We set off from Koh Tao for Bangkok, which should have been a sixteen hour journey on just three types of transport. A pick-up truck to the ferry port was followed by our third backpacker ferry to the mainland and the town of Chumporn, where we had time to eat before boarding a pretty good coach with the final destination being the infamous Koh San Road. We got comfy for the night bus which is always a bonus because it enables you to save money on accommodation. We managed to finally fall asleep and then bang. We woke up on some sort of main road with the bus drivers and a group of taxi drivers shouting at us to get off. Now! Quickly! Nobody had a clue what was going on and for a few minutes nobody moved an inch.
 |
| Waiting for our Ferry from Koh Tao back to Mainland Thailand |
 |
| Out at sea, cruising into Chumporn |
 |
| Fighting for your bags, trying to get off the boat |
 |
| These guys are off to the train station. Pretty glad we are not. Safety-lock everybody in the back with luggage! |
We then realised that we were in Bangkok and checking the time it was 2:30am. We just couldn’t believe it. We were supposed to arrive at 6:00am. The bus must have been seriously burning rubber or the company just didn’t tell you the correct arrival time, because if they did nobody would book the ticket.
That would make sense because arriving in Bangkok at 2:30am with no accommodation is far from ideal. With the feeling that we were close to Koh San we passed on a taxi or tuk-tuk and a small group of us headed off. Luckily we were only a minute’s walk away, which turned out to be unlucky. We hit Koh San and it was just the wrong time of day or night to be wandering the streets with all of your belongings on your person. I mean it is not the safest place on the planet.
 |
| We find it. Two minutes around the corner |
We had heard about Koh San Road but we had not prepared ourselves for the welcome that we received. It is actually quite difficult to explain other than total carnage. The place was packed with drunks everywhere staggering around the street with music pumping. There were even people passed out lying in the gutters. Looking for accommodation was another thing. I think that there was room available but just not for us if you see what I mean. It seemed to be more on an hourly rate rather than for a couple of days? This therefore meant that all the accommodation was full and we would have to try again at check out time which was 12pm. Only nine and a half hours to go.
 |
| 3:00am The new group have to stop for a drink on Koh San. We need a plan!!! |
Two young girls from England joined us as we ventured away from Koh San Road in the search for somewhere to sleep. Safety in numbers is always a good idea, but still no better luck. The place was just full until we were lucky to find KS House, finally somewhere with a room available. Time check 9 o’clock in the morning and we were all like walking zombies. A sleep in the reception area while the rooms were cleaned we finally collapsed onto the bed where we passed out until lunchtime. Don’t get me wrong we have found ourselves in some peculiar situations along the way but this we’ll not forget in a hurry, Bangkok, 2:30am arrival followed by six and a half hours walking the streets, before finding some accommodation. This is one city you should definitely book ahead.
 |
| It must be 5:30am by now and still no where to go but the streets |
 |
| We finally check into KS House 9:00am. Dead Man Walking. I will be asleep in 2 minutes... |
 |
| Obviously a Classy Joint! Welcome to just turning up in Bangkok |
Finally awake we headed out for a late breakfast and decided that we would leave the following day. We knew that we would be returning in a month’s time so decided to leave the sightseeing for now. That left us a few hours to research visas for Cambodia and Laos and head back to Koh San Road just to get the early hours out of our mind.
 |
| Finally awake, this breakfast cheered me up |
 |
| Back on Koh San Rd in daylight. Buzzing place |
 |
| Be Whatever You Want To Be! |
 |
| Hi Singha Beer. Are you sure that sign is large enough. Classic |
What a different place in the afternoon and early evening. A great atmosphere where you could shop until you dropped without all the drunks and prostitution. There was even the pleasure of watching people eat scorpions. Safe in the knowledge that it would be OK to return we enjoyed some street food before having to have an early night to recuperate.
 |
| Koh San Night Time. We like the place more & more just don't arrive at crazy o'clock |
 |
| Anyone fancy some bugs |
 |
| Now this guy makes damn good pancakes |
 |
| Tasty with Nutella |
 |
| Saturday Night Football out of the back of a VW Campa-Van |
 |
| Sponsored by .....................Quirky |
It was time to head into central Thailand and with our daily itinerary already planned and researched for the coming weeks we headed to the Northern/North-Eastern Bus Terminal by metered taxi (cheaper than tuk-tuk’s) to catch the six hour coach journey to Phitsanulok.
 |
| Tired after the last couple of days. Here we are waiting for our bus into Central Thailand |
 |
| More well placed Singha Advertising. Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal. We'll be back in a month |
No comments:
Post a Comment