Escape from Khao San Road, Escape from Bangkok, Escape from Thailand

The first thing that I have done each day so far in Thailand is wake up and get out of bed. Yesterday, upon doing exactly that, I made the decision that I had enough of Khao San Road and its unethanic ways. Not ready to quite leave Bangkok, I transferred myself and my belongings to a ritzy 5 star hotel on the other side of the City, the Unico Grande, located off Silom Road, near the Bangkok financial district, and many of the other areas frequented by real life Thai people. Erik Drieding, who I have have thus far neglected to mention is also traveling throughout Thailand was staying there in his attempt to sleep off Jet Lag. The day was spent walking throughout the city, finding lunch at a market set hidden among the many sois (side streets) of Bangkok. Erik and I were the only Farangs there, so it was wonderful to be walking amongst an entirely untouristy area mixing with the locals, pointing to random foods labeled only in Thai, and eating whatever came my way. Thereafter, we wandered through Lumpini Park, made the decision to get out of this polluted, noisy, trafficed city. Not that I haven’t liked Bangkok, but there is only so much one can take. I have seen my share of the city, and it’s time to get out.

But, prior to doing so, I had one hell of an adventure last night trying to find Vertigo, an open air bar on the top floor of one of Bangkok's latest buildings. First we went to go see some Muay Kickboxing but got there a bit late, and ended up walking around Luam Saleen night bazaar instead. Then we wanted to go to Vertigo, but the problem was that I didn't have my guidebook and couldn't remember the name of the Hotel that the bar was on. We asked a bunch of tuk-tuk drivers and other Thais (there were hardly any tourists around), who didn't know or more likely wouldn't tell us the location, though finally we thought we had the address, only to be taken to some seevy red-light district area by a deceiving tuk-tuk driver, in which we found an internet cafe and looked up the locations amongst a group of Thai whores who were emailing their sugar daddies asking to send more money. Good times. We finally got there around midnight, and it was well worth finding a posh bar with good martinis, and taking photos of the skyline... then we went back to the Red Light district area, Patpong.

Hanging out with Erik yesterday, was a welcome change of pace from traveling alone. We both are fairly laid back, have similar travel interests, and are within similar budgets, so its pretty cool to have a travel companion. Erik was deadset on going to see Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and I am certainly intrigued, so we looked into the Visa situation, found it was relatively easy to obtain a visa upon arrival (all we needed was a few passport photos which we obtained), and booked a ticket to Siem Reap for Friday and returning on Monday. Considering I am leaving Bangkok today earlier than orginally I thought I might, and I added 2 more days to my trip, making this inpromptu adventure to one of the greatest ruins (Indiana Jones style) EVER seems like a smart move - especially since I know nothing about it - which is the complete opposite of how I planned for Thailand.

Anyway, I am heading over to the bus station now with Erik to go 2 hours west to Kanchaniburi for a few days to see the Tiger Temple, Bridge over the River Kwai, Eragon Waterfalls, and more! Then I return to Bangkok to get my Friday evenning flight to Cambodia. When I fly back to Bangkok on Monday, I just booked a flight to get up to Chiang Mai instead of taking a train since I will be at the airport anyway. I love the freedom of being able to change plans and make travel reservations on a whime while I am here deciding where to go and what to do. I think all my planning of an iterniary was a bit much, I may wouldn't be surprised if more changes are to come. Incidentally, that is when Erik and I will part ways since he is heading to the islands first and then has some cool sounding elephant ecological project he is doing for a week.
So, yesterday I got off Khao San, today I get out of Bangkok, and Friday, I get out of Thailand for a few days at least.

Check out some pictures from yesterday:


View from Vertigo - this is probably only about 1/8 of Bangkok - this city is huge - it goes on forever!

Night Bazaar - even on a Tuesday night, thousands of Thais are out and able shopping, eating, listening to music, and drink beer at the night bazaar.

View of Bangkok from Lumpini Park, which is the big public park in Bangkok.