We flew into Bangkok from Siam Reap. It was about an hour flight but we still got a meal (much better than the 13 hour Jetstar flight with nothing to eat and not even any water!). At first glance Bangkok was huge and busy. We arrived in the tourist/backpacker area and tried to find a decently priced hotel.
Turns out that Thailand is more expensive than Cambodia or Vietnam. The hotel seemed only slightly dodgy. But then 10:30pm rolled around and the horrible eardrum splitting karaoke began and continued n it's off-tune-iness until 4:30am.
Everything that you could ever want (and many things that you don't) can be found on Ko San Road. Even backpacks to replace your beloved one that has been with you forever.
And ATM and currency exchanges in the back of a van.
And tuk-tuks galore that are very colourful, loud and smelly.
Also massages can be found easily... so we had about 3. (And a manicure/pedicure for me!)
At night the streets are teeming with people.
The king's (very outdated) portrait was everywhere.
TJ was very keen to take a photo of the pimped out buses... don't get too excited the bathrooms are still stinky!
I'll never really understand how having a zillion tiny air conditioners that don't really work is more effective than a proper one.
On New Year's Eve, in the taxi on the way to the airport we discovered was you can and cannot do in this taxi. You can be a VIP, gamble and have a sexy lady...
But absolutely no knives, getting it on with the sexy lady, dongs, alcohol, smoking or durian. Absolutely not.
As the clock ticked over to 2013 TJ and I were standing in line in the Bangkok airport. We were sharing a beer with some new in the same line friends and joining in the softly-building cheer that went up at midnight. We flew home for 27 hours... We had many New Years smooches.
So this is the end of of this journey, this adventure has come to a close. We were definitely ready to come home, because 15 months away is a long time, but it's always sad at the same time. We're saving our pennies (nickels now?) and dreaming about our next adventure.
Thanks for joining us on this trip of a lifetime!
