Thailand Chronicles: Bangkok
I didn't think I was going to make it. Squirming in my seat going stir-crazy. Sure, the on-flight movies were great but after watching 6 in a row, your brain starts to hurt a bit. But I was proud of myself for surviving the 30+ hours of traveling and arriving halfway across the globe to Bangkok after a STL > CHI > Tokyo > Bangkok adventure to meet my sister for a two week trip of a lifetime. Having obviously never been to Bangkok before and having intentionally NOT watched Hangover 2 before coming here, I had no idea what to expect. Bangkok is a city of 7 million people who are constantly on the go. For a third world, developing country, my senses were flip flopping from the glamorous Western malls, skyscrapers, and wealthy business men to the shacks, beggers, and stench of trash.
Our time in Bangkok was short (48 hours) but provided enough time for me to adjust to the 15 hour time change and recognize that "people who look like me" were not at every turn. I was in a strange, new land. We had a nice time in Bangkok visiting the Grand Palace (the king is highly revered), touring the city in a tuk tuk, traveling the river by boat, navigating Chinatown, drinking Mango Margaritas from the rooftop Vertigo bar overlooking the city, and avoiding as best we could the countless scammers looking to take advantage of Westerners without a clue. While I enjoyed my time in Bangkok, the smog, hustle and bustle of the amped up city, the constant need to keep your "guard up," and the incessant in-your-face "Sexy Ping Pong" advertisers (selling sex show tickets) made me eager and ready to leave. I was hoping our next destination, Lampang, about 8 hours north of Bangkok and not as well a traveled destination would make me feel more relaxed and help get me into the "holiday spirit"
The photos below highlight some of our adventure in Bangkok:
View from the rooftop bar. Fitting farewell to Bangkok.
Our time in Bangkok was short (48 hours) but provided enough time for me to adjust to the 15 hour time change and recognize that "people who look like me" were not at every turn. I was in a strange, new land. We had a nice time in Bangkok visiting the Grand Palace (the king is highly revered), touring the city in a tuk tuk, traveling the river by boat, navigating Chinatown, drinking Mango Margaritas from the rooftop Vertigo bar overlooking the city, and avoiding as best we could the countless scammers looking to take advantage of Westerners without a clue. While I enjoyed my time in Bangkok, the smog, hustle and bustle of the amped up city, the constant need to keep your "guard up," and the incessant in-your-face "Sexy Ping Pong" advertisers (selling sex show tickets) made me eager and ready to leave. I was hoping our next destination, Lampang, about 8 hours north of Bangkok and not as well a traveled destination would make me feel more relaxed and help get me into the "holiday spirit"
The photos below highlight some of our adventure in Bangkok:
Chinatown celebrating the impending Chinese New Year!
oh, tuk tuks. how you elude and trick us poor tourists!
This Buddha was HUGE!
Shacks from the shore. A sign of the poverty in Bangkok.
One of many photos taken at the Grand Palace.
Mango Margaritas our final night in Bangkok!
View from the rooftop bar. Fitting farewell to Bangkok.
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