More of a monarchy than expected, fine line between hedonism and holistic
"Khao San was the backpacker area of Bangkok. It’s where I decided to stay. Near the royal temples and Grand Palace it was miles away literally and figuratively from the red light districts. In the 1990s it was ground zero for nomads. At one point it was considered the backpacker capital of the world. Made famous by the Hollywood film, “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, many a wondering soul had laid their head to rest in its cheap hostels. Usually after a night of high alcohol intake. The hostels backed up to the Khao San and at night it was a mosh pit of international grunginess. Thousands of people, representative of each continent, meandered about like zombies. Drunk, high, or both. There was no shame to be had because literally anything could go. The crowds were so immense that conversing was all but impossible. Feeling the absurdity of the moment, I approached a blonde girl who was waiting outside a building labeled “STD Clinic.” Of course, like at McDonalds, there was a monument to the king outside its door. “Come here often?” I joked. She smiled. Joan was French and had lived inThailand for a year. She never came to the Khao San because it was horrendous, but she wanted to show her friends visiting from Paris. They were inside the clinic because they needed to "photocopy" their passports in order to get into a nightclub downtown. It seemed like a farfetched story. After a long drag on her cigarette, Joan looked me up and down, sans blinking she told me, "You're better off anywhere else." I agreed."
--Luke's Journal
CITIES VISITED:
MUST DO:
FAVORITE MEMORY:
Phuket
Bangkok
Kanchanaburi
Set sail in Phang Nga Bay
See Koh Panyee--floating Muslim village
Visit the Royal Palace in Bangkok
Eat all the street food
Kicking a soccer ball with little kids at the floating village and watching them fearlessly retrieve it from the water despite salt water crocodiles lurking about.
Phuket and Bangkok are very easily accessible and the visa process is straightforward. The heat can be stifling and the touts overbearing.
Go to Thailand for the right reasons. The history is rich--literal and figuratively, as you'll see from the amount of gold at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. The hedonism can be off-putting, even if you're not a Puritan. A calm beach in Phuket, while not easy to find, is peak serene.
