AWOL Geordie - Steve’s global adventure

Two years ago I was in Singapore. Last year I was in the Philippines. Now I am in Bangkok calculating how I can get to Malaysia. I arrived from Pattaya yesterday after quitting my shitty guesthouse. I was the only Falang there and my next door neighbour was selling Yabba (a crazy Thai drug). People were knocking on his door all night and shouting in the dirty corridors. I had no sleep. I escaped with only my cellphone missing and jumped a bus to East Bangkok. I then caught the SkyTrain to Nana where I walked up Sukhumvit Soi 3 to the Nana Nua canal boat jetty on the Sen Seb canal. I caught the amazingly fast boat for 12 baht to Phanfa stop near Khao San Road. The journey along the canal is thrilling as the water is very choppy and you get splashed with filthy smelly canal water. Also the typical Thai homes that hug the banks give you an insight into regular Bangkok folk’s lives.

Today, I have just walked from Banglamphu to Hualamphong train station and back only to discover all the sleeper trains are fully booked until the new year. Third class tickets are available but I don’t fancy a 24hr train trip on a hard wooden bench. So, I will take a bus half way down Thailand to somewhere like Chumpon, spend a few days there before going to Hat Yai and Sungei Kolok. Then onto Malaysia to do the jungle train.

Like last year, Xmas is a very strange beast in this part of the World. Thailand is hot and the locals dont give two hoots about it.

I have just called my Dad for the first time in months to wish him and my family a happy xmas and new year. My family are still lamenting the loss of my Mother and my heart goes out to them all.

I then checked my bank and was dismayed to discover that I have pennies to last me until Monday 29th (thurs - xmas, fri - boxign day, then saturday and sunday) because of all the bank holidays! I initiated a bank transfer on Mon 23rd but it is going to take a week! So it is a Scrooge Xmas weekend for me. Bugger! I was looking forward to a pint tonight.

I’ve just had a ‘Tat Pom’ (haircut for 50bt or 1gbp). I suppose that could be my Xmas present this year.

Well my hour is up so I best go and stroll around Bangkok tonight before retiring with my book.

Seasons greetings.

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