Bangkok Part I

We slumber, rocking and bumping, in a dark sleeper bus along with locals. It's 1 am and even though I'm totally exhausted, an energy keeps me awake that other backpackers have also talked about. That's how it is with Bangkok: first it overwhelms you, then it slows you down. After 3 days in the urban jungle, we too leave the loud, restless, 'dirty' Bangkok and now head to Sukhothai. And even though I'm finally looking forward to the rural side of Thailand, impressions linger on. Emotionally, you're constantly torn between enthusiasm and guilt.

Khao San Road is where the world meets. People from all countries and ages come here to get a first feel for Bangkok. But life outside the largest backpacker street is completely different: so on the second evening, we walk through 'half of Bangkok' by foot at night in flip flops because we couldn't find the pier for the last boat. All we find is a small pier where a man in tattered, old clothes is sleeping - he has his few belongings with him. A few meters away, we find a sleeping woman on the ground. We walk past dark alleys, streets where locals lie on the ground, past locked up stray dogs and piles of garbage.
After over an hour, lightning starts to flash - a storm is approaching. We've had enough and call a taxi to Khao San. An hour later, we're lying in our hostel, freshly showered, while the world outside is going down: the storm is now full on. It's storming, raining, thundering, and lightning, and as I lay there, I have to think about the man on the pier and the woman on the street. 2 people out of over 8 million.

But of course, Bangkok also has its beautiful sides. Once you've managed to embrace Bangkok, you encounter interesting people and experience beautiful moments. Helpful Thais meet you as soon as you open up to them with a smile. In fact, a smile is often the most important form of communication in Thailand. If you then greet a Thai in Thai, the ice is broken.

Find out about the hurdles we had to overcome and the bizarre situations we've already been in in the next blog entry about Bangkok :)