Sept 27, 2012
I was supposed to be travelling with few friends but they decided to back out due to too many uncertainties.
I gave it a thought, about 2 seconds, and hell yes I'm gonna book a ticket to Bangkok.
And who-bam! Here I am, lying on my bed in a guesthouse, in the capital city of Thailand.
I have not been travelling alone since my first solo trip to Hatyai (also Thailand!) some two years ago.
I was excited over the trip but a little worried too.
Questions like "Should I plan my trip or just have fun getting lost in the city?", "Should this be a shopping trip or should I just continue travel like a pauper?", "Should I book a fancy hotel or a budget guesthouse?" popped up in my head.
A week before the trip, I've decided to take this opportunity to explore few markets in Bangkok.
Sept 27 morning marked the beginning of my trip.
Long story short: 25-minute slow walk to Ipoh train station, took ETS to Kuala Lumpur, took a skybus (which screened Final Destination throughout the journey and frightened the hell out of me) to the airport, boarded the flight, arrived at Bangkok at about 4.30pm and was pissed off by an auntie from Hong Kong (who wore damn pink from head to toe) who knocked me with her elbow to cut my cue at the custom counter.
Anyway, I had no problem finding the Airport Rail Link terminal as I was familliar with the Suvarnabhumi airport.
I got down at Phaya Thai station, walked to BTS Phaya Thai and made my way to BTS nana station - where my guesthouse is located.
Indian restaurants and tailor shops run by Indians are everywhere. You can see smartly dressed Indians standing/sitting outside the shops drawing customers.
Indian restaurants and tailor shops are everywhere along the Sukhumvit Rd
Many traders sell sex toys, viagra and pornography like rice, sugar and oil. You can walk fast but you can never miss a giant dildo when it is shoved right into your face.
Apparently the area I would be staying in the next four days is considered a part of Bangkok's red light district, which I was not aware of when I made room reservation.
It took me more than 20 minutes to find the guesthouse.I like the simple and rugged design of the wooden guesthouse. The fact that it does not allow people to smoke within the premise or bring hookers into the guesthouse were also a plus for me.
However, I was disappointed that they do not provide free wifi service and drinking water. The walkway was a little dark too.
After checking in, I got down and met three Chinese travellers from Sichuan, China - Xiao Yun and Xia Hui, and the only guy Mei Yi.
They took about 2 weeks off from their work to travel around Chiang Mai, Thailand and Phuket island.
Our conversation started off with our dissatisfaction over the guesthouse's "10 baht-15 minute" wifi service and all that jazz.
Then it led on to the topic on public holidays, I cannot remember how.
"Besides weekends, the only two occasions in China declared as public holidays - Chinese New Year and National Day," said Xiao Yun.
Mei Yi and Xiao Yun started bickering on the number of public holidays they have in a year.
"Seriously. guys, there is nothing to argue over public holidays..." Xia Hui and I were trying to end the fight.
But then again, I guess listening to them arguing was the only thing we could do as it was raining cats and dogs out there.
Night view of Soi (Lane) 11.
When the rain finally stopped, I went out with my netbook to look for a restaurant with FREE wifi service.
That shouldn't be difficult, I thought.
But guess what - Even the famous coffee franchaise charges 140 baht for 2 hours wifi service!
After 15 minutes of hunting, I finally found a restaurant that offered wifi service for free.
This is one restaurant I will return not for the food but only its wifi service.
Fried rice with basil leaves, a cup of coffee and my netbook.
The night was made colourful by women with extreme make-up on their faces and glittering dresses on their body.
Foreigners keeping their hands busy around the waist and butts of the Thai women and skimpily-dressed girls stood by roadside waiting for their client(s) were also an eye opener for me.
And some of them have more manly voice than I'll ever have.
Ends
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