First Published September 4,2005 at www.travelblog.org/bloggers/gypsygal

Bangkok –I flew from KL and had to spend a night in Bangkok to catch an early flight tomorrow for Kathmandu.
For that, I went to Khao San Rd.
The backpackers ghetto of Khao San in Bangkok isn’t an ideal place to write. The whole area just assaults your senses, that you end up confused, distracted, dazed.
Here’s what Khao San is: loud music blaring from the stereo; fake cds, fake hair, fake ids clog the streets; tuktuks and motorbikes coming from just anywhere that you have to be extremely careful when you cross the street; a chockablock of guesthouses, bars, cafes and massage parlors; and backpackers from all over the world, of all shapes and sizes, bringing with them a variety of accents, smell, color.
But I went here and stayed here anyway (not exactly in Khao San Rd, but in the nearby Tanee Rd) because it’s cheap and convenient.
Khao San doesn’t just offer cheap accomodation ( I’m staying in a spotlessly clean room with its own bathroom, aircon, cable tv and fridge for just roughly $US12/night, inclusive of breakfast), but also cheap food, books and clothes. I can get a cab anywhere, so I’ll have no problem getting to the airport on time.
I got a decent vegetarian meal for less than US$3 in a restaurant (I’m quite terrified of eating in street food stalls); internet costs about $1 US/hour; long distance phone calls through public phone booth cost 7 baht/minute ( I refused to carry my cell) and I managed to shop for all the things that I need in my travels.
For a paltry US$35 (and loads of bargaining), I got myself four second hand paperbacks, two pairs of cotton trousers, a pair of jogging pants, a nylon bag for my camera, three pieces of long sleeve cotton blouses (ideal for Nepal’s nippy nights), a bottle of anti-dandruff shampoo and lip balm. I didn’t got a sleeping bag though (nor a guidebook to Tibet and bhutan), resolving that tomorrow I can buy all these things, for dirt cheap prices (and with my well-honed bargaining skills, I can virtually get anything at a fraction of a price). Because tomorrow, I’ll be staying in another backpackers haven: Thamel in Kathmandu.