Here we are! After a 10 hours unbearable economy flight on a KLM Boeing, we landed in flooded BKK. The view from the plane was quite discouraging, as the airport surrounding fields were totally flooded. However the situation in the center is totally safe with plenty of food, drinks, tuk tuk and street vendors around.

The hotel we are staying is super cool. Top location - near Khao San Road - but still hidden enough to give a sense of staying in a non-touristy area and hang around with the locals. The hotel is called Lamphu Tree, check it out http://www.lamphutreehotel.com/ and stay here during your next trip to BKK. (thanks Daniele for the recommendation)

We've been cruising the center of town with all mode of transportation. Mainly walking and exploring local markets. Mandy is totally fascinated by these markets. We were in Chinatown today and went crazy on a delicious Chinese street meal (see pictures).

Mandy is also delighted to be admired by the locals as a beauty queen. She in fact discovered that Thai guys love pale skinned girls. So every time she is dressed up in the evening and walk around town, I have to constantly hear guy's comments about her: flirtatious smiles, friendly "hellos" and cheeky blinks behind my back. Anyway, I decided not to say anything and not to be jealous. At least for the first few days ;)

But what's up with Asians' obsession with pale skin? Well, obviously it is a trait that goes way back to the old days when rural poor people were forcefully darker to the long hours exposed to sunshine in the fields. Middle class and upper class defended their pale skin as a badge of honor, which then turned into an aspirational synonymous of beauty.

Nothing wrong with that, but I kind of feel the beauty industry is fuelling this perception to the max to sustain their business based on artificial consumer's needs. We noticed beauty salons at every corner and beauty products that promise an unnatural pale skin to dark skinned Thai girls. The result is a bunch of fake looking chicks hanging around town, victimized by tons of billboards, tv ads etc., featuring Eurasian dollies projecting a non-natural benchmark of beauty.

This is what jealousy makes me go on about ;)

Time to pack our bags now. Tomorrow we are off to the Thai/Cambodia Eastern border, heading to Siem Reap and the splendid temples of the Anghor empire.

Lots of love,

Mandy & Ale