Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Made it in one piece there or there abouts, to Thailand!! I think I was genuinely more nervous about the move from Australia to Asia , than I was before I even left England! Flying in, with a window seat was incredible, the landscape is so vast and exactly how you'd imagine it to be.. after getting off the plane haven eaten 2 breakfasts at already 10am.. consisting of spicy prawn curry and rice and chicken curry (ha can deffo get used to wierd spicy breakfasts) I took the sky train to my hostel in siam square. The train itself was a really perfect way to get a full idea and picture of bangkok and its outside surroundings. You had an array of different coloured huts on stilts, with lots of marsh land, water, palm trees the ipitome of thailand. There were the most beautiful intriquete houses right next to the most run down ruins and squalor.
The train itself was jam packed full of Thai people all crammed together wearing face masks.. my first thoughts that came to mind was oooohh no not bird flu, I looked so out of place.. my big back pack knocking into everyone, sweat rolling down my red tomato face. After getting a few different trains with great difficulty and getting lost for a good 45 minutes walking past my hostel about 3 or 4 times till I eventually found it, I was about ready to just curl up and pick my spot for the night on the road.
On first impressions I'd like to say my hostel is lovely, it is.. except for the fact that since this first statement I have had the delight of getting bitten to shreds by bed bugs all down the side I was sleeping, my face is covered in them. But I guess this is all part of the par of travelling.. all things exotic, bugs included. The hostel is so quiet and has aircon, its so easy to be in your room and forget where you are until you walk out the door and everything hits you in one big wave! The heat gets you first, I've never really experienced heat where it almost chokes you so you feel like you cannot breath, then the noise hits you, cars beeping constantly, the men shouting after you for 'tuk tuk'. Then comes the ocean of different smells, some of which pleasant others not so much. Rows and Rows of food stalls adorn the road sides all of which harbour the most unusual but most delicous foods. Theres jars of scorpians, fish, sushi, chicken, things I cant seem decipher dipped into other things. I tried this fish and rice dish which cost like 60p and it was delicious, so spicy though even i struggled and we all know how much I enjoy my hot food. So I dont think this food is for the faint hearted who like lemon and herb at nandos! Unfortunatly or fortunatly which ever way you look at it, its so hot food couldn't be further from my mind. Atleast this way i might actually loose some of my Australian chunk!
Honestly my brain on the first day just felt like it was going to explode so much to take in and see, its so chaotic. Not even organised chaos just pure craziness every where. I took a wander into the MBK shopping centre in Sian square which jam packed with everything you could possibly ever sell all under one roof! I happened to walk onto the 5th floor first without realising it was the electrical floor. I have never seen so many Iphones, Ipads, Blackberrys, cameras.. you name it anything electrical they have it. So many flashing lights and noises and people knocking into you. After 3 hours sleep I was so over whelmed I hastely retracked back to my hostel to pull myself together until the next morning.
So the next morning, I took a taxi to Khao san road. Other experience in itself, you have to pull the taxis off the side of the road and barter with them a price as they try rip you off, they also try to take you to every other place except your chosen destination. Theres constant traffic jams, with people walking in an out of these selling things into car doors, I really cant explain what another world it is.. yet it is beautiful in its own defined little way, would be even more beautiful if i was some how invisible.
Once I got to Khao san, I again dont think i mentally prepared myself for the heat, noise and constant being bombarded... You literally drip with sweat after a minute, theres no actual way to stop it from happening. I've chosen to embrace it, if indeed you can embrace sweat. Stall after stall of clothing, bracelets, bags, shoes you name it they alined the street. I walked up and down trying to find this so called travel agent to sort all my visas out for India, Laos and Cambodia. I must look so lost half the time and in my niavity I honestly thought alot of thai people would speak english, turns out they dont. Ive spent alot of time the past 2 days pointing to books and trying to spell things out phenetically. But in all honesty its better that way, I came for experiences like this. I dont want it to be easy or I'd of stayed in England, it really is such an eye opener. That evening after I went to take a leisurely stroll and grab some more thai road side cuisine when i stumbelled across the sian night market, oh my god its shopaholics gate way to heaven! I was like a kid in a candy shop I didnt know which was to look where to turn, but actually the mass of sweaty crowds pushing me along seemed to solve this. I have never seen so much cheap clothing in my life, all stuff from home such as topshop but of course in the tiniest sizes imaginable. Tops and shirts for 50p seems like utter insanity, but yet im deffinatly not complaining. Even ate sushi with angry bird prints on it, seriously I dont why I keep being suprised by all this!
Tonight I have a 14 hour bus journey to Phuket which I can't imagine is going to be too enjoyable, but again embrasing It And I'm just sooooooo excited to head down south hit the beaches and drink some cheap vodka!
- comments
Chynna Ah Gracie you are so brave!! I envy you so much and these blogs are making me want to travel even more!! Lots of hugs and kisses xxx
MD Wow aaaaaaaaaamazing G. Thanks for this blog. The way you have described this, I could almost be there. Keep safe and well xxx
Phil Totally amazing!! Xx
nannysue Oh Gracie, so lovely to get another blog....I was getting withdrawal symptoms! Travel safe. xxxxxluv ya.
Sophie Tuk tuk !! Thinking of you lot