and had been recommended in Lonely
Planet. I was so hot I thought a puddle
was developing around my ankles as I was checking in. By the way, this place is completely
different to how it was described in the guide book and from the photos from
their website. I got my key and was
shown up 3 flights of stairs which is lovely when its 35 degrees and you're
lugging a backpack and daypack but I was thinking about the shower I was going
to have soon.
My room - what can I
say. Basically it’s about the size of my
car! But it does have air conditioning
which is good because that may help get rid of the stale smoky smell. You know how a fireplace smells the day after
you've used it? That’s my room. I’ll have to move my bed against the door
because I don't trust the lock. It’s one
of those door handle locks where you push the button in on the door
handle. I can't be bothered looking
around for somewhere else - this place is cheap and I’m here already and
anyway, I didn't come here to stay in luxury.
I was and still am prepared to do things I haven't done before which is
what I wanted all along - a bit of adventure, a challenge and to be somewhere
that is completely different to how I live back home.
I now want to get something
to eat and drink before I fall off my perch.
But before I do, I’m going to check out some of these little shops in
this road. When I was looking for this
place before, I went passed so many things I’d love to buy. I have to remind myself I have limited space
in my pack but maybe I’d buy just one thing!
So, I’m now going to explore
and push myself to get out amongst it, the unknown and unfamiliar! It is a pretty scary thing to do when you
think about it but that's why I do it.
The thrill and anxiety combine to give the biggest rush!! Gotta go now, Bangkok is waiting for me!
