Tuesday 28 January 2014

Thailand Travels: Day 1, Arriving in Bangkok

My flight touched down in Bangkok at 8am this morning, and from there I took a metered cab (as advised) to my hotel. If only it was that simple.

When my taxi driver discovered where my hotel was (just off the Kaosan Road) he started muttering. "Oh dear, here we go", I thought.

He couldn't understand why I was heading to Bangkok and kept repeating "road closed" and "mobs".

Just what to want to hear on your first solo travelling experience.... He started suggesting he drop me near the hotel and then I could walk.

"Hell no!" I thought. Even though I knew my hotel was just off the Kaosan Road I didn't know what direction to walk...

So that was a nerve-wracking taxi ride... I kept thinking that any moment we'd turn a corner and they'll be a mob of protestors and he'll refuse to go any further.

There wasn't though. Just one of the main roads on route was closed, which meant we had to go a longer route and hit lots of traffic jams. In the end the ride cost 540 tbht instead of something like 300. But that's about £10 so it's not the end of the world!

"Lucky, you very lucky" he said to me.

Lucky indeed. I breathed a sigh of relief... And then I felt great. I stood my ground and made him take me to my hotel and all was fine. A little self-assurance restored.

Except then I realised he'd taken me to the wrong hotel!!! This was the Buddy Lodge, not the Buddy Boutique Inn. I'd argued that this wasn't the right place when he'd pulled up, but the hotel porter had said it was and taken my bag.

Reception informed me that this was a sister hotel to the one I was booked into and that it was only round the corner... So I walked... And I found it. Result!

I dropped my backpack off in hotel storage and now I'm hanging out back at the Buddy Lodge roof-top pool until I'm allowed to check into my room. There's funky house music, free wifi, drinks, food, free towels and plenty of sun loungers. So I'm soaking up the sun and taking a dip to cool off.

This place is a total haven in the chaotic hustle and bustle of Kaosan Road.

2 comments:

  1. Good to hear you have arrived. Throw some shapes to the music for me.

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  2. Thank god you have arrived safely! Get some rays for me too xxxxmum

    ReplyDelete