Travel Story «Sightseeing»

Thailand | 0 Comments 04 March 2006 - Last Update 04 March 2006

Day Two in Bangkok and we all thought it was time we saw some "culture" before we could justify endless shopping. 
After a quick and early (yes early - aren't we good to get up at a decent hour when on holiday?) dip in the pool we headed off to investigate accomodation in the famous Khao San Road area as we were due to check out of the (retrospectively) luxurious hotel the next day. We enthusiastically decided not to get a taxi despite the heat and the welcoming air conditioned interior choosing rather to "be adventurous" and find our own way there.  So, map in hand we took a train and then a bus (costing a whopping equivalent of approximately 12 cent - eat your heart out Dublin Bus) for 20 minutes or so to the backpapers commune that is Khoa San Road.  Or so we would have liked....
We got lost. And so would you too becuase its NOT EASY PEOPLE! Especially when you are accosted by seemingly friendly and genuine peolpe who LIE TO YOU! Let me explain. 
A charming tiny little Thai woman who wanted to "practise her English" (which happened to be very good) told us Khoa San Road used  to be a 24 hour spot but nowadays was closed for "cleaning" between 3 and 6pm. Shock horror it was now 3 - 6pm! What bad fortune on our part. Oh no! She knew somewhere we could go - why not try the Temples as today was a Buddist Holiday and all the Temples ( yes people all  the Temples ) were now 10 Bhat each instead of the usual 100 Bhat... Well, we thought how lucky to have met this intelligent well informed woman who wanted to offer us free information. Suddenly two Tuk Tuk drivers appeared who would take us there and slowly things started to click in our naive heads. You won't belive this people - wait for it - she was lying! Turns out it is not a Buddhist holiday, The Khoa San Road was not closed for cleaning and the Temples were not 10 Bhat each. We managed to shake the woman and her side kicks and wander on (did I mention that we were still lost?) After a small amount of walking around, map in hand looking like the luminous glow in the dark white tourists from Ireland (how on earth did the con-artist woman spot us amid the multitude of other seasoned backpapers I wondered...?) we arrived on Khoa San Road a little dissappointed. We had all been told you would know your were on the road as soon as you got there, but we were a little uncertain and as it turns out, still lost.  We did find the post office however (post cards on the way people) who kindly pointed us in the right direction which led us to the correct road. 
And WOW, what a road. If you have been there you know what we mean. The place is a 24 hour hive of activity with shopping stalls, pubs, restaurants and food vendors lining the already bustling street. Tanned backpapers are in abundance and it is not long before people spot me (Emily) and start to point and turn away, but not before I can see them laughing at my white skin... Thank God for fake tan...
We locate Khoa San Palace  - a Hostel which The Lonely Planet guide describes as a "friendly slightly more upmarket place that doesn't feel like you have been sentenced to prison" - a great review by any AA Bed and Breakfast standards.... The Palaces popularity means you cannot book in advance but rather must check in on a daily basis.  We resolved to return early the next morning believing this "Palace" was a find ... oh we are so naive...
Shopping ensued with our first tasters of bargaining ( we suck at it ) and Lorna and Grainne made the first purchases buying fisherman trousers without too much incident..  After a little more walking and general soaking up of the atmosphere we ventured to a Temple acorss the road. Tentivley we entered unsure of the protocol. We must have been inside the grounds a total of 45 sedonds before a gentleman came rushing over to us asking if we were Buddhists - we are not. He told us we must come back at 8pm then and where would we like to go etc. as he knew of some great places we could go and lo and behold two Tuk Tuk drivers appeared... Hot on the tales of our last experience we left the Temple, ignored the offers of Tuk Tuk rides and returned to the hotel to swim, dine and head out for a few drinks. 
We headed out and almost immediately Lorna spotted an Irish Bar so naturally we went in. It was not Irish. However it did serve some nice cocktails and we had had a tough day. We played pool (getting serious value for money out of the games as each one took the length of... well, a short mass) and were kicked out at 1am. No where else in the area surrounding our hotel was open so we returned to the Hotel Bar and played cards until 4am. All in all, a day full of experiences.