Welcome to Bangkok

What is one to think his first outing into the grand city of Bangkok winds up zipping through the cities on a tuk tuk, simply hoping to get to the Skytrain? One would think wow, that's awesome, I wish I had a Skytrain and a tuk tuk, driver optional. So do I. But when the driver rips you off, demands ten times the amount you verbally agreed on, you realize just the tuk tuk itself will suffice. THEN, you instantly know you knew better from the get-go, with reading all of your Lonely Planet travel guides and travel blogs, you should've written down the price as a de facto contract. Smooth move, dumbass.

Compound that to making your way all the way to the necessary embassies, only to realize they're closed on Saturdays. Double whammy!

But hey, what can one expect when you're nervous like me? I want a tuk tuk, and hear Guns 'N' Roses in the background.

The seemingly bad start to the day, however, morphed into something grand. How often does a traveler walk the streets, exploring the alleys and seeing a real, rustic city living? How often does one walk the streets, and along side beautiful wats, friendly homeowners smile and children indiscriminately set off fireworks which echo through the real Bangkok as loud as the smell of car exhaust? How often does one walk through local markets, eat the local food from street stalls (delicious!) and simply interact with the locals on their level?

And that, compounded with meeting some of the nicest people on the planet. One man offered a wat tour recommendation and a tuk tuk to accompany. While I'm sure he gets a kick-back for it, and while the tuk tuk driver got commission for simply driving me several craft markets (many guidebooks describe this as a scam) he and the tuk tuk driver were both very honest with their intentions (including the visits to the shops), and I got to see some great lesser-visited wats in the process. One in particular, Wat Benchamabophit (forgive any misspelling) hosted a "good-luck" Buddha situated in a small temple, and offered a great sense of peace and prosperity.

It was here I met a nice fellow by the name of Andy, who was from Singapore and on his way back to his homeland, stopping off in Bangkok for some gifts. We chatted for a bit, and he even knew who the Spurs were!

And I ended the day where I started, at my guesthouse just off Khao San Rd., and will begin the night afresh. I could go for some more street food, that stuff is badass.

Until next time!

I'm Lock, Step and Gone

In less then nine hours, I embark on a 27-hour flight to Bangkok, beginning my three-week backpacking trip through Bangkok, Cambodia and southern Vietnam.

Yes, three weeks may very well be a figure of laughter to some, not a true test of traveling endurance, but there's a little thing called a "simply not enough money to go three months" issue that I chose not to incorporate due to quitting a job I considered insulting for what I'm truly capable of.

There are tsunamis of excitement ripping up the beaches of my mind and the little people of my twisted little world are scrambling for higher ground, because who knows what happens at the midnight hour in Bangkok? I'll land, exchange some dollars for baht, catch a cab, do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight.

Okay, I exaggerated, I won't do a little dance. But I do look forward to entering an exciting new world in the apex of the night, passing by twinkling skyscrapers into the neon jaws of Khao San Road. Yes, Khao San may very well be, according to Lonely Planet and many hardend travelers, all touristy, has lost much of its rustic backpacking spirit from the '80s and '90s and the what-nots, but I must experience it for myself. It still remains a melting pot of many different nationalites, and thus should provide an excellent entry point into not only Bangkok, but Southeast Asia in general.

And so begins another journey to Asia, a test of character and perserverance, but most importantly, a journey of inspiration and enlightenment.