First ImpressionsBangkok- crazy ..trillion backpackers.. BusyER, dirtierER and cheaperER than Taiwan, more difficult, less English, Temples much more interesting, less clean less artificial, friendlyish Thailand - cheap and cheerful not much changed even though many more millions of tourists spend millions of dollar each year. Cheap and run down, it's politics means it's not becoming a developed country fast. Good value for tourists, but difficult cos of the language also need to be wary of ripoffs. Arrived in Bangkok and I walked around and I realised, that someone must have put magic mushrooms in my tea. Recently I had only seen Asians, but as I walked I turned a corner the whole of humanity walking towards me, Europeans, blondes, brown haired, old young, rastas, hippies, punks, Americans in gaudy shirts, young backpackers from every country people I knew ? No, but there so many faces there ones like people I knew. There were traditionally dressed indigenous waving necklaces, taxi drivers shouting out, throngs of maket stalls, bright neon signs, saying internet, travel agent, vegetarian cafe, at the bases of new tower complexes, which bore the names of places, which 15 years ago had been pokey hostels. No magic mushrooms at all I was just back on Kao San Road again. Bangkoks world intersection of backpackers adventures. more Bangkok photos

I met up with Chong from HC and he took us to the Gold Mount temple to see the festival there.. it was so crowded I wouldn't have gone on my own.. pretty interesting ..thanks ! (Green Thai GH down a quiet alley no taffic) Did some sightseeing etc. The river is OK, but the Teak Palace was a disappointment. Then it was the Loi Kratong festival, but as the crowds were coming to Bangkok I decided to take the uncrowded train out.

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