I set my alarm for 7.10 this morning to ensure that I was awake with plenty of time to allow for cleansing, a spot of breakfast and reach the New Road Guest House which was close to the hostel by 8.45, this where a small group was meeting before heading off at 9 for a tour of the backwaters of Bangkok.
I didn't sleep.
At 6.30 I switched off my alarm and listened to a little music before getting up and running through my pretour checklist and then made my way to the meeting point where I arrived at 8.55. Bit of a close call.
To say it was a small group would be pretty accurate, but the other 3 already knew each other so I was the outsider. They went out of their way to ensure I didn't feel that way though. There was Christian and Anne-Marie, a brother and sister from Germany and their friend from China who's name eluded me at the time, and still does now.
After a small walk we reached the pier where our narrow boat was waiting to take us along the angry looking Chao Phraya River. These boats were not built with 6ft plus people in mind and as I clambered onboard clumsily and strapped on my life jacket, i wondered if it was only me who was doubting their decision to book up.
After a relatively short and choppy ride up river we waited and cooked briefly in the still air as the lock gates that contol the level of the backwaters were manipulated to let us through. After which we were into canal territory and the life jackets were no longer required. This meant that I could breath again and enjoy the rest of the tour which took in religious temples, riverside art centres and flower farms before finally leaving us at Wat Arun to make whatever we chose of the rest of our (by now bloody hot) day. The others chose to climb the temple, I chose not to. So I wished them well and told them if they survived the climb in that heat, I would buy them a beer if I saw them again. I hope I do.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Arun
So leaving them behind I caught the ferry back across the river before trying to get hold of a map, I had left mine at the hostel. I was offered a ride in a Tuk Tuk to the shopping area in Siam Square where the driver would wait for me, then take me to an other temple which, luckily for me was only open Saturdays (joy) before then delivering me to my base of operations in Silom for 60 baht. Explaining that I wasn't a gullible twit I insisted that I didn't want to do all the other running around so the price then jumped to 400 baht for what was a shorter and more direct trip. Nothing fishy there then I thought and explained that in my own way for them by getting out of the tuk tuk and walking off. I had seen they guys map that he had been writing prices down on, and that's all I needed.
I walked back to the riverside and caught one of the river boats back down river to an area where I could jump on the BTS sky train, Bangkoks direct rail system which would take me close to where I would be staying this evening. Total price of ferry and train, 43 baht. Tuk tat unt party.
Walking back things went a little "hangover 2" with a little guy offering me "ladies", "something else maybe" whilst imaginarily sniffing something off the back of his hand, and "weeeeed?"
Why the hell would I want to sniff something inaginary off the back of a weird little guys hand?
That's just pushing it, even for here....
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Friday, 4 October 2013
Lumphini Park - Here Be Dragons
Today I saw a man stroking his pussy in public. After all the warnings of how crazy and perverse Bangkok was, I wasn't ready for that.
I awoke late, there are no windows in the new dorm so the realisation it was past 11am was somewhat of a shock, but I presume I needed the sleep.
Showered and prepped with a spot of blood on my chin from a nick whilst shaving, I wandered down stairs and ordered the full continental breakfast which consisted of croissant, 2 slices of toast and jam, coffee, juice and a banana. The price was stupidly cheap as usual but that bears no relation to quality here, it was a good size, tasty and nutritional start to the day.
After that began today's stroll. I left right then righted left, wandering along the main road for 20 minutes or so past shopping stalls, malls and a guy drumming the sound of the city on everyday rubbish until I reached Lumphini Park, Bangkok's version of New York's Central Park where cyclists cycle, runners run, marshal arts are practiced along with dance moves and performances, and as previously alluded to, a man sat stroking his pussy.
To be fair it might not have been his. There are lots of cats here, just lazing the days away, along with a few stray dogs, fish and monitor lizards.
The first one shocked me and each one I saw after as I walked around the park was progressively larger than the last. Apparently they have been known to attack people, No mention of those in my rough guide.
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/118093-man-attacks-monitor-lizard-in-lumpini/
I used the 135 focal length on my camera lens to good effect and stayed right out of the way. Nasty looking buggers. They are related to Komodo Dragons apparently, who are also nasty looking buggers.
