I am slightly surprised at how much I enjoyed Bangkok and surrounds ... the opening line to "El Scorcho" setting the soundtrack for the city (OK, it's not Japan, but the sentiment holds - Hi Costo). Every 5m there is a Tuk Tuk driver offering discounted fares if only he can take you to a local Buddha/Jewelry Shop/Suit Shop/Ping Pong Show on the way. Aside form the Tuk Tuk drivers and Thai gurls tho - the thing that most impressed me was the cool scooters (that's not shallow) .... I imagine you could drop over and buy a container load of classic Hondas and Vespas to ship back to Aus thereby funding your own classic bike and Thai scooter holiday (anyone???)The bus to Cambodia failed to pick me up .... as i had already decided to visit Laos + was in danger of becoming a turbo tourist I decided to give Cambodia a miss and satisfy myself with the scale model of Ankor Wat at the Grand Palace of Thailand :( ... the quality Nokia picture says it all, actually, the following 19th century notes by the French explorer Henri Mouhot probably says it a whole lot better:
"One of these temples—a rival to that of Solomon, and erected by some ancient Michelangelo—might take an honourable place beside our most beautiful buildings. It is grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome, and presents a sad contrast to the state of barbarism in which the nation is now plunged."
"One of these temples—a rival to that of Solomon, and erected by some ancient Michelangelo—might take an honourable place beside our most beautiful buildings. It is grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome, and presents a sad contrast to the state of barbarism in which the nation is now plunged."
.... next time
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