Last night’s sleep was little better than nonexistent!
First, at midnight two new arrivals came into the dorm not exactly quietly, then around 2am another room mate arrived then around 4am one of the first arriving girls sat bolt up in bed and started screaming! I think she must have been having a nightmare because fortunately she didn’t go on for too long and certainly not long enough for anyone to do anything but it still woke us all up, this was coupled together with a bed you could crack nuts on. Oh and there were no curtains on the windows, which although not the end of the world as I always have my eye shade with me I think they could have stretched to it myself.
So first thing this morning I decide there’s no way I can do another night there let alone two and immediately try and find an alternative. The thing is Bangkok seems to be the same as many other major cities, expensive and not great quality with regard to accommodation. All the same I spend an hour or so on the internet trying desperately to find somewhere with a more comfortable bed. In the end I narrow it down to three other places all a sky train ride away and pack up my gear in readiness before heading off to check them out. The first place I went to was very friendly and seemed nice, although somewhere outside someone was frying chilli which is an absolute killer if you get anywhere near it and I nearly died as I walked in the door, so coughing and spluttering I managed it up to the room just to find that the bed was even harder than the one I’d just come from….really? Is that possible? Apparently yes! I thanked them very much and headed off to the next place.
The next hostel seemed to be in the middle of building works which isn’t a great sign but as long as they’re not banging around when I’m sleeping it might be ok. The girl on reception wouldn’t let me check out the room for myself but assured me that the bed was very comfy and kept showing me pictures of the rooms, I had also read a review on the internet saying the beds were nice and comfy so I thought I can’t go wrong, it was getting on for midday and I was pretty much done with finding accommodation so gave in. I paid my money and went straight up just to find that the beds were on a par with the one I’d just got out of and the other one I’d tried yet in true British style when I went back down stairs and the receptionist asked me how the bed was, I lied through my teeth and said ‘Yes it was fine!’. Now I only have myself to blame if I end up with a bad back.
So it was straight back to last night’s hostel to collect my bag and trail back over town again to drop it off at the new place. This was turning out to be a busy day already.
The busyness of Bangkok
By the time I had got back to the new hostel again and reaffirmed the ridiculously uncomfortable bed it was past lunchtime and it seems the new hostel is not only right in the middle of the financial area (meaning very expensive for everything) but also slap in the middle of the red light district! Nice planning Em!
For lunch I’d eye spied a Mexican restaurant and although a part of me thinks I should be making the most of the last couple of days by eating everything Thai having seen the Mexican I now NEEDED the Mexican. So that’s how I found myself having not very tasty chicken (!) burritos in a Mexican restaurant in the red light district of Bangkok being served by a very sweet ladyboy singing Christmas songs to me. Next time definitely Thai food. ;-)
The rest of the afternoon I opted for a bit of a wander around the area, just enjoying the last couple of days before heading back home.
The upside about being in the middle of the red light district is the night market, Pat Phong, this I also remember from the last two times I’ve been here and it’s actually a nice little market with some different things for sale and as long as you didn’t glance into the bars either side you weren’t likely to be too offended! You name it they had it on offer, today as they did all those years ago. Although the main difference this time was I received no offers and no invites, perhaps I am getting too old!
Pat Phong market was more fun than the market yesterday, smaller and easier to navigate, more interesting things to buy and better food and of course the entertainment in seeing Western guys being ‘invited’ into the bars! Entertaining, intriguing or very sad…….one or the other!!
The funniest part for me was sitting in a café on the top road getting a bite to eat and opposite was the gay red light district and the amount of guys being drawn in by the bright lights and loud music only to realise their mistake and go running was a good half hours entertainment for me!! ;-)
Pat Phong
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