• the 10:07PM train left at 10:07PM
• the trains run ridiculously smooth
• the water bottle mouths are smaller
• even though I KNOW that my bag is safe, I'm glancing at it every few minutes out of habit
• smells are stronger in Japan because there are no background smells to hide it
• Japan's cold!!
• if you drop the soap in shower in Japan, you don't feel the need to wash it before using it again
• I can taste the cleanliness of Ogaki water again
• if you drink the same amount of water, it comes out as intense amounts of pee because you don't sweat in Japan in May
• I'm a lot sleepier in Japan
• It's nice to be back home, but the backpacking excitement isn't really here
• you don't have to wait 3 hours for a bus or train, but you choose to wait 2 hours for Krispee Kreme and 3 hours for an iPad
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Last day of my Trip
I got to Japan and it took me 20 minutes to exit the plane, go through immigration and customs, and ten get in the train. It's almost as if Japan was waiting to welcome me home. I had this wave of relief once the plane landed. I felt that I could finally relax. I noticed on the plane that I had lost the bracelet that Pau from Cambodia had given me. Although a little bummed, I felt that the bracelet was karma reminded me of its presence during my trip and now that I was ending it, it also ended its journey with me.
Even thoguh it was a month long and there were times during the trip where I literally thought would never end, now that I'm at the end, it all went by pretty quickly. All those long nights waiting for a bus or boat, the crawling train that would be stopped more than actually moving, the nights where I couldn't sleep because I was being eaten alive by bugs. They don't seem so bad anymore now that I'm back home.
If there was anything I could have done different, probably not. It was a great trip and those unbearable times all make for some pretty good stories. Is there anything I will do differently next time I try something like this? Yes, less long haul transport. For a $10 train ticket, I could have dished out an extra $15 and gotten a flight.
Also, I wouldn't take so much stuff. I didn't have much with me as it was, but I only used 2 shirts and only 1 pair of pants (which only got washed twice, but is now comfortably resting in a trashcan in Bangkok airport). There was absolutely no need for 5 pairs of socks. I think 2 sets of clothes is enough. You can wear one while the other spends a day drying in your room. Unless you plan to do some intense hiking, you don't need shoes. I used it once for the Mount Bromo hike in Indonesia, but there were plenty f people using flip-flops. Take clothes that you don't mind throwing away beause that lightens your pack and makes room for gifts. My shoes are in Indonesia, while half my other clothes are in Thailand.
I'm more of a see as much as you can kind of person, so although most people will do a few weeks in a country where I only did a fee days, I don't think I would change that. A couple of days in Ko Tao might have been nicer, but no complaints.
This trip definitely fine-tuned the patience that I learned in Japan. Waiting 5 hours for a minibus to fill up, or 2 hours because the bus broke down ... I didn't expect much in terms of efficiency when I came out here, and I didn't get much.
This is what I appreciate back in my comfortable life. Flushing toilets that don't smell or are coming apart, being able to rinse your mouth with tap water. a comfortable AC room on a really hot day, mosquitos that are actually repelled by my repellant, my bed. I still don't really have a bed that I feel very comfortable in, except back in Hacienda, but just knowing what kind if sleep I'm going to get is a nice luxury. Seeing a price and paying no more than that and knowing that everyone pays the same price, that's something I missed. Although haggling was fun at times, it's can be really draining.
Seeing the cultures differently from the frat to the last day was interesting. The touts in Indonesia started off as really annoying and I ignored every one of them, but spending that night in the bus station watching them work really hard all night long to make just a few bucks, that put them in a new light. They're just trying to get by like everyone else.
I met some really interesting and nice people on this trip and I'm ending it with lots of good memories. I wouldn't compeltely call myself a true backpacker yet (I still need to loosen up a bit), but I'm getting there.
Even thoguh it was a month long and there were times during the trip where I literally thought would never end, now that I'm at the end, it all went by pretty quickly. All those long nights waiting for a bus or boat, the crawling train that would be stopped more than actually moving, the nights where I couldn't sleep because I was being eaten alive by bugs. They don't seem so bad anymore now that I'm back home.
If there was anything I could have done different, probably not. It was a great trip and those unbearable times all make for some pretty good stories. Is there anything I will do differently next time I try something like this? Yes, less long haul transport. For a $10 train ticket, I could have dished out an extra $15 and gotten a flight.
Also, I wouldn't take so much stuff. I didn't have much with me as it was, but I only used 2 shirts and only 1 pair of pants (which only got washed twice, but is now comfortably resting in a trashcan in Bangkok airport). There was absolutely no need for 5 pairs of socks. I think 2 sets of clothes is enough. You can wear one while the other spends a day drying in your room. Unless you plan to do some intense hiking, you don't need shoes. I used it once for the Mount Bromo hike in Indonesia, but there were plenty f people using flip-flops. Take clothes that you don't mind throwing away beause that lightens your pack and makes room for gifts. My shoes are in Indonesia, while half my other clothes are in Thailand.
I'm more of a see as much as you can kind of person, so although most people will do a few weeks in a country where I only did a fee days, I don't think I would change that. A couple of days in Ko Tao might have been nicer, but no complaints.
This trip definitely fine-tuned the patience that I learned in Japan. Waiting 5 hours for a minibus to fill up, or 2 hours because the bus broke down ... I didn't expect much in terms of efficiency when I came out here, and I didn't get much.
This is what I appreciate back in my comfortable life. Flushing toilets that don't smell or are coming apart, being able to rinse your mouth with tap water. a comfortable AC room on a really hot day, mosquitos that are actually repelled by my repellant, my bed. I still don't really have a bed that I feel very comfortable in, except back in Hacienda, but just knowing what kind if sleep I'm going to get is a nice luxury. Seeing a price and paying no more than that and knowing that everyone pays the same price, that's something I missed. Although haggling was fun at times, it's can be really draining.
Seeing the cultures differently from the frat to the last day was interesting. The touts in Indonesia started off as really annoying and I ignored every one of them, but spending that night in the bus station watching them work really hard all night long to make just a few bucks, that put them in a new light. They're just trying to get by like everyone else.
I met some really interesting and nice people on this trip and I'm ending it with lots of good memories. I wouldn't compeltely call myself a true backpacker yet (I still need to loosen up a bit), but I'm getting there.
Karma
I'm not a huge believer of karma, but I do like "My Name is Earl." I think it helped me lean toward believing in it for this trip, especially being in places with deep ties to Hinduism.
I didn't worry about it in Taiwan, but in Malaysia, I really started to worry that someone would steal my pack or pick-pocket me. The constant glancing out the window or feeling my pockets to make sure I had everything really got tiring. After giving some money to the guitar singers on the bus in Indonesia, I think karma was on my side. It came in the form of a really catchy Indonesian pop song. That act of good karma gave us a safe 20-hours of travel to Cemoro Lawang. When we were on the bus from Probolinggo to Surabaya, I strongly suggested to Josephine to give the little trio of boys some money. Karma kept up safe again and let us find a really cheap hotel near the airport that night, but surprised us with a hefty Indonesian departure tax (although it was written in both of our guidebooks).
Cambodia was a great country. The people were nice and very helpful, we didn't have to haggle so much at food stalls, accommodations were big, clean, and cheap ... durian smelled good. In Indonesia, everyone littered, so we were THAT careful with our trash either, but in Cambodia, we kept all our trash with us and three it away appropriately. The bus broke down on the way to Siem Reap, but all I thought about was how hard the bus driver worked, trying to fix it in the blazing hot heat. When the bus came to pick us up, the driver apologized and shook my hand. We hired a tuk tuk driver for the whole day wen we saw Angkor Wat. From 5AM to 6PM, he drove us around, covering over 50 miles at least. Even though we haggled with him a bit, we tipped him an extra few dollars because he was really nice and informative.
Karma really showed itself in Cambodia. When Pau gave me the bracelet, karma was pulling me to buy some over-priced, but ice-cold water from her. From that point, karma took it's form in the bracelet I was wearing and I wore it throughout the rest of the trip.
The main thing I was worried about in Thailand was my pack of course, getting conned, traveling long distances with delicate time schedules, and also the red-shirt protests. My pack was fine and there were no action in Bangkok at all. I felt the potential of getting conned by that "high school teacher from Chiang Mai," so I got out if there quick (but too quick to rally know if I was getting conned or not). We were also able to go from Bangkok to Ko Tao and back to Bangkok wth enough time for Josie to catch her plane. The only problem was that she was a whole day early and had to spend one day in the Bangkok airport, half a day in The Beijing airport, as then a whole day in Narita. Karma rewarded her with a first-class seat back to America though.
