|
In
Search of Bin Laden - October 2001
It's a terrific time to travel!
My older brother (Mike) and I decided to kick-out to South
East Asia - despite the terrorism. The security checks were
more intensive and everyone was generally more nervous than
usual, but the plane was empty and the fares were fairly cheap
(round trip Honolulu / Bangkok: $700 on NorthWest.)
This was not my first visit to Thailand. Having lived in Japan
for 7 years, I've had plenty opportunity to explore this part
of the world. For my brother, though, it was a first...so
I enjoyed watching him discover the joys of backpacking through
Asia on a shoestring. By the way, if you're interested in
learning more about Thailand, check out www.chopsticks.net/stickman.
Written by an expat who's been in Thailand for several years
now, "the stickman guide" is offers excellent insight into
living, working and traveling.
Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand
Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Capital: Bangkok
Currency: Thai Baht (US$1 = 44 B)
Population: 61 million. 80% rural, 20% urban
Average per capita income: US$3100
We arrived via Tokyo...If you're stuck in Tokyo airport, be
sure to check out the main concourse. You can access your
email, rent rooms for sleeping, take a shower, and eat good
food.
No special visa is needed for US Citizens. Customs will grant
you a 30-day stay when you arrive...Avoid the high-priced
taxi limo services touted by the group of people outside baggage
claim. Just walk ignore all those people and walk straight
outside the airport, where you can catch a taxi for 300B,
including 50B for the expressway.
By the way, you can change money at the airport. The banks
are located outside the baggage claim area. The are open late
(we were there at midnight!) and the rates are good.
We stayed at the Nana
Hotel (1000B per night for 2 beds, hot shower,
A/C, cable TV), located just across the street from the famous
Nana Plaza.. Most Backpackers opt for Khaosan Rd. in Banglamphu.
My brother jokingly described Nana Hotel as a "whore house."
I think that's pretty accurate...Note: If you're arriving
late, be sure you have reservations. Online reservations are
fine. Nana Hotel has 341 rooms and they usually sell out early!
While in Bangkok, "The City of Angels", we rented a river
taxi (1200B total for just the two of us) and took a 3 hr
tour of the city. I highly recommend it.
Thai fighting is held at 2 different stadiums. Check around
for details. Ringside seats: 1000B.
Bangkok is a nice hopping point for visiting other countries.
We originally wanted to skip over to Viet Nam, but we didn't
want to sit around Bangkok for 5 working days to process the
visa...so we elected to go to Cambodia, which grants visas
at the airport for $20. Note: Bring 2 passport photos or pay
a 100B fine in Cambodia.
Roundtrip Bangkok - Phenom Penh of Bangkok Air: 6600B (about
$150). Again, you can change money at the airport (US$1 =
3900 Riel) and the cheapest taxi to town is a scooter for
about $1. Find a driver and scooter outside the main gate
of the airport. Otherwise, it's $7 for a ride into town.
Official Name: Kingdom of Cambodia
Form of Government: Multiparty democracy under constitutional
monarchy
Capital: Phnom Penh
Climate: Rainy season from May-Nov.
Population: 11.6 million. rural 80%, urban 20%
Average Income per Capita: US$60 ($5 per month!)
Major Exports: Timber, rice, soybeans
The people is Phenom Penh are nice but not friendly. Maybe
it's an artifact of decades of war, but the people in this
city seem indifferent - kind of unsettling. We didn't go out
after dark...
From Phenom Penh, we took a speed boat up the Mekong (4 hrs)
to Siem Reap, where the Angkor
Wat is located. We found the people up north to be remarkably
different than the residents of Phenom Penh; they seem happier.
The city itself is also more charming - with its tree lined
boulevards.
In both cities, we stayed in guest houses. Drivers typically
offer to bring you for free to the ones they are representing.
Don't expect to pay more than $10 for an air conditioned room
with own bathroom and hot running water.
Rent a scooter and driver for $6 a day, leave about 8am in
the morning and spend the day exploring Angkor Wat. Admission
is $20 for the day. You'll need water, plenty of film, comfortable
climbing shoes and a good picture guide book.
If you're in Siem Reap, don't miss the fried dumplings at
the Beijing Restaurant, located next to the Vimean Thmei Hotel
(opposite the Monorom Restaurant.) The owner is Sed Li, a
master chef whom - if I were rich - I would readily bring
to Hawaii and partner on a restaurant business...
Don't buy any gems or gold in Cambodia. The real deals have
already been picked over by the pros. If you see something
you like, buy it because it you like the LOOK of it, not because
someone is telling you it's gold, saphire or ruby. Otherwise,
you will be ripped off.
After Cambodia we returned to Thailand via Phenom Penh. If
the airport weren't closed for repair, we would have prefered
to have left from Siem Reap. After touching down in Bangkok,
we caught another flight to Phuket (2270B on Thai Airways.)
Pattong is the most popular beach on Phuket island. If you're
into night life, then you'll enjoy this place. Pattong's beach
is also very nice and flat and great for evening jogs.
If you've got the time, check out Koh Samui, an island off
the eastern coast of Thailand. (3150B on Bangkok Air one-way
Bangkok-Koh Samui.) You can get a clean, safe, beachside bungalow
with bathroom/shower for 1000B. We stayed at Central
resort (4500B), a five start resort on equal footing with
the best resorts in Hawaii. Don't miss the 4:30 volleyball
games on the beach every evening...or the full moon parties
on the neighboring island!
Also, if you're into seafood and you're in Chaweng Beach area,
go to Nakorn Restaurant (13/5 Moo 2 Bo Phut.) Their motto
is "Food, Seafood, Drinks at Usual Prices." You won't be disappointed.
Aloha,
Kimo
|
