First day in Bangkok I reconvened with Piers and Nat and off we went for a day of sightseeing. We survived the canal trip, you literally hurl yourself onto the boat as it doesn't stop, and we found ourselves near our chosen destination – the Golden Mount. After wasting two hours with a disreputable tuk tuk driver we found ourselves back at the Golden Mount. Later we got round to reading the 'dangers and annoyances' section in our guidebooks and our whole afternoon was described in black and white. Piers later prevented two other tourists from making the same mistake and was consequently verbally abused by the tuk tuk driver, albeit he did only know one English swear word. It went something along the lines of “you fuck fuck fuck you fuck…” and so on. Not a great start. We found ourselves wary of everyone after this, granted we made some poor tourist decisions. Our curiosity got the better of us, however you will get sexually harassed by prostitutes at a ping pong show, and they’re not fussy. Man, woman or beast. Do as I did and sit in the middle of your friends, they find it hard to reach you there.
After a few days, I learnt to avoid the tuk tuk drivers and a few of Bangkok's charms sparkled through. Mostly involving food. I'm usually more of a broccoli and courgette sorta girl, however the fruit here is very agreeable. If the fruit to sum up China is banana, pineapple is definitely Thailand. It became a daily ritual to buy an abundance of pineapple from a street stall, then wash it down with a pineapple shake. I also found myself acquainted with a rather friendly banana roti, complete with chocolate and condensed milk. Dirty bitches! Bet you like the sound of that hey Rose! Obviously, I sampled my first red curry as soon as I could. My staple meal is currently red curry with brown rice, fruit lassi and several tissues.
I know people have asked why I waste my time going to the cinema whilst travelling. Well, I'm in a tropical country where it rains at times, I like the cinema, plus it costs about a quid here. And that includes free snacks! Before the film started at the Lido in Bangkok everyone rose to their feet, which I confusedly imitated. It is apparently customary to stand and respect the King whilst the national anthem plays. The royal family is taken very seriously in Thailand and people are jailed for vast lengths of time for anything remotely derogatory. However, they like to spring it on you at any moment; I was roaming around the Sunday Walking Street in Chiang Mai more recently, minding my own business and obnoxiously slurping the dregs of a pineapple smoothie, when I turned around to find everyone stood still in silent honour of the King.
Things are a lot easier when accompanied by people who know the city, and so a great night was had by all when meeting up with Ben and Dan. We started at a rooftop bar overlooking Bangkok, experienced some Thai jazz and ended up on Khao San Road. It was kick-started with the best Bloody Mary I've ever tasted so it was always going to be a good one.Anyway, before I came travelling Cazza bought me some Dr Seuss to cheer me up if I ever became glum and this sums up my time in Bangkok. "With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street. And you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town". Unless the street has pineapple on it of course.
My next stop in Thailand was Chiang Mai and what an ideal follow up to Bangkok. The people are amiable, the atmosphere relaxed, no tuk tuks as everywhere is in walking distance and even better street food! I approve. I stayed in the Green Tulip House hostel, run by two fabulous crazy ladies. I sent an English email for them so they presented me with a bread roll. A fancy bread roll. Anyway, anyone who gives me bread has got to be alright in my book.I occupied myself with trekking, which included bamboo rafting, an elephant ride and hill tribe visits. I went on a night safari where I fed a four month old white tiger cub. And I was massaged by a Thai criminal. Lila Thai Massage supports released inmates from the Chiang Mai Women's Prison in earning a legal living and adapting back into the community. I had a two hour herbal body scrub and massage for next to nothing. God bless the crims and their cheap labour. How a Thai massage differs from a Chinese one, erm…let’s just say it’s a little more thorough!