I really believe that karma was in my bracelet. I has with me all throughout Thailand and in Beijing, but once I got on the plane to go back to Japan, I noticed that it was gone. I don't think I lost it, I think it was done protecting me so it went to go protect (or punish) someone else. I started to relax at that point. There were times, though, when I thought the tiny plane was going to go down. A lot of us though we had landed, but it was just really strong turbulence hitting a really tiny plane.
I didn't trust anyone while I was out this month, but I gave a few donations and tips. Karma's a funny thing. It kept me from getting my pack stolen, getting pick-pocketed or getting hurt. It made itself known in Indonesia and took it's form in Cambodia, but once it was finished with me, it left just as suddenly as it showed up. I wonder if that means I don't have to be nice to people in Japan?
I didn't worry about it in Taiwan, but in Malaysia, I really started to worry that someone would steal my pack or pick-pocket me. The constant glancing out the window or feeling my pockets to make sure I had everything really got tiring. After giving some money to the guitar singers on the bus in Indonesia, I think karma was on my side. It came in the form of a really catchy Indonesian pop song. That act of good karma gave us a safe 20-hours of travel to Cemoro Lawang. When we were on the bus from Probolinggo to Surabaya, I strongly suggested to Josephine to give the little trio of boys some money. Karma kept up safe again and let us find a really cheap hotel near the airport that night, but surprised us with a hefty Indonesian departure tax (although it was written in both of our guidebooks).
Cambodia was a great country. The people were nice and very helpful, we didn't have to haggle so much at food stalls, accommodations were big, clean, and cheap ... durian smelled good. In Indonesia, everyone littered, so we were THAT careful with our trash either, but in Cambodia, we kept all our trash with us and three it away appropriately. The bus broke down on the way to Siem Reap, but all I thought about was how hard the bus driver worked, trying to fix it in the blazing hot heat. When the bus came to pick us up, the driver apologized and shook my hand. We hired a tuk tuk driver for the whole day wen we saw Angkor Wat. From 5AM to 6PM, he drove us around, covering over 50 miles at least. Even though we haggled with him a bit, we tipped him an extra few dollars because he was really nice and informative.
Karma really showed itself in Cambodia. When Pau gave me the bracelet, karma was pulling me to buy some over-priced, but ice-cold water from her. From that point, karma took it's form in the bracelet I was wearing and I wore it throughout the rest of the trip.
The main thing I was worried about in Thailand was my pack of course, getting conned, traveling long distances with delicate time schedules, and also the red-shirt protests. My pack was fine and there were no action in Bangkok at all. I felt the potential of getting conned by that "high school teacher from Chiang Mai," so I got out if there quick (but too quick to rally know if I was getting conned or not). We were also able to go from Bangkok to Ko Tao and back to Bangkok wth enough time for Josie to catch her plane. The only problem was that she was a whole day early and had to spend one day in the Bangkok airport, half a day in The Beijing airport, as then a whole day in Narita. Karma rewarded her with a first-class seat back to America though.
I really believe that karma was in my bracelet. I has with me all throughout Thailand and in Beijing, but once I got on the plane to go back to Japan, I noticed that it was gone. I don't think I lost it, I think it was done protecting me so it went to go protect (or punish) someone else. I started to relax at that point. There were times, though, when I thought the tiny plane was going to go down. A lot of us though we had landed, but it was just really strong turbulence hitting a really tiny plane.
I didn't trust anyone while I was out this month, but I gave a few donations and tips. Karma's a funny thing. It kept me from getting my pack stolen, getting pick-pocketed or getting hurt. It made itself known in Indonesia and took it's form in Cambodia, but once it was finished with me, it left just as suddenly as it showed up. I wonder if that means I don't have to be nice to people in Japan?
Other Random Observations
• duct tape is a very good thing to have. It can fix holes in the mosquito net, tape things near the outlet when shelves were lacking, and help water proof stuff
• bring tissue packets or spare rolls of toilet paper (or just steal them when you can)
• ziploc bags are a must. You can store liquids, water proof things when snorkeling, divide and organize
• it's easier to bring more than 3 ounces of shampoo and toothpaste because the cost can add up
• not bringing enough sunblock is expensive because only the foreigners buy it
• extra soap and a bit of laundry detergent is useful to have
• a small micro fiber towel is way better than a large beach towel
• hardcore backpackers bring a sleeping mat and mosquito net because they don't use hostels
• there is no need to pack a mosquito net if you're staying at hostels ... I'm glad I didn't
• getting sick before you leave is a bad idea for you ... and for your travel buddy
• most backpackers are really friendly, but some tend to talk too much
• ¥100 slippers will break after a day
• slippers are called slippers because you slip them on, but some are called slippers because you slip a lot on flat surfaces
• three days without a shower in a hot and humid country is something you really just have to experience to understand
• even if you think you know where you're going, take the map and the guidebook
• even if it's 80°F (37°C) at night, your clothes won't dry if it's humid
• even if you think your traveller's diarrhea is cured, it might not be
• don't eat a huge meal after only eating little ones unless you're near a toilet
• wearing wet clothes in humid weather is a great way to stay cool, but you might get too cold
• taking videos of lightning is difficult, but satisfying
• you can still have dark yellow pee after drinking 8 cups of water a day
• unpacking and repacking your pack every couple of days is a real hassle
• sometimes rain really sucks, but other times, it's god answering a prayer on a hot and humid day
• disposable underwear is great when you don't want to carry dirty underwear until you can do laundry
• all my books and papers are a little damp because of the humidity
• student cards are a must when traveling ... lots of discounts
• we spend A LOT of time waiting for transportation ... thats why all the other backpackers spend a month in each country, not just a week
• after a while, flies aren't THAT bad
• other backpackers are a wealth of information ... for free
• everyone uses the "Lonely Planet"
• my "Rough Guide" guidebook sucks
• taking old clothes when traveling is a good idea. You can throw them away before your flight home to lessen your load
• karma is good to have on your side when you're traveling
• Southeast Asians honk their horns much more than LA drivers with road rage
• it's better to be starving on a bus than have traveller's diarrhea
• there are a lot of foreigners at hostels and tourist attractions, but not on public transportation
• the most hardcore of backpackers can drink water straight out the tap
• If you don't want to pay for a tour guide, just follow closely begin them
• speaking Japanese can't get of pesky touts ... they speak Japanese too
• any country with street stalls are bound to be dirty
• after a while, a place to lie down takes priority over comfort
• foreigners who don't respect another country's culture are jackasses
• if you finish your book before your trip is over, that sucks when you have more waiting time
•my paranoia, although still pretty strong, has gone down after leaving Indonesia
• using your pack as a pillow hurts your neck after a few hours
• seats 11 and 12 on a bus seem to be ideal for watching your packs stowed on the outside compartment
• not many people seem to worry about their bags as much as I do (maybe they are the ones who write stories in the Internet about getting their stuff stolen)
• you get pretty dark after a month in SE Asia
• my bag always seems like someone tried opening it after I take it out of the luggage compartment on a bus
• padlocks on a pack, tying all the strings, zip ties, and bungee chords seem like good deterrents for thieves
• your black camera strap turns white after washing t
• I think someone stole my umbrella
• if I had no stuff to worry about being stolen, I would have enjoyed my trip more
• maybe one pair of shorts would have been nice
• an AC room might be a luxury, but after I spending a night in a fan room, an extra $3 for AC is worth it
• 65 (18) degrees with a blanket is much better than 85 (30) degrees with a fan
• after a heavy storm, the air cools down a bit, but heat radiates from the ground
• it's hard to use large bills in third world countries
• no one will take dirty or slightly ripped bills - use them to pay for your entry visa
• if you're not sure where you're going, just follow the crowd
• the ancient temple builders really like steep, crazy dangerous steps
• intermediate Sudoku is really hard
• bowel movements become everyday conversation with your travel buddy
• if you don't have anything to lose, then you don't have to worry
• backpackers are the type of people who can manage if all their stuff gets stolen
• losing 10 pounds (5 kilos), I guess isn't that difficult
• after losing weight, immigration stops you a lot if you have a fat picture on your passport
• the first shower after you get back is the best one
• bring tissue packets or spare rolls of toilet paper (or just steal them when you can)
• ziploc bags are a must. You can store liquids, water proof things when snorkeling, divide and organize
• it's easier to bring more than 3 ounces of shampoo and toothpaste because the cost can add up
• not bringing enough sunblock is expensive because only the foreigners buy it
• extra soap and a bit of laundry detergent is useful to have
• a small micro fiber towel is way better than a large beach towel
