It was my last morning at the beach and I just relaxed and read. Sadly due to the island hopping BBQ there were no last nights left overs so I ate a banana, some pineapple and "biscuits".
I shared a ride to the airport with 3 Canadian engineering students who just decided that Asia would be more fun than Vancouver for the summer. They convinced me that I should visit Vancouver soon.
The flight was uneventful. I sat beside a couple from seattle who was food touring around Thailand with some island hopping stuck in for good measure. We decided to share a cab to our hotels.
Travel lesson #547: if the cab driver laughs don't share a cab. Your hotels aren't close even if smiling and nodding happens after showing both addresses.
Travel lesson #548: if you do share a cab and the driver asks if he should drop you off first, the answer is yes (period). He is giving you an opportunity to make the right decision.
Travel lesson #549: before the other people leave the cab make sure everyone understands what the surcharge is going to be on the meter. Halfsies at the drop off point may not be half at all. In fact it may only be one quarter.
In sum I paid way too much for a cab. And the cab driver made much more money than he should have as my hotel was halfway back to the airport. On the upside while navigated Bangkok traffic the driver busted out his "English for Thai Taxis" (it's a real book) and we went through fruits and vegetables as well as various ways to thank people. "No problem" was an interesting on. In addition, the English lesson kept my mind of the repeated U Turns we were making.
Upon arrival to my hotel which was in a tiny back alley, I admit I was a smidge bummed. This had been my "splurge". Never judge a book by its cover or a Thai hotel by its street.
The whole hotel was painted by one artist and every room was completely different.
My welcome beverage was iced Bel fruit. The women were welcoming and cheery. They had a whole wall painted as a map of Bangkok and used a laser pointer to tell me where to go.
After my second welcome beverage, my room was ready and it was perfect. It even had an amazing cd playing (which they gave me) and a view of a gigantic Buddha.
They sent me toward Khao San road a place where Westerners like. Khao San road is a tourist haven. Elephants pants, shirts, and shorts, fruit smoothies, bars, & tattoos. I walked through and on and ended up at the Jim Thompson house which is now a museum.
He is a guy that reignited silk weaving in Bangkok.
After that I went to food republic and had boat noodles and a dessert that was pretty much an upside down snow cone. I picked it because holy moly it is hot here.
Siam center (place were food republic is) had the swankiest public bathroom I have ever been in with the coolest signs.
After lunch I walked to Chinatown and found street food for dinner.
Then hopped on the express ferry back towards my hotel.
This is my favorite mode of Bangkok mass transit so far. It is quick, you get a nice breeze while you ride (heightens the sense of adventure, every good heroine has wind blowing through her hair), and it is 40 cents. The ferry driver was a magician. He maneuvered that boat in absurd ways.
Back at the hotel I hung out in the chill space and relaxed and pondered if monks have to barter? I would think no. What kind of person are you if you don't give a monk the best price out of the gate?
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