I remember seeing a documentary once where Steve Irwin was chased through the wilderness before finally scrambling up a tree to escape a Komodo Dragon who had tasted the blood in the air of a small cut that Steve had managed to pick up on his leg whist stalking it through the bracken.
I thought about the nick on my chin. Could that thing taste it? He was kind of looking at me funny.
Perhaps he had read my blog.
After I arrived back at the hostel I decided to blow a chunk of my budget on booking a couple of tours that would see me through to the 13th, which is when I depart Bangkok on a tour which should sees me through Cambodia and into Vietnam by the 23rd.
The first one, tomorrow takes me through the backwaters of Bangkok and ends close to the grand palace. I will need to take my jeans as apparently ankles must be covered.
Then on Monday I am taking a 3 day tour to Kanchanaburi and it's surrounding areas to hopefully see amazing waterfalls, exotic wildlife and the harrowing site of the bridge over the River Kwai. It should be a tour to push emotions in opposing directions. I think it will change me.
After that I'll be back in Bangkok for four days until the 13th.
I'm sure Bangkok has enough to keep me occupied for those days.
It is, as I'm slowly discovering, quite a exciting and diverse place to be, albeit a little bloody hot.
Additional Entry.
I wandered up the street this evening away from the hustle and bustle of Pat Pong which lays a few blocks down from where I'm residing this evening. In one of the classier bars there was a lady performing a beautiful rendition of Lenka's "The Show" complete with missing letters, which just added to its charm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elsh3J5lJ6g
Just seems quite apt at this moment in time, I urge anyone who is wondering about where I am at the moment to give it a listen.
Plus it's a great lil' tune.
I awoke late, there are no windows in the new dorm so the realisation it was past 11am was somewhat of a shock, but I presume I needed the sleep.
Showered and prepped with a spot of blood on my chin from a nick whilst shaving, I wandered down stairs and ordered the full continental breakfast which consisted of croissant, 2 slices of toast and jam, coffee, juice and a banana. The price was stupidly cheap as usual but that bears no relation to quality here, it was a good size, tasty and nutritional start to the day.
After that began today's stroll. I left right then righted left, wandering along the main road for 20 minutes or so past shopping stalls, malls and a guy drumming the sound of the city on everyday rubbish until I reached Lumphini Park, Bangkok's version of New York's Central Park where cyclists cycle, runners run, marshal arts are practiced along with dance moves and performances, and as previously alluded to, a man sat stroking his pussy.
To be fair it might not have been his. There are lots of cats here, just lazing the days away, along with a few stray dogs, fish and monitor lizards.
The first one shocked me and each one I saw after as I walked around the park was progressively larger than the last. Apparently they have been known to attack people, No mention of those in my rough guide.
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/118093-man-attacks-monitor-lizard-in-lumpini/
I used the 135 focal length on my camera lens to good effect and stayed right out of the way. Nasty looking buggers. They are related to Komodo Dragons apparently, who are also nasty looking buggers.
I remember seeing a documentary once where Steve Irwin was chased through the wilderness before finally scrambling up a tree to escape a Komodo Dragon who had tasted the blood in the air of a small cut that Steve had managed to pick up on his leg whist stalking it through the bracken.
I thought about the nick on my chin. Could that thing taste it? He was kind of looking at me funny.
Perhaps he had read my blog.
After I arrived back at the hostel I decided to blow a chunk of my budget on booking a couple of tours that would see me through to the 13th, which is when I depart Bangkok on a tour which should sees me through Cambodia and into Vietnam by the 23rd.
The first one, tomorrow takes me through the backwaters of Bangkok and ends close to the grand palace. I will need to take my jeans as apparently ankles must be covered.
Then on Monday I am taking a 3 day tour to Kanchanaburi and it's surrounding areas to hopefully see amazing waterfalls, exotic wildlife and the harrowing site of the bridge over the River Kwai. It should be a tour to push emotions in opposing directions. I think it will change me.
After that I'll be back in Bangkok for four days until the 13th.
