Bangkok

"Sir you are running out of passport pages...welcome to Bangkok!" is how I was greeted by passport control upon my much awaited arrival in Thailand. The firm yet courteous way he relayed this information didn't surprise me one bit.


Thai hospitality and manners had been spectacular from the moment I stepped on the plane en route to the Thai kingdom. Like most people who enter the kingdom, I planned on doing some shopping here in the land of $1 meals, $2 t-shirts, and $3 massages.


There were bargains to be had everywhere and I was really looking forward to reaping the benefits. Some deals were more tempting than others (the ping pong show wasn't really calling my name for those of you who know what that is) and trying the different types of food was definitely included in that category. I guess this is as good a place as any to go shopping for extra passport pages...if my stomach had allowed it.


My first day in Bangkok was spent weaving through the energy-filled streets near Khao San road, ogling at the plentiful varieties of colorful street food, knock-off designer clothes, and watching the hilarity of locals mixing it up with seas of tourists.


Culture shock in a nutshell. Aside from my experience in Istanbul, I have not been so stimulated by sounds and smells as I was in Bangkok where, like a knock-off Polo shirt, everything is "same same...but different!" That is unless you're talking temples, buddhas, and monks.


These are all very different and I was lucky to have toured the original Thai capital of Ayuthaya along with seeing some amazing structures with extremely interesting and ancient histories.


The peacefulness around the temples and buddhas was what I liked the most. I've never been around so many other tourists yet felt so calm.


A lot of the churches, cathedrals, and mosques I went to in Europe never really made me feel at peace.


Temples made me feel calm from the moment I took my shoes off to go in until I put them back on as I was walking out.


Bangkok would also be episode #3 of the "world meet-up tour" for Christine and I. She would be here with her friend Sara and we planned on rendezvousing once again before quickly splitting ways.

Before Sara arrived, Christine and I took in the town and took it for all it had. We started off with some street Pad Thai and other random street curiosities.


After that we hopped in a tuk tuk for Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium to watch a Muay Thai kickboxing match and to make my bucket list a little shorter.


The fighting was good and the crowd was gambling and cheering through every strike.


A short tuk tuk ride and we're back at electric Khao San road where we let the Red Bull Vodka buckets flow, sheesha burn, and music move us.


We met a lot of people (mostly characters) that night and later found out that 2 of those were semi-famous stars in the longest running Australian soap.


I have a few incriminating pictures of those two which I may save until I land in Melbourne in a month or two, ha! After a great night my plan the next day was to go to the US embassy to get some more passport pages.


I heard Laos and Cambodia use a full passport page each for their visas and I really didn't want future countries I plan on visiting stamping my passport picture like I heard happened to one backpacker. So as I started looking into logistics, my stomach reminded me of all I had eaten and drank (but mostly eaten) the past few days and it rebelled against anything I offered it.


I've heard of "Bali Belly" and it looks like I had gotten "Bangkok Belly". Passport pages would have to wait. In the mean time, Christine's friend Sara would be arriving that day and we wanted to check out the sunset at a great rooftop bar near downtown Bangkok.


I sucked it up and we made the adventurous cab ride into the other side of town where we were rewarded with quite possibly the best view of all Bangkok from 59 floors up. We really enjoyed the view and the girls really enjoyed heckling me as I sipped on my virgin piña colada which was thankfully agreeing with my stomach.


After yellow curry for dinner (bad idea) and another entertaining cab ride we were back at our hostels and Christine and I would once again say "see you later?" If the stars line up perhaps a meeting in South America may occur. Bangkok was a good introduction to Asia for me as it is an area of the world I didn't know too much about, I'm happy with what I've experienced and am really anxious to see and learn more about it. I just hope I can handle the food because a motto of mine lately has been "I'll try anything once!" Except for Bangkok ladyboys...