Bangkok Doin's

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Back in Bangkok - I've been here since Tuesday, waiting to pick up my visa to Myanmar. I just got it today (yay!) so I'm leaving Sunday morning! But here's what I've been doing in Bangkok since I got back from Ko Chang - a lot of resting, avoiding the sellers on the street, and eating lots of egg rolls and pad thai.

After I applied for my visa on Wednesday, I went to Lumphini Park to relax a bit. Now, I've been frustrated with city life- it really just seems that Thais only want my money. I am all about meeting the locals, but every potential meet-and-greet has ended with a price tag. After the friendliness of the Philippines, I was very discouraged. I had a change of luck in the park - I met an older man who just wanted to say hello and to show me his notebook, which was full of names and countries of people he had met in Bangkok. I was pleasantly surprised, and my faith in Bangkok was somewhat restored. However, I still decided to avoid Khao San Road and instead to have a modern-age adventure. Hence, I went to Central World Plaza, a HUGE shopping mall. A year and a half ago, I'd have scoffed at going to a mall in a foreign city, but I admit I've come to enjoy the A/C, the plethora of food choices, and my favorite, the movie theater. Yes, I stopped in and saw "Sherlock Holmes" and had a ball, stretched out in 3 seats all by myself!

After that I stopped by the Erawan Shrine, which is on the corner of a huge intersection outside the mall, and is full of wish makers. Everyone places a garland of flowers and if the wish is granted, traditional dancers are hired to dance around the shrine. I did see the dancers, but they were all sprawled out in the shade, obviously not intending to shimmy for quite a while yet.

I had a horrible time catching a taxi, thereby stripping my new found patience - I had to try 12 taxis to find one who would use a meter - I knew the trip was 70 Baht, but they wanted 200-300 because "traffic so bad today." One guy pretended to never have heard of Kao San Rd (right) and one guy literally just laughed in my face. I admit that at this point, I lost my elite language skills on him and slammed the door in his fat laughing face!!! I had to veg in my room for a while after that, ha.

The next morning, I went to the National Museum. As I was walking, a man walking beside me struck up a conversation. I gave him the benefit of the doubt until finally he said, "no the museum is closed today, national holiday, I take you to temple instead"......sigh.

Luckily, the museum (a very OPEN museum) was very interesting and I learned lots of nice information about Thailand's history and saw lots of beautiful relics and lots of gold again. Then I wandered the streets and took a rest. Finally, I decided it was high time to end my self-pity party and go out to a restaurant. I promptly met a very drunk older British couple,who amused me endlessly. At one point, the woman Patty wandered away, saying something about a token, and came back with a lovely bracelet for me! What a sweetheart.

Just as I was leaving, I looked up and saw Peter (Pere), a guy from Barcelona, Spain who was part of a group I hung out with in El Nido for several weeks. There was a lot of "What the--? how are you--? when did you--?" I was so excited! I couldn't have asked for a better surprise. Arnau (also met in El Nido) was also there, plus Pere's girlfriend and one other guy, Jan. They asked what my plans were. I told them about Myanmar. They say, "We're going there on Sunday! We're picking up our visas today!" I just stared and then said,"Well alright, new travel buddies, let's go get our visas!" Lucky lucky spotting. After that, I went to bed, my head on straight for the first time in days.

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