So here I am in Bangkok. What can I say about this huge, bustling metropolis? Well, it stinks for one. Not all the time, but every couple of minutes I wave of garbage, shit, curry, and lord knows what else smells hits me like a ton of bricks. Then comes the pollution. Looking off my hotel room balcony, I can't see farther than a couple of buildings.

This all being said, I'm having a great time. Yesterday was my first actual day here, and boy was I naive! After walking around for awhile and being approached constantly by tuk-tuk (3 wheeled carts) drivers, I eventually took one offer up for a tour about the city. I went to a few buddhist temples, and got pictures of a giant golden statue. Very touristy, but cool nonetheless.

Then he took me to several suit stores, because if I browsed for awhile he got a free fuel voucher. So at the second one, I gave in and ordered a linen suit. When in Rome...

Then I got scammed. I asked to be taken to a nice restaurant, and he did. It was a great fish market type place, where you pick out what you want and they cook it up for you. So I picked out these 4 HUGE prawns that were sitting in ice. I've never seen prawns this size, they were the length of my forearm! Stupid me though, they never gave me a chance to ask the price (or I was just silly enough not to ask) so I sat down to an absolutely incredible meal (pictured). The spice was just right, oh man, I'll be thinking about how good it was for QUITE awhile. And then...I got slapped (across the face it felt like) with the bill. 2400 baht. While it was the best meal I've had in a long time, that's a rediculous price even for Canada. So lesson learned, don't have ANY faith in tuk-tuk drivers and ALWAYS ask the price of everything.

After all this happened, I decided that I was bitter, a little angry, and in need of a nap. The evening hit and I forced myself to go out and grab a beer. I ended up meeting a hilarious Australian dude who was travelling alone and his American buddy he met as well. They were both ending their trips and gave me some great advice and told me that everyone gets scammed at least once, so I didn't feel that bad. I had some great discussion on the merits of various beers, how to tell a lady-boy from a girl, and life in general. Those in wonder, lady-boys tend to have longer arms, are taller, have veins in their arms, and usually the best legs in the bar (weird, huh?). Very good advice.

What else can I say? Everything is dirt cheap here, t-shirts are 3 dollars, and shorts are 6; all are decent quality too. Thai people are very nice, but they most just want my money. Bankok is fun, but I'm already itchin to get out of here. Muay Thai and white sandy beaches are calling my name, and the train ride down south is coming up quick. So here's a picture of me doing my best impression of the stereotypical backpacker.