I'm sure Bangkok has enough to keep me occupied for those days.
It is, as I'm slowly discovering, quite a exciting and diverse place to be, albeit a little bloody hot.
Additional Entry.
I wandered up the street this evening away from the hustle and bustle of Pat Pong which lays a few blocks down from where I'm residing this evening. In one of the classier bars there was a lady performing a beautiful rendition of Lenka's "The Show" complete with missing letters, which just added to its charm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elsh3J5lJ6g
Just seems quite apt at this moment in time, I urge anyone who is wondering about where I am at the moment to give it a listen.
Plus it's a great lil' tune.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Bangkok day 3 - still no feedback from Palin, but I guess he's busy
Last night I woke with low sugars, its not a nice feeling and it took about an hour, several glucose tablets and half a tub of cheap imitation Pringles before it was safe to sleep again. The climate is causing havoc and I need to gain control of it quickly or. Else I will have no option but to abandon the S.S South East Asia and all that sail in her. This isn't my intention, but sometimes reality bites and I have to acknowledge that.
Then again, occasionally I bite back so let's not write it off yet.
The latest I could leave the hostel was 12, I ran it damn close. I'm pretty sure my bag has shrunk in the heat as the same stuff I had checked in with no longer fitted. I jettisoned a few of the small items I had picked up for the flight in to make room and finally I was ready to roll.I had several days clothing I had failed to get cleaned and dried properly so that made up the bulk of the contents of my smaller 10 litre bag that piggy backed off the larger one just in case someone else wanted to steal my bag and do my laundry for me.
I was due at the embassy at 4 to collect my visa so decided to spend the time wandering up through the cooler malls stopping on the way for food and drinks. After the sugar low the previous night I decided that I had better try to get my food and liquid intake up to try and avoid the same thing happening again. I also needed some alternative footwear as these trainers were starting to feel a little uncomfortable.
Upon leaving one of the malls a smartly dressed man approached me and told me I was a strong man, a great man and he could this see by the 3 strong lines on my forehead. I wondered if he thought I was Gorden Ramsey.
He also told me I had 2 weaknesses and for 2 baht he would tell me everything. I didn't pay him, I already knew what they were. Bad eyesight and forgetfulness.
I had left my glasses in the shoe shop.
I walked the rest of the way to the embassy, picked up my visa then embarked on finding a taxi to get me to the next hostel I was staying in. I ended up in a tuktuk.
The thing weaved quickly through the traffic and the accompanying breeze was welcomed. The traffic in Bangkok is busy, there are taxis in the form of cars, tuktuks and on the back of motorcycles which weave through the traffic with buttered like ease. It should be chaos but it isn't, it works because no one gets angry or frustrated defending their lanes, someone undertakes, overtakes, whatever, the traffic carries on regardless.
I arrive at the new hostel and the staff are very welcoming. The lady said that the staff from the other hostel had phoned though that I was coming and that I was a nice a polite man. I told them that maybe someone else was due.
The rooms in this hostel are 8 bed rather than 4 but are nicer for it. The whole place has a lovely communal feel and I was welcomed into the dorm by a warm couple who were busy planning their onward travel. Downstairs the lobby has more in keeping with a well run hotel than most peoples preconceived idea of what a hostel looks like. there is also has a laundry room here so as I write this my other clothes are currently being thoroughly cleansed
I've never been so happy to see a laundry room in all my life.
I have booked here for 2 nights whilst I decide whether to dip out to a beach for a week before my tour begins next Sunday, or remain here to explore Bangkok more thoroughly, I feel I haven't done so yet.
Then again, occasionally I bite back so let's not write it off yet.
The latest I could leave the hostel was 12, I ran it damn close. I'm pretty sure my bag has shrunk in the heat as the same stuff I had checked in with no longer fitted. I jettisoned a few of the small items I had picked up for the flight in to make room and finally I was ready to roll.I had several days clothing I had failed to get cleaned and dried properly so that made up the bulk of the contents of my smaller 10 litre bag that piggy backed off the larger one just in case someone else wanted to steal my bag and do my laundry for me.
