What Happens in Bangkok, Stays in Bangkok

Khaosan Road during the day

The Vegas rule of engagement applies here, too.  What happens in Bangkok, stays in Bangkok.  So, don't expect any Hangover Part 2-esque accounting of events.  However, we can share a few observations to keep our blog going!

Ironically, we just left Jerusalem, the holiest and most religious city for one of the backpacker capitals of the world - Bangkok, Thailand.  Long gone are Jesus's sites, prayer books, wailing wall, churches, synagogues, mosques, and pilgrims.  

Now, we are surrounded by bars, clubs, tattoo parlors, Thai massage joints, pad thai street vendors, plastic buckets full of cheap booze, piercings, beer girls, lady-boys, hippie flowy clothing, tuk-tuks, and a sense that practically anything goes in this city that makes Vegas look like an amateur, as evidenced by the ping ping girls in Bangkok's Red Light District, Patpong Street (look it up, or read this R-rated article: Ping Pong Show by Adventurous Kate's blog).  

We arrived at 4 am on Thursday and fortunately, our lodging arranged for a taxi to come pick us up and take us directly to our hotel.  The sudden wall of humid heated air that assaulted us as soon as we walked out of the air-conditioned airport was practically unbearable at first, but we are quickly adjusting to this perpetual sweat box, not to mention our mosquito-infested life for the next 2 months.

We opted not to stay on Khaosan Road - the backpacker's paradise; especially since Mike experienced Khaosan Road to its full extent 16 years ago in his previous backpacker life.  Our hotel is just far away enough from Khaosan Road in the budget traveler's mecca of Banglamphu district.  It is basic and clean, but most importantly, the air conditioner makes sleeping tolerable.  We also discovered a street we like better called Thanon Rambutti just nearby our hotel so we'll be visiting it quite a bit. 

Bangkok is a budget traveler's haven because there are plenty of cheap lodging, cheap food, cheap beers, cheap entertertainment and all the services that a backpacker needs at their fingertips (laundry, visa services, travel agencies, transportation services, etc.).  Also, one could easily board a flight without packing anything but his/her passport and fully stock themselves with a new backpack, clothes, toiletries, and travel needs within hours of arriving.  You can literally buy anything here for cheap.  

Bangkok feels as densely populated and urban as Tokyo, but doesn't feel as fast paced and frenetic.  The only thing fast paced and frenetic is the lawlessness in the traffic full of multi-colored taxis, tuk-tuks, trucks, and scooters whizzing around in every direction. It's also not as modern and squeaky clean, with canals full of murky trashy water, corrugated metal shanty buildings lining back alleyways.  

Immediately, we noticed that life is lived outside here.  People cook, eat, take naps, watch TV, and socialize outdoors.  This makes for an interesting walk around the city because their entire lives are spilled out onto the streets for everyone's viewing.  Nothing feels orderly and neat.  Any homeowners association would have a massive stroke.  

Bangkok also puts the Latin American countries to shame with their siesta time.  Taking a long afternoon nap is probably the best way to pass the sweltering heat of the afternoon by, and it's very easy to get into the relaxation spirit by following suit.  What a life.  

And, as most people will attest, the Thai people are the smily-est, nicest people on the planet.  It makes for a very pleasant stay.

Bangkok is an enigmatic city.  Mike couldn't wait to return, and Akiko is realizing the attraction.  We have over a month to explore Thailand...just enough time to really draw us in and fall in love with its mystique.