Arriving in Bangkok

What I've known about Bangkok has been summed up by the fact that when my lush friend Rachel orders a martini, she orders it dirty, then looks the bartender in the eye and says, "not just dirty, Bangkok dirty." It's not as bad as I expected, but it sure isn't the Napa Valley. After the 2.5 hour shuttle from Sonoma to SFO, 13.5 hour flight to Taipei, the 7 hour layover followed by the 4 hour flight to BKK, I was pooped and sick as can be.

So even though my backpack's shoulder strap was found shredded by the airline, I just wanted to find a bed. Finding a taxi is easy, just follow the signs for public taxi, and get in line for the ticket. Many people will head to the backpacker's paradise road Th Khao San, akin to Cherry Grove in Myrtle Beach for high schoool spring break. My advice (as given to me by others): head to the street parallel to Th Khao San called Rambuttri, and ask for the end, where you'll find a cleaner looking alleyway, still buzzing with people, but without the feeling you're in cancun at a wet t-shirt contest.

The taxi line works like this. You tell them where you're going (Rambuttri street) and get in a line by everyone else. TIP: Asians (like many Europeans) do not believe or understand the concept of waiting in line as a courtesy for other people. Every man for himself, so be prepared to throw some 'bows. The other taxi guys are waiting in another line, and they take the yellow card where your destination is written, then hand you a piece of paper, with info on it. When my cab driver got to the car, he asked for that white paper back, and I obliged. I had to ask twice for him to turn on the meter (ended up being 260 baht instead of the 450baht he proposed as a flat rate). Always ask to turn the meter on. You will have to pay the tolls (25 baht, then 45 baht at the second one). I realized that I probably needed that white paper back, so I asked for it. Sure enough it had all the taxi driver's info on it, as well as a comment spot so you could send it in, incase something went wrong or he cheated you. Get that ticket! On my last taxi ride I didn't get one (maybe it's only for the airport), but if you have a digital camera, take a picture of the guy's license if you feel fishy. The last thing you want is to get out of a taxi waiting for your bags, when the guy runs off with your junk in his trunk.

By the way, there are money change places or ATMS. Just go for the ATMS, they charge no more of a fee than anywhere else in the country (that I've seen thus far), about 150 baht fee. By the way, a dollar is equal to about 33 baht.

I stayed at a place called My House Guest House, in a dinky little room with the combo toilet/sink/shower, all for 200 Baht. Just bring your silk travel sheet... I'm going to be using it the entire time I'm here. The place is filled with similar travelers, all pouring over their Lonely Planets, inviting other travellers to fill them in on their experiences and stories. And, they show a couple of movies each day.

Despite the throngs of friendly people my age and nationality, even someone like me is just too tired to make the effort to meet people. So, I sat writing in the journal, and stayed around to watch a movie. Oh no. It's a Nicholas Cage movie. Decidedly the biggest tool in all of Hollywood. I stuck around until the end of the terrible movie ("Knowing") which I fullheartedly do not recommend. After taking some nighttime pictures, it was off to sleep. And that's how you get into Bangkok.