16 June 2008 BANGLAMPU

BANGKOK

SHANTI LODGE-SOI 16 Samsen Road

In the Banglampu area just a 5 minute tuk tuk road you can escape the madness that encapsulates the Khao San Road area.  Shanti Lodge plays continuous Hindi style music, quite pleasant and shoes and sandles are kicked off at the door.  Décor is wonderful and the owners are reasonably friendly and very helpful.  My feeling is they have had a gutful of Rude tourists and travellers.  Can’t blame them. 

Food is wonderful if you like to eat well.  Fruit Salad yogurt muesli followed by omelette florintine washed down with an Angel Shake is a great way to start the day. 

Rooms are reasonably priced depending on what you’re after.  Cold shower with your own toilet and wi fi is 650B and Dorms and rooms with outside toilet much cheaper. 

Getting there is tuk tuk from Khao San Road around 30b or 250B from Airport(so long as you venture upstairs on your arrival to Bangkok and get the taxi’s on the way out.

Roger at Thaipantsman

Notes:
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Hua Hin 20/6/08

Hua Hin is a big city full of European retirees which is all good.  Slow pace place and definintely needs more time to investigate before judging. 

Motorcycles and Accomodation are generally a little more expensive here.  300 Baht will get you a really nice new Auto Honda Dream but look harder and the price comes down to 150Baht.

Accomodation is easy to find depending on your  budget.  I stayed at  K Place and room number 8.  This will set you back 900B per day but worth it.  Easy to find run down rooms on the water from 150-500 Baht.

Beaches aren’t bad and interesting town but two days was enough for me here.

Bars are full of girls from all over Thailand looking for work and cash.  Important to be respectful and consider why these people do this type of work.  The bulk of the girls income gets sent back home to help both the immediate and distant families usually in slum areas of Bangkok or rural areas  of North East Thailand.  So the message is, you’re not Brad Pitt! They just want to eat and will go with you for this reason only.

If you get bored check out Cha-am about 30 minutes North.

Brief Blog by Thaipantsman