Bangkok, Thailand

It's been four days since I've arrived in Thailand. The reality of it hasn't sunken in and frankly it probably won't until halfways through my trip...two and a half months from now. Already Bangkok has surprised me, the smells alone smack you in the face and make you cringe or increase your appetite. You can't walk five minutes without smelling the deep urine like smell of the sewer system, the hot scent of deep fried pork, the sweet smell of fried banana pancakes or the musty smell of the river. The people are in a constant rush, be it the insane automotive traffic or foot traffic, everyone needs to get somewhere. Forget about the pedestrians right of way, even the sidewalks are filled with rushed scooter riders. But the people are kind even with the huge language barrier.But smiles are all around...pointing and smiling is usually how I chose my next meal. The culture here surrounds itself by kindness, leniency, and the royal palace. The king and the queen are highly respected figures and no matter where you go or what street corner you turn down a picture of either figure is adorned with fresh flowers and gold. The streets of Bangkok are constantly fluttered with street food, the locals tend to indulge in hot soup with pork or chicken and an array of rice dishes. No matter what time of day you will find Thais eating along the streets. To most it may seem somewhat sketchy, considering the meats hang from these small carts and the proximity to the dirty street is only a couple feet. But this stuff is great, I mean if the Thai's love it how can I not sit with them and relish in the fresh ingredients. The hustle and bustle of the city has driven me and two of my friends away. Currently we're taking a bus to the closest beach, well what I mean is we're going to the closet beach to take a ferry to an island. The beach area known as Pattaya isn't exactly the place you want to hangout and relax. Unless you are a middle aged sleazy man looking for a good time with a tiny Thai girl. This town is known for its nightlife, where hookers and 'lady boys ' decorate the street simply to accommodate to any of your wildest pleasures. As for us three the gulf of Thailand is calling out names and my body is yearning for the ocean, my mouth thirsty for a cold "Chang" and my tastebuds dancing to the favors of exotic fruit.