Bangkok, Thailand

Let's start with the plane ride from LAX to Guangzhou, China:
It was uneventful, calm, and went by pretty fast. I slept for 8 out of the 16 hours, was served amazing vegan food (airlines don't seem to know the difference between vegetarian and vegan), and had a healthy serving of white wine. We got to China at 4:30am and I met another traveler named Jose. We hung out at the airport and ate some breakfast (double espresso and egg sandwich) and then boarded the plane to Bangkok.

On the second plane ride I sat next to a wonderful Chinese couple who wanted desperately to practice their English. The woman did so by ordering me apple juice, and then asking me "Facebook?" while pointing at me. Really? Facebook? OK, yes, I facebook. We exchanged information and I made another friend.

Got into Bangkok at 10am, got our passports stamped, grabbed our bags, hit an ATM and found our way to the public taxi's. Customs didn't even bother to see us at all. It went incredibly smooth.

Our taxi dropped us off about a block away from our hostel, Nappark. My new friend decided to stay here as he hadn't booked anywhere else yet. It is a beautiful hostel. Very clean and the AC feels divine.

After updating family and friends that I was safe and sound I decided to go on a little walk, my goal being to find me some Tom Kha soup and a soda in a bag. I found the soup, and man... Better than expected. So damn good I ate the entire huge bowl plus rice. And Roselle juice. Whatever that is. It tasted good. But.... as I had been forewarned, but neglected to listen, about Bangkok Belly. You can use your imagination here. Luckily I packed those Pepto into my money belt, at least I took someone's advice on that.

After Bangkok belly I took a shower and met up with Jose and two other girls who are here on a vacation from teaching English in South Korea. One girl is from Houston, the other from Colorado Springs. Small world? Always.

We sat and chatted for a couple of hours, met more people and then went out for Thai iced tea and water. Then we chatted some more and decided it was time for dinner, which consisted of a whole Red Snapper fish (head and all), a huge Chang beer for me, and some crab curry with the crab's head fully intact and eyeballs staring at me the entire meal. We then headed off for a $1 30 minute Thai massage. Thai massage = tiny Thai women beating the crap out of you for 30 minutes to an hour. It was great. We then walked around Khao San road and had ice cream. Then it was bedtime. I slept like a baby, fell asleep to Mad Men (so thankful I downloaded those beforehand!)

And now it is 7am and I have been sitting on the hostel porch watching the sun come up for an hour. I can't believe I am in such a beautiful place. I am so at peace right now. I can hear the vendors setting up their shops for the day.

I am off for some sweet Thai breakfast now.

Till later,
Ani

I woke up at 6am at sat on the patio of my hostel watching the day come alive in the big city. I then went to breakfast with some people I had met the night before. We ate banana pancakes and then coconut pudding balls. It was amazing. The food here continues to be one of the major contributing factors in keeping me here.

After breakfast Lauren, Jose and I headed off to see the Grand Palace. But we were stopped by a man, seemingly friendly, who was "giving us advice" on what tuk tuk to take and where to go. So, for 20 baht (75 cents), we headed off to "Lucky buddha", "standing Buddha" and "sitting buddha", and of course to the driver's friend's tailor shop and a tourist info shop as well. (The tuk tuk drivers in Bangkok get kickbacks from different shops as long as they bring them tourists. I had read all about this before leaving and knew we were being scammed the minute we were stopped, but they are just SO damn convincing, and I thought, well it's only 20 baht.) Anyway, we saw some cool stuff but ended up missing the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, the two things I wanted to see in Bangkok. At least I know I will be back there in 3 months for my visa run.

Later Lauren and I went out for lunch where I had yellow curry. It was amazing. Then we headed back and I caught up with Katrina and Carolyn and we sat and chatted about Koren dramas and even watched an episode. Then we went to dinner and had more Tom Kha soup.

That night, instead of going out with people I decided to call it a night and went to bed at 10. The heat and jetlag are getting to me.

Off to Sangkhlaburi tomorrow.