Bangkok Nights

(9.10.08 1:11 am Lunch break Somewhere in Thailand)
I’m currently at our rest stop/lunch break on the first of two legs to Cambodia from Bangkok. First thing Monday(9.8.08) morning we stopped by the Cambodian embassy to get my visa and then headed to Khoa San Rd so I could book my ticket and grab my battery charger. I also printed and mailed post cards. PLEASE send me an email if you get a postcard so I will know you got it. I didn’t put USA on it so I don’t know if it will make it. On Khoa San I walked around and did a little shopping. We then met some of Mimi’s CS friends for dinner and headed back to Khoa San for drinks. They sat at street side place and drank buckets of mixed drinks while I shopped some more. I showed back up and found them sitting with two beautiful girls from Sweden, so I decided to stick around. We began taking “Facebook Pictures”, which quickly turned into a way for us guys to get the girls to make out with us for photo sake. The Swedish girls wanted to dance so we made our way down Khoa San to the Lava Bar, a hip hop joint that was nearly empty. We danced, made out and they drank. The Swedish girls were staying right across the street so one of them took me over to show me their room. On the way to her room we came across a baby elephant walking down Khoa San. I couldn’t resist buying the sugar cane for 50b to feed him and take pictures. The details of the next hours won’t be discussed here but you can feel free to individually ask for pics and the story. We ended up staying out til 3am and then Mimi and I headed back to her house. Next morning I woke up at noon to meet Gayani, the CS’er I met in Bangkok my first night, to get my backpack that she was holding for me. We met at an upscale shopping mall close to her house, where the merchandise was more expensive than in American malls! She treated me to a very expensive lunch and I met her friend from the Dominican Republic who will be in Vietnam same time as me. I met Mimi back at her house and we took a subway to meet one of CS friends. I went to a meeting while she had dinner with him. After the meeting I went out with the boys, Dave and JD, both in Bangkok from Chiang Mai after their recent 10 trip to Cambodia. Went to the Absolute bar to play some pool. There was a Thai girl who had been running the table and she continued right through the boys. Of course when I came up her rein ended. There was western guy and his “Thai GF” that showed up and were on the list for pool next. I took him down and then his, drugged up crazy thai friend, placed bet with me on her game. She wanted to bet 500b but I told her 100. Then JD put 200b on me. She ended scratching on the eight ball but in Thailand they play by “Thai Rules” and there was much confusion, mainly by her, on whether or not I won. JD ended up giving her, her money back and we left the bar. The boys insisted that I would go to the Red Light district with them. This turned into the Red Light district(S). We bounced from bar to bar, drinking soda water for 120b a glass. Again the rest of the details from this night won’t be discussed here. Well except that there was a mechanical bull at one of the bars that I rode, very well I might add. (See www.youtube.com/timlara for video) Around 3:30 I finally made it home and had to wake up at 6am to catch my bus. I arrived at Khoa San and sat with three girls, who turned out to be from the Big Island, for breakfast. At 7:30 I made my way to the travel agents shop to be picked up. At 8am they finally arrived and I escorted, by foot, to two different waiting areas for more passengers. Finally making it to the bus we found that the A/C was broken and the driver was trying to fix it. Now 9am we finally got on the road. I would love to say that the A/C continued to work on our 60 passenger bus with no windows, but that would be a lie. We are now at our lunch stop about 1 hour away from the boarder of Cambodia. My ticket allows me transport all the way to Siem Reap, changing to a smaller bus at the boarder for another 6-8 hour bus ride. Apparently the road on the Cambodia side is crap and it was suggested that I dig out on my bus ride and take a cab. It will be half the time, however I will have to pay 30-60 us. There are two Israeli girls that are down to share the fare. I plan to spend the entire day tomorrow, sun up til sunrise, exploring the Angkor Wat Temples and the head to Vietnam the following day, if there isn’t anything else to do in Cambodia. I have CS hosts’ lined up for three cities in Vietnam but was unable to find one for Cambodia. A hui ho