I was due at the embassy at 4 to collect my visa so decided to spend the time wandering up through the cooler malls stopping on the way for food and drinks. After the sugar low the previous night I decided that I had better try to get my food and liquid intake up to try and avoid the same thing happening again. I also needed some alternative footwear as these trainers were starting to feel a little uncomfortable.
Upon leaving one of the malls a smartly dressed man approached me and told me I was a strong man, a great man and he could this see by the 3 strong lines on my forehead. I wondered if he thought I was Gorden Ramsey.
He also told me I had 2 weaknesses and for 2 baht he would tell me everything. I didn't pay him, I already knew what they were. Bad eyesight and forgetfulness.
I had left my glasses in the shoe shop.
I walked the rest of the way to the embassy, picked up my visa then embarked on finding a taxi to get me to the next hostel I was staying in. I ended up in a tuktuk.
The thing weaved quickly through the traffic and the accompanying breeze was welcomed. The traffic in Bangkok is busy, there are taxis in the form of cars, tuktuks and on the back of motorcycles which weave through the traffic with buttered like ease. It should be chaos but it isn't, it works because no one gets angry or frustrated defending their lanes, someone undertakes, overtakes, whatever, the traffic carries on regardless.
I arrive at the new hostel and the staff are very welcoming. The lady said that the staff from the other hostel had phoned though that I was coming and that I was a nice a polite man. I told them that maybe someone else was due.
The rooms in this hostel are 8 bed rather than 4 but are nicer for it. The whole place has a lovely communal feel and I was welcomed into the dorm by a warm couple who were busy planning their onward travel. Downstairs the lobby has more in keeping with a well run hotel than most peoples preconceived idea of what a hostel looks like. there is also has a laundry room here so as I write this my other clothes are currently being thoroughly cleansed
I've never been so happy to see a laundry room in all my life.
I have booked here for 2 nights whilst I decide whether to dip out to a beach for a week before my tour begins next Sunday, or remain here to explore Bangkok more thoroughly, I feel I haven't done so yet.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Day 2 - Bangcock? (2nd October 2013)
Saw my first ladyboy, or at least I think it was, it was so glaringly obvious it could have been a red herring but I didn't ask if that's what it was, just in case it wasn't.
The Vietnamese embassy was located just past where I had been walking yesterday, so I sorted out a bag for the day and started walking in that direction. I like to walk, it allows me plenty of time to absorb the sights, smells and sounds of where I am. Today the smell I found so repulsive yesterday is not apparent.
As I walk I feel I'm starting to feel more at home here. What took me 30 minutes to walk yesterday takes me considerably less today and I feel I no longer give off the impression of a lost tourist. A tourist sure, I still have a map after all. but not a tourist who is being consumed by his surroundings. Rather one that is starting to control it.
to a degree.
Grabbing a spot of breakfast after telling myself I have to eat, I emerge from the shopping area to confronted by the monsoon like rains. No way I'm walking any further in that. I have my poncho on me of course, but just the one pair of trainers which have to last as long as I can make them. I take shelter on the skywalk which runs above the road I'm following and watch the rains with perverse admiration.
You know in England how when it rains it clears the air so everything feels fresh again, here it is the opposite. When the rains give way the sodden ground heats and the moisture starts to evaporate almost instantaneously, the humidity is insane. Mosquito's like still water apparently. I should be fine, I'm like a bloody river.
The Vietnam embassy opens after lunch at 1:30, I'm there at 1:35, fill in the forms and wait at the desk with my form filled in, 2500 baht and passport ready. The guy behind the counter is wearing glasses and a straight face, I put mine on too. He tells me to stick my photo onto the form using insect killer. I'm confused until I realise it just looks like insect killer, its actually insect killer with Pritt Stick like qualities. No insect will escape if they land on Pritt Stick. It's a well know fact in these parts of the world. I need to pick up the visa and my passport tomorrow at 4 which throws me a little spanner as I only have my hostel booked for one more night and they are fully booked from then.
