By the time I managed to escape Suvarnabhumi Airport and reach my hotel, it was well past midnight. All I wanted was a cold shower and sleep, but that seemed disrespectful to turn my back on Thailand’s most infamous party street without at least having one drink. I changed into shorts and flip-flops and headed to Khao San Road. It was pumping, and I did a lap, politely declining offers of booze, weed, ladyboys, and less charming suggestions of ping-pong shows. I stopped at the quiet end, at one of those stalls that were nothing more than an esky and some cheap seating, and ordered a big bottle of Chang. The beer went down quickly and easily, and I decided it was past my bedtime, so it was best to leave the party to those half my age.
Taking my preferred shortcut through Suzie Lane, a stunningly attractive African American woman hugged me, and asked where I was from. If I were drunk, I would have told her she was beautiful, but weary and all too sober, like an idiot, I headed back to my room.
I stayed one night in a hotel on Tani Street called the Secret Service, featuring Cold War-era spy equipment and movie posters.
More important to me right now was the private bathroom and air-con. I took a cold shower and shaved, and slept for five hours. In the late morning, I packed and checked out, and after coffee, I started walking towards the Grand Palace. I took a kind of metro station bypass to avoid crossing the busy road, and made a note of the people sleeping in the air-conditioning before emerging near the entrance. While the Grand Palace is very impressive, dealing with the maddening crowd was a little more than I should be expected to deal with, and I did a lap then departed.
Heading back to Khao San, I walked along a road next to a canal. Bangkok’s poor were selling meager second-hand goods, often curled up to sleep next to their goods on blankets or, often just cardboard. Whatever money was to be had could not have amounted to much, and this was only a five-minute walk from the bars and massage shops of Khao San. Having time to kill until I needed to get to the airport, after coffee, I spent a pleasant two hours at a massage place that didn’t need pretty girls to lure people in. Feeling very loose, I spoiled the whole effect by getting motion sick in the Grab car, to the extent that I began to be concerned about cleaning fees.
Adrian's Got The Moose 