• hardcore backpackers bring a sleeping mat and mosquito net because they don't use hostels
• there is no need to pack a mosquito net if you're staying at hostels ... I'm glad I didn't
• getting sick before you leave is a bad idea for you ... and for your travel buddy
• most backpackers are really friendly, but some tend to talk too much
• ¥100 slippers will break after a day
• slippers are called slippers because you slip them on, but some are called slippers because you slip a lot on flat surfaces
• three days without a shower in a hot and humid country is something you really just have to experience to understand
• even if you think you know where you're going, take the map and the guidebook
• even if it's 80°F (37°C) at night, your clothes won't dry if it's humid
• even if you think your traveller's diarrhea is cured, it might not be
• don't eat a huge meal after only eating little ones unless you're near a toilet
• wearing wet clothes in humid weather is a great way to stay cool, but you might get too cold
• taking videos of lightning is difficult, but satisfying
• you can still have dark yellow pee after drinking 8 cups of water a day
• unpacking and repacking your pack every couple of days is a real hassle
• sometimes rain really sucks, but other times, it's god answering a prayer on a hot and humid day
• disposable underwear is great when you don't want to carry dirty underwear until you can do laundry
• all my books and papers are a little damp because of the humidity
• student cards are a must when traveling ... lots of discounts
• we spend A LOT of time waiting for transportation ... thats why all the other backpackers spend a month in each country, not just a week
• after a while, flies aren't THAT bad
• other backpackers are a wealth of information ... for free
• everyone uses the "Lonely Planet"
• my "Rough Guide" guidebook sucks
• taking old clothes when traveling is a good idea. You can throw them away before your flight home to lessen your load
• karma is good to have on your side when you're traveling
• Southeast Asians honk their horns much more than LA drivers with road rage
• it's better to be starving on a bus than have traveller's diarrhea
• there are a lot of foreigners at hostels and tourist attractions, but not on public transportation
• the most hardcore of backpackers can drink water straight out the tap
• If you don't want to pay for a tour guide, just follow closely begin them
• speaking Japanese can't get of pesky touts ... they speak Japanese too
• any country with street stalls are bound to be dirty
• after a while, a place to lie down takes priority over comfort
• foreigners who don't respect another country's culture are jackasses
• if you finish your book before your trip is over, that sucks when you have more waiting time
•my paranoia, although still pretty strong, has gone down after leaving Indonesia
• using your pack as a pillow hurts your neck after a few hours
• seats 11 and 12 on a bus seem to be ideal for watching your packs stowed on the outside compartment
• not many people seem to worry about their bags as much as I do (maybe they are the ones who write stories in the Internet about getting their stuff stolen)
• you get pretty dark after a month in SE Asia
• my bag always seems like someone tried opening it after I take it out of the luggage compartment on a bus
• padlocks on a pack, tying all the strings, zip ties, and bungee chords seem like good deterrents for thieves
• your black camera strap turns white after washing t
• I think someone stole my umbrella
• if I had no stuff to worry about being stolen, I would have enjoyed my trip more
• maybe one pair of shorts would have been nice
• an AC room might be a luxury, but after I spending a night in a fan room, an extra $3 for AC is worth it
• 65 (18) degrees with a blanket is much better than 85 (30) degrees with a fan
• after a heavy storm, the air cools down a bit, but heat radiates from the ground
• it's hard to use large bills in third world countries
• no one will take dirty or slightly ripped bills - use them to pay for your entry visa
• if you're not sure where you're going, just follow the crowd
• the ancient temple builders really like steep, crazy dangerous steps
• intermediate Sudoku is really hard
• bowel movements become everyday conversation with your travel buddy
• if you don't have anything to lose, then you don't have to worry
• backpackers are the type of people who can manage if all their stuff gets stolen
• losing 10 pounds (5 kilos), I guess isn't that difficult
• after losing weight, immigration stops you a lot if you have a fat picture on your passport
• the first shower after you get back is the best one
Chinese Random Observations
• if you have a long layover in China, you can't leave the airport because you have to apply for a visa in advance
• Chinese airport security is very strict with lighters
• there is only exchange rate in China ... no need to haggle ... but there is a $20 fee
• if you only want to exchange $20 for food and a few gifts, it's more worth it to wait 10 hours for your plane food
• the Air China plane is smallest plane I've ever been on
• the flight attendants have no idea what language to speak to me in
• Chinese airport security is very strict with lighters
• there is only exchange rate in China ... no need to haggle ... but there is a $20 fee
• if you only want to exchange $20 for food and a few gifts, it's more worth it to wait 10 hours for your plane food
• the Air China plane is smallest plane I've ever been on
• the flight attendants have no idea what language to speak to me in
Last Day in Thailand
Overall, I wouldn't say that Thailad was my favorite country, but the pushy angrier touts, cockroach pillows, 9:00PM curfews, half-assed street pad thai are still fresh in my mind, so maybe it'll change in a few weeks. The first day going from Siem Reap to Bangkok, from Bangkok to Chumpon pier, from Chumpon pier to Ko Tao, diving twice, then going back to Chumpon pier from Ko Tao, back to Bangkok from Chumpon was the most intense stretch of travel on this trip. Although the dives made it completely worth it, I would never do that again.
Josie left on the evening of the 22nd for her very long trip home. I got an email the next day from her saying that she made a mistake and was a day early, so he spent an entire day in the airport apparently. It paid off though because karma gave her a first-class seat back to America. Being in my own was kinda cool. I could go where I want and at my own pace, but Josie's a real easy travel buddy, so I'd have preferred hanging with her.
The worst part of Thailand was the heat. It was the hottest I've been too, but I was also walking more instead of taking tuk tuks or buses. The pigeon lady who shoved her popcorn kernels at me also pissed me off. The touts were less willingto bargain as much and would get mad if you didn't like their price.
The best parts were the cobra show and the cooking class. 3 cobras, one in each hand and one in his mouth ... doesn't get more exciting than that. The pad thai was exactly what I wanted to eat and te cashew chicken was amazing. Earth, Aeg, and Katsuni were really fun ad I got to hang out with a few locals at the end if my trip. The girls at the Luang Poo shop were always welcoming and offerred a nice, cool place to sit down and I never hesitated to buy a smoothis from them.
I met a guy on the plane sitting next to me. I had just finished a 4-day trip to Thailand, but he had just finished 2 years. He was teaching english out here and had decided to go back home to Vermont. Although he said he was excited to go home, I didn't sense it. He sounded a bit like me. We had a good chat and parted ways at the Beijing airport.
I don't have a strong urge to come back again anytime soon, but definitely sometime in the future.
Josie left on the evening of the 22nd for her very long trip home. I got an email the next day from her saying that she made a mistake and was a day early, so he spent an entire day in the airport apparently. It paid off though because karma gave her a first-class seat back to America. Being in my own was kinda cool. I could go where I want and at my own pace, but Josie's a real easy travel buddy, so I'd have preferred hanging with her.
The worst part of Thailand was the heat. It was the hottest I've been too, but I was also walking more instead of taking tuk tuks or buses. The pigeon lady who shoved her popcorn kernels at me also pissed me off. The touts were less willingto bargain as much and would get mad if you didn't like their price.
The best parts were the cobra show and the cooking class. 3 cobras, one in each hand and one in his mouth ... doesn't get more exciting than that. The pad thai was exactly what I wanted to eat and te cashew chicken was amazing. Earth, Aeg, and Katsuni were really fun ad I got to hang out with a few locals at the end if my trip. The girls at the Luang Poo shop were always welcoming and offerred a nice, cool place to sit down and I never hesitated to buy a smoothis from them.
I met a guy on the plane sitting next to me. I had just finished a 4-day trip to Thailand, but he had just finished 2 years. He was teaching english out here and had decided to go back home to Vermont. Although he said he was excited to go home, I didn't sense it. He sounded a bit like me. We had a good chat and parted ways at the Beijing airport.
I don't have a strong urge to come back again anytime soon, but definitely sometime in the future.
Thai Random Observations
• there is no fee for land-crossings from Cambodia
• there are so many foreingers on Ko Tao
• Khao San Road is ridiculously full of tourists
• Thailand smells very good with it's random pad Thai street stalls
• there are WAY more tourists in Thailand than anywhere so far
• children monks come around asking for money at 6:30AM
• even the smallest amount of spice can be bad on a long bus ride
• the waiting areas for buses that we always get dropped off at are always conveniently local restaurants playing Leanne Rhymes and All-4-One
• there are so many stories of people getting their stuff stolen on Thai buses, but I wonder what the actual percentage is
• transportation in Thailand all seem to be very punctual
• bus drivers who drive slow worry me more than those who drive fast ... what are they up to?