Back at the hostel I ask whether the other one in the same chain has rooms available the following evening. The chap on the phone calls through and confirms they have so I reserve for tomorrow night there as i won't now be leaving Bangkok until Friday at the earliest, the only downside is that I need my passport to check in, which I will not have access to until after I can collect it from the embassy, so tomorrow I lug my big ass bag around Bangkok for a few hours. I'm thinking Lumphine park which is on the road that the embassy resides, find some shade and chill out for a few hours.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumphini_Park
I wander out briefly this evening and explore the indoor market that is situated opposite the hostel I'm staying at. It has a great feel and t-shirts that would have the PC Bridage in the UK reaching for the white flag. You actually have to admire it in a funny kind of way. Life is life here, and no one is telling anyone else how to live theirs.
The rains come again and I return just in time to my current base of operations, get duck noodles and a bottle of Chang beer for 180 baht, about 3.50 of those UK pound thingies and settle down to wrap up the day here.
Bangkok grows on you, I'm actually starting to like it here, which is a little surprising considering how I was feeling less than 48 hours ago.
The Vietnamese embassy was located just past where I had been walking yesterday, so I sorted out a bag for the day and started walking in that direction. I like to walk, it allows me plenty of time to absorb the sights, smells and sounds of where I am. Today the smell I found so repulsive yesterday is not apparent.
As I walk I feel I'm starting to feel more at home here. What took me 30 minutes to walk yesterday takes me considerably less today and I feel I no longer give off the impression of a lost tourist. A tourist sure, I still have a map after all. but not a tourist who is being consumed by his surroundings. Rather one that is starting to control it.
to a degree.
Grabbing a spot of breakfast after telling myself I have to eat, I emerge from the shopping area to confronted by the monsoon like rains. No way I'm walking any further in that. I have my poncho on me of course, but just the one pair of trainers which have to last as long as I can make them. I take shelter on the skywalk which runs above the road I'm following and watch the rains with perverse admiration.
You know in England how when it rains it clears the air so everything feels fresh again, here it is the opposite. When the rains give way the sodden ground heats and the moisture starts to evaporate almost instantaneously, the humidity is insane. Mosquito's like still water apparently. I should be fine, I'm like a bloody river.
The Vietnam embassy opens after lunch at 1:30, I'm there at 1:35, fill in the forms and wait at the desk with my form filled in, 2500 baht and passport ready. The guy behind the counter is wearing glasses and a straight face, I put mine on too. He tells me to stick my photo onto the form using insect killer. I'm confused until I realise it just looks like insect killer, its actually insect killer with Pritt Stick like qualities. No insect will escape if they land on Pritt Stick. It's a well know fact in these parts of the world. I need to pick up the visa and my passport tomorrow at 4 which throws me a little spanner as I only have my hostel booked for one more night and they are fully booked from then.
Back at the hostel I ask whether the other one in the same chain has rooms available the following evening. The chap on the phone calls through and confirms they have so I reserve for tomorrow night there as i won't now be leaving Bangkok until Friday at the earliest, the only downside is that I need my passport to check in, which I will not have access to until after I can collect it from the embassy, so tomorrow I lug my big ass bag around Bangkok for a few hours. I'm thinking Lumphine park which is on the road that the embassy resides, find some shade and chill out for a few hours.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumphini_Park
I wander out briefly this evening and explore the indoor market that is situated opposite the hostel I'm staying at. It has a great feel and t-shirts that would have the PC Bridage in the UK reaching for the white flag. You actually have to admire it in a funny kind of way. Life is life here, and no one is telling anyone else how to live theirs.
The rains come again and I return just in time to my current base of operations, get duck noodles and a bottle of Chang beer for 180 baht, about 3.50 of those UK pound thingies and settle down to wrap up the day here.
Bangkok grows on you, I'm actually starting to like it here, which is a little surprising considering how I was feeling less than 48 hours ago.
1st October - first morning in Bangkok.
I regained consciousness at around 9.30 am, I didn't notice what time I fell asleep the night before so information is useless for trying to work out how much sleep i had grabbed, I just know it didn't feel enough.
