Postcard from Bangkok
By Ubertramp • May 19th, 2008 • Category: Latest Post, Southeast Asia, Thailand
It’s funny how quickly things can change in the space of one week.
Sunday just gone I was sitting at home, catching up on the latest adventures of other folks by way of their travel journals with excitement but also (if I dare admit it) a little envy, too. In my eyes, vicarious travel is a kind of ‘psuedo travel fix’ – it’s a way of sharing an adventure when you’re just not in any position to create your own – for whatever reason.
But, curiously, ever the slave to my own impulsive nature I left the remaining posts in my Google Reader inbox and instead hopped on over to Momondo.com, a pretty nifty flight price aggregator, ‘just to check’ the current prices of long hauls.
Anyhow, long story short, after six rather hectic days I’m now laying on my pit in my new found abode on Khao San Road typing this out. It’s pretty safe to say that flights from London to Bangkok were dirt cheap last Sunday…
I haven’t really had time to figure out a plan from here yet, but I’d imagine something will take shape at some point. Isn’t that just the best feeling?
I love the scatterbrained thoughts that come during this time, the time just before you make the next set of travel plans. Shall I go back round the Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos loop? Or maybe check out some bits of Indonesia I’ve yet to see. What about island hopping right through the Philippines, or Micronesia, for that matter? Who knows where I’ll end up?
My head and, to a greater extent, my heart rule my feet. The cerebral travel planning grasshopper is doing a shit load of overtime right now. Best he comes up with something soon, if not I’ll be forced to play a bit of backpacker roulette at the Train Station.
For now I’ll mull over the various options from behind a stick or two of BBQ’d chicken hearts and livers. Man, I just can’t get enough of those things.
As ever, I’ll keep you posted as events unfold.
TaTa For Now!
Ps. I’ll get some photos up in the new Asia Gallery soon and make that front page link live too!
Ubertramp is the brainchild of freelance travel writer and inveterate cheapskate Nath Richards.
On occasion, he's been known to write for cash, food or friends - but never to flash for coins or publicity. If you enjoy his articles and want one for your own publication then drop him a line. Unless hungry, he's quite approachable.
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Hmmm… as for that bit of ‘envy’ you mentioned, you left it here, at my doorstep . No need to say, I picked it up and made it mine. Life…
But hey, have a great time of there. Still personally I would go for the BBQ’ed chicken wings behind the Wat… wait did I just say envy? Plus that with now a drooling mouth.
Conrad (stuck in a dreary tempjob)
haha. Hi Conrad, thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment
I might just try those chicken wings now you mention it - I’m staying around the corner on Rambutri so its not too far to drag my carcass at all
It seems like all I’ve done since getting here is eat, but hey, I’m just making up for lost time. haha.
Go easy in that temp job, won’t you…
I’ll do my best and try brighten it up with another post soon enough - maybe I’ll say something like I was so caught up in eating a stick of chicken wings that I slipped up on a strip of durian shell and broke my hip - that should cheer you up and wash away the envy
haha
How about China?
Good traveling in the west of the country, no man’s lands, Muslim Xingjiang, Tibetan Qinghai, Sichuan, and Jungle to mountain Yunnan; easy hitch-hiking and plenty of mountains, jungles, and deserts.
And people who have still not ever seen a foreign face.
Go China way.
Good train to Laos for $2.50 . .. then route 1 though Laos and you are banging at the door of Yunnan province.
Go get lost,
Wade
Wade, you may just be onto something there…
What better recommend is there than from someone who themselves has shoestringed it through there - screw what lonely planet may or may not have to say on it! haha.
I wouldn’t mind having a toot back through Laos on the way too - it’d be interesting to see how much it has changed in the 3 years since I last visited - I bet it’s a lot in the most visited areas. As for China, I’ve only ever been to Hong Kong, so as for the rest of it I’d have no idea what to expect - and I can’t think of any better reason for going some place!
thanks man, and let’s see what pans out
Nath