Fili’s world

Everything seems different and I’m experiencing Bangkok in a whole different way.

I’m not really sure why, but the last time I was here, it was for a week before I went on quickly towards Laos, and my main experience revolved around the Khaosan rd backpackers area. I did travel to other parts, but it was usually a trip to and a trip back with a Taxi-meter or a public bus, and I didn’t really take the time to actually see things, which now seems to be more of my thing.

Unlike what I initially thought, Bangkok has a really extensive array of public transport, most of which I haven’t used before. First, connecting the Khaosan with the rest of Bangkok is the effective, yet bizarre, boat service that goes on the river in all directions. That took me down to the Silom road (where I actually saw over-sweating-what-da-f@ck-am-doing-in-Bangkok-Doron guy from Singapore walking the street, looking around passionately for I-don’t-wanna-know-what).

Overwhelmed by the heat and the horrible pollution caused by the high ceilings of Bangkok’s Skytrain, I sought refuge in what was the first park I’ve seen in Bangkok. I didn’t even think Bangkok had any of those, so I was surprised to see wide spreads of green and a lake with people jogging around, working out in the out-door gym and playing ball. It wasn’t a very nice park, not anything that you’d like or remember, but my twisted perception of Bangkok changed in a flash. I think that for the first time I could actually imagine normal people living here.

But that didn’t stop there… moving on forward to follow my male instincts calling for some Thai boxing I went to the stadium next to the park which was closed that day, only to discover that Bangkok has a subway MRT system, and even a fairly new cheap clean one. Right, it doesn’t go where most tourists want it to go, but for the Bangkok people it seems like a nice treat. To my surprise, just outside the station leading to the subway, I found an incredible night market, one like I haven’t quite seen before. It has everything and it’s very clean and organized, a big change from the week-end Bangkok market and the Chang-Mai night-market I visited before.

Going for a feet-shoulder-head-back Thai massage, to help my ever-increasing back pain, I met the beautiful Dutch Mhoi, which is – as her name suggests – of a Chinese origin. Screaming in pain, we finished up our massage and headed out to the huge food and beer court to chat and see the music festival that was going on. I had a great time, till they kind’o threw us out after mid-night. It’s too bad that she’s leaving to Holland today, since it could have been nice to hang around together more. Oh well… it cheered me up, that’s for sure.