Day 27: Bangkok

Here are my incredible impressions and experiences from my two-day stay in the capital of Thailand. As mentioned before, I arrived early in the morning by long-distance bus and was greeted by many taxi drivers at the bus station. This pushy way of trying to sell you a taxi or a city tour would become even more pronounced. The street food stalls that started warming up their devices and had the first dishes on display at half past five in the morning would also accompany me throughout Bangkok.

After taking a shower at the hostel, I walked through the streets in the vicinity. Among other things, my hostel is located near Khao San Road, a street with many bars, hostels, and street vendors. It was also said to be perfect for backpackers on the Internet, so I went to the street, but was disappointed by what I saw at nine o'clock in the morning. The street resembled the cliché of the "morning after". There was dirt everywhere, people were just waking up, and most of the stalls were closed. So I decided to come back in the evening to really experience what the legendary street had to offer. I strolled further through the streets and alleys, (one alley was only 1.5 meters wide and yet motorcycles zoomed through it) and watched the hustle and bustle with fascination. People set up stands where you could mainly buy food or clothing.

After a frappuccino, fresh fruits, and a bowl of cereal for a total of three euros, I headed to the Chatuchak Weekend Market. As the name implies, it only takes place on weekends and I was lucky enough to experience this spectacle. The market is about 600 meters long, but with its many streets, it almost forms its own district. Apparently, it takes a whole day to walk all the paths of the market. I became aware of the whole extent on-site. Luckily, there was a signboard and flyers of the area, which was arranged by categories, but I decided to just go for it. In retrospect, perhaps not a recommendable idea. We passed by books, instruments, clothes, shoes, souvenirs, jewelry, household items, and many other things that probably no one really needs.

After some food and countless small shops, I went back to Kaoh San Road to explore its nightlife. There, I was surprised by the transformation of the street. Thousands of people gathered, the stalls and street food vendors stood in the middle of the road in some places, and all kinds of things were being sold. One highlight, in addition to the well-known street food stalls and the countless (annoying) sellers of suits or massages, was definitely the grilled crocodile and fried insects, especially the scorpions. After a quick swim in the pool, tired from the previous night and the day, I went to bed.

The next morning, I had the usual breakfast and took a boat to the heart of Bangkok. The boat is one of the popular means of transport, along with taxi, bus, and train. To accommodate all these means of transportation, Bangkok has started building three-dimensionally in the city center. First, there is the subway, above it is the street with buses and taxis, as well as countless scooter riders. In third place are pedestrian crossings that literally form a huge network over the streets. These, in turn, are the starting point for level four, the Skytrain.

Since the guided city tours were too expensive for me and the tuk-tuks are said to be a rip-off and part of the mafia according to the Internet, I looked for my own cheap city tour. I took the boat along the river for 20 baht, which offered a beautiful view of the skyline. Then I walked to Siam Mall, a luxury department store, where I enjoyed the air conditioning and looked at the shops. Among other things, the mall had Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, and Ducati shops, as well as many other luxury brands in the clothing sector.

I spent the rest of the day at Lumphini Park, which is described as the lungs of Bangkok and compared to Central Park. And indeed, the park is a real relief from the stress, noise, and heat of the city. I stayed there, read my book, and watched the countless people who were doing sports in the park in the evening. This is possible either on the 2.5-kilometer circular path or as a community activity in a public workout, accompanied by music and a lead dancer. It was very fascinating to experience this community and exuberance.

After trying some street food on a whim, as it was not labeled in English, I took the bus back to the hotel at night. To do this, you simply wave to the bus you want to take at a bus stop, it stops, and you get on while it's still rolling. Inside, a ticket seller comes who wanted only 8 baht (=25 cents) for the 45-minute bus ride on the non-air-conditioned bus.

Now I have to pack for my flight tomorrow, take another dip in the pool, and watch the bouldering livestream from the Cup at Studio Bloc Pfungstadt.