2011 - NZ To SF - Day 75

Day 75: (27 July 2011):
- Picked up by bus with only reclining seats. “only one setting: relax” according to one backpacker.
- Wait at another hostel, eventually put into 2 buses by a stressed person directing.
- A few stops. Rice crisp cake.
- Stop at border. Get luggage. Stamp out. Large complex with casinos between. Stamp in at Thailand. All get stickers, when enough stickers together, led to small minibus. Stop close at a restaurant. 30 min lunch. Pad Thai: 50 Bhat, $1 = 28B at restaurant. Not accept Felix’s $5 bill. Story about counterfeit stacks for sale.
- Minibus with ridiculously many lights.
- Huge change after border. Good roads. More cars & big vehicles, less scooters & more ordered. Buildings & grounds neater. Much faster.
- Stop, then in Bangkok. Tall blds, look like developed city with 3rd world slum pockets.
- Drop by Khaosan Rd. Ladies with wood frogs.
- Khaosan Rd: many tourists. Street food. Shop stalls. Busy. Get cash.
- American (kind of crazy) lead us to a close guesthouse on a quieter street with small bars & restaurants. Cautious of him.
- OK guesthouse, 400B for room. American ask to use our shower, etc.
- Eat at a street stall. 30B green curry for me.
- Book train ticket. Sold out lower bunk. 850B vs 900B.
- Walk around Khaosan Rd. Clubs, bars. Loud music. Section where offered girls. The Hilarious tuktuk: dressed up & playing “Move Bitch Get out the way.”
- Hang out at a small bar out of a moded truck. Friend of American. Give free rice wine shot when interested to try it. Lots of crazy stories, not sure if is true. Stories of people fighting Khmer Rouge. Heroin addiction. Volunteer at orphanage is current job. Rich parents / friends. Know the tattoo artist I met in Samoa. Cigarette ash & tape recorder tattoo in prison. Story of him playing with Red Hot Chilli Peppers? Story of him having sex with the singer’s wife & vice versa. Etc. Drug dealer for stars, etc.
- He leave for airport @ 10:30 after shower in our room. Mistake giving him my e-mail? Update: haven’t heard from him yet.
- Walk around Kharsan road ~11-11:30, midnight. Not much change. Busy. Grab pad thai as a snack. Realise should have added condiments later.
- The sketchy far side of the road.
- Sleep. A bit strange bathroom is a wall with gap at top.
- Steep uneven steps. Very loud bird.