Bangkok

As I was sifting through the old files on my computer, I came across two notepad files which dealt with my two day experience in Bangkok recently. I suppose I always intended to put it up here, but never actually found the time and inclination to do so. Until now, that is.

There's actually no free Wireless Internet access from the Bangalore International Airport. I remember it was at the Bombay Airport. The only access here is through a ridiculuously expensive TATA Indicom WIFI connection. So there go my plans of killing the 2 hrs I have to sit in the airport, online. I am actually typing this on notepad and will upload it when i get an internet connection.

I will write this as and when i can depending on where i go and if there is anything worth writing about.

Day 1: Its 2035 hrs and I cant wait for my flight at 2245. Somehow as of now I dont feel as exhilerated as I normally used to while sitting in the International Waiting Terminal. (Maybe I have just added in the exhileration to my memories and they did not really ever exist.) Why do I come so early to the airport? Its something my family has done for ages. I just stick to the plan! I see absolutely no popint in coming here and waiting. A little later wouldn really result in my killing someone or my missing the flight. MENTAL NOTE - 2 hrs in advance will do henceforth. :)

Anyway, heres THE plan. I am headed to Bangkok. :)

I will stay 2 days there and hopefully get to see a lotta stuff. No actual plan for once I get there. That I shall formulate only after reaching. I just hope I dont miss out on anything. After that I head to LA on a 14 and half hour non stop flight. It seems kinda scary. 14 and a half hrs. No wonder this airline (THAI) is so cheap.

I then stay the night at LA and leave on another flight the next evening. So thats the plan. I finished typing this pretty early. ITs only 2043 now. DAMN. Guess I'll just ve to "read" after all.

Day 1 (contd)

So here I sit at the Suvarnabhumi airport waiting (as usual) for my travel agent rep to come and pick me up. Its now 545. Hes expected at 6. So no cause for worry yet. Thai Airways. What can i say? Its probably the sickest airline I have ever travelled in. I would compare he experience to my experience with Air Deccan. Except that was one hour. This happened to 3 and a half. The next one is 14 and a half. My god. I wonder how torturuous that would be.

By the time I boarded (and I was one of the first), there was abolutely no place to keep by cabin baggage. This added to my long list of woes as i had to keep the huge bag near my foot throughout. The food came out pretty late around 35 mins after take off. The food trays were not cleared till 30 mins before landing. So I could not sleep the entire journey. The tray being out behind me I could not put my seat back. The person next to me seemed to have no issues though. He slept like a bloody log. Had to pry his eyes open whenever I needed to go to the loo.

The food itself! I was provided Indian Veg instead of Jain veg food (YES! I am finicky abt my food). The food was terrible. All I could eat was bun and butter. They were out of tomato juice as well. The flight on the whole was terrible. There was no personal entertainment either. I was stuck watching the big screen in front. Putting all this together, it left me in a terrible state. As I sit in the airport and wait, I cannot help but dread the next flight tomo evening. However, not letting that disturb me, I look forward to a brilliant time at Bangkok. Quite unexpectedly, there is no Free Wi Fi here either. So Bangalore's not so bad after all. The airport itself is huge and very very impressive. It is built beautifully and seems quite empty. Probably cos its not even 6 yet.

I shall continue with this probably in 2 days time as i dont expect time to type while here. I shall upload it the minute I get free Wi Fi. Anywhere.

Day 2 and 3

I could write abt all i saw in Bangkok but theres really no point. It is pretty much like going to Chennai. The only highlight was, however, my visit to Khao San Road on Day 3. I chked out of my hotel arnd 1215 and then went out and caught a tuk tuk (much like an auto, only a lot more spacious and better looking) to khao san road. As is usual with all "auto" drivers, he started me off at 200 B. I did not even see a meter in these tuk tuks. No idea where theyre supposed to be. Anyway, i offered him 25 B where he had quoted 200. He made a face after which I was sure he would just unload me and tell me to get lost. Instead, he was adamant and said 120 B.

For some reason, I felt I shouldn pay anymore than 100 B for this. I have no idea how much it actually is. So I told him I cannot give him anymore than 50 B cos the hotel ppl told me not to pay more than 50. So he said 100, I said 70. Finally I agreed to pay 80 B. The guy started at 200 so i guess i did ok (im trying to console myself. Leave me alone).

The road itself is brilliant. Its closed to traffic pretty much (except for the odd tuk tuk) and people get to walk happily. Right out in the open they were selling pirated software, games, absolutely anything u wanted was available here. A little further and there were boards advertising sale of student cards, press cards, driving licenses and diplomas from a list of colleges. I was intrigued to say the least. After a little T- Shirt shopping, I decided to head back as I had my pick up from the hotel to the airport at 4. It was then 245.

As i decided very reluctantly that it was time to leave, I started looking out for tuk tuks. Instead I was pulled aside by a "bike taxi" man. I then haggled with him over the price and finally agreed at 100 B. But I had no clue where my hotel and I had left all papers pertaining to the airport in my bag back at the hotel. I somehow found my tour iterinary and got the bike taxi man to call me tour operator to find the address of the hotel. So then I was off. Ripping on a Yamaha (god knws wat model - I dont really care). He said his name was "CHUCK-IT" (at least thats wat i heard).

After i told him i was 19, he started trying really really really hard to be a pimp. He said, while taking one hand off the bike to better illustrate, "Thailand great place for young boy. Lots to do. Can do everything. Fucking Wucking and all." As intrigued as i was by this man, I had no interest, inclination or time to see a hooker. So I said no thanks. But as can be expected he did not give up. He pulled out a pamphlet from his pocket which read "Embassy" which had photos of lots of gals and was some kinda flyer. Still I did not wish to make this man think my curousity was interest so i just said i was not interested. Being persistent beyond this, was not expected. He said "Thai girl, good humping (taking both hands off the bike very briefly to make me understand). Only 1 hour. U not miss flight. On the way. U young boy. University student. U can tell all frnds that u fuck THAI girl."

As brilliant as that marketing might have been to any other person, i was unmoved. So i just said no again. After that to the airport was dull, considering I got no action after all. I was told in the airport that the flight was delayed till 11. I could crib a lot abt wat happened at the airport, the terrible economy class treatment I received, the number of lounges I was turned out of and about how I ended up spending 4 hours in an empty air conditioned pub where I got them to change the music to soft rock, but am not in the mood. Also, my flight's boarding soon.