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Jade, Charlie, Alex, and I met for breakfast at 8 am. We got to select our breakfast from a menu; either fried or scrambled eggs, or an asian breakfast. Alex, who is a vegetarian informed the waitress that she did not want any meat. However, they brought out the regular meal that had meat and she had to tell them again no meat. They then looked really confused and did not seem to understand, then finally another waitress confirmed that she did not want any meat and they rushed back and eventually provided her with a dish that was meatless. After breakfast Alex and Charlie had to go shower and get their laundry; while Jade and I continued to sit and talk until Alex came back down and had to head off to the bus station. We said goodbye to her and then I headed up to the room to get ready. At 10:40, Charlie had to leave and since Jade and her were sharing a room, Jade put her belongings into mine since we were heading to the airport together. Jade then went off to get a massage and came back around 11:30 and then we had to check out at 12. Unfortunately, I missed saying goodbye to Megan and Adele, as they checked out before 12 pm.
Since Jade and I had another hour to kill before heading to the airport, we asked a travel agent at the hotel if she knew of any temples that were close by for us to walk to. She provided us with a map and circled a temple for us. However, we quickly discovered that the map was not accurrate and that the roads we were on were not listed on the map; so we had no idea where we were going. But to our surprise, we came across a temple on almost every block we walked. So we stopped and looked at a couple of them before it was time to head back to the hotel, to grab our stuff and head to the airport.
Jade and I parted at the airport, as she had to make her way to the international side of the port. After I got my plane ticket, I had no clue where I was supposed to go, so I wandered around the airport for a bit and went into a room in which I do not think I was supposed to. I finally realized that since the airport was so tiny, the only other option for me was to go up the elevator and the gate must be there. Thankfully it was! The flight was empty and I had a full row to myself. The Bangkok Airways safety video is interesting, they transformed it into a song and dance routine that provides all of the standard information. Furthermore, I have found that all of the flights I have taken domestically in Thailand provide a full course meal which is great! So for a late lunch I got some cold cut turkey meat, a bun, potato salad, and a blueberry crisp for dessert.
Once I landed in Bangkok I walked towards the public taxi area and its an odd system. All of the taxi drivers stand in a line and as people walk out of the airport they go to a stand where a lady writes down where you are going and provide you with a piece of paper and the taxi driver with the other half. The piece of paper informs you that you have to pay an additional 50 THB on top of the meter, but the airport has nothing to do with the extra charges. About 5 minutes after I took off in the taxi, I found out that the taxi driver had no idea where my hotel was located. I provided him with the name of the hotel and the address and he still seemed confused but seemed to have a general idea. He could barely read the paper and kept telling me that the name of the hotel was too small, when I showed him my phone. I did read prior to this experience that taxi drivers are not required to know the city and where everything is, all they require is a driving license to drive a taxi. However, with no ability to print off a map, I hoped that it wouldn't happen to me. After driving for a while, he still seemed confused and asked if I had the phone number of the hotel, in which I said "yes" and he then wanted me to call and I told him "no, because it will cost me too much, but he could call the number if he wants on his cell." He never called. At one point the taxi driver pulled over to the side and asked to see the piece of paper that only had the hotels name on it, so he could ask some people on the street where it was located. At this point I was getting annoyed and the meter continued to run as he tried to discuss the hotel to others for around 5 minutes. When he returned he said that they didn't know where the hotel was, but there was one hotel that was large and around the train station in which he thought was it. He again asked me to call the hotel and I said "no, I would not call" and then asked him to use his cell phone to contact them because it would be free and he is the one driving and it would cost me too much money. He then gave me attitude and said that he was not willing to call. So I figured he could just drop me off at the random hotel and I would catch another taxi because I was losing my patiences with him. He dropped me off at the Bangkok Centre Hotel, which I knew was wrong because that was the hotel that we ended the Lao and Thailand tour in and the hotel I was supposed to start in was Centra Central Station Hotel Bangkok. I got my things out of the taxi and had to pay 400 THB, although I thought it was going to only be 325, but he added an additionl 75 THB for the tolls. I went into the hotel and checked with the front desk agent to see if the reservation was at the hotel, it was not. When I tried to ask the ladies where the other hotel was, they first did not understand, so I had to keep repeating myself. I was annoyed. Then the taxi driver came back in because he had my piece of paper and he over heard my conversation that I didn't have a reservation here and them telling me where the other hotel was located. The other hotel was a 5 minute drive from the current hotel. I did not want the current taxi driver to drive me to the correct hotel but he was adamant and placed my bag back into his taxi. I watched the meter to make sure he would not charge me any more baht for his mistakes; thankfully he did not. But when heading to the correct hotel he made a remark that indicated that it was my fault for him not knowing where it was: "its the central hotel not centra." Although, both are in the hotels name and I provided him with the name and address numerous times. Nonetheless, I made it to the correct hotel. I do not understand why he took me if he did not know where to go, and why they rely on tourists to know exactly where things are supposed to be in a foriegn city; where they themselves have lived for the majority of their lives. It is beyond annoying. But guess now I know.
Once I got into my hotel room it was around 6 pm and I just relaxed and watched some movies and news on the tv. On the plus side, I do like some of the stations they provide here. Three of the news stations: Australian Network, Channel News Asia, and Al-Jazeera are really good and informative. So I am happy to be informed of what is happening around the world. Especially, since whenever I am on the tour I am too busy to watch tv.. so I have no idea of what is happening. So it is nice to catch up. Plus, they all provide insight on other interesting stories.
So that was my long, frustrating day.
- comments
Dad Your doing okay, somedays will be more hectic especially travelling from airports to hotels. Your learning and seeing lots, so enjoy.