Bangkok 5

Banglamphu and Kao San Road

Kao San Road is definitely still one of the hippest places in travel circles, I suppose. The lonely planet calls it a “decompression zone” for weary backpackers on their way in or on their way out. They also use the term “Asian tourist ghetto”, which I think sums it up. The long strip is wild. Guest houses, massage parlors, street food, street bars, night clubs, pubs, live music. Short girls with black hats that sparkle making frog sounds and selling cheap jewelry.

We stayed just two blocks off of Kao San. What a difference a couple of blocks can make. Tanee Road is still gritty, dirty. Rats run in the streets. So it’s not a move upscale. But no night clubs; no loud, belligerent drunks. Dark and quiet. We managed to make the 7am breakfast call every morning, no matter how much it hurt.

If there’s something good to be said about kao san road, it’s the beauty of the tiger beer girls in their tight blue tiger dresses.

Old Thai man with long, grey, curly beard and glasses plays “blowing in the wind” on an acoustic. Young Thai rockers play “enter sandman” at the next joint. Best tunes seem to be coming from the band at the Famous Grouse, just around the corner from the 7-11.

Basic Thai:

Kap kun kap - thank you
Ka ru na kap - please
Sa wa di kap - hello
La kan kap - goodbye
Chai - yes
Mai chai - no
Thao rai? - how much?

That was about all I needed for the 12 days.
Could’ve, should’ve picked up more, but I didn’t.