Bangkok City First Impressions

01 May 2010

The taxi driver was so different to what you would expect to find in Auckland. I can only put it down to the phrase “time is money”, because this taxi driver intended on wasting absolutely no time. He averaging 150km/h on the motorway but not in one lane, rather dodging and swerving other vehicles and occasionally sitting in multiple lanes. Heavy footed acceleration tended to be quickly followed by hard braking (To make things worse I’m sure the pads were down to metal). There was one close call, our driver was pretty short so I don’t think he could see over or even through the cars directly in front but this didn’t stop him trying to follow merely feet behind.

Upon arrival I was to find that 1am in Khaosan Road is amazingly active. Other fellow travellers have described Khaosan Road as “like nothing else on earth”. It’s a cobbled road one block long with bars and restaurants on either side mixed up by shops selling all manner of goods. All of the shops seem to extend their goods or chairs and tables out into the road. This extension is then continued by stall owners selling food, drink, hats, clothes, watches, weaponry and all manner of goods. Most shops will also have people posted in the middle of the street who will approach you to make a sale as you try and walk by. Lastly on the street you have the totally mobile sellers who carry their goods and approach you either on the street or when you’re sitting in a bar/restaurant. I have since bought hats, a wooden frog and a little flying thing from these peddlers.

Despite our early morning arrival we found a room easily; with twin beds, air conditioning and a bathroom for $550 BHT per night. James later complained about a rat you could hear in the wall/ceiling from the bathroom, but otherwise it was relatively pleasant.

I slept well during my first lie down in Thailand, pretty much right through to 8am. James and I then set off for a wonder around Bangkok.

Comments

  1. colette says

    hey sam,

    I like your website! Hope your trip is going well, you should totes come to Paris, its really not very far from London by train!
    Post comments everybody.

  2. Thanks Colette. It would be great to see Paris again. I’ll see what I can do.

  3. lol sam, i am impressed with your writing especially with the finer details of the taxi driver, will be reading this closely. Sounds like you have an awesome adventure ahead