• bus drivers who start off really slow, then haul ass worry me the most
• it's hard to give up your bus seat on an 8-hour bus, even to an old woman
• some pad thai street stalls aren't very good
• if a taxi driver in Bangkok says he's never been to Khao San road, he's going to rip you off
• always carry change when riding in a taxi because the driver doesn't carry any
• at the end if your trip, one cockroach in your bed won't bother you THAT much
• it's hard to relax when you think your room has bed bugs
• it's even harder to relax when your room has baby cockroaches
• it's a bit easier to relax when you change rooms after finding a nest of cockroaches in your room
• bugs seem to be inevitable in any room at any guesthouse
• even with a wet shirt and a fan, Bangkok is hot at night without an AC
• when you buy something, no one seems to have change ... conveniently
• I think Cambodians are nicer than Thais
• if a Thai person thinks they're giving you a good deal and you disagree, they get mad
• "khawp khun khrap" - "thank you" in Thai sounds like Korean "bokunbap"
• the Thai language sounds a bit whiney sometimes
• Thais will lie to you to get you to buy something
• the sun actually burns my feet here
• it's hard to leave your AC room when it's really hot outside and you're trying to save money
• there are monks dressed in orange everywhere
• local bookstores won't buy my Rough Guide because even they know that it sucks
• touts get your attention by yelling, "Hey Mister!" or "Hey Lady," and carrying out the last syllable
• lots of people think I'm Thai here
• 7-eleven Thai iced teas are awesome
• the ferry boat driver between Wat Arun an Wat Pho must get bored going back and forth every 5 minutes ALL day
• Thai temples use a lot of gold, but they also use lots of mirrors so it looks like a lot more gold than it actually is
• the Bangkok airport has a distinct Thai smell
• you should check to see if your plane ticket includes the departure tax because I could have gotten my Thai massage with the money I saved
• there are so many foreingers on Ko Tao
• Khao San Road is ridiculously full of tourists
• Thailand smells very good with it's random pad Thai street stalls
• there are WAY more tourists in Thailand than anywhere so far
• children monks come around asking for money at 6:30AM
• even the smallest amount of spice can be bad on a long bus ride
• the waiting areas for buses that we always get dropped off at are always conveniently local restaurants playing Leanne Rhymes and All-4-One
• there are so many stories of people getting their stuff stolen on Thai buses, but I wonder what the actual percentage is
• transportation in Thailand all seem to be very punctual
• bus drivers who drive slow worry me more than those who drive fast ... what are they up to?
• bus drivers who start off really slow, then haul ass worry me the most
• it's hard to give up your bus seat on an 8-hour bus, even to an old woman
• some pad thai street stalls aren't very good
• if a taxi driver in Bangkok says he's never been to Khao San road, he's going to rip you off
• always carry change when riding in a taxi because the driver doesn't carry any
• at the end if your trip, one cockroach in your bed won't bother you THAT much
• it's hard to relax when you think your room has bed bugs
• it's even harder to relax when your room has baby cockroaches
• it's a bit easier to relax when you change rooms after finding a nest of cockroaches in your room
• bugs seem to be inevitable in any room at any guesthouse
• even with a wet shirt and a fan, Bangkok is hot at night without an AC
• when you buy something, no one seems to have change ... conveniently
• I think Cambodians are nicer than Thais
• if a Thai person thinks they're giving you a good deal and you disagree, they get mad
• "khawp khun khrap" - "thank you" in Thai sounds like Korean "bokunbap"
• the Thai language sounds a bit whiney sometimes
• Thais will lie to you to get you to buy something
• the sun actually burns my feet here
• it's hard to leave your AC room when it's really hot outside and you're trying to save money
• there are monks dressed in orange everywhere
• local bookstores won't buy my Rough Guide because even they know that it sucks
• touts get your attention by yelling, "Hey Mister!" or "Hey Lady," and carrying out the last syllable
• lots of people think I'm Thai here
• 7-eleven Thai iced teas are awesome
• the ferry boat driver between Wat Arun an Wat Pho must get bored going back and forth every 5 minutes ALL day
• Thai temples use a lot of gold, but they also use lots of mirrors so it looks like a lot more gold than it actually is
• the Bangkok airport has a distinct Thai smell
• you should check to see if your plane ticket includes the departure tax because I could have gotten my Thai massage with the money I saved
Thailand Haiku
5/20/2010
Twenty-six hours
Two countries and a sea
I sleep when I can
Bus, plane, train, or boat
Moe sleeps everywhere
Yet she's still sleepy
Every five minutes
I check if my bags are gone.
Don't worry so much
5/21/2010
Front flip jump entry
looked amazingly wicked
at least in my mind
A dark narrow cave,
Scuba diving is awesome!
I think I am stuck
Fifty-five hours
Twelve-hundred kilometers
All for two fun dives
All-night sleeper boat
Big storm and heavy swaying
Slept like a baby
5/22/2010
Pad Thai street vendors
I waited a month for you.
Can't you cook better?
Cheap single fan room -
Hot and it comes equipped with
pillow cockroaches
Josephine is gone.
From today, I'm on my own.
... "Your plane's tomorrow?!?"
5/23/2010
Thai floating market.
Our Thai tour guide said to us,
"I hope you can swim."
Half kilo, three bucks
Rambutans and Mangosteens
What a waste of baht
How much for postcards?
One for three baht, little girl?
Okay, I'll buy ten.
One man and three snakes
Right hand, left hand, and his mouth
Best show in Thailand
Snake versus mongoose
They said, "This show, no death," but
That's a dead snake dude!
Muy Thai in Thailand
The best part of the event ...
The kick to the face!
"I give you good price!"
Thailand touts lie through their teeth
Just to make a buck
5/24/2010
Old temple builders,
Why do you build such steep steps?
I might slip and fall!
Don't touch me street touts!
I don't care what you're selling!
I won't buy your stuff!
I want some fried rice.
Why must vendors discuss it
when I ask "how much?"
5/25/2010
Cute little Thai dog
Did you come to play with me?
... you peed on my leg
Thai food cooking class.
I just ate 5 days worth of food
in just 5 hours
Pad thai street vendors
You didn't cook real pad thai!
It's just fried noodles
5/26/2010
Big, AC airport
Ten hours of waiting
Doesn't seem so long
Twenty-six hours
Two countries and a sea
I sleep when I can
Bus, plane, train, or boat
Moe sleeps everywhere
Yet she's still sleepy
Every five minutes
I check if my bags are gone.
Don't worry so much
5/21/2010
Front flip jump entry
looked amazingly wicked
at least in my mind
A dark narrow cave,
Scuba diving is awesome!
I think I am stuck
Fifty-five hours
Twelve-hundred kilometers
All for two fun dives
All-night sleeper boat
Big storm and heavy swaying
Slept like a baby
5/22/2010
Pad Thai street vendors
I waited a month for you.
Can't you cook better?
Cheap single fan room -
Hot and it comes equipped with
pillow cockroaches
Josephine is gone.
From today, I'm on my own.
... "Your plane's tomorrow?!?"
5/23/2010
Thai floating market.
Our Thai tour guide said to us,
"I hope you can swim."
Half kilo, three bucks
Rambutans and Mangosteens
What a waste of baht
How much for postcards?
One for three baht, little girl?
Okay, I'll buy ten.
One man and three snakes
Right hand, left hand, and his mouth
Best show in Thailand
Snake versus mongoose
They said, "This show, no death," but
That's a dead snake dude!
Muy Thai in Thailand
The best part of the event ...
The kick to the face!
"I give you good price!"
Thailand touts lie through their teeth
Just to make a buck
5/24/2010
Old temple builders,
Why do you build such steep steps?
I might slip and fall!
Don't touch me street touts!
I don't care what you're selling!
I won't buy your stuff!
I want some fried rice.
Why must vendors discuss it
when I ask "how much?"
5/25/2010
Cute little Thai dog
Did you come to play with me?
... you peed on my leg
Thai food cooking class.
I just ate 5 days worth of food
in just 5 hours
Pad thai street vendors
You didn't cook real pad thai!
