Sawadee Kup

31 Dec 2009

Long haul flights should always be taken during the day. Even with exit isle seats, it's just impossible to find a sleeping position for much longer than an hour, before one or more muscles start to cramp. My last night in the UK of little sleep, followed by a completely sleepless one, didn't seem to lull the euphoric feeling of adventure that passed over me whilst mounting my backpacks on front and back.
You should ignore everything and find the bus at exit point 8. Just make sure to count, as they won't announce where each stop is. Hiking around in what felt like 90% humidity and almost 20Kg strapped to my torsoe, still didn't manage to disuade me that taking a year out was my best idea yet. Bangkok can be difficult to navigate, and whilst I successfully got us 20m from the hotel's doorstep, I neglected to agree to follow a small sign my sister spotted. This ended in a small "round-the-block" taxi journey where I questioned as to why we were travelling in a circle. "Ah", she says, "see, you should have listened".
Sense of humours both failed immediately, when told that the hotel had not booked us two rooms, just one. To their credit, however, we were then both upgraded to deluxe rooms. Good review on website coming up.
Showering frequency is about the same as meals in this kind of climate. So a quick change and out again for a wander. It's not far, it's where all backpackers go, it's full of eateries, and so Khao San Road it is. Being white, male, blonde, blue-eyed and of general honky disposition, I stick out in a crowd. This is no bad thing - I actually rather enjoy it. Moreso as people look at me in wonder and fascination, rather than with contempt as is more commonplace for foreigners in London. "I love your top!" yells an American girl, who's part of a group that are teaching English and are based in Korea. Friendly, extrovert and really quite knowledgable, an evening of trading travel stories means I now have my San Francisco and Vegas route plotted.
Speaking of plotting routes, I think the heat has caused a strange and inexplicable change of heart with regards to running. In this weather I doubt I'd manage a few K, let alone 10. I may try, but I fear the lack of pavements and anyone doing anything similar may draw unwanted attention. In fact, how do Thais keep themselves so fit and healthy? No one seems to exercise and there is food everywhere you turn. It's a gormandising food lover's paradise and I've yet to spot a fei lao. Perhaps it's just the heat, as my appetite has been dead since arrival.
On that note, one thing is for certain - I am going to burn here.