Bangkok the city that never sleeps

Saturday, Sept. 20

Journal Entry #26

After a very long bus ride, we finally made it to Bangkok.  People warned me that the city would be dirty, but I find it no different than any other major hub I've visited.  Suzanne and Russ opted for alone time this evening, so the married folk (Tarryn and Brian, Mark and Ryan, and Ritche and I) decided to explore the city.  We met in our hotel's lobby at 9 p.m. where a few others in our group decided to join us.  Destination was unknown to us, which is the way we've been working thus far.  We took the SkyTrain over to the Sala Daeng area to find food.  I take mental notes of the different SkyTrain stops so that we could make our way back if we were to get separated from the group:  Phloen Chit (Flowing shit) to Siam, switch trains to Sala Daeng. There were a few Chit stops, such us Mo Chit, and Chit Lom.  Chit, I hope I don't get confused!

I think the additions to our group this evening weren't hip to our plan of not having a plan. After weaving in and out of streets and alley ways, we found a traditional Thai restaurant, where Ritche and I shared a fried fish with chili paste sauce, crab fried rice and pad see yoo noodles.  Either we were starving or the meal was delicious!

After dinner, we parted ways with some of the group, then 'the married folk' and another friend David made our way around the alley ways in the rain.  Bangkok is the city that never sleeps. All around us were men and women, and men dressed as women trying to pull us into bars, see their 'shows' and who knows what else.  Walking down the alley way there was a fine line between walking street-side and getting hit by a car, or walking curb side and getting grabbed by a bar host.  I alternated between street side and curb side, deciding it was the safest bet. This evening was probably my most memorable so far.  There's something about walking in the rain, destination unknown and laughing with new friends that's unforgettable.  I'll never forget how Tarryn and I compared notes and giggled about the secret hiding locations of our hotel business card on our bodies...a place where no one would dare pick pocket.  She's a funny girl, and I'm a sucker for funny people!  Birds of a feather...