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As one may or may not know, I am not the best flyer. Those that have been fortunate enough to have flown with me will be familiar with the panic attacks & tears that occur during turbulence & landing. Thankfully, my 9+ hour flight to Bangkok was panic attack & tear-free thanks to my wonderful friend: Valium. My new BFF knocked me out for the first few hours of the flight & kept me calm during many bumps that were felt throughout the flight. Even when I was using the Lavatory & we hit a bumpy patch, I just held on to the basin & was more concerned about the lack of soap than the bumpy ride. Haha. Valium, you did your job well.
Actually, you did your job a little to well. You made me so damn calm that I walked away from the ATM at Bangkok Airport with my cash, but without my keycard. (At least i remembered the cash right!) You also left me so calm that I paid a fixed rate for a cab & didn't even notice that he hasn't put on the metre! Wtf!?? I always ask for the metre as soon as I get in a cab. I've even hopped out of a cab at 2am in Brisbane cause I wanted the metre in instead of paying the fixed $10 price (but that's another story). Thanks Valium, but not sure if we are going to work long term. It's not you, it's me...
Anywho.. As I was riding along in the Taxi (in my dazed & ultra-calm state), it was quite evident that I wasn't in the wonderful land of Oz any more. It wasn't the spiderweb of a free way, with its overpasses, on ramps, off ramps & continual web of confusion. It wasn't the gigantic billboards that were 3 times the size of any in Oz. is wasn't the hundreds of powerlines that dangle dangerously close to the ground, or the 7-11s sorted along the street every 200m. It wasn't the foreign music in the cab as we went along. It wasn't the blatemt disregard for road rules, traffic lights, speed limits, seat belts or safety on the roads. Nor was it the stalls & markets that lined the streets as I arrived.. It was, undoubtably, the smell.
Hello Bangkok - I can smell you from here!
After the confusion & panic that ensued after arriving at my Hotel & realizing that I lost my card already, I settled into my hotel & actually got a decent nights sleep. I was pleasantly surprised to awake at 5.30am. Pleasantly you ask? Why yes! It was a pleasant surprise considering the time difference & my usual early rising time of 5am each day (i.e. 2am Thailand time), for me to slept till 5.30, which is 8.30am back home. To be honest, I couldn't slept for longer had my hunger pains not awoken me. My stomach is clearly on the tight schedule that its used too! I was immediately famished as soon as I awoke & decide to skull a bottle of water in the hopes if calming my angered empty stomach. Thankfully this helped, but was useless in my attempted to return to sleep. So I got up & went exploring. Waking around Bangkok at 7am on a Sunday morning is quite eerie. Nothing's open except the 7-11s. No ones around. Everything is quiet, & u just wonder if you've stepped into an alternate universe. I walked around with my whiny tummy for an hour, before heading back to a cafe next to my hotel (brekkie not included, my hotel is THAT dodgy). Best $4 feed I have ever had: Omlette, ham, Toast, Juice & cup of Tea. #Winning!
I inhaled my food once again & then wandered back to the hotel to pack my bags & head to the Chatuchak markets. These are the biggest weekend markets in the world. I can verify that title: I got lost. Very lost. In fact, I think I spent my whole 6 hours lost. I arrived just on 9am as all the stalls were opening & found this AMAZING top that I love. I walked away without buying it, thinking 'its ok, there will be heaps if stalls there with that top'. Fail! Couldn't find that top or that stall ever again. In fact I walked around the markets 4-5 times, weaving my way through various alleys without success. I saw some stalls 5 times, but never again did I do my brilliant grey & black stripy top :( I did however eat some street food, something the resembled a curry puff & a sausage of unknown meat-origin. It was white meat, but it was not pork of chicken. It tasted nice & I haven't thrown it up yet, so it must be ok. Haha. I did need a foot massage tho & spent the $5 it cost to get one. I also splurged on a make up bag, 2 dresses & 3 tops. Spending $30 for the day, including my street food, banana smoothie & the 20min taxis each way. Gosh I love Asia!
I returned to my room about 3 & changed into a shirt to avoid any further sunburn. I then spent 2 or so hours wandering around my hotel area, including Khao San Rd (500m away) & just scoping out the area. Found out that I am TERRIBLE at crossing the road. Apparently being a Health & Safety rep & living with a mining employee makes you really awake of safety - so everyone else runs across the road while I wait for the green man like a loser - Monks were crossing the road while I waited!! Haha. I did stumble onto this great cafe tho, which is where I sit right now & I'm about to get back to the hotel to check in with my tour group, so we can head to Cambodia first thing tomorrow morning.
As my first 24 hours in Bangkok come to a close, I feel it's ironic that I'm writing this while sitting at a sidewalk cafe. Having just inhaled my delicious & cheap chicken & basil (with too much Chilli for my mouth I handle!) & sipping on my moderately chilled Tiger Beer. I've literally been by myself for over 24 hours now (including the flight) & am loving every second that I've spent with my new fried Bangkok (Valium & I aren't going to work long term though). Hopefully my roommate for the tour doesn't drive me bonkers, but I guess that'll all b part of the experience hey.
Will post when I have wifi, but will do so as often as possible.
Much love x
- comments
Heato Ohhhh my god! Love it, your story cracked me up! Stay safe Xx