One more thing on BKK

Bangkok has a not so classy reputation, which doesnt need to be stated here, and I’m sure its well earned. And, like i mentioned previosuly its disgustingly hot, and the street fumes are probably to thank for this interesting dry cough i’ve developed over the past few days.

But even if one has no interest in nightlife, facemasks, or sweating from new places…I’m telling you…this city is still so incredibly captivating.

My fondest memory: waiting with the locals for the Saen Saep express boat just after dark. (I’d like to describe these boats for you, as they’re so perfectly un-western…but its compicated. Not unsafe, just…awesome. I’ll add a pic below, but that probably won’t help. A giant canoe with an engine). Humidity is 100%, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who notices. It’s about to rain, i can feel it. Bats are flying over head, dozens of them, some of them look like they’ve got a 4ft wingspan. Lightening lights up the sky as we board the boat, and the moment I find the last seat beneath the tarp canopy, heavy, tropical rain breaks. The main with the helmet who’s responsability it is to hold the boat in place while the rest of us hop on yells something in thai. He makes a run and a short jump onto the ledge of the already moving boat, as the down poor intensifies.

So this is Bangkok. Yea, you can easily pamper yourself, as your western dollar will get you quite far without any effort at all. You can visit the holiest and most exquisite of buddhist temples, enjoy great thai cuisine, and hop on and off of speedboats as they’re floating away. Its a tropical jungle of markets, concrete amd tuktuks. If you ignore the downsides, what’s not to love?

And with bkk said and done. I’ve got a 12 hour night train to catch.