It's just fried noodles
5/26/2010
Big, AC airport
Ten hours of waiting
Doesn't seem so long
Thai Accommodations
Orchid House - Bangkok, Thailand - $8
Good Points
• no reason to ever stay in a single fan room
Bad Points
• baby cockroaches in the bed and pillow
• dead cockroaches all over floor
• ceiling fan had been ripped out
• only one window so no air circulation
• random stains on the sheets probably from not being washed
• gave me the shittiest room first, then got a slightly better one after complaining
Live Good - Bangkok, Thailand -$11
Good Points
• AC for cheap
• no shoes in house = cleaner
• ensuite bathroom
• the staff always seems to be cleaning
• very friendly staff
• close enough to Khao San, but very quiet
Bad Points
• No outlet in the room ... have to leave electronics at front desk to charge
• the drains are very slow
• found a large cockroach on the floor when I got in
* you can wear one shoe, just not two
* you can let her do other things though
Good Points
• no reason to ever stay in a single fan room
Bad Points
• baby cockroaches in the bed and pillow
• dead cockroaches all over floor
• ceiling fan had been ripped out
• only one window so no air circulation
• random stains on the sheets probably from not being washed
• gave me the shittiest room first, then got a slightly better one after complaining
Live Good - Bangkok, Thailand -$11
Good Points
• AC for cheap
• no shoes in house = cleaner
• ensuite bathroom
• the staff always seems to be cleaning
• very friendly staff
• close enough to Khao San, but very quiet
Bad Points
• No outlet in the room ... have to leave electronics at front desk to charge
• the drains are very slow
• found a large cockroach on the floor when I got in
* you can wear one shoe, just not two
* you can let her do other things though
Thai Food
Big Blue Restaurant - Ko Tao - $3
• Fried Mama Noodles with egg and vegetable - tasted like fried instant ramen again
• Pineapple juice - not bad
Street stalls - Khao San Road, Bangkok - $1.70
• Pad Thai - not great, I'll try somewhere else
• Vegetable Spring Rolls - again, not the greatness I was expecting
Street Stall - Damnern Saduak Floating Market - $3.00
• 1/4 Kilo of Rambutans
• 1/4 Kilo of Mangosteens
Street stall - Khao San Road, Bangkok - $1
• Pad Thai - better and more noodles than yesterday
Street stall - Ratchadamnoen Road, Bangkok - $0.30
• sausage - I don't know what was in it, but it was good ... Taiwan's was better though
Street stall - Sanam Chai Road, Bangkok - $0.30
• grilled chicken leg - tastes like teriyaki ... very good!
Street stall - Khao San Road, Bangkok - $1
• Pad Thai - added more spice to be able to handle tomorrow's cooking class
Siam Restaurant - Khao San Road, Bangkok - $3.50
• Chicken Green Curry - pretty good, about as spicy as Cocoichi level 3
• Iced tea - sweetest tea in Asia so far
• Fried Mama Noodles with egg and vegetable - tasted like fried instant ramen again
• Pineapple juice - not bad
Street stalls - Khao San Road, Bangkok - $1.70
• Pad Thai - not great, I'll try somewhere else
• Vegetable Spring Rolls - again, not the greatness I was expecting
Street Stall - Damnern Saduak Floating Market - $3.00
• 1/4 Kilo of Rambutans
• 1/4 Kilo of Mangosteens
Street stall - Khao San Road, Bangkok - $1
• Pad Thai - better and more noodles than yesterday
Street stall - Ratchadamnoen Road, Bangkok - $0.30
• sausage - I don't know what was in it, but it was good ... Taiwan's was better though
Street stall - Sanam Chai Road, Bangkok - $0.30
• grilled chicken leg - tastes like teriyaki ... very good!
Street stall - Khao San Road, Bangkok - $1
• Pad Thai - added more spice to be able to handle tomorrow's cooking class
Siam Restaurant - Khao San Road, Bangkok - $3.50
• Chicken Green Curry - pretty good, about as spicy as Cocoichi level 3
• Iced tea - sweetest tea in Asia so far
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Lemongrass Cooking Class
I signed up to take a cooking class on my last day because I heard it was a good thing to do in Thailand. Also, it'll kill the whole day before I go to the airport, so it's perfect. I'm a little worried about my stomach though, so I've been adding more spice to my street stall pad thai to get used to it. It cost me about $40, but it includes transportation, all the cooking ingredients and supplies, lunch and dinner, which I make.
The guy was about 15 minutes late picking me up, so I started to worry a bit. I thought that maybe I got jipped, but he came around and after getting 3 more people, the 5 of us crammed into a taxi and headed to the market. I was a crazy place. First off, it'd be very difficult to navigate as a foreigner and I'm sure we couldn't get it as cheap as the locals do. The first thing we saw were the plate of roasted cockroaches, but from there it was a sea of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fishes, noodles, rice, just about anything you could think of. We did our shopping and squeezed into another taxi to the school.
It looked like a small little restaurant under a highway, but it was clean and welcoming. It had 10 burners set up in a row for all of us to use, but first off, we say down and got acquainted. There was Chris from London. He works for the BBC, but does massages on the side so he's studying in Thailand. Marcus was from Austria and his girlfriend Alex was from Denver. They were really fun guys, but it's been a long time since I felt that short in a crowd. All 3 of them towered a good foot and a half above me.
This is what we cooked ...
Kang Khiao Wan Moo (Green Curry with Pork)
We were each given a mortar and pestle to grind the fresh ingredients fir the curry. We only used 2 chillis, but our teacher, Earth, normally uses about 15 for himself. I think I could have gone with 3. After heating the coconut milk in a wok, we added the curry paste, pork, and veges, then let it stew a bit. It was really good!
Tom Yum Kung (Spicy and Sour Prawn Soup)
It seems that the base for a lot of Thai cooking is fish sauce and sugar. We added it to boiling water, some herbs and vegetables, shrimp, and finally the secret ingredient ... Tom Yum soup paste.
Pad Thai Sai Gai (Chicken Pad Thai)
First, it was stir-frying the chicken and the veges, then we set it aside on the wok and stir-fried the rice noodles. Then Earth added his own special secret sauce (which he gave us). We put that aside and cracked an egg, then tossed the noodles around a bit. I realized that all the street stall pad thais weren't actually pad thai, but just fried noodles. Earth confirmed this suspicion.
Bord Fug Thong (Pumpkin in Sweet Coconut Milk)
Earth made this dessert for is because it was really easy. It was just kabocha, sugar, and coconut cream boiled for 10 minutes. Good!
The 4 of is got to hang out and talk a lot while we were eating our delicious food. They only did the half-day course, so they left after this. I started the afternoon course, but I was already stuffed. It was me, Earth, ad his two friends, Aeg and Tatsuni.
(Me, Marcus, Earth, Chris, Alex)
This was the afternoon course ...
Poh Piah Thod (Deep Fried Spring Rolls)
These were really easy, I've made them before and the sauce was just the sweet chilli sauce at the market.
Kang Massaman Neua (Massaman Curry with Beef)
It was the same setup as the green curry, but I didn't make the paste this time because it's too detailed with like 20 spices in it and it was supposed to be sweeter, but as it started boiling, the smell burned my nostrils. It didn't smell sweeter. Earth said he made a mistake and used the wrong paste, but it was okay because he just made another dish. I think it was called Panang. Either way, I got an extra dish on my menu.
Gai Pad Med Mamaung (Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts)
This one was simple, but really good! I just stir fried chicken, vegetables, an oyster sauce, then added cashew nuts.
Nam Takrai Wan (Lemongrass Tea)
Lemongrass boiled in sugar water ... pretty easy and not bad.
The class was scheduled to finish at 4:30, but we were done by 2:00. I ended up eating with the three Thais and they explained the whole Thai political situation to me. They were funny people, but it's sad to hear how the recent problems have affected them. Earth used to have 10 students a day almost everyday, but because everyone's scared to go to Thailand now, he only gets a few students only. The actions of just the few affects the many.
(Tatsuni, Aeg, Earth)
I chilled for about an hour and then road back to Khao San road with them. I've been sitting in the Luang Poo smoothie shop for the past hour writing this, but I'm still stuffed. I was worried about what I was going to do for food at the Beijing airport, but I don't think I have to eat for the next 5 days after today's cooking class.
The guy was about 15 minutes late picking me up, so I started to worry a bit. I thought that maybe I got jipped, but he came around and after getting 3 more people, the 5 of us crammed into a taxi and headed to the market. I was a crazy place. First off, it'd be very difficult to navigate as a foreigner and I'm sure we couldn't get it as cheap as the locals do. The first thing we saw were the plate of roasted cockroaches, but from there it was a sea of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fishes, noodles, rice, just about anything you could think of. We did our shopping and squeezed into another taxi to the school.
It looked like a small little restaurant under a highway, but it was clean and welcoming. It had 10 burners set up in a row for all of us to use, but first off, we say down and got acquainted. There was Chris from London. He works for the BBC, but does massages on the side so he's studying in Thailand. Marcus was from Austria and his girlfriend Alex was from Denver. They were really fun guys, but it's been a long time since I felt that short in a crowd. All 3 of them towered a good foot and a half above me.
This is what we cooked ...
