New friends on Khao San
Trip Start
Oct 15, 2010
1
3
27
Trip End
Jan 11, 2011
Where I stayed
Bangkok, Krung Thep, Thailand
Monday, October 18, 2010
Next Christie, who grew up in Hong Kong and is well versed in eating exotic foods, got us to try roasted crickets. These were surprisingly delicious, crunchy and peppery, a great beer snack that I’d eat again any day. We made our way to a bar to share some of the hugely popular Khao San Road bucket cocktails (hence the vomit on Christie’s shoe that morning). The bar we were at didn’t have a bathroom, instead there was a ‘toilet train’, where every half hour or so one of the staff would gather up everyone who needed to go and unlock the toilets in the mall next door. On my trip I met Zip and Baa, two Thai art students who had come to Khao San to party. I invited them back to the table, and soon we had joined forces with their group of about 15 fellow students. One of their teachers was also there, and he introduced himself to Nathan as "Phat, like my body!" (it was true – he really was a large man). They were a lovely bunch of people, and enthusiastically accepted us into their group. Here are some of the highlights of the night:
At one point a passerby stopped and said to me:
“So how late is the 024 bus these days?”
“What?” I had no idea why this guy would think I knew the ins and outs of the Bangkok bus system.
“The Richmond Road bus, how late is it these days?” It turns out he recognised my from my bus stop. Apparently we used the catch the bus together every day (I still didn’t recognise him, but my observation skills have never been good, especially at that time in the morning). He even recognised Nathan and said, “oh and you come out of your house every morning, get in your car, do a U-turn and drive off.” What a small world!
In the meantime a little girl, about 10 years old, approached Nathan to sell him a rose. She had some interesting sales tactics, which included grabbing and twisting his nipples, and threatening to punch him. Nathan was utterly charmed, and eventually bought one off her.
At one point I asked my new friend Zip whether they come to Khao San often, and where they go when they do. Suddenly she had everyone up and moving to a club they frequent. When we got there I suddenly realised that through hanging out with the locals we’d somehow ended up at the Bangkok equivalent of the Auckland Viaduct. The bar was packed with people dancing and singing to covers of every pop rock drinking song ever written. But, given that we were surrounded by our enthusiastic new friends, and that this will probably be it in terms of nightlife for the next three months (that or hard trance dance parties, and I know what my preference is out of those options!), we quickly let go of our pretentions and joined the fun. After buying a beer tower to share with our hosts we left the club at about 1am and stumbled back to the hostel, far from sober, having had a great night out.
P.S. Who has been trolling our mailing list?! I'm looking at you Tom, Hamish and Mark xx
Comments
Great photos!
Love the one of you and Zip! You look a little taken aback! ...and the sales girl with Nathan! She looks uber-cheeky like she knows her stuff! ..and love the story about the guy and the 024 bus!!! HiLariouS!!!!!!! crazy times.