Am in Bangkok!!! After a quite smoothful flight from Duesseldorf (10 hrs and 36 minutes), but sleepless night I have arrived in the City of the Kingdom and Land of Smiles, which from what I have heard and experience now never sleeps. When we arrived at the airport I was already overwhelmed from the action which was happening around us. Luckily I had met a german girl, Judith, in the plane, whose first destination was also Bangkok! Together we figured out where to exchange money and which taxi we had to take. Do not get a taxi from all those stands which are in the airport, as it is a rip off! The ones with the taximeter are charging you accordingly. So we went outside the airport and got in the queue for the taxis with taximeter. Unfortunately Judith and I could not share a taxi as her hotel was in the opposite direction of mine. The taxidriver was really nice, was smiling everytime when we were talking. A smile of humble, at least that was my impression. Oh dear, I realize that this trip is my first trip where I am actually confronted to the language barrier!!! But well there is always sign language! After a ride of almost an hour and 420 Baht charge, I arrived in Banglampu. Passing all the busy streets around Khao San Road!!!



Thousands of people, shopping and food spots everywhere...incredible and vibrant atmosphere. Since I had not slept for almost 24 hours, I felt overwhelmed and exhausted. I checked in my hotel, New Siams Guesthouse, rested a bit, took a shower and decided to walk around Khao San Road, a vibrant and colourful neighbourhood and obviously legendary for backpackers. Being here I am quite happy with my choice, as the guesthouse is pretty comfortable with very nice owners or employees. It is located close to the river, where you can take a river taxi to Bangkok's attractions like The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha) Wat Pho (Bangkok's centre for Thai massage) and the Royal Barges Museum. But since I was sitting for the last 11 hours i decided to walk!


I went south of Banglumpu towards the bustling streets of Chinatown. It's noisy there, but there's plenty to see from Chinese temples, to traditional Chinese medicine shops and stalls selling all sorts of things. In terms of attractions, Chinatown is fairly untouristy, but nevertheless an interesting place to visit. If you decide to walk beware it is not that easy, I got lost quite a few time and asking people who do not understand you did not help at all. The streets are very big, the traffic seems to be always busy and thus loud. The walk downtown is not recommendabl although it was interesting as I passed by a few Temples and thus could always take a break from the noisy streets. In Chinatown I ate Pa Thai, delicous nuddles with vegetable, am something sweet. But I cannot tell you what, sorry. It seems as in Bangkok you will never suffer from not finding something to eat or drink, as literally everywhere there is a stand with food and drinks. I think this is also one of the impressions which will endure, the smell of food!!! It is just everywhere, and even not being vegetarian I sometime felt a bit disgusted. Imaging the heat along with meat! So for myself i have decided that i will stick to vegetarian food, well maybe ones in while seafood too.

Around 5.30 pm I made my way back to the guesthouse,this time by river taxi! Which is actually really nice! And strange but true I bumped into Judith at the Pier Rattchawanna! Funny as if BKK was small:-) Immediately after arriving in the guesthouse I crashed in my bed and slept for almost 2 hours. And then...oh man then I went to the tailor! Since tailoring suits here is quite cheap, i figured i better do it today. The Tailor shop was recommended to me by some people at the guesthouse and the owner of New Siam too. It is called James Fashion, what a trully thai name?! I assume the New Siam Tourist info gets a percentage of the profit the tailor makes by referring people. Anyhow the service was really good, they picked me up with a taxi, tailored everything exactly the way I wished, we negotiated a good deal, then they dropped me off again at the guesthouse! There are many other tailors around Khao San, but I prefered to go to a place which was recommended to me by other travellers. Before getting back to the hotel, I strolled along Khao San Road...wow!!! Still very very busy but nice atmosphere. Good night everybody )(23:47h, 17.12.2005)