ADVENTURES OF A BOY & A (THAI)LAND.

I've always been one of those people who says "I don't want to travel to Asian countries" and I remembered stating that I want to go to New Zealand and Germany but what's in my pocket don't really allow me to do so. And thus, begin the journey of a boy in a land called Bangkok, Thailand. A land where no rules apply, well kinda and a land of acceptance. I shouldn't bore you with too many words but rather, pictures.

PART I: THE SOLO TRAVELER

I traveled solo to Bangkok via the 24 hours train ride which departed from Butterworth. 24 hours all by yourself is pretty excruciating but thank god when the beers came popping during dinner time, everyone started talking and I got to know some of the travelers. We even had lunch together when we arrived at Bangkok. Too bad we have different plans, otherwise it'd be really amazeballs to go around Bangkok with them.

Epic Moment Upon Reaching Bangkok:

Cab Driver: *speaks a mouthful of Thai

Me: Er, shuijingjing.

Cab Driver: OH! You are not Thai!

Me: *Smiles, no.

Passport, CHECKED! Seating number, #18 Lower Bunk - whoop whoop!

Everybody's seating which can be extended into a bed - whoop whoop!

Dinner came with SINGHA BEER! (optional) and it got everyone talking!

Scenery view by day, refugee camp by night. I kept telling everyone how we're like a Haitian Refugee Camp.

Nighty Nite!

Kristina and Jonathan which I got to know on the train and they got to know each other on the train too! Kristina is a tattoo artist while Jonathan is a graphic designer.

I challenge thee to a game of PEE IT RIGHT. Try peeing while the train is going through some bumps.

PART II: THE BOY FOUND HOME

Parted ways with Kristina and Jonathan as we head into different directions. Kristina is the type of traveler to do things and go places as she goes around, with no scheduled plans. Now, that's amazeballs! I took a cab to Pratunam where the serviced apartment which I'm supposed to stay awaits. I was still riding solo for the afternoon until friends arrive at midnight. I wasn't going to stay in the apartment until my friends got here. Come on, I'm at a new place so why not walkaround a little. Or should I say too far? I got lost in the moment of seeing shoes and bags everywhere that by the time I stop walking was when all the malls and shops were closing down. Shopping was fun and my first item of the day was a sling bag. Not just any sling bag but THE UNION JACK SLING BAG. If you know me, you would know I have a certain obsession for The Union Jack. Give me a British accent and I'd never shut up.

Epic Moment Upon Check-In:

Receptionist: Sawadikap.

Me: Hi, my name is Joseph. I have reservations under Mei?

Receptionist: We've been expecting you. Can I have your passport?

Me: *hand over passport

Receptionist: From MYANMAR?

Me: *facepalm

Epic Moment In Elevator with 3 Africans:

3 Africans: Where are you from BROTHA?

Me: Malaysia

3 Africans: ASSALAMUAILAIKUM, BROTHA!

Me: Mualaikumsalam *head thinking, bitch I ain't Malay but scared to say it out incase I get gang banged.

Can you see THAT? 35-40 baht?! That's RM3.50-RM4. Holy Mother of Fishes!

G Hotel, Penang much? And the name...epic.

The Boy with his Union Jack bag. Damn pimple decided to show up on my trip to BKK.

Finally! Fake Birkenstock! One for me and the other for mummy.

PART III: WE WALK...WE SHOP.

Solo walking ended when friends got here. Met up with Mei, Felix and Alex. The reason why we traveled separately was because they came from Kay-Elle. Anyways, history lesson scraped, let's get to the SHOPPING part. Mei was like our tour guide. She calls Thailand her second home so we are safe in her hands. She took us to shopping places that makes you go, 'dayumn, I ain't gonna shop in Penang no more.' Everywhere we turn, clothes, bags, shoes, they are so cheap that even if you don't need them you'd consider buying them. We went to Fashion Walk, Platinum Mall and the night markets around the streets. It was amazeballs!

If I were a girl, I'd sleep in here.

LOOK! It's my infamous KungFu Shoes! They are everywhere in BKK. I used to buy them in Kay-Elle for RM40 and here, it's way less than that!

One of my epic moments in BKK. When I saw these, I stood and paused for like 10 seconds.

Mei introduced us to this Thai style Char Koay Teow which came with peanuts and it's sweet. Not forgetting the heavenly Iced Thai Tea.

Now, I need to ask this. Y MALAYSIA DON'T HAVE?! BETAGEN is THE BEST DRINK EVER! I was constantly downing Betagen while in BKK. Had it every night there, that's 4 nights and even before I board the plane back, I had a bottle of Betagen.

PART IV: CHATUCHAK, I FOUND LOVE

I swear if I live in BKK, I'd come here on every weekend. Can't find me or get me by the phone? You know where I'll be. This place is heaven for shopaholics. Even for arts and crafts, vintage stuff and food. The market got it covered and the wet market is...stench-free! There's not a single stench and even though it's called wet market, it's dry. You don't see fish guts or bloody water draining down. And I found love in CHATUCHAK, not only with SOME of the guys there but they have...UNION JACK STUFFS ALMOST AT EVERY CORNER!

How creative are the names? AMAZEBALLS!

PART V: OBSESSION

The Union Jack thingy did not end there. The amount of Union Jack related items I've seen and funny how I go Thailand but bought things with the UK flag's motive.

PART VI: THE DEPARTURE

How time flies. Blink a blink or two and 5 days spent in Bangkok gone. I wish I could've stayed longer. As usual, wherever I go, drama follows. I even had drama in the airport. Drama was that I left my departure form in my luggage so I only have my passport. I was lucky enough that Mei guided me and the officer at the passport check help me by giving me another form to fill. Hell no, I wasn't gonna be stuck in Thailand. I actually don't mind but I don't have money left and I can't sell my ass over there (no market value). Thailand's airport is...amazeballs. Food everywhere and there's BETAGEN! Upon landing safely in Penang, the feeling of our Penang airport once you've been to other country's airport is...'DA FUK happened in Penang?'

Epic Moment At Penang Airport's Passport Check:

Lady: Come Penang do what? Work?

Me: Bitch stare*, Cik...tolong check tengok passport and I tengah beratur di lane untuk PASSPORT TEMPATAN.

MAY 23th - MAY 27th; BANGKOK, THAILAND.