I arrived into Bangkok without hitch, my two flights were fine, my bag had made it and immigration was pain free. There was a moment when I had a two hour transfer wait in Dubai airport and with my backpack on and rushing past the crowds of people (it took 26mins from my transfer point to the gate for my next flight that’s one huge departures hall!) I felt like Kevin from Home Alone, all wide eyed taking everything in.
Once at my hostel in Bangkok I find my bunk in a dorm of 8girls and get a much needed shower. In the reception looking at a map trying to figure out where I am and what to do a Canadian guy called Joel starts talking to me. We end up going for a drink and food in koh San road. This is famous from the book and film ‘the beach’ for being such a full on crazy street with street sellers, knock off designer goods, loud music and bright lights. I’m quite pleased to be walking down the street with someone as it’s very overwhelming.
Joel is meeting a couple that evening so I tag along and get to meet Australian Sam and her Irish boyfriend Brian. We go for drinks at a reggae bar and stumble into my bunk at 3am. The air con is broken and someone is snoring but after a lot of Chang beer I fall into a sweaty sleep.
The next day we all meet up slightly hungover also known as a ‘Chang-over’ to get the boat down the chaoprayor river to china town. This place takes crazy to another level. Narrow alley ways lead you to small streets full of people pushing past to get their hands on everything from clothes, fruit, shoes, to street stalls serving kebabs and fresh pomegranate juice.
In my hazy rush of meeting the others I chucked on my primark flip flops which cut my feet to shreds with all the walking we are doing. I guess £2 was to much to ask for comfort as well as fashion!
We stop at a small Thai restaurant and we are the only westerners surrounded by Thais on their lunch break. I get chicken noodle soup that tastes incredible and costs 40pence. We head back to town in a tuk tuk taxi, four of us squashed in the back with car horns beeping and exhaust fumes mixed with food from street stalls filling our noses. The day ends over more beers, playing connect four and putting the world to rights.
