Monday, February 19, 2007

Back to civi

Oh, it's good to be back. The A/C is powerful, the food is great, the Internet is fast and there are still no rooms in Bangkok. I guess we are still in high season, if not in peak season.

Today I went to whole way from Battambang, Cambodia, to Bangkok, Thailand. I tried to do it myself, without any package, and somehow it all went smoothly. I had to catch a bus in Battambang, without any reserved sit. Throwing the dollars fast at the cashier did the job, but I was lucky there were available seats in the first place. Then I had to stay on the bus until it got to the border (when it says it gets to Poipet, does it actually mean it will bring me to the border in Poipet? Hmmm, good question I forgot to ask). I left Cambodia, walked through loads of casinos to the Thai part and got my visa. Then one tuk-tuk to the bus station, one boiled water made noodles and up on the bus to Bangkok. Bangkok, 19:00, the day is not over yet. I'm at the bus station.
Tauter number 1: "Khao San? 800B"
"No thank you"
Big Taxi driver: "Khao San? 250B"
"No thank you, I'm one"
Tuk tuk driver: "Khao San? 150B"
"No, thank you, how much for a meter taxi?"
"About 140B"
"I'm in" A/C, (fake) leather seat. I'm there.
"How much is it?"
"83B"
"Take a 100B and keep the change"
"Any room available?"
"No"
"Any room available?"
"Yes"
"Oops, shower outside. Hot shower?"
"No"
"Damn! I take it (It's only for one night and I got lucky, it was the last one)"

But, my favorite street food stall is gone. I'm devastated, but no worry, there are others. I tried Singha beer for the first time (made in Thailand). It's good, similar to beer lao (but I can't have any Asian beer being better than beer lao so), but not as good as.
Tomorrow I will start the long journey to the islands. I can't say I'm expecting it (the journey, not the islands). I have to pick between bus, train and a flight. I guess I'll go for the cheaper option (bus), but I'll have to pay with a day of sleep.

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