We're in