Bangkok airport immigration process was pretty much fastest and easiest I have experienced. On notice boards they had heaps of document listed that you have to present to immigration officer but this old chap only looked my passport, didn't really even look at me to see if I am the same person, stamped my passport full of stamps in 3 seconds and off I was to Bangkok.
Getting taxi from airport was easy enough, explaining to taxi driver my where my hostel is, close to impossible. Dude couldn't speak word in English or even read the address in English. Somehow we managed to work it trough and with broken automatic gearbox with 5000 rpm on dashboard and messy driving with occasional mumbling in Thai I was heading to hostel.
Hostel itself was nice but fairly quiet, not that many people around. Next to hostel was street market, not a big surprise as I learned, Bangkok is one massive street market. I was almost run over by one scooter that this city is proliferated by. Got me self a random piece of chicken from one of street vendors for my first dinner in Bangkok.
Bangkok is messy city. There is fresh meat and fish on market. All the guts and fluids from these is all around place. Sewage from lines from building run directly into river next to market and all this culminates in a smell that almost made me throw up. What is even worse than smell that makes you almost throw up? Seeing some dude cook rice in middle all of this. It is not that bad everywhere, but overall city scenery can be bit of a shock. There is certain beauty to it, but definitely not for everyone.
Being back on road was kind of weird after long time. Oz had definitely spoiled me and I felt I had lost my travel mojo, being in a new place after living almost 2 years in one place. I tried to not let this bother me too much and do what you do while on road. Some random stuff. Backpacking can be many things, there is no one standard for traveling and doing things, but I hate wasting time and for me backpacking is holiday on steroids. I literally refuse to take a break and say no to whatever is going on. After a week in Bangkok I have seen the major markets, bought some random street food without having any idea what I was eating. These have included bucket full of random seafood, bugs like maggots and grasshoppers, Thai coconut ice cream, pancake hot dog thingy with bacon, had durian ice cream.
Seen some ancient temples with 55 m tall Buddha statue, seen Khao San road, Been on scooter and water taxi. Driver of scooter taxi was some tiny girl who just raced through city, into oncoming traffic and between massive trucks. Besides being fun in a country with a highest road accident rate is also fastest way to get around city. Water taxis are fairly chill and it is good way to see how people live in bungalows next to river.
Made new friends from Hong Kong and China, learned more about Thai culture and life. Acclimatized to 40 degree heat with 90% of humidity. This apparently feels like 62 C.
I have learned to cook 4 different Thai dishes. Done morning swim in a rooftop pool at 6 am. Have been sleeping on average 4 hours every night, but still going 110%. I was appointed as an executive strategic consultant for a hostel.
Done 3 BJJ sessions in local gym and later had drinks with local expats in a bar. I have seen those Bangkok red light districts and been on top of the highest building in Bangkok.
Also I will be featured in CNN article near future. Have had business lunch and singlehandedly initiated global organisation expansion to Australia. I think that is all from my week in Bangkok and I haven’t forgotten anything.
Right now I am on overnight train to Chiang Mai. It is just fraction of cheaper than flying but culturally multiple times more immersive.
Just the feeling of road is amazing. Travel mojo is back.
Getting taxi from airport was easy enough, explaining to taxi driver my where my hostel is, close to impossible. Dude couldn't speak word in English or even read the address in English. Somehow we managed to work it trough and with broken automatic gearbox with 5000 rpm on dashboard and messy driving with occasional mumbling in Thai I was heading to hostel.
Hostel itself was nice but fairly quiet, not that many people around. Next to hostel was street market, not a big surprise as I learned, Bangkok is one massive street market. I was almost run over by one scooter that this city is proliferated by. Got me self a random piece of chicken from one of street vendors for my first dinner in Bangkok.
Bangkok is messy city. There is fresh meat and fish on market. All the guts and fluids from these is all around place. Sewage from lines from building run directly into river next to market and all this culminates in a smell that almost made me throw up. What is even worse than smell that makes you almost throw up? Seeing some dude cook rice in middle all of this. It is not that bad everywhere, but overall city scenery can be bit of a shock. There is certain beauty to it, but definitely not for everyone.
Being back on road was kind of weird after long time. Oz had definitely spoiled me and I felt I had lost my travel mojo, being in a new place after living almost 2 years in one place. I tried to not let this bother me too much and do what you do while on road. Some random stuff. Backpacking can be many things, there is no one standard for traveling and doing things, but I hate wasting time and for me backpacking is holiday on steroids. I literally refuse to take a break and say no to whatever is going on. After a week in Bangkok I have seen the major markets, bought some random street food without having any idea what I was eating. These have included bucket full of random seafood, bugs like maggots and grasshoppers, Thai coconut ice cream, pancake hot dog thingy with bacon, had durian ice cream.
Seen some ancient temples with 55 m tall Buddha statue, seen Khao San road, Been on scooter and water taxi. Driver of scooter taxi was some tiny girl who just raced through city, into oncoming traffic and between massive trucks. Besides being fun in a country with a highest road accident rate is also fastest way to get around city. Water taxis are fairly chill and it is good way to see how people live in bungalows next to river.
Made new friends from Hong Kong and China, learned more about Thai culture and life. Acclimatized to 40 degree heat with 90% of humidity. This apparently feels like 62 C.
I have learned to cook 4 different Thai dishes. Done morning swim in a rooftop pool at 6 am. Have been sleeping on average 4 hours every night, but still going 110%. I was appointed as an executive strategic consultant for a hostel.
Done 3 BJJ sessions in local gym and later had drinks with local expats in a bar. I have seen those Bangkok red light districts and been on top of the highest building in Bangkok.
Also I will be featured in CNN article near future. Have had business lunch and singlehandedly initiated global organisation expansion to Australia. I think that is all from my week in Bangkok and I haven’t forgotten anything.
Right now I am on overnight train to Chiang Mai. It is just fraction of cheaper than flying but culturally multiple times more immersive.
Just the feeling of road is amazing. Travel mojo is back.
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