My first day in Bangkok was spent at my guest house on Khao San Rd ( Top Guest House ) and visiting internet cafes along the street.

This street is loaded with goods and traveler services
such as bars, restaurants, travel agents, internet cafes and many street side stall selling pants, bags, t-shirts, cameras, knives and just about anything you can think of.

Here’s my room (250 baht ), here’s the corridor outside, the reception and the alley that leads to K.S Rd. The staff seemed happy.

I made my first purchase last night...a large beer. Today I took the opportunity to make another one. My packing list leaving Bali went very well with everything - laptop, camera, clothes and Thai stickers - all fitting into my backpack. The one thing I forgot was my money belt which is still in my safety deposit box in Bali. I picked up a waterproof one here for 200 baht ($3.12). Worth the investment if it means I can keep my crown jewels ( passport, money, ticket ) next to the family jewels.

Bangkok to me has the kind of atmosphere where anything could happen. Food vendors everywhere, people selling everything, people offering all kinds of entertainment and Thai boxing going on in the bars on tv. Not saying it’s a lawless place, it certainly doesn’t feel dangerous, but I reckon a person could have interesting experiences.

For me it makes another contrast to what I’m used to. I came from low key, smiley Bali with its Hindu culture, passed through Brunei with its polite but reserved Muslim culture, and now am in Buddhist Thailand where they have another whole set of social norms and taboos.

One thing I’ve got to stop doing is saying ‘Sama sama’ and ‘bagus’ to the locals, they really don’t understand.

The weather is rather humid and it rained finally about 5.30pm with vendors scurrying to cover their goods.

Here on Khao San they stop selling alcohol from the convenience stores after midnight so if you want to party better stock up or go to the bars. I’m off to find a food court area my friend Mark recommended.