My initial plan today was to head off to try to sort out a visa for Vietnam but nearly an hour later and I was still trying to get it together. I hadn't seen my blood glucose testing kit since the flight from Dubai and this feeling combined with the tiredness was leading my mind down the route of doubting whether I was doing the right thing. Had I left the bloody thing on board? Can I get a new machine that takes the same strips as the machine I had lost? In an act of desperation I shook my mini backpack that I had used on the Plane journey so all it's contents spilled onto the bed, including the missing testing kit. So not lost it this time, but am I cut out for this? For only the the second act of desperation in 3 sentences I sent an email to STA, whom I had organised my flights with and explained how I was feeling and wondering if there was any tours I could jump onto to get me away from here and get me moving. At that time I was ready to give up on the whole thing.
With that in mind I decided that the visa idea wasn't worth going ahead with. I could always come back to South East Asia another time and see Vietnam.
The chap on reception pointed out on my map where the nearest shopping centre was located so i headed off to see if there was any travel shops that could get me away from here for a bit.
Shopping centre doesn't really do what i came across justice. It was ludicrous. Whole floors dedicated to eating / beauty / name anything. Lambourghini showroom sat next to H&M with a RollS Royce sat in a foyer along from an ice skating rink. It was also cool, a welcome respite from the wall of heat and humidity that existed outside.
I hadn't eaten properly since i had arrived and was feeling a little queasy. I went for the safe option to give myself a chance. Ronald McDonald statues over here are really creepy.
There's a smell in Bangkok, it's sweet, sickly and takes your breath away when it wafts by. I haven't pegged what it is yet, but it's not uncommon. It gets everywhere. In your clothes, your hair and in your nostrils. In a Boots store I found my favourite FCUK was and body spray and bought it in the hope it would make me feel better when scrubbing down when I returned to the Hostel. It had the desired affect. I was in the shower for around 20 minutes just washing, and washing and washing.
Checking my e-mails later i had received a welcome answer to my e-mail I sent to STA earlier with a few suitable tours that the young lady there had found which I may be able to get on. A couple of quick phone calls later it looks like I may have been booked onto a tour which should take me out of Thailand, through Cambodia then into Vietnam. Amazing Result.
So tomorrow I get up, have another long shower then go hunting the lesser spotted Vietnam visa.
My initial plan today was to head off to try to sort out a visa for Vietnam but nearly an hour later and I was still trying to get it together. I hadn't seen my blood glucose testing kit since the flight from Dubai and this feeling combined with the tiredness was leading my mind down the route of doubting whether I was doing the right thing. Had I left the bloody thing on board? Can I get a new machine that takes the same strips as the machine I had lost? In an act of desperation I shook my mini backpack that I had used on the Plane journey so all it's contents spilled onto the bed, including the missing testing kit. So not lost it this time, but am I cut out for this? For only the the second act of desperation in 3 sentences I sent an email to STA, whom I had organised my flights with and explained how I was feeling and wondering if there was any tours I could jump onto to get me away from here and get me moving. At that time I was ready to give up on the whole thing.
With that in mind I decided that the visa idea wasn't worth going ahead with. I could always come back to South East Asia another time and see Vietnam.
The chap on reception pointed out on my map where the nearest shopping centre was located so i headed off to see if there was any travel shops that could get me away from here for a bit.
Shopping centre doesn't really do what i came across justice. It was ludicrous. Whole floors dedicated to eating / beauty / name anything. Lambourghini showroom sat next to H&M with a RollS Royce sat in a foyer along from an ice skating rink. It was also cool, a welcome respite from the wall of heat and humidity that existed outside.
I hadn't eaten properly since i had arrived and was feeling a little queasy. I went for the safe option to give myself a chance. Ronald McDonald statues over here are really creepy.
There's a smell in Bangkok, it's sweet, sickly and takes your breath away when it wafts by. I haven't pegged what it is yet, but it's not uncommon. It gets everywhere. In your clothes, your hair and in your nostrils. In a Boots store I found my favourite FCUK was and body spray and bought it in the hope it would make me feel better when scrubbing down when I returned to the Hostel. It had the desired affect. I was in the shower for around 20 minutes just washing, and washing and washing.