Kang Khiao Wan Moo (Green Curry with Pork)
We were each given a mortar and pestle to grind the fresh ingredients fir the curry. We only used 2 chillis, but our teacher, Earth, normally uses about 15 for himself. I think I could have gone with 3. After heating the coconut milk in a wok, we added the curry paste, pork, and veges, then let it stew a bit. It was really good!
Tom Yum Kung (Spicy and Sour Prawn Soup)
It seems that the base for a lot of Thai cooking is fish sauce and sugar. We added it to boiling water, some herbs and vegetables, shrimp, and finally the secret ingredient ... Tom Yum soup paste.
Pad Thai Sai Gai (Chicken Pad Thai)
First, it was stir-frying the chicken and the veges, then we set it aside on the wok and stir-fried the rice noodles. Then Earth added his own special secret sauce (which he gave us). We put that aside and cracked an egg, then tossed the noodles around a bit. I realized that all the street stall pad thais weren't actually pad thai, but just fried noodles. Earth confirmed this suspicion.
Bord Fug Thong (Pumpkin in Sweet Coconut Milk)
Earth made this dessert for is because it was really easy. It was just kabocha, sugar, and coconut cream boiled for 10 minutes. Good!
The 4 of is got to hang out and talk a lot while we were eating our delicious food. They only did the half-day course, so they left after this. I started the afternoon course, but I was already stuffed. It was me, Earth, ad his two friends, Aeg and Tatsuni.
(Me, Marcus, Earth, Chris, Alex)
This was the afternoon course ...
Poh Piah Thod (Deep Fried Spring Rolls)
These were really easy, I've made them before and the sauce was just the sweet chilli sauce at the market.
Kang Massaman Neua (Massaman Curry with Beef)
It was the same setup as the green curry, but I didn't make the paste this time because it's too detailed with like 20 spices in it and it was supposed to be sweeter, but as it started boiling, the smell burned my nostrils. It didn't smell sweeter. Earth said he made a mistake and used the wrong paste, but it was okay because he just made another dish. I think it was called Panang. Either way, I got an extra dish on my menu.
Gai Pad Med Mamaung (Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts)
This one was simple, but really good! I just stir fried chicken, vegetables, an oyster sauce, then added cashew nuts.
Nam Takrai Wan (Lemongrass Tea)
Lemongrass boiled in sugar water ... pretty easy and not bad.
The class was scheduled to finish at 4:30, but we were done by 2:00. I ended up eating with the three Thais and they explained the whole Thai political situation to me. They were funny people, but it's sad to hear how the recent problems have affected them. Earth used to have 10 students a day almost everyday, but because everyone's scared to go to Thailand now, he only gets a few students only. The actions of just the few affects the many.
(Tatsuni, Aeg, Earth)
I chilled for about an hour and then road back to Khao San road with them. I've been sitting in the Luang Poo smoothie shop for the past hour writing this, but I'm still stuffed. I was worried about what I was going to do for food at the Beijing airport, but I don't think I have to eat for the next 5 days after today's cooking class.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Wat Pho and Wat Arun
I have about $20 to spend today so I decided to go cheaper than the $50 I spent yesterday. Just a little south of where I'm staying were a couple wats (temples). I started walking around 9:45 thus morning an along the way were a whole lot of outdoor markets. It was still kinda early and everyone was still just setting up, but it was real interesting to see. Right before I got to the Grand Palace, there were a bunch of pigeons and this lady came up to me with a bag of popcorn kernels. She was real adamant about selling them to me, saying that it'll bring me good luck, but I wasn't going to spend money just to feed pigeons.
The Grand Palace costs about $7 to get in and I didn't feel like spending that money so I walked passed it ... for about a grand 15 minutes. Right after that was a temple called Wat Pho, Thailand's oldest temple famous for having a huge reclining Buddha. I wasn't sure was that meant, so it didn't really interest me. But with a $1.50 entry fee, I was game. About 180 years ago, the temple was turned into a university by putting all kinds of pictures relating to history, literature, and animals. I didn't notice anything like that except for maybe a bunch of framed pictures that were faded beyond recognition. Now, it's a center of medicine, especially Thai massages (without the happy ending I'm sure). Right when I got in, about 5 ladies were trying to sell me a massage for $10. Although I knew it was going to be good, I declined.
I walked around for about 45 minutes, looking at hundreds of golden, seated Buddha, animal sculptures, towers decorated with tiles, and funny sculptures of people giving each other massages.
I was going to leave because I forgot that there was supposed to be some huge Buddha there and it was crawling with high school kids on a field trip. Also, I think I started at the exit and was going the wrong way. I walked through some gate and saw a bunch of foreigners, so I went in.
A reclining Buddha is a Buddha just chillin. It was lying down in it's side resting his head on his hand. It was HUGE. It's 45 meters (150 feet) long and it's cool, relaxed smile is 5 meters (16 feet) wide. The feet were enormous and on the bottom of his feet were covered with pearls showing some kind of pictures. The reclining nature of the Buddha represents him entering Nirvana.
After I left Wat Pho, I went looking for how to cross the river to get to Wat Arun. My book said it's supposed to be 3 baht (10 cents) so I wasn't gonna get duped into paying any more than 5 bahts. While I was looking for the pier, there were so many street vendors and markets along the way. The mixture of fish, durian, and chinese herbal medicine was pretty interesting. I bought a savory grilled chicken along the way for 30 cents and when I finally found the pier, the guy said 200 baht (about $7). I asked for the cheaper one and he very kindly told me it was 5 minutes back where I came from. I was surprised that he didn't try to sell me the more expensive one. I got to the other pier in about 10 minutes, paid my 3 baht, and took a 1 minute boat across the river right to the entrance of Wat Arun.
I didn't spend as much time at Wat Arun as I did at Wat Pho, and it wasn't as impressive, but much more geared at tourists. I don't know why though. It was built to represet Mount Meru, the Home of the gods in Khmer mythology. Ta Keo in the Angkor complex in Cambodia also depicted this mountain and was way better. The 5 towers at Wat Arun were decorated with porcelain flowers and the four outer pillars represent Buddha at te most important points in his life; birth, in meditation, preaching his first sermon, and entering Nirvana. I forgot that, so I wasn't looking for it. The center tower had extremely steep steps that declined toward the bottom. I'm surprised no one falls and dies. These ancient temple builders really like steep and crazy dangerous steps. I wasn't all that impressed, but I'm sure it would be nice to see the sunrise or sunset. I guess that's why it's called the "Temple of Dawn."
I took the ferry back an started on my way back. The sky cleared up, so it got really hot. I took a different way back an saw the other markets selling just about everything from cell phones to rare gems and from Saran wrap to illegal DVDs. It was weird because these "stores" are just blankets on the side walk so I wonder where they got all these cell phones and iPod parts from. I passed the pigeon lady again and I kept her on my right so I would be able to see her if she approached me again, then out of nowhere on my left, this other lady crammed a bag of popcorn between my bag and my chest. I told her, "I don't want it!" but she kept on insisting that it would bring me good luck and that she was going to give it to me, so I took it and shoved it back into her stupid bag and took off. I would have punched her in the face if she followed me.
This ended my 4-hour temple tour and it only cost me about $3.
The Grand Palace costs about $7 to get in and I didn't feel like spending that money so I walked passed it ... for about a grand 15 minutes. Right after that was a temple called Wat Pho, Thailand's oldest temple famous for having a huge reclining Buddha. I wasn't sure was that meant, so it didn't really interest me. But with a $1.50 entry fee, I was game. About 180 years ago, the temple was turned into a university by putting all kinds of pictures relating to history, literature, and animals. I didn't notice anything like that except for maybe a bunch of framed pictures that were faded beyond recognition. Now, it's a center of medicine, especially Thai massages (without the happy ending I'm sure). Right when I got in, about 5 ladies were trying to sell me a massage for $10. Although I knew it was going to be good, I declined.
I walked around for about 45 minutes, looking at hundreds of golden, seated Buddha, animal sculptures, towers decorated with tiles, and funny sculptures of people giving each other massages.
I was going to leave because I forgot that there was supposed to be some huge Buddha there and it was crawling with high school kids on a field trip. Also, I think I started at the exit and was going the wrong way. I walked through some gate and saw a bunch of foreigners, so I went in.
A reclining Buddha is a Buddha just chillin. It was lying down in it's side resting his head on his hand. It was HUGE. It's 45 meters (150 feet) long and it's cool, relaxed smile is 5 meters (16 feet) wide. The feet were enormous and on the bottom of his feet were covered with pearls showing some kind of pictures. The reclining nature of the Buddha represents him entering Nirvana.
