Days in Bangkok's red light district - Day 2

Sept 28,2012

It's only 7.30am and I was already awake (don't think I've slept last night), having breakfast in the courtyard of the guesthouse.
The rain that fell throughout the night finally stopped, leaving the weather wet and humid - just the way I like my morning in Bangkok to be.

Yannick, a Swiss traveller whom I've met on Sept 27 night, came down for breakfast while I was already having mine.
"Where do you plan to go today?" I asked.
"I am thinking of going to the Great Palace," said the beafy cute guy, while pointing the location on the map he had with him.
"Oh I am going to that area too! But I will be crossing the river to Thonburi. We can get there by skytrain," I said.
"Nah, I think I shall call a cab. I don't think it will be too expensive. That day the cab who brought me to the guesthouse from the airport only charged me 300baht," he said.
"Well then, I better run, see you!" I said.
Yannick pondered for a minute and said subtly: "I don't think I will be seeing you again. I am leaving today."
"Oh...well, alright then, you take care!"

So I left and walked to the skytrain station. I saw everyone had an umbrella in their hands.
"Crap, I left mine in the guesthouse," I said to myself. I was reluctant to walk back.
During breakfast earlier, I said this to Yannick: "I hope there will be no rain today."
He replied: "You better pray very hard."

So I murmured a prayer and bought a ticket to Sukhumvit Line's Central Siam, before transiting to Silom Line's Saphan Taksin, where Sathorn pier is.

I found out that I can buy direct ticket from Nana station to Saphan Taksin! It costs about 35 baht. Compared to buying two separate tickets, which cost about 50baht, I could save 15baht.

After a 15-minute boat ride, I reached Wang Lang pier.
An uncle working in a hospital nearby the pier was puzzled why I come to that area.
"Why do you come here? You should go to the Great Palace, Chatuchak market and Chinatown," he said.

"I heard people sell secondhand stuff here so I thought of coming here to have a look," I replied.
"Oh, you need to go further in the narrow lanes. If I have time I can bring you around," he said.
That was very nice of him, but I decided to do this on my own.

Apparently the "secondhand" stalls only sell used garments and footwear. That did not interest me so I walked to the food stalls and tried some snacks.

I bought a piece of tak tae (a crepe-like snack wrapped with flavoured fillings and garnished with coconut and sweet-sour cream), Chai nif (like little dimsums with fillings like shrimps and pumpkin) and grilled banana.
Chai nif taste really good! A box of 12 with different fillings only cost 30baht.

Yummy yummy chai nif. On left was Auo, who struggled to explain to me the delicacy they sell

I was hoping to get some stories by interviewing some of them but they couldn't understand English, except "how much?" and "what is this?"

I walked past the Patvaradi Theatre but it was closed. I spotted a few traditional barber shop and had the urge to get a hair cut. Unfortunately, I did not have the courage to do so.

A mural outside the Patvaradi Theatre

After perusing most of the stalls along the street and tasted some of the food they sell, I decided to go back.
At Wang Lang pier, I bought my ticket from the counter auntie.
"15baht," she said.
I took out 10baht and give it to her first, and tried to look for 5 baht.
I didn't have 5 baht. So I took out a coin I thought was 20baht and gave it to me.
I expected her to give me back my 10baht and another 5 baht change.
"No, no, no, 15 baht," she returned the coin to me.
"No, I am giving you 20 baht. You give back my 10 baht," I said, while reaching out my hand to 'take' a 10baht coin from her table.
"No, no, no, 15 baht, 10 baht (you've already paid), 5 baht (she raised her hand to me)."
I gave her a "???" look.
Then only I realised I have mistaken the 2 baht coin for 20 baht.
That auntie let out "aiyayayai"  and shook her head to show how annoyed she was while giving me the ticket.

It was the most embarassing moment in my life (in Bangkok).

Once I returned to Sathorn pier, rain started drizzling.
Thank God most parts of the walkway were sheltered, except the few metres lane near my guesthouse.
I was exhausted and immediately fell onto my bed and took a nap. It was only about 12pm.
I woke up three hours later (yes, that's the length of my holiday nap, don't judge). 

My inner self woke up and called me to go to a park.

After browsing through the city map, I decided to go to the Benchasiri park, a park built to commemorate the 60th birthday of HM Queen Sirikit in 1992.

At the end, somehow my mind went haywire and prompted me to buy a ticket to Asok - NOT where the park is.

"Hello, I heard there's a park (I forgot the name) somewhere around here. Can you tell me where is it?" I went up to the tourism information counter and asked.
"Park?" he pondered for a while. "Oh, you cross the road and walk straight."
"Alright, thank you!"
So I followed his instruction - crossed the road, walked straight continue my hunt for THE PARK *jeng jeng!*

But I was hungry.

So I stopped by a restaurant for lunch.
There's "fried rice with pork" written in the menu, but the picture beside it showed "fried pork with rice".
"Hello hello, you sell fried rice with pork or fried pork with rice?"
That girl (waiter) gave me a blank look.
Anyway, I ordered it together with an item written "lemon" on the menu.

