Bangkok, a Place Where You Never Get Bored – Part 1

There are a lot of things to do in the Thai capital. You can focus on the multitude of Buddhist temples. There are around four hundred of them in Bangkok alone. Every one of them has a distinctive feature. Unusually shaped and beautifully adorned roofs glisten in the sun, and beneath them sits the Buddha in various postures and sizes. The smell of incense wafts through the air among the locals who are meditating and who are seemingly not greatly disturbed by the tourist crowds. Of course there are certain rules to be followed in the temples, such as wearing appropriate clothing and removing the shoes before entering. The statues of Buddha are sacred objects, therefore taking pictures in front of them is frowned upon. The feet are the lowest parts of the body physically as well as spiritually, therefore you should never point your feet at the Buddha or at people, as it is disrespectful. On the contrary, the head is the highest and the most sacred part of the body, therefore you should never touch someone’s head when speaking to them. As in many parts of Asia, anger and other emotions are expressed only under exceptional circumstances, and even when you do express them, it won’t get you anywhere. Regardless of the situation, the locals follow the rule that could only benefit the foreigners: Keep calm, no matter what!

The base camp for travellers

Khao San (meaning rice field) is quite a beautiful name for a street crowded with food establishments, shops and cheap accommodation. The cheapest rooms are generally reminiscent of prison cells. There’s barely enough space for a backpack by the bed, the room is usually windowless, and then there is involuntary eavesdropping on the night events next door through what are supposed to be walls. And if you’re on a streak of bad luck and suddenly, in the middle of a humid night, the fan stops working, you can really feel like giving up on life. Still, this is the place where plans are drawn up for a journey towards the north among the colourful tribes, or towards the south with attractive and pristine white sandy beaches, coconut palms and the always warm turquoise sea. Restaurants and small shops full of diverse items are adjusted to the western taste. It’s almost rare to spot locals among the tourist crowds. But cheap accommodation isn’t the only thing that attracts the tourists. Here you can find a comfortable ride to any corner of the country, get a visa for the neighbouring countries that isn’t so excessively expensive, and, though difficult but not impossible, you might even find some casual work. I, however, wasn’t so impressed by the colourful hustle and bustle. That’s why I decided to stay in a quieter district of Dusit, about a kilometre away. There, I found one of the many HI hostels – the YHA Thewet.

For a few days it turned into a perfect haven and a starting point for exploring the big city. Next time you can read more about the pleasant stay at the hostel and the nearby sights worth visiting.