I’m sure that you have read and memorized the tips in my post about how to get the most foreign currency for your dollar when you travel. In case you need a refresher, here it is. So here you are, walking around a foreign country with a fistful of Euro, Yen, Dinars, or Dong, enjoying your trip. But as your trip comes to an end, what do you do?
St Patrick’s Day in Bangkok
One thing I haven’t really mentioned is that I was having a bit of a rough time over the past few weeks. I was in Saigon, staying in hostels, touring the city during the day, and hitting the local watering holes at night. Which is a good time, but it wasn’t sitting well with me. I think one of the problems is that I’ve been feeling a little homesick. If I didn’t have other commitments in Southeast Asia over the next few months, I would have considered heading home for a break. I don’t know what a vacation from your vacation is called, but it’s what I needed.
Another Tuk Tuk Scam
As I left the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok, I found a line of tuk tuks waiting, which is fairly common at most of the tourist destinations around Bangkok. A Thai man standing outside of the exit stepped in front of me as I left the temple and invited me to see some sights. He pointed to a map that was set up on a stand next to him and listed several stops, including the Lucky Buddha, Fashion Center, Standing Buddha, and the Marble Temple. He quoted me a price of 100฿ (about $3.18) for the tour, for the driver to take me to each stop, wait for me, and then go to the next stop. Since I paid 50฿ just to get to the temple, this seemed like a good deal. As I tried to double check my math to confirm that 100฿ was really less than $4, he sensed my hesitation and said, “For you, I make good deal. 50฿ for all. Tuk tuk take you, wait, and go next place. 50฿.” He poked at the stops on the map, emphasizing that I’d get to see it all. That seemed like a great deal, since it was around $1.50 for a ride to several tourist stops. So I agreed, while a little voice in my head wondered aloud what the scam was and whether I’d end up losing a kidney. (Spoiler: I did not lose a kidney) However, I eventually figured out what the angle was.
Taxis in Bangkok
In a town like Bangkok, a taxi is an easy and cheap way to get around, but there are some unspoken rules that you have to figure out along the way. A little familiarity with the spoken and unspoken rules will help you get around easily and help you avoid potentially embarrassing confusion.
Don’t Buy From Kids
One thing you quickly get used to in Southeast Asia, especially when you’re hitting the usual tourist attractions, is having people try to sell you stuff. They have to put food on the table, and selling tchotchkes to tourists can be a consistent revenue stream. Whether you buy something or not is up to you , but I was advised to never buy from children.
Muay Thai in Thailand
I knew I was in trouble when the trainer told me to jog for 5 minutes. I don’t jog. I’ve always hated running in whatever form, and I was even relieved over 20 years ago when I injured my knee in the Army, preventing me from running again. But, since I was here, and since I was paying this guy to train me, I might as well jog. So jog, I did. Slowly.
Mopeds in Saigon
Crossing the street in Saigon is a little like playing Frogger. You look for a break in traffic, and time your approach. You take a few steps forward, maybe a step back, and the occasional step to the side. And eventually you get hit by a moped. Game over.
The Train Market
Partway through the tour of the Damnoen Saduak floating market, my tour guide grabbed my sleeve and said, “After you go train market.” I asked here where I was going, but she’d already turned and walked off. After what? After this, I’m going to the train market? After I go to the train market, am I supposed to do something? And whats a train market?
The Floating Market of Bangkok
90 minutes from Bangkok, the Damnoen Saduak floating market sits between the Mae Klong and Tha Chin rivers. According to the internet, in 1866, king Rama IV of Thailand ordered a series of canals to be built to connect the two rivers, from which additional side canals were dug. Along these canals, floating markets started to spring up, due to the ease of transportation afforded by the canals. According to my tour guide, when the communists took over China, a large number of Chinese fled China and moved to the area. They dug canals to facilitate their own transportation and commerce, which eventually turned into the floating markets that we see today. I expect the reality is somewhere between the two.
One Test In Bangkok
When the taxi pulled up to the main entrance, the bellman stepped forward and opened the door, giving me a slight bow as I exited the cab. As I entered the front doors, two ladies greeted me with a similar bow and welcomed me, as the dulcet tones of a live pianist on a grand piano wafted down the halls. The 30 seconds that I’d been here had eclipsed the welcome at any hotel I’d ever stayed at, but I wasn’t at a hotel. I was at a hospital in Thailand.