When I stepped on the road, it reminded me of (ok, I know this will provoke some opinionsJ) Camden High Street with tropical temperature and minuscule prices. I wish I had been fast enough to capture that blurry eyed drunken English girl with a I<3 Khao San Road t-shirt holding a massive portion of Pad Thai from the street stall (cost 35 bahts=90 cents) and at least as massive bottle of Chang beer in hand. This place is strange and I haven't decided if I like it or not. Local people are used to tourists, and regardless of it (or because of it) they don't show their tiredness and angriness to us who ruined the place (like in Barcelona). They smile and they offer service. My watch was fixed today by a street mechanic. When I looked those skilled movements in the little street stall, I couldn't but be impressed. In a less than a minute the watch was opened, fixed and closed. I went to change a battery for the same watch not long ago and it took notably longer time, fixing it apparently would have taken 10 days.

When you look at the tourists strolling down San Khao Road, you think: all these people have chosen this destination and yet there are so many different types. The typical young backpacker, the over tanned anorectic bony granny in teenage clothing that make you finish your plate, young families with a baby , who chose instead of Phuket to see something not "suitable for them", the older men with pretty Thai girls, the cool Thai teenagers (with money), who come for a date to the unconventional street.

Food is amazing for a Thai food lover like me. I wanted to eat on a local market today. I was breathing in the aromas of the street market.. lemon grass, chili, some things I only know the scent and flavour but not the name… until a rat almost ran over my feet… well, here feet is considered dirty anyway.. It seems that Thais leave shoes outside everywhere and whatever service you opt for they seem to first clean your feet with wet tower (I wonder if prostitutes do that as well…). Right now there is a tiny pair of women's shoes outside the hotel room of the older guy met at the pool today. If you don't count the rubbish on the streets (there are no bins anywhere) Thais seem to be into hygiene. I guess it's some measure of education and manners (like in in Central America where washing hands and reminding people to do so by "did you wash your hands" sings outside the bathroom). Now I was slightly perplexed when going to waxing (please skip this if you have no interest in things like hair removal).I was given a towel and shown to a shower room.Alright then, I thought. And surely I see the point after having seen how meticulously the woman concentrated on the bikini waxing. After the waxing again I was given a towel and asked to check if it was done well enough!!!

But let's get back to food nowJ Those who have eaten with me many times enough, know I like it spicy. So you won't be surprised I decided to order a portion of red curry and asked it spicy. My hot red curry (shame again I took no photo) was literally covered and mixed in red fresh very hot looking chili and that is exactly how it tasted! I became to understand a point of drinking beer, and ordered another big one … after a half an hour my mouth and lips were still burning. If you ever wondered if it just a feeling I can tell you it is not: it also makes your face red as I figured when checking the toilet mirror.. While eating (it took a while to finish my food) I realised the politeness of Thai people goes further than providing a good service. The place is full of sales men and women, scarves, wooden bowls, hats, bracelets ( I couldn't but help overhearing the Germans in the next table correcting the girl selling the bracelets with a text "I like to sex" for the grammar!!!) and having a conversation about the grammar afterwards. Now these sales people will not sell you while eating. One guy who offered me a flashing light (haven't figured out what they are used for yet), but when he realized I was eating, he apologized.

The best hits of 2012 are playing loud in my room, and Im waiting the neighbours to start slamming the door soon.. and then I remember, no it's not me, I'm just living Khao San Road! The next stop shall be more peaceful loction: I'm excited to fly to Hat Yai in the South and take a boat to the island of Ko Lipe tomorrow.