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I have to admit, I love the Thai train! Compared to India, the bathrooms aren’t nearly as scary. However, I don’t like train bathrooms in general. It’s not about off-putting appearances as it is horrific smells. As clean as the Thai try to be, there’s almost always a tinge of smell or drips of urine lingering from the after effects of sudden jerks, shakes and rattling stops.
In Bangkok, all roads may not lead to Rome, but you’ll at least, have many avenues to get there; and each conveyance presents a unique face of Thai urban life! I’ll be frank- one of my absolute loves of Bangkok is it’s transportation. As a female solo traveler, it’ my magic city of easy independence and I’ve made it (more…)
Does budget dollars mean dingy rooms? From bungalows, boutique hotels, guesthouse resorts and overnight trains… in Thailand you can experience a gamut of chic ways to lay your head or rest on your laurels. Though budget hostels aren’t as cheap as it used to be; the prices are still pretty good and matched with the Thai aspiration to provide first class hospitality, it’s raised my travel standards considerably. And the design? Well, the Thai can be pretty stylish (more…)
What does Bangkok inspire for you?
For me, it’s generally floating markets, monstrously serene Buddhas, assorted hawker food carts of delectable cuisine and throngs of smiling Thai. I don’t exactly think of two-headed babies, the charred corpse of a serial murderer and a display of unusually, large human testicles!
But Bangkok surprised me yet again.
As much as I love Bangkok, I was afraid I might be getting into a traveler’s rut – when a place is no longer shiny and new. My first visit was all about sightseeing: temples, floating markets, the golden palace and elephant rides. My second and third visits, were all about medical tourism and getting amazingly cheap discounts off of dental crowns and travel shots! By my fourth time around, I was scraping the inspiration barrel. I wanted excitement of fall off-the-grid into the local, the seedy, the morbid and well,… creepy.
How far could Bangkok take me?
200 baht, 200 baht! I give you deal. Buy one drink and you see all the acts! You not get this kind price from anyone else.
This is what the skinny Thai man quoted, as he whipped out a laminated menu:
1. Pussy shoots ping-pong balls
2. Pussy blows balloons
3. Pussy writes letter
4. Pussy blows out candles
On this past trip, I made it my goal to see the city via one of the simplest and archaic carriages westerners can think of, the public bus! To sum up my city bus excursions in Bangkok: I got lost, got off at wrong stops, took the wrong bus and rode it in circles; at times, I even jumped on buses to see where they’d take me. In essence, I had a fabulous time!
7 important things to know about taking a bus in Bangkok:
Full Story »After writing my Top 5 things to do in Luang Prabang, you’d think I’d be done; but then one of my readers asked me what my Top 5 things to do in Laos were. For a country you don’t often hear about, you can never have too many lists.
Full Story »These days I enjoy trekking where it’s possible. Aside from a great workout, I like visiting mountain life, its lush and pristine settings of streams, hills and rice paddy fields and simple, hardworking and content inhabitants
Full Story »Muong Ngoi Neua is a beautiful cove of a village, one hour away from Nong Khieuw on the scenic Nam Ou River, accessible by boat. An authentic Lao village, hidden by towering mountains, it’s a serene haven for frazzled travelers to kick back or launch into trekking.
Full Story »
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