Bangkok, Thailand - December 2, 2003
I went down to Ko Sahn Road today. I wanted to pick up some more books for more Korea reading material to finish out this contract. It will also be the first time I've been there since 1996, and curious how much it has changed. I also wanted to do some shopping, pick up some cheap contact lenses as well and whatever else I might need that I can't find so easily or cheaply in Korea.
First off, its basically more or less the same but more built up. Ko Sahn Road is where you can find barebone basic lodging for a few dollars a night. The rooms are basically just a bed with a shower down the hall, and not much else. Pretty ideal if you don't plan to be spending any time in the hotel anyhow. All around Ko Sahn Road there are numerous restaurant, bars, and merchants everywhere selling everything you can imagine - but basically selling things that they think foreigners are interested. Sadly this includes a lot of tie-die and hippy clothing that absolutely no Thai person would ever wear, but most of the consuming foreigners buy to wear around. There are also tons of jewelry, clothing, books, CDs and all kinds of good stuff as well.
The main difference between now and back when I was here last is that McDonalds and Burger King have moved into this street. I was quite surprised. The cafes and restaurants have nearly every kind of food imagineable being sold by locals from all the various representative countries who travel here from around the world. But kind of shocking to see fast-food moving in as well. It makes sense, but it just seemed kind of out-of-context to me.
The streets are just as chaotic as always though. Just not enough room to walk on the sidewalks with so many things being sold on the sidewalks. Plus so many people walking around and stopping to look at everything. In addition, you are walking in the sun, that takes its toll as well. The cafes are still the same. If you've never been to Bangkok, basically nearly all of the guesthouses have a large and open bar/big screen tv area thats open to the street. Outside they advertise different movies which will be playing throughout the day on the large screen TV. Its quite common to see a ton of people in all of them wasting away their vacations drinking beer or eating food and watching the many movies being played throughout Ko Sahn Road. If you have alot of excessive time on your hands, (not in a hurry to go anywhere or do anything - and time is unlimited), then I suppose its quite a bit like sitting around in your living room at home, just doing it 1000s of miles away with a large handful of other people from around the world watching the same TV screen as yourself.
Basically the place hasn't changed much.
Next Journal Entry in Thailand:
December 3, 2003
You can email me at:
Wintermoon2@yahoo.com