Bangkok

Well we have been in Bangkok for about 5 days now. We wanted to lay low here for a few days before traveling on. I am just about 100 percent over my cold and we are also more or less adapted to the culture shock that is South East Asia. Our stomachs are another concern. We have been slowly easing ourselves into the cuisine. So far so good, no sudden unexpected trips to the toilet yet. Speaking of cuisine it is amazingly ...well I guess authentic. Did I just say that. I guess I did. You just can't beat great tasting Pad Thai and Massamn Curry with drinks for $5. And that is resteraut pricing. If you go to a food stall, which we have a few times you are looking at $2 meals or less. How about a massage for an hour..........$5. We just went to a move and saw Cloverfield for $3 each. Could you imagine the lines at the Mercado if they had a $3 movie day.

So besides the pricing (which I love of course) how am I finding Bangkok? It is everything I expected of a large Asian city. I was mentally prepared for the smog and dirty streets, crowded traffic, crowded sidewalks, people trying to sell you all kinds of miscellaneous crap, food, fortunes, etc. What I wasnt really prepared for was the various smells. The odor of an open air fish market in the hot sun hits you in the face like someone smaked you. How about the scent of an overflowing sewer as is pours accross the sidewalk and partially bakes in the hot sun. My tender western heart is also not accustomed to seeing the depravity in which the cats and dogs of Bangkok live. Few are well nourished and even those that are generally are affected by varous colonies of bugs and seem sickly. The thing is I really like Bangkok. It may not sound like it, but every day I see something new and strange to me.

They are quite ingenious here really. Need to deliver a few bolts of fabric accross town but you only own a scooter. No problem... just sit on the seat of the scooter and have your friends load two bolts on either side of you, tieing them down to the back rack and resting them on the handlebars in the front. It makes for a cumbersome ride and you can't get out of the scooter without someone literally untieing you. But you get the job done.

How about if you need a form of motorized transportation, but all you have is the front end of a 1960's Vespa and the engine and rear end of a late model Honda Trail 50. Well you just weld the 2 together throw in some tape and wire and ride it until it blows up or disinegrates.

But my favorite sight so far were the 2 guys riding on a mid 70's Vespa. Aparently they needed to run to the gas station and fill up a 5 gallon jerry can with fuel. They both sat in the traditional seats on a Vespa; driver in the front passenger in the back. But this passenger was holding onto the gas can in his lap while a lit cigarette dangled from his mouth directly over the can. Should I also mention the lid of the can was missing and in its place was a sock shoved into the opening.

I also love the market. Ralph Lauren, Izod, Polo shirt $6. Descent denim pants altered to fit you $10. Custom tailored suits, you chooses the style and fabric $200-$400. The best is the knock off handbags. $3 buys you a Gucci, Prada, Calvin Klein, etc handbag. The latest styles and colors are available. Heather has inspected them and they are fairly accurate. Only way to tell the difference is on close inspection of the fine details. The women on streets of Bangkok always have the latest in accessoires. Probaly even before they hit the streets of Los Altos and Palo Alto. It really puts into perspective how silly it all really is.

Tonight we are off to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Taking an 13 hour overnight train with a sleeping bunk. We will be staying at a homestay, which is basically like living with a family for a few days. It should be an interesting imersion into the culture. We also plan on taking a cooking class. Maybe we can recreate some of the great things we have eaten while here.