After I left Wat Pho, I went looking for how to cross the river to get to Wat Arun. My book said it's supposed to be 3 baht (10 cents) so I wasn't gonna get duped into paying any more than 5 bahts. While I was looking for the pier, there were so many street vendors and markets along the way. The mixture of fish, durian, and chinese herbal medicine was pretty interesting. I bought a savory grilled chicken along the way for 30 cents and when I finally found the pier, the guy said 200 baht (about $7). I asked for the cheaper one and he very kindly told me it was 5 minutes back where I came from. I was surprised that he didn't try to sell me the more expensive one. I got to the other pier in about 10 minutes, paid my 3 baht, and took a 1 minute boat across the river right to the entrance of Wat Arun.
I didn't spend as much time at Wat Arun as I did at Wat Pho, and it wasn't as impressive, but much more geared at tourists. I don't know why though. It was built to represet Mount Meru, the Home of the gods in Khmer mythology. Ta Keo in the Angkor complex in Cambodia also depicted this mountain and was way better. The 5 towers at Wat Arun were decorated with porcelain flowers and the four outer pillars represent Buddha at te most important points in his life; birth, in meditation, preaching his first sermon, and entering Nirvana. I forgot that, so I wasn't looking for it. The center tower had extremely steep steps that declined toward the bottom. I'm surprised no one falls and dies. These ancient temple builders really like steep and crazy dangerous steps. I wasn't all that impressed, but I'm sure it would be nice to see the sunrise or sunset. I guess that's why it's called the "Temple of Dawn."
I took the ferry back an started on my way back. The sky cleared up, so it got really hot. I took a different way back an saw the other markets selling just about everything from cell phones to rare gems and from Saran wrap to illegal DVDs. It was weird because these "stores" are just blankets on the side walk so I wonder where they got all these cell phones and iPod parts from. I passed the pigeon lady again and I kept her on my right so I would be able to see her if she approached me again, then out of nowhere on my left, this other lady crammed a bag of popcorn between my bag and my chest. I told her, "I don't want it!" but she kept on insisting that it would bring me good luck and that she was going to give it to me, so I took it and shoved it back into her stupid bag and took off. I would have punched her in the face if she followed me.
This ended my 4-hour temple tour and it only cost me about $3.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Muy Thai Boxing
I had read about Muy Thai boxing in my guidebook and thought it'd be cool to check out. Josie also recommended it because she saw it last time she was here a few years ago. I went with her to watch MMA fighting in Japan, but submission holds are kinda boring I think. I want to watch someone get their ass kicked or an awesome knock out. Clean hits and kicks sound better than watching two guys holding each other on the ground. Een in Muy Thai, the first round is pretty boring - the two fighters just dance around each other.
I think most people have heard of Muy Thai (I think that's what Sagat does in Street Fighter). Basically, anything goes except family jewel shots. It's mainly kicking and these fighters got reach on their kicks! It was 8 bouts of five 3-minute rounds with a 2-minute rest between rounds.
I got back from the floating market around 1:30, signed up for a cooking class for my last day, found a new room, got some Pad Thai, chilled oit fr about 30 minutes, then walked over to the Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium about 20 minutes away. At last my Japanese punctuality paid off in SE Asia. I heard from a people that the event starts at 6PM and doors open at 5:30. I wasn't sure exactly how long it would take me to walk there, so I left at 4:15 and got there around 4:45. It started at 5:00 so I got there just in time.
When I got there, right away people tried selling me ringside seats for $60 when standing seats in the back were $30. The lady started talking to me in Japanese and kept telling me lies ...
1) "You have to stand for 3 hours" - the back area (only about 30 feet from the ring) were concrete seats, while ringside were plastic seats
2) "It's dangerous in the back" - I don't know what the danger was, there wasn't any
3) "Curfew is at 11:00 tonight so you can watch" - curfew was still 9:00 today and if there were no knockouts, then it would have ended exactly at 9:00, so it would end AFTER curfew
She started lowering the price for ringside and eventually went down to $50, but I stayed adamant and bought my $30 seat. Everyone in Bangkok is lowering prices because of the riots so there aren't a whole lot of tourists to spreadtheor money around.
When I got in, I saw the concrete steps for the people "in the back" as well as a small set of stairs that said "Foreigners." I couldn't figure out why, but why cause trouble?So I went up those stairs, which lead to where everyone was sitting anyway. There wee about 200 people and out of that, maybe 10 foreigners
Before the event started, everyone had to stand up for the national anthem. Felt like a baseball game - everyone was taking their hats off too. Before every bout, the fighters would do some ritual dance or warm up to music that sounded like the snake charmer's music from this morning. I wonder what it means. The while they fought, the same music would be playing. It was pretty much the same music, but it would get faster when someone was getting pounded. I noticed a band ringside playing the whole four hours. I wonder if they got tired after a while of playing the same thing.
Best parts of each bout ...
Bout 1 - one of the fighters got knocked down and kicked square in the face.
Bout 2 - lots if kicking and ducking them
Bout 3 - midkick leg grabs
Bout 4 - one guy was getting brat so hard, the ref called the match
Bout 5 - the Japanese fighter got kicked in the face and the ref called it
Bout 6 - little guy (looked 15 years old) was quick and kept getting take-downs ... close to 10 take-downs
Bout 7 - lots of hits, kicks, and knees, even when locked up
Bout 8 - blonde-haired Japanese anime looking fighter kicked the other fighter in the face and knocked him down in the last round
I wouldn't say it was worth $30, but I enjoyed it ... although the cobra show was way better. It was an adrenaline-filled day and I'm tired now. I have about $20 for tomorrow so I'm going totaled it easy. Maybe just walking around the city temple hopping ad street stall eating.
I think most people have heard of Muy Thai (I think that's what Sagat does in Street Fighter). Basically, anything goes except family jewel shots. It's mainly kicking and these fighters got reach on their kicks! It was 8 bouts of five 3-minute rounds with a 2-minute rest between rounds.
I got back from the floating market around 1:30, signed up for a cooking class for my last day, found a new room, got some Pad Thai, chilled oit fr about 30 minutes, then walked over to the Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium about 20 minutes away. At last my Japanese punctuality paid off in SE Asia. I heard from a people that the event starts at 6PM and doors open at 5:30. I wasn't sure exactly how long it would take me to walk there, so I left at 4:15 and got there around 4:45. It started at 5:00 so I got there just in time.
When I got there, right away people tried selling me ringside seats for $60 when standing seats in the back were $30. The lady started talking to me in Japanese and kept telling me lies ...
1) "You have to stand for 3 hours" - the back area (only about 30 feet from the ring) were concrete seats, while ringside were plastic seats
2) "It's dangerous in the back" - I don't know what the danger was, there wasn't any
3) "Curfew is at 11:00 tonight so you can watch" - curfew was still 9:00 today and if there were no knockouts, then it would have ended exactly at 9:00, so it would end AFTER curfew
She started lowering the price for ringside and eventually went down to $50, but I stayed adamant and bought my $30 seat. Everyone in Bangkok is lowering prices because of the riots so there aren't a whole lot of tourists to spreadtheor money around.
When I got in, I saw the concrete steps for the people "in the back" as well as a small set of stairs that said "Foreigners." I couldn't figure out why, but why cause trouble?So I went up those stairs, which lead to where everyone was sitting anyway. There wee about 200 people and out of that, maybe 10 foreigners
Before the event started, everyone had to stand up for the national anthem. Felt like a baseball game - everyone was taking their hats off too. Before every bout, the fighters would do some ritual dance or warm up to music that sounded like the snake charmer's music from this morning. I wonder what it means. The while they fought, the same music would be playing. It was pretty much the same music, but it would get faster when someone was getting pounded. I noticed a band ringside playing the whole four hours. I wonder if they got tired after a while of playing the same thing.
Best parts of each bout ...
Bout 1 - one of the fighters got knocked down and kicked square in the face.
Bout 2 - lots if kicking and ducking them
Bout 3 - midkick leg grabs
Bout 4 - one guy was getting brat so hard, the ref called the match
Bout 5 - the Japanese fighter got kicked in the face and the ref called it
Bout 6 - little guy (looked 15 years old) was quick and kept getting take-downs ... close to 10 take-downs
Bout 7 - lots of hits, kicks, and knees, even when locked up
Bout 8 - blonde-haired Japanese anime looking fighter kicked the other fighter in the face and knocked him down in the last round
I wouldn't say it was worth $30, but I enjoyed it ... although the cobra show was way better. It was an adrenaline-filled day and I'm tired now. I have about $20 for tomorrow so I'm going totaled it easy. Maybe just walking around the city temple hopping ad street stall eating.
