Archive for November, 2009
Dog Days of Summer
By Thomas on November 29, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Bangkok has been really hot since we got here. When the temperatures dropped into the 80′s for a couple of days, people immediately started dressing warmer. But they were not the only ones. When I asked our landlady why her dog was suddenly wearing a sweater, she said: “Oh, he was so cold!”
What a Dollar Can Buy You
By Thomas on November 27, 2009 | 4 Comments »
People ask us all the time, “Is Thailand expensive?” Well, it all depends on your budget and what things are worth to you. Some tourists probably think that a $300 hotel room is a bargain. A budget traveler faced with such prices, however, might go into the fetal position and rock back and forth uncontrollably for a day or two. It’s all relative. Perhaps, a better question is, “What can a dollar buy you in Thailand?”
Here’s what you can get in Bangkok for around a buck:
- Four liters of drinking water (1 gallon), or 1.5 liters of sparkling water
- One hour of talking time on your cell phone within Thailand using the 1-2-Call SIM card. Similarly, if your phone and your laptop have Bluetooth capability, you can surf the Internet for 60 minutes.
- Local English-language newspaper such as the Bangkok Post (compare that to the Times of India for $0.06)
- Eight stops on the Skytrain, Bangkok’s rapid transit system
- Three soft serve ice cream cones at Dairy Queen
- A plate of Thai green curry with rice
- One liter of gasoline, which translates to $4 per gallon
- Initial charge for a taxi (including the first couple of kilometers)
- Two liters of Coke (1/2 gallon)
Well, I just checked what you can get at Starbucks. For $1 you get zero, nada, nil. Actually, let me correct that. You CAN get 2 servings of whipped cream on your imaginary cappuccino venti.
Phra Ubosoth 360 View
By Tony on November 25, 2009 | No Comments »
Step into the extraordinary interior of the Phra Ubosoth (main chapel) of the Wat Pho to see the Phra Buddha Deva Patimakorn on his golden throne.
Bizarrely, the statue radiates a remarkable golden glow – that’s not a Photoshop technique. And look for Thomas sitting near the column to the right, it gives you an idea of the scale.
Rama VIII Bridge
By Tony and Thomas on November 23, 2009 | No Comments »
Just some funky shots of us on Bangkok’s Rama VIII suspension bridge while exploring the riverfront at night.
Michaela and Stephan
By Thomas on November 21, 2009 | No Comments »
In November 2008, we met German tourists Michaela and Stephan on vacation in Southern India. A few weeks ago in Bangkok, we reunited with Michaela and Stephan, now travelers and novice nomads traveling around Asia on a shoestring. Their short trip to India sparked their interest in doing the travel circuit full-time. So, taking a year off to explore the world, they said good-bye to Deutschland.
Just 2 weeks into their travels, we got together over green Thai curry and Shanga beer in Bangkok’s tourist hub Banglamphu. Still shell-shocked from » Continue reading this post »
