David's World

July 7, 2006

5+6 July 2006: one... two nights in Bangkok

Wednesday afternoon, arrival in Bangkok. Left Luggage people won't take my laptop. Managed to trick them into taking it, but picked it back up after talking to local tourist police.

Train ticket is 10 Baht, around €0.20. Helpful, neatly-dressed Thai guy coaxes me into a car and offers me a seat -- I politely decline and move on. Wooden seats. Toilets. Locals only. 20 minutes later, the Thai guy shows up again and starts a conversation. Turns out Weng is a history teacher. Are you staying in Thailand for long? No, I'll be going to Sydney. Oh, my son studies there. And so on. On a sheet of paper, he writes down times for the ferry near his home town. My guide book says the really sincere people are too polite to start a conversation. Others would trick you into spending your money on something like fake gems or tour ticket you don't want, or they'd mangage to convince your camera and wallet to change owners. So I keep watching my stuff, and at the train station evade him after a friendly, western-style handshake. Maybe he is a history teacher after all. Maybe.

Dinner at a Chinese place. Get served chicken neck and feet and other not-so-good pieces of chicken. Nice dumplings. Beer at the Sky Train Bar, an improvised Jazz club on a large balcony on top of an otherwise little-used concrete block - somewhat obscure, but once found, very urban. View down the Sky Train line. Busy with locals even on a very late Wednesday evening. Cold Singha beer.

Forgot to set time on phone. Slept until 1530. No good. Invited random Thai med student for noodle lunch. No available train tickets for Chiang Mai, will have to take the bus from the Northern bus terminal.
Banglampou has a few cool bars. Took river taxi to get there - nice (though expensive) ride.
At the Phra Arthit Pier, there's a bar (of the same name?) - food is served out of an old VW in front of the bar. I had Chili Chicken (except that they didn't have any Chicken, but something else - don't want to know). It had lots of chili and lots of big pieces of garlic. Good that it came with lots of beer to soothe my throat.


Can you spot the picture of the King?

Phra Arthit Pier

... mobile Volkswagen kitchen

Now that's a Margherita!