The first portion of my trip was in Bangkok, Thailand's capitol and it's most populated city. Bangkok has everything: subway systems, shopping malls, food from all over the world, and every kind of entertainment imaginable. It's 1 part Vegas, 1 part New York, with a splash of Tijuana and a fuck you gimme you're money garnish. It can be loads of fun but it can also pick your pocket and leave you with nothing but memories of ping pong balls and nitrous balloons.
I stayed with a friend who lives in Bangkok who was kind enough to put me up while she was off in Laos renewing her Visa. I set out by myself on my first full day with the intention to see a few Wats (Thai Temples) and wander on foot outside of the metropolitan area to see how the people of Bangkok lived. On the way I met a couple who I ended up spending the next two days with. I was nominated the proverbial 3rd wheel.
She had springy short dark hair, smooth tan skin, a nose ring, and a pretty summer dress. He had long dreads, a warm smile, and soft blue eyes. Her A’s belong to the crows- a Midwesterner. She had a henna tattoo and several silver rings with stones that have meanings and associations that I would never understand. He was calm, reserved, and had a careful demeanor. She was cool, open, and funny, the kind of girl who can hang with the boys and talk shit. In his scene he is used to knowing more than the next guy. In her scene, in Ohio, she is a big fish in a small pond. People frequently ask her what is up, and what her plans are. He sometimes wonders if she will leave him if he cuts off his dreads.
They had quit their jobs and were traveling through Asia with pit stops at places they had reserved work-away and WWOOF stays. They planned on farming and helping with green building projects.
After hitching up we went to Wat Pho where the giant golden reclining Buddha well... reclines. In the 1700's King Rama II built three spires inside Wat Pho in his name. It is said that he did so to try to achieve enlightenment. The rejection of materialism and the self must have been lost on him. Next we went to Wat Arun, the temple of the dawn. Wat Arun is a series of steep spires made up of millions of small ceramic tiles. If you want to blast your quads you can give them a climb as long as you're willing to step over quivering tourists and crying children. The view of Bangkok is 360 degrees and it's downright stunning.
That night we rounded off the day of temple worship with some drinks on Khoa San Rd. This is where tourists like us go to drink, eat scorpions, throw chairs, party, and suck on nitrous balloons while they hump each other in the street. Keep your wallets close if you go there, and don't drink anything that's handed to you unless you see it poured. I heard more than one story of someone waking up in an alley wearing someone else's clothes with their belongings missing. We managed to have a good time without mishap though. Sometimes, if you step lightly enough, you can walk on hot coals without getting burned.