Khao San!

We decided our first trip out into Bangkok was one that is probably going to be pretty obvious. We decided to head to the swarming tourist hot-spot Khao San Road. After the whole jet lag 7/11 palaver we were on a search for food! 

Heading out of the hotel the concierge told us that it should not cost us more than 30b. Poor little unsuspecting us! Expecting to be taken where we ask to be taken. Khao San Road was “closed” this afternoon. We should go and see ‘Big Buddha’ and go to the Grand Palace and get some custom made clothes. After about five minutes of huffing and puffing, awkward, scared glances at one another as if to say “what the hell are we supposed to do” we stepped into the tuk tuk. 

This is no lie when I say we had been in the tuk tuk for about twenty minutes when he pulled over and and was like go in there and see if you want some custom made clothes. Umm..no we don’t want any clothes we want food. We want to go to Khao San Road! Why can’t we go where we want we asked in a desperate state of despair. I love food. Live to eat…all that shizz! It was running into 36 hours since we landed and still no food. So we had the whole guilt trip laid upon us “If you go in there and look, you can just pretend to look and then I can get a gas coupon and feed my family and then I’ll take you to where you want to go” FINE, we thought, we have to now don’t we!? 

We walked in and a group of people with books and books of materials and design ideas flocked towards us. What do you want, what are you interested in, what colours!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Claustrophobic would describe the situation perfectly. We don’t really want anything we replied, just thought we’d have a look….and with that, knowing we had no interest in parting with our money on this afternoon, we were hurried towards the door. 

Back out from the dark air conditioned room to the hard hitting humidity we were greeted by a very unimpressed, angry tuk tuk driver. Why did you do that?! Why don’t you want anything?! Go back in and have another look you might change your mind! We were having none of this anymore, so he turned around and drove down the road to take us to the originally requested destination. 

And then he pulled over.

 Two minutes down the road.

 And told us to get out. 

So we did. 

Because that was enough drama for one afternoon, and we didn’t want it to progress to anything further.

With no desire to ever get in a tuk tuk ever again we began to retrace the tuk tuk drivers route down the busy roads of Bangkok. It was like a harrowing, more exotic version of Hansel and Gretal. The humidity in Bangkok is so consuming, with no idea where the hell we were, no water, and still no food we walked the streets and were treated to some views which we probably wouldn’t of seen if this whole event hadn’t of happened. Every cloud! 

After a forty minute walk of retracing the route we had come, dripping with sweat, as attractive as we could ever be, we finally decided to pull over a pink taxi for the little bit left we had to go. Thankfully we were taken to where we wanted to go. And it was definitely worth the wait. And the hassle.

We had a lovely afternoon walking up and down. And back down and then up again. Trying to take it all in, but the experience was different every time. We later met a girl and over heard her say to someone else we were with whilst buying pad thai from a street stall “Yeah Khao san is pretty cool but once you’ve walked up in about two times it gets really boring.” I remember disagreeing at the time as its completely different every time. I understand why people may not like it all too much. Its hot, its busy, it can be quite dirty – but aren’t most major cities?! If its your first time out of the western culture it may come as a big shock to your system. I know many people who have been to Bangkok in passing and immediately come to the assumption that they do not like Thailand. Personally I think it is a massive shame. I can understand how it may not be your scene but it is an experience definitely worth having and you will come back with something memorable and enjoyable I’m sure. Anyway, Bangkok is just the start!

(I’d just like to point out that although we were really frustrated with the tuk-tuk driver, I am not angry. It is their job and we were non the wiser at the time. Obviously we now know that you probably should get a tuk tuk with a yellow number plate as they are not government regulated like the first one we took. And you should probably be a tiny bit more clued up than we were. But our experience of first hand learning is a good memory now in retrospect.)