My journey across Asia
Thailand
My sixth day — Part one
You want to know how it was like to be at Google’s Headquarters in Taiwan? FOLLOW this link to Day 5
I could sleep a bit on the plane. However, it wasn’t enough so then I got out of the aircraft. I already felt being an expert in the field of airport procedure. Going to the immigration office — check — collecting your luggage — check — getting a mean of transportation — check. So I went straight to a taxi service in the airport hall. They directly called me a taxi and an employee carried my baggage out of the airport to the waiting taxi. The driver didn’t know the address so he called my host’s number and then he pulled out. When I arrived at the building I hadn’t expected it to be the only sky scraper in this district.
I already felt being an expert in the field of airport procedure.
In the reception two security guards wearing military-looking uniforms were saluting me as I went in. My appartment was on the 26th floor and the owner surprisingly was origin-born German. I had to wait a bit because my appartment was not ready to move in. So in the meanwhile he offered me some toast, which tasted so good since I hadn’t eaten those bread for months. His name was Alex and he moved to Thailand one decade ago. He gave me a lot of advice about things I could do and then I happened to tell him that I paid 900 Baht for the ride to his place. He unveiled me that I had been ripped off. The usual price is the half of that. I should haven taken the one with an official taximeter.
In the meanwhile the two guests from The States got read to move out and I moved in. Both were travelling around Asia before heading to Kenia teaching tribe kids sports (Some sort of sport I couldn’t remember anymore).
Right after moving in I went down to the opposite building were a mall was located. There I got a one hour massage, which felt relaxing after the last exhausting days of travelling. Paying just seven euros made me even happier.
I went for lunch in a restaurant by the massage salon. 1,30 for lunch — quite cheap, wasn’t it?
When I looked out from my window I had a pretty nice view of Bangkok. A vast of buildings with some skyskrapers on the horizon. I had a swimming pool too so I went for swim.
I then got ready for getting together with Sam, a friend of mine I met six years ago in Prague and since then I had never seen him again. So I got dressed and already set off to the hotel, where we would meet up since he was attending a conference there.
The hotel was “just” an hour away from my place, however, I decided to go earlier since I wanted to stroll around the city.
The bus I got on was pretty old. The floor was made of wood and the engine was incredible loud. Every bus in Bangkok consists of two employees. The bus driver and the one who charged the passengers as soon as they get on board. So I asked the one who charged if he could remind me when we arrive at the bus stop. He was an elder man with a smile on his face.
He didn’t speak English and I couldn’t speak Thai. While I was trying to make myself understood a man from the rear of the bus, seemingly following my desperate attempt, came up to us and helped my out by interpretating. The “bus charger” agreed and I felt relieved and plunged on a seat.
“Now I can enjoy the crowded streets.”
Just after a short time the bus stopped and the bus charger, who had just promised me to tell me when I had to get off, jumped out of the bus and disappeared in the crowd.
“Probably he has forgotten to do shopping”
After realising that he won’t come back I wonder what to do next….
