Highway drama >> Travel: Laos, Myanmar, Thailand 06

Oct 1: Afternoon, Bangkok

We arrived yesterday, touching down at Bangkok's Don Muang airport in the evening. It's been a while since our last long trip (as opposed to two-week junkets). Mentally unprepared to be on the road again. I feel... very unalert.

At 100 baht, the airport bus was the best (though not the cheapest) way for us to get to Khaosan in the dark. Our bus was stopped by the police on the highway. The policeman on his motorbike was most adamant that our driver pulled his vehicle on to the road shoulder. Our bus rolled to a halt.

We sat in the dark, waiting. No one boarded our bus. Our driver was a dark silhouette, still in his seat. Street lights shone on dark asphalt, now trafficless. Then, a whoosh of sound and swirling red. Some VIP and entourage streaked by, flashing lights and all.

Movement again, as normal traffic streamed back to the highway. The traffic police waved and he too disappeared into the night. We were allowed to go on our way.

Sawadee Inn... not

Thanks to the Internet, we had a reservation at the Sawadee Bangkok Inn (SBI). Our bus dropped us at its sister hotel, Sawadee Khaosan Inn. Down the road, a woman at the desk by the police station walked us a little way. She told us she was a reporter covering a beat in the area.

Alas, the Sawadee Inn we found was not the one we wanted. This one was the Sawadee Krungthep Inn (SKI). A Caucasian guy at SKI told us how to get to SBI. Alamak! We should simply turn into Khaosan Road after the bus dropped us.

Now, we had to double back, not too fun with luggage on a balmy night. As we continued our search, which had turned somewhat sweaty by this stage, I looked at the street throng and longed to tarry a while, just to imbibe in the lively atmosphere. Annie, however, was most focused, stoically heading in the direction suggested.

Our room at SBI cost B30 more than a similar one at SKI, though I thought it was in better condition than the one we peeked into at SKI. Unfortunately, the walls were thin and hollow. People keep late, late hours in Khaosan and we heard them throughout the night.

The next day, we walked around, looking for more salubrious accommodation and found the New Siam II. This guesthouse is new. They are building a swimming pool. We simply close the door to our room to shut out the racket downstairs. The walls and doors are thicker here.

The ladies manning reception are friendly and alert. We particularly like their no-nonsense attitude towards bringing non-guests into the rooms. Women travellers, especially those on their own, should feel at home here. As usual, the towels and blankets don't match and the soap was wafer thin. Everything, however, is bright, spotless and comfy.

This would be home for the week, if we don't make a short trip out of Bangkok while waiting for our Laos visa.

Budget (for two in baht, unless otherwise indicated)

Sep 30
Tea in Changi Airport >> S$18.27
Airport bus >> B200
Room >> B500
Dinner >> B90

Oct 1
Room B520
Breakfast B120
Bangkok-Yangon flight (incl war insurance @B300 each) B6,600
Laos visa B2,400
Lunch (fishball noodles + H20) B56
Tea (cookies, coffee, hot choc) B85
Dinner B167
H20 (6 bottles) 20B

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