Checking my e-mails later i had received a welcome answer to my e-mail I sent to STA earlier with a few suitable tours that the young lady there had found which I may be able to get on. A couple of quick phone calls later it looks like I may have been booked onto a tour which should take me out of Thailand, through Cambodia then into Vietnam. Amazing Result.
So tomorrow I get up, have another long shower then go hunting the lesser spotted Vietnam visa.
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
one night in Bangkok...
The plane landing is a little less than perfect, I don't mind at this point, I'm shattered. Thankfully the rest of the procedure through the airport is relatively straightforward, bar a couple of misdirections and the chap with my name board at a different exit than I came out of, nothing to worry about.
The journey to the hostel is quiet and non eventful. My eyes close a couple of times but I force them to open again. few words are exchanged between the driver and I. You can see there is money here. It's in the movie like billboards, the sky scrapers, the cars. You can see there is a lack of money here too, it's in the people gathering at the sides of the roads, the unfinished buildings and the other vehicles clogging the roads.
The hostel is clean, basic but it has aircon and the shared wash room and showers are kept to an impeccable standard. I have a shower then wander out to try and find a bite to eat. There are plenty of street stalls but I just look for something basic, which i eventually find in a 7-11, although the sandwiches are very sweet to western tastes the cashew nuts taste like cashew nuts and the black bottle which bears all the colours of Coke Zero tastes like Coke Zero,
It's probably Coke Zero.
I wander back to the hostel through the dimly lit streets and head back to the nice cool room, put a little music on my tablet and drift off to sleep, stirring occasionally at the thought of a mosquito having his own late night snack my leg.
There isn't one..
The journey to the hostel is quiet and non eventful. My eyes close a couple of times but I force them to open again. few words are exchanged between the driver and I. You can see there is money here. It's in the movie like billboards, the sky scrapers, the cars. You can see there is a lack of money here too, it's in the people gathering at the sides of the roads, the unfinished buildings and the other vehicles clogging the roads.
The hostel is clean, basic but it has aircon and the shared wash room and showers are kept to an impeccable standard. I have a shower then wander out to try and find a bite to eat. There are plenty of street stalls but I just look for something basic, which i eventually find in a 7-11, although the sandwiches are very sweet to western tastes the cashew nuts taste like cashew nuts and the black bottle which bears all the colours of Coke Zero tastes like Coke Zero,
It's probably Coke Zero.
I wander back to the hostel through the dimly lit streets and head back to the nice cool room, put a little music on my tablet and drift off to sleep, stirring occasionally at the thought of a mosquito having his own late night snack my leg.
There isn't one..
getting to Bangkok
I wake with 2 hours left before we land at Dubai, the brightest natural light that I have ever encountered forces its way under some of the blinds. It's 4:26 UK time, my eyes are a little sore.
I get up from my upright bed go to freshen up as much as I can in the confined space afforded. I swear brushing my teeth has never felt so damn refreshing and the warm water on my eyes somehow wakes and soothes at the same time. No room to stretch though.
Breakfast is a light affair. Coffee with a warm carrot, apple and oat muffin. Breakfast is almost a very light affair as my early morning brain is almost defeated by the box in which the muffin is housed. I will not fail. The box is destroyed in my neanderthal like show of virility, am I the muffin man?
The rubbish is cleared, belts are fastened and we start our descent. It's mostly smooth but one particular drop causes a collective groan to reverberate around the cabin. I grip the arm rests tightly as I watch the runway come into view through the swathes of sand that lie before. The landing is the best I've ever encountered. The whole descent from beginning to end is almost exactly 1 sugar free mint humbug. My grip finally loosens.
After we disembark I am greeted in Dubai and ushered towards gate B30 where my connecting flight is getting ready to board. The airport is vast and has an abundance of glass, metal and highly polished floors but I don't have time to admire it fully. I'm straight onto the airport subway and checking into my next flight in a matter of minutes. Quick toilet break then I'm boarding. Seasoned pro now.
