Khao San Road, Bangkok

The Thai attitude ranges from relaxed to just plain lazy. The most heroic example of this I discovered at an established restaurant on Khao San Road known as Silk Bar, where it was the foliage surrounding the bar’s newly painted features that had received the majority of the paint job. It was a case of ‘painting the roses red,’ or white as such. Hilarious.

Khao San Road, Bangkok

Our first night out in Khao San Road proved to be a most aurally satisfying club-hopping affair. Starting at the far end we moved from live acoustic, to reggae, to drum’n’bass all within three or so hours, something I haven’t done in Melbourne in a good while. The almost complete absence of pretentiousness in Thai clubs is refreshing. I found myself not once stressing about how I was looking or how the person next to me might be perceiving me; a welcome change from the image-obsessed clubs back home. Smiles are an epidemic, and styles of dance are as varied as the patronage. Furthermore, Thai’s advertise their clubs based on music genre, not by DJ – a small detail that makes things so easy for the foreigner to comprehend. I immediately thought of all the poor backpackers who had decided to visit Melbourne, taken one look at Beat magazine and been so confused as to what club to visit. Unfortunately, ‘Grant Smillie’ doesn’t really mean much to the non-Australian. The pretentious world that engulfs clubs has no-doubt infected the comprehensiveness of a simple night out. In saying that, I remind myself that therein lies the charm of my hometown. But, it was definitely a boon to know for sure that the club we were paying entry to was without two doubts, according to the flier, playing 'Full-on Psychedelic Trance' and only 'Full-on Psychedelic Trance' all night long (which we managed to get over quite quickly).

Bangkok Revisted

The impeccable new Suvarnabhumi airport didn't have me fooled. Bangkok is still sweltering, gritty and chaotic. On stepping out of the flash steel and concrete behemoth I knew I had returned. The thick air, sickly stench and relentless stream of troublesome touts stirred up memories of my time here last year and ignited my energy levels somewhat after the not-so-smooth as silk flight from Melbourne, in which a short bout of turbulence had passengers screaming in sync to the rock of the aircraft. Unnerving, yes. We made our way to our pre-booked accommodation in Khao San and realizing we were without an address got dropped in the general vicinity, stopped at a bar and I reunited myself, at 9am, with a bottle of Singha. The ethanol began to work instantly on my weary head, lightening my mood further, gently dissolving my anxieties and fuelling my already bloated optimism of what lay ahead. The moment brought to mind a mélange of thought. I was without responsibility or job, and with enough cash to let me travel for at least the next 2 months; every reason in the world to have a permanent grin plastered across my face. My adventure had begun.

Sawatdee Khrap

Bangkok, Thailand. A paradox. The most beautiful environmental disaster I have ever experienced. The traffic is insane. No rules, ablaze with speeding three-wheeled, golf-buggy-type vehicles known as 'Tuk-Tuks'. The haze is so thick the sun rarely shines through. Post-Tuk-Tuk one definitely feels the effect of the greenhouse on the neurons. The majority of buildings are in a state of disrepair, and littered amongst them, everywhere, are markets, selling everything from clothes to food to flowers. 'Genuine fake' are the magic words. Utter them and be presented with a plethora of Rolex rip-offs, bastardized Bvlgari and vitiated Vuitton. The adult industry thrives here, as does the obvious poverty. But through all this, the Thai people shine. Young at heart, even somewhat immature, the sweet nature of these beautiful people more than negates the downfalls of this magnificent city. An ideal example of the nature of happiness, and that it is not what we own or where we live that is responsible for it, but rather our own attitude and ability to live in the moment. Bangkok, Thailand. I shall return.