Two Taiwanese ladies sitting beside me suddenly asked me in Mandarin: "Hello, are you Taiwanese?"
"Can't you tell I am Nepalese (eyes rolled)?" 
It would be an awesome if I replied them that answer in Mandarin.
So I told them I am a mandarin-speaking Malaysian.
"Oh, so do you know any place of interest around here?"
I looked at them - both with heavy makeup and big hair dyed like barbie dolls I would buy and knocked them repeatedly on a wooden table.

I should have given them direction to Central World and Siam Paragon. These shopping complexes totally spelled "places of interest" to them.
But I was too kind to be mean. So I gave them a "no."

Then again, I felt they might be useful to me. I put on a fake smile and asked: "There's a park somewhere around here. Do you know where is it?"
"Oh it's just in front," one of the girls pointed.
"Really? Did you go there? How was the park?" I asked excitedly.
"We only walked past it."

Ah, kind of expected. Trees in recreational park do not branch out handbags and heels with price tags, don't they.

My lunch was served and mysteries solved - they are fried pork with rice and lemon ice blended.
The food is actually not bad for the price. It is a corner shop with purple tent, right opposite the famous "Asia Book" bookstore.

I continued my walk and saw "Chuvit Garden".
"That does not sound famillar. The park I was looking for has a pond."
I strolled around the garden anyway. 
The music played from speakers installed at the four corners of the park was endearing to the ears.

I felt sleepy again and returned to the guesthouse. 
stop rolling your eyes, I can see you from my monitor, ok.
Though I was lying on bed with my eyes half shut, I couldn't stop my hands from reaching for the map on the table.
Then only I realised a stupid mistake I made - I went to the wrong park because I got down at the wrong station!

I intended to go to the Benchasiri Park, which is near the Phrom Phong BTS station, not Chuvit Garden beside Asok station!

My mind made me jump up from my bed but my body told me to lie back.
I just walked back and forth my room, giving the body and the mind some time to discuss.
"Ok, fine! fine! I'll go!"
"No !!! (cracked voice)" my body lamented miserably.

Finally, I arrived at the lush recreational park.
Urban Bangkok folks come here for a stroll after work while families come here for an evening jog.

Contemporary abstract sculptures were installed around nicely-trimmed scrubs. A fountain was built in an ornamental pond right in the middle of the park where couples stroll and families jog.

I sat down on a bench in front of youths playing sports. It was nice to get a sincere thank you from a takraw player when I returned him the takraw ball that flew out of court.

The harmonious bird-chirp-flower-blossom moment was over when I realised I was sitting somewhere dangerous.

I got up immediately and escaped from the crime scene-to-be and sat on another bench few meters away. 
Behind me were a group of half-naked sun tanned skin youths doing push-ups. Innnocent little ones. 
Puuuurrrrr~rrraoooo~ as if they were waiting to taste my claws. 

An elderly man, a foreigner, who was sitting next to me and reading a book, saved their lives when the angelic song of spring started playing in my ears again.

Out of a sudden, everyone stopped their activities and stood up. I stood up awkwardly and immediately searching for machine guns hidden among the bushes (just in case if there is any terrorist attack).
I almost let out a shout the second they played the high-spirited national anthem.

Oh yes, that was the reason they were all up standing.
Their respect for the country is commendable. So was the foreigner who put down his book and stood together with the Thais.
My tour at the park ended when the night turned dark.

Once again, I bumped into the China gang who was enjoying a bowl of pad thai at a stall in front of the guesthouse.
"Hello!" I waved at them excitedly and walked up to them.
They said they visited the Grand Palace and offered prayers to the four-faced Buddha at the Erawan Shrine.
"We were even duped by a tuk tuk driver who took us to Phaya Thai station even after we specifically told him the name of the restaurant."
"Did you pay him?"
"Of course not."
"..."
"So what is your plan tomorrow?" Xiao Yun asked.
"I plan to go to Chatuchak weekend market," I said.
"We are going there on Sunday."
"Oh? Maybe we can go together on Sunday! I can have other plans for tomorrow. So what have you planned for tomorrow?" I said.
Xia Hui said they wanted travel up north to Amphawa floating market and visit the market near the Maeklong railway station.
"You want to join us?" she asked.
"Nah, you guys go ahead. I will have something to do to keep me busy tomorrow. But thanks for the offer," I replied.
The pad thai seller who seemed annoyed came up to us and said: "If finished (eating), please go. (Other) customers want (to) sit."

Mei Yi and I accompanied the girls to the junction of the road and they walked back to their hotel on their own (the girls were afraid of dark and ghost. They needed a hotel with better lighting thus they sought accomodation elsewhere).
"I'll come to your room later, ok?" Mei Yi asked.
"Sure."

About an hour later, Mei Yi came over and talked about some sensitive issues that are happening in China and the various lifestyles in Malaysia. The two-hour conversation was truly informative.
Ends