Trusting People
I think I maybe read too many stories where people get duped into losing their money, so when I had a random guy come up to me and strike up a conversation, immediately I put my hand over my pocket to make sure no one would steal my wallet.
He told me that he was from Chiang Mai and he just in Bangkok doing research for his boss. He was researching the different prices that foreigners and locals get quoted for transportation fares and tour packages. He didn't seem all too harmful except ...
• he was a little too friendly and no one's been THAT friendly so far
• he was a high school teacher and what high school teacher does that kind of research?
• he kept telling me that I wouldn't have to buy anything ... only go into travel agencies and ask for a quote
• he tried really hard to get me to go with him
• he kept asking about how long I was here, when I got here, where I was going after ...
I think I was good not to trust him. After all, I did read a bunch of stories telling meticulous watch out for shady people.
He told me that he was from Chiang Mai and he just in Bangkok doing research for his boss. He was researching the different prices that foreigners and locals get quoted for transportation fares and tour packages. He didn't seem all too harmful except ...
• he was a little too friendly and no one's been THAT friendly so far
• he was a high school teacher and what high school teacher does that kind of research?
• he kept telling me that I wouldn't have to buy anything ... only go into travel agencies and ask for a quote
• he tried really hard to get me to go with him
• he kept asking about how long I was here, when I got here, where I was going after ...
I think I was good not to trust him. After all, I did read a bunch of stories telling meticulous watch out for shady people.
Cobra Show
This was one if the best things on the trip. It was a 10-minute drive to the place and it cost me about $6.50 to watch the show, but it was totally worth it! There were a bunch of snakes on display so I spent about 15 minutes looking at those. They really are magnificent creatures with elegant slithering movements. Then at 11:00, the show started.
There was a big pit in the middle and I sat in the second row because who knows, a snake might get out of control and come flying out at me. The first snake-charmer was this dark, skinny, tatted up, Hulk Hogan looking Thai. He got on his hands and feet and started dancing around with a cobra. They really know how to please the audience. He slapped it a few times on the head, kissed it, put his fingers on it's fangs, he would strike at the snake and jump back when it would strike back at him. After about 5 minutes, he easily caught it and them brought it around for the audience to feel it. Apparently it's very good luck to touch a cobra ... lucky enough to get you married, although that doesn't seem too difficult out here.
There were a few other exhibitions too, like a guy fighting a really pissed off snake that would try to strike at him at every chance he got. He inished by grabbig the snake by the tail, spinning around and grabbing the head. There was also the largest python in Asia that two guys caught.
For the second to the last event, they pitted a cobra against a mongoose. As violent as it looked with the cobra's head in the mongoose's mouth at the end, they said there's nondeath in the show and they pulled the snake out before it died.
The last event was awesome. It was one man and three cobras. He danced around with them, pulling them
Back with their tails when it tried to get away. They'd strike him in unison, but e caught one with his left hand, then he caught the second one with his right hand. Then with a snake in each hand, he did a half handstand and caught the last one with his mouth. The adrenaline pumping through my veins was crazy. He posed, people gave money, then we left.
There was a big pit in the middle and I sat in the second row because who knows, a snake might get out of control and come flying out at me. The first snake-charmer was this dark, skinny, tatted up, Hulk Hogan looking Thai. He got on his hands and feet and started dancing around with a cobra. They really know how to please the audience. He slapped it a few times on the head, kissed it, put his fingers on it's fangs, he would strike at the snake and jump back when it would strike back at him. After about 5 minutes, he easily caught it and them brought it around for the audience to feel it. Apparently it's very good luck to touch a cobra ... lucky enough to get you married, although that doesn't seem too difficult out here.
There were a few other exhibitions too, like a guy fighting a really pissed off snake that would try to strike at him at every chance he got. He inished by grabbig the snake by the tail, spinning around and grabbing the head. There was also the largest python in Asia that two guys caught.
For the second to the last event, they pitted a cobra against a mongoose. As violent as it looked with the cobra's head in the mongoose's mouth at the end, they said there's nondeath in the show and they pulled the snake out before it died.
The last event was awesome. It was one man and three cobras. He danced around with them, pulling them
Back with their tails when it tried to get away. They'd strike him in unison, but e caught one with his left hand, then he caught the second one with his right hand. Then with a snake in each hand, he did a half handstand and caught the last one with his mouth. The adrenaline pumping through my veins was crazy. He posed, people gave money, then we left.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets
Before Thailand settled down, there was a lot of boat cities along the canals. My book described them as an amphibious culture. The Damnoen Saduak floating markets is one of the most popular floating markets still around today. I reserved a tour of it for about $9.25 and they would come right to my hotel and pick me up in the morning and then drop me off in the afternoon.
The van came to get me at 7:00AM and from there it was 12 people on an hour and a half drive about 110km south if Bangkok. I knocked out the whole way and woke up right when we got there.
The floating market was pretty cool. We started off by taking a 15-minute long boat from the drop-off point to the actual market area. The area is about a 20 foot (6 meter) wide canal with shops lining the walkways along it. In the boats were almost the exact same things, ranging from postcards, dresses, fruit, and my favorite ... the deep fried stuff. They had boilers and vats of oil where the sellers would sell eggrolls. They boats were docked but I'm sure they can fry a delicious vegetable eggroll while rowing at the same time.
In one if my kid's classes back at ECC, I was teaching tropical fruits to the upper level students and two fruits came up that I didn't know ... mangosteen and rambutan. The mangosteen is a dark purple, plum-looking fruit a top like a persimmon. A rambutan is a reddish, pinkish color a little bigger than a lychee, but it has about 2-inch, thick fibers coming out in all directions. The best desciption is that it looks like a testicle ... yummy!
I was passing along and this lady selling fruit pulled me in and have me a taste of both ... pretty good. They taste like lychee. She started putting them in a bag and before I realized it, I had a bag of about 5 mangosteens and 5 rambutans, which I paid $3 for. I totally got ripped off, but they were good.
Rambutan
Mangosteen
I walked a little more down the canal and I came across a woman selling postcards. At first, she told me 1 card for 10 baht (about 30 cents). I got her to give me three for 25 baht and them she told me that she'd give me four for 30 baht. I gave her 40 bahts to pay for it, but she said she didn't have change (which seems to happen an awful lot here), so she told me to pick out 1 more and she'll give to me for 40 baht. She tried to trick me and take back her discount! So gave the one back and went with he 3 for 25 baht deal. The whole time, her kid was showing me the postcards, telling me prices, tellig me to buy more, pulling out the calculator ... everything a future tout would do ... and she was only 3 years old. Kids get to me so I bought it there. They're dangerous!
I walked around a little bit more, then went back to the van to go see a cobra show ...
The van came to get me at 7:00AM and from there it was 12 people on an hour and a half drive about 110km south if Bangkok. I knocked out the whole way and woke up right when we got there.
The floating market was pretty cool. We started off by taking a 15-minute long boat from the drop-off point to the actual market area. The area is about a 20 foot (6 meter) wide canal with shops lining the walkways along it. In the boats were almost the exact same things, ranging from postcards, dresses, fruit, and my favorite ... the deep fried stuff. They had boilers and vats of oil where the sellers would sell eggrolls. They boats were docked but I'm sure they can fry a delicious vegetable eggroll while rowing at the same time.
In one if my kid's classes back at ECC, I was teaching tropical fruits to the upper level students and two fruits came up that I didn't know ... mangosteen and rambutan. The mangosteen is a dark purple, plum-looking fruit a top like a persimmon. A rambutan is a reddish, pinkish color a little bigger than a lychee, but it has about 2-inch, thick fibers coming out in all directions. The best desciption is that it looks like a testicle ... yummy!
I was passing along and this lady selling fruit pulled me in and have me a taste of both ... pretty good. They taste like lychee. She started putting them in a bag and before I realized it, I had a bag of about 5 mangosteens and 5 rambutans, which I paid $3 for. I totally got ripped off, but they were good.
Rambutan
Mangosteen
I walked a little more down the canal and I came across a woman selling postcards. At first, she told me 1 card for 10 baht (about 30 cents). I got her to give me three for 25 baht and them she told me that she'd give me four for 30 baht. I gave her 40 bahts to pay for it, but she said she didn't have change (which seems to happen an awful lot here), so she told me to pick out 1 more and she'll give to me for 40 baht. She tried to trick me and take back her discount! So gave the one back and went with he 3 for 25 baht deal. The whole time, her kid was showing me the postcards, telling me prices, tellig me to buy more, pulling out the calculator ... everything a future tout would do ... and she was only 3 years old. Kids get to me so I bought it there. They're dangerous!
I walked around a little bit more, then went back to the van to go see a cobra show ...
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