The second flight isn't as smooth as the first, at times feeling more like a juddering railway carriage than one that's carving through the air at 34,996ft. If this had been the first flight I would have come off it a blubbering mess, however this all seems completely normal now. Amazing how we can, as a species just adapt like that. Extraordinary can become ordinary in no time at all, but I'm yet undecided as to whether this is a good or a bad thing. I can see both sides. From an evolutionary point of view, adapt and survive, it has to be a good thing right? But is the negative that we tire too easily of things or people that we should hold dear, that once made us happy, or inspired us to drive things forward in our own personal ways, those things or people that for however short it was before we tired of them, were the most awe inspiring or wonderful things in our lives.
I may have gone a little long without sleep, think someone just mentioned Mucho Grande. At least I didn't have the chicken.
I've been sat next to a kindly fellow from Durban, South Africa for the cokey part of this trip. He's asleep most the time but now and then he wakes up, mutters something mostly in-cohesive with a smile then falls back asleep again. He's going off to see his son who lives just outside Bangkok and he's taking him 2 pieces of in flight cheese, one of which I donated.
Our estimated time of arrival is around 6.58 this evening local time, 11:58 UK time meaning that I will then have been on the go for about 29 hours barring a couple of hours snatched over Eastern Europe last night. After I clear the airport I will then have a 45 minute journey by coach to the area where my hostel is located. I just hope that when I finally get stopped for the evening i can switch off enough to get some proper sleep. Much to do tomorrow so need to be fully functional to get the most out of what is bound to be a tough and exciting experience.
I get up from my upright bed go to freshen up as much as I can in the confined space afforded. I swear brushing my teeth has never felt so damn refreshing and the warm water on my eyes somehow wakes and soothes at the same time. No room to stretch though.
Breakfast is a light affair. Coffee with a warm carrot, apple and oat muffin. Breakfast is almost a very light affair as my early morning brain is almost defeated by the box in which the muffin is housed. I will not fail. The box is destroyed in my neanderthal like show of virility, am I the muffin man?
The rubbish is cleared, belts are fastened and we start our descent. It's mostly smooth but one particular drop causes a collective groan to reverberate around the cabin. I grip the arm rests tightly as I watch the runway come into view through the swathes of sand that lie before. The landing is the best I've ever encountered. The whole descent from beginning to end is almost exactly 1 sugar free mint humbug. My grip finally loosens.
After we disembark I am greeted in Dubai and ushered towards gate B30 where my connecting flight is getting ready to board. The airport is vast and has an abundance of glass, metal and highly polished floors but I don't have time to admire it fully. I'm straight onto the airport subway and checking into my next flight in a matter of minutes. Quick toilet break then I'm boarding. Seasoned pro now.
The second flight isn't as smooth as the first, at times feeling more like a juddering railway carriage than one that's carving through the air at 34,996ft. If this had been the first flight I would have come off it a blubbering mess, however this all seems completely normal now. Amazing how we can, as a species just adapt like that. Extraordinary can become ordinary in no time at all, but I'm yet undecided as to whether this is a good or a bad thing. I can see both sides. From an evolutionary point of view, adapt and survive, it has to be a good thing right? But is the negative that we tire too easily of things or people that we should hold dear, that once made us happy, or inspired us to drive things forward in our own personal ways, those things or people that for however short it was before we tired of them, were the most awe inspiring or wonderful things in our lives.
I may have gone a little long without sleep, think someone just mentioned Mucho Grande. At least I didn't have the chicken.
I've been sat next to a kindly fellow from Durban, South Africa for the cokey part of this trip. He's asleep most the time but now and then he wakes up, mutters something mostly in-cohesive with a smile then falls back asleep again. He's going off to see his son who lives just outside Bangkok and he's taking him 2 pieces of in flight cheese, one of which I donated.
Our estimated time of arrival is around 6.58 this evening local time, 11:58 UK time meaning that I will then have been on the go for about 29 hours barring a couple of hours snatched over Eastern Europe last night. After I clear the airport I will then have a 45 minute journey by coach to the area where my hostel is located. I just hope that when I finally get stopped for the evening i can switch off enough to get some proper sleep. Much to do tomorrow so need to be fully functional to get the most out of what is bound to be a tough and exciting experience.
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