bangkok rewind...

Land of the Emerald Buddha...

Enjoyable... Adventurous... Breath-taking... These are the words that best summarize my impression of the country. With its lush forests, clear blue waters, bustling metropolis, and serene temples, Thailand is an adventure filled country waiting to unravel for those thrill seeking tourist.

Bangkok, Thailand was a stark contrast from Seoul, South Korea. Gone were the towering sky scrappers. Gone were the inter-web subway system that we have grown accustomed to. Gone was the sense of security. Gone was the first-world nation feel. It was the true start of the backpacking trip. Adventure awaits...

For those unfamiliar, it is a strip of road where backpackers congregate. It is an open market during the day and party central during the night. If you heard stories about Thailand, then this is probably where most of those stories occur. Anyways, while my friends and I were enjoying our delicious meal and our 500mL beer bottles, a group of unattractive female strangers sat behind us. It did not take long before we experienced something unexpected and our lives quickly departed from a state of normalcy. They tried furiously to gain our attention. Perhaps it was the presence of our Caucasian friends that attracted their keen eyes. While my friend was in the washroom expending liquids, someone has gone and pinched his butt. My friend of course got a little excited of what has transpired and was all giggly coming out of the washroom. After he had told us the story, we patiently waited for this female to come out so that we can see what she looks like. Then out came this lady wearing tight jeans and a white top from the washroom. I knew for certain about the nature of this female but my friends remained oblivious. Little did my friends know that this female admirer was a man with physiological upgrades. After finding out the true nature of this individual, my friend started to ignore her and negate eye contact. But the lady was persistent. She started showing off some of her assets to our whole table. She stood there half naked for a good 5 minutes before storming out of the restaurant infuriated from my friend's lack of interest. "It was a great start to the trip" as we said.

Bangkok is also home to some of the most beautiful temples ever built, the best of which was the Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha. It is located within the grounds of the Grand Palace. The splendor of its spires and the grandeur of its architecture has left me in awe and amazed. To think that such wonder can exist within the bustling streets of Bangkok was quite the thought.

Much like the story above, our travel throughout Thailand was filled with memorable stories. From leeched plagued jungle treks, to near death experiences, to a run-in with law officers, every moment was filled with great memories, both good and bad. And as usual, stay tuned for future postings.