halfway point

Today marks the beginning of the end of my trip. I have two days left.

After a moderately painless mini-bus ride, I am back in Bangkok. I had intended to do some market shopping today, but being in the incredibly lazy mood that I am, I skipped the three forms of transporation it would take me to get there and just did my shopping in and around Khao San.

I did have fun with another tuk-tuk driver today, but we only visited one temple, one suit shop (I was very tempted by the skirt-suit offer of $120), the post office, and a travel agent. At one of the temples I ran into a Belgium guy being carted around by a tuk-tuk driver as well. We discussed the “to take or not to take photos of the Buddha” dilemma, and then continued on our way. I ran into him again this evening on Khao San and we had a little chat while walking around. It’s funny how small the world is sometimes.

Dinner was on the side of the street, which really is the best place to eat in Bangkok. Last time I had green curry and this time I had something like meatballs in a sweet sauce with Thai rice. The Irish man sitting next to me said he had been in Bangkok for four days and eaten at the same place every day and the menu always changed and was always delicious. He then helpfully pointed out the best place to get fruit shakes. I asked the little old man at the stand next door for papaya. Again, you can’t go wrong with the fruit shakes.

And that brings me to my time in the internet cafe, where I will leave you with little tidbits of thoughts I have about my experience so far:

-My beach was the foreigner beach. Cross the rocks and you leave the world of topless European sunbathers and enter the vacation time of fully clothed Thai families playing volleyball, barbequing, and splashing in the ocean.
-Toilets don’t have toilet paper, and they don’t flush. I can’t figure out exactly how it works, but you go, you spray yourself with water from a provided hose, and then you spray in the toilet, which somehow makes it go down.
-The countryside from Bangkok to Ko Samet was beautiful and sad. Coconut groves, bamboo houses, fading stone buildings in a reminiscently European style, small fields of crops, lush mountains, and acres and acres of apparently arable but unused land.
-I wandered too far on my way back to the pier this morning and ended up at the fancy resorts. I have seen how the other half spends their money, and I don’t think it’s necessary.