Going out on Khao San Road

Friday, July 31--approx 12:30am, Bangkok time.

I can hear the beat of the clubs in this little glass hut. Across from me is the (not working) pool and sun deck, but it's midnight in Bangkok, so it's dark...



Today, I decided to walk beyond this area, to tour just a little. I walked across the great courtyard between the two palaces, which--depending on the ruler--have been used intermittenly for rice paddy demonstrations, festivals, the city market, and the ploughing ceremony. Beyond the courtyard, I was going to walk as far as I could to the Canal, but a small garden spot caught my eye.



Entering into the little gated area, I took pictures of a bejeweled shrine for Rama I. While inspecting the spired building behind the shrine, a woman came up to me. She's from Chaing Mai, and is on holiday in Bangkok for the weekend. Bless her heart, she took it upon herself to tell me what I should see on this one day in Bangkok.



My angel guide marked my map, circling three places I should go, including the Sleeping Buddha temple, some fabric place where I could get something hand-tailored, and the Golden Mountain. Circling these things, she wrote in Thai. Guiding me to the street, she hailed a tuk-tuk for me and negotiated my little tour with the driver. I am so thankful to this woman for taking the initiative! So, though I could only understand some of what she said, I know that if my adventures take me there; I will look her up in Chaing Mai. Hopefully there is only one hospital there, and that I can easily find her. She is a "baby doctor."



The tuk-tuk driver did take me to the Sleeping Buddha temple, but they were cleaning it and it closed before I could see the actual Buddha. This is okay, because I plan to visit again, and the grounds were so beautiful, I was caught up in taking pictures anyway. In the tuk-tuk, I was choked with smog and fumes (I totally understand why many Thai walk around with face masks!), but enjoyed zooming through the congested traffic. We weren't as nimble as the motorcycles or bicycles, but it was fun to be just inches from other vehicles, and within chatting distance to other tuk-tuk passengers.



The stop at the fabric store was somewhat pointless. It would have been nice to purchase 100% silk, but I'm not ready to shop yet--a feeling that is foreign to me! But it's difficult not to feel obligated to shop. Anyway, I quickly ran out of the shop, after being followed around every corner by the salesman. I hate it when people hover!



After the shop escape, my driver asked me to go into a tourist center. If I booked something, I would get a coupon for gas, which I would give to him. Unfortunately, I didn't understand at the time why I was in the Center and, upon telling the agent that my tuk-tuk driver wanted me to come in for "a coupon or something," she promptly told me they were all gone, and to have a good day.



My last stop never happened because the tuk-tuk driver said the Golden Mountain was closed. I can't help but think he was just tired of driving me around... and was upset that I didn't get him a gas coupon.



Oh well! Back on Khao San Road, I looked around, sort of determined to buy something. But I didn't. Instead, I went to sleep, and will now go out.