I’ll start with Khaosan Road as I overnighted there in Bangkok on my way to Koh Samed, and quite frankly it deserves a mention. Khaosan road is the wests gateway to SE Asia. Most backpackers flying into Bangkok choose to stay here before journeying elsewhere. It’s backpacker central. A combination of bars, guesthouses, food stalls, clubs, mixed with an open-air market make it a very lively spot. All of your senses will be assaulted with your first step onto the road.
Within a few steps everything from Valium to beer, women to ping pong shows, and gaudy baubles and debauched t-shirts was offered to me. I walked down the road enjoying the sights and dodging the drunken British gap year kids. Hungry after an 11 ½ hour bus ride, I finally stopped at the cheapest pad Thai place I could find, 35 Baht. To my surprise, an older British woman served my meal; it was delicious.
Fast forward to next afternoon and I finally arrived at Koh Samed. Hallelujah, it only took me a day and a half.
Koh Samed is the closest island to Bangkok. As such, it is the primary destination for local Thais. It usually gets skipped on the backpacker trail. Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful little island with white sandy beaches and warm water to play in. As soon as I arrived I immediately dove into the clear, lukewarm water. It was refreshing in ways that only salt water can be; it could have been cooler for my taste.
After lunch (Pad Thai again, but with crab and a heftier price tag) we wandered up and down the island, walking along the beaches. Finally settling on the decision to get a tower of beer (unique, so far as I know, to Asia) we wandered into a bar//concert venue; it was closed until the concert later that night.
Giving up, we stopped at one of many beach bars and settled for regular beers there. Eventually we made our way back to the concert venue where it was starting up. Finally able to order our tower of beer, we settled on a ledge about half way back from the stage. The opening band was a girls group that seemed to be part comedian, part band, and part show.
At one point they invited young Thai men on stage to have some sort of fashion show. On a bet, I began dancing and making my way up to the stage, one of the few phalang (phonetic for foreigner, potentially racist in context) at the venue I was invited on stage. I presented myself to the audience, danced, won my bet, and received a free shirt and hat to boot. Not bad for a half drunk white guy who can’t dance.
Eventually the band came on. The lead singer is possibly one of the most bad ass Thais I’ve ever seen. Weighing in at a solid 220-250 pound, sporting short shorts, red plaid button up, suspenders, and a fedora he belted out his music to the crowds great appreciation. During a break in his set, I had the opportunity to speak with him; turns out he doesn’t speak much English.
The next morning, beach adventure done, I would find my self headed back to Bangkok, once again, this time en route to Malaysia.
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