As I proceeded through the terminal at Bangkok's International Airport
I felt the warm air greet me and a rush of excitement tickled my stomach.
This was the first destination of my journey around the globe, smiling
I thought to myself 'Welcome to the rest of the world!'
Cruising down the highway into the city the vast mass of buildings as
far as the eye can see in all directions makes Bangkok seem a little overwhelming
at first. For most jet lagged backpackers the Kho San Road is usually
the first port of call, I however was lucky to have a free place to stay
in Thong Lo on the other side of town.
After catching up on a few lost zeds I was taken to a Thai restaurant.
I had never tasted Thai food so good. All the ingredients were so fresh
and beautifully served, I am normally a fussy eater but on this occasion
I wanted to try everything. If you like rice or noodles there is almost
every combination to suit everybody.
Tip: Watch out for the chillies, Thai food can be very spicy!
After dinner we went to meet some of the locals. Apparently Thai people
have very long names so they give nicknames to make things easier. I have
a tendency to forget names at the best of times, that evening I met Jo,
Bo and O. I got terribly mixed up. 'Who was who again?'
The city's name itself comes from Bang Makok meaning 'Place of
Olive Plums' taken from Bangkok's original site. The Thais however
call it 'Krung Thep' meaning 'City of Angels', a far more
desirable name and of course why not.
Bangkok became the capital of Thailand only as recently as 1782 after
the Burmese attacked the capital at Ayuthaya in 1767. Now with a population
of about 10 million, spreading across 330 sq km. For such a young city
you get the impression that it has learnt to run before it could walk.
The natural landscape is completely flat of which little is left exposed
in the protruding mass of high rise buildings and temples.
93% of the Thai population are practicing Theraveda Buddhists, so our
sightseeing started at the Grand Palace home to Royalty, government offices
and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Every year there are three grand
ceremonies for the changing of the Emerald Buddha's seasonal costume.
Tip: When entering a temple you must always remember to remove your shoes
and not point your feet towards the Buddha when sitting.
Next was the Vimanek Mansion the biggest golden teak building in the
world that has traditional Thai dancing shows next to the canal. I discovered
that Bangkok used to be known as the Venice of the east. Only the spectacular
Temples and Royal Palaces were built on the original land. During my stay
I saw little evidence left to suggest this was ever so, however during
the rainy season Bangkok often floods and ironically the streets go back
to being rivers once more.
Our Last stop for the day Wat Pho the temple of the largest leaning Buddha
in the world (46 metres in length). Also home to the reputable Thai massage
school and what better way to end the day than leaning back yourself and
receiving a massage. After an hour or two with a few pops, twists and
cracks you feel very refreshed. As you go back out to the bustling streets
the urban metropolis hits you once more and you ask yourself 'Did
that sanctuary really exist in the midst of all of this?' Nearby the
Kho San Road, the backpackers' main drag, there are bars, Internet
cafes, travel agents, shops, stalls and lots of cheap accommodation, all
busy with travellers coming and going.
All over Bangkok there are thousands of market stalls cluttering the
streets. Tables and chairs lay along the pavement under patchy homemade
canopies. Often you have to dodge yourself out into the hectic traffic
in order to get past these obstacle courses. And as for crossing the road
it sometimes it can seem like an eternity waiting for a gap in the traffic.
At the end of the reliable Skytrain on the Sukumvit line is the enormous
Chatuya weekend market. We went with the intention of buying one pair
of sandals but I could not believe the bargains and ended up buying three,
so much for travelling light. The designer imitations or factory seconds
you find all over Bangkok are so well made that no one can tell the difference
and at a fraction of the price you just got to have them.
Tip: Haggle, you will definitely not pay the original asking price.
Thai people are more than happy to help whether it is to practice their
English or to make a quick buck. No matter where you are or where you
are going in Bangkok there is always someone offering a cheap ride. One
evening five of us squashed into the back of a tuk tuk (a small three
wheeled two stroke) and of we raced to Pat Pong. Night markets fill the
side streets, bars and clubs with ladies that do all sorts of things with
their private parts. Out of curiosity we took a look. Ping-pong balls,
razor blades, bananas, etc within five minutes we walked out our drinks
barely touched, that was enough for us thanks! Hum…City of Angels?
The great thing about Bangkok is not only is it very affordable with
plenty to do in the big city but also it is very easy to get out. For
a day trip, there is the beach at Pattaya, the Ancient ruins at Ayuthaya
or the popular boat markets near the famous River Kwai. 1-2hrs by plane
or an overnight bus or train will take you to Thailand's beautiful
southern beaches, northern rainforests or ancient temples. It has been
recognised that Thailand is regarded as one of the safest countries to
visit in Asia if not the world and for the inexperienced traveller starting
out, it is probably the best place to get adjusted to an unfamiliar culture.
If you'd like to get in touch with Ingrid, she's currently toiling
away in a banana factory in Cairns right now, and the Beetle is sure that
she would appreciate an e-mail! Ingrid's e-mail address is: ingrid_styles@hotmail.com
HOLLAND BY BIKE! Rob Lewis, one of our own, will be giving a slide
show and lecture about Holland and perhaps select areas of England and
Ireland. Come join us for our Sept. kick off meeting! Should be amazing!
Away from the tourist trail, the real Holland of dunes, rivers, dikes,
canals, lowlands, windmills and castles can be reached via the Landelijk
Fietsplatform (LF) routes – 3000 miles of long distance cycle routes.
Robert will be giving a slide show and discussing the routes, sights,
and stresses of trying to circle the Netherlands during a 7 day self guided
tour. Robert Lewis is a recent arrival to NY, having spent 8 years living
in Hong Kong working as an equity research analyst focusing on Asian technology
companies. Robert has travelled extensively throughout Europe and Asia,
and has taken his bicycle to Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
New York meetings are held at The Wings Theater, 154 Christopher Street
(btw Greenwich St and Washington St), to the right of Crunch Fitness,
in the Archive on the first Saturday of each month at 4 pm.
For information on Ontario meetings, please contact: Svatka Hermanek:
shermanek@schulich.yorku.ca or
Bruce Weber: tel. 416-203-0911 or Paul Webb: tel. 416-694-8259.
Meetings are held on the third Friday of January, March, May, September
and November. Usually at the Woodsworth Co-op, Penthouse, 133, Wilton
Street in downtown Toronto at 8.00 p.m.
Saturday August 10th, we had the fabulously informative Eric Dondero
as speaker. His topic was: “How to Learn Any Language Fast”.
Eric is a Multilingual Interpreter and Certified Language Instructor from
Houston. He speaks over 20 languages and can communicate in another 20
more. His new book is the “Worldwide Multilingual Phrase Book; Survival
Skills for Over 40 Languages”
This month (September 14) we will have two guest speakers. Our own traveling
girl, Emily Naberhaus, will show us how to pack for long
trips with just a backpack. Sue Howell, a new focused
market Travel Agent, will discuss her decision to specialize.
Future meetings: October 12th and November 9th
A reminder that Texas meetings will start one hour earlier, at 2pm and not
3pm.
Meetings are held at 2pm at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E.
Common Street in New Braunfels, Texas. The meeting ends at 5 p.m. If you
would like to continue travel talk on a more informal basis, we plan to
adjourn to the Hoity-Toit, a local New Braunfels establishment. If anybody
would like to enquire about meetings or help Christina, please contact
her on: texas@globetrotters.co.uk