Resuming my love / hate relationship with Bangkok!
November 1, 2007
Once again the crossing was calm. The same cannot be said, however, about the bus-ride back to Bangkok. The driver was definitely from the school of: "Drive it like you stole it." If there was an opening - be it the hard shoulder or unfinished motorway - he was forcing our rattling bus through it. What was even more alarming was his constant yawning and glassy eyes. According to my travel guide some of the drivers in S.E. Asia are smacked off their tits on amphetamines to keep them awake during their long working hours. How in the world the girl sat next to me slept through it all is a mystery whose answer probably lies with alcohol!
(During the journey we passed a multitude of NYK Logistics trucks which brought back memories of unloading 32" televisions in a raining Tredegar. If any of you guys, or gals, are reading this, I hope your all well. And by the way, "What's missing from there, Old Boy?")
Safely back at Khao San Road - the first thing I heard was "Hello! Orange juice, ten barrrrrrht!" and I burst out laughing, which got some strange looks from the passersby - I booked myself a room at the D&D Inn for two nights, and was given Hazel's old room - what are the chances? I got changed into some clean clothes, dropped off my dirty laundry across the road, bought a Pad Thai from a street seller and set about doing some shopping.
T-shirts successfully bartered for and posted home, next was to book a daytrip to the 'Tiger Temple' for the following day. After asking at just about every travel operator I could find, I booked the cheapest and went to the internet cafe to book my flight to Cambodia - no overland crossing for me after reading the infamous internet article.
Whilst checking my emails for the booking confirmation I recieved an email from Maria asking me when am I going to Cambodia? So we're going to have a mini-reunion of sorts in Phnom Penh - Gaby may be there also - and I'm going to buy Maria a G&T. She say's that she's not drinking anymore, but I don't believe her!
With a styrofoam coffee cup full of Tiger Beer in my hand, next was a phonecall home to have a chat with my brother about his 'interesting' surfing holiday in Bali - complete with car crash, dodgy holiday/surf company and legal action. In spite of his travails, and near-death experience, I think he enjoye himself!
All-in-all, a hectic day and two more to come with the 'Tiger Temple' and flight to Phnom Penh. But I wouldn't change it for anything. Well, I say anything...
(During the journey we passed a multitude of NYK Logistics trucks which brought back memories of unloading 32" televisions in a raining Tredegar. If any of you guys, or gals, are reading this, I hope your all well. And by the way, "What's missing from there, Old Boy?")
Safely back at Khao San Road - the first thing I heard was "Hello! Orange juice, ten barrrrrrht!" and I burst out laughing, which got some strange looks from the passersby - I booked myself a room at the D&D Inn for two nights, and was given Hazel's old room - what are the chances? I got changed into some clean clothes, dropped off my dirty laundry across the road, bought a Pad Thai from a street seller and set about doing some shopping.
T-shirts successfully bartered for and posted home, next was to book a daytrip to the 'Tiger Temple' for the following day. After asking at just about every travel operator I could find, I booked the cheapest and went to the internet cafe to book my flight to Cambodia - no overland crossing for me after reading the infamous internet article.
Whilst checking my emails for the booking confirmation I recieved an email from Maria asking me when am I going to Cambodia? So we're going to have a mini-reunion of sorts in Phnom Penh - Gaby may be there also - and I'm going to buy Maria a G&T. She say's that she's not drinking anymore, but I don't believe her!
With a styrofoam coffee cup full of Tiger Beer in my hand, next was a phonecall home to have a chat with my brother about his 'interesting' surfing holiday in Bali - complete with car crash, dodgy holiday/surf company and legal action. In spite of his travails, and near-death experience, I think he enjoye himself!
All-in-all, a hectic day and two more to come with the 'Tiger Temple' and flight to Phnom Penh. But I wouldn't change it for anything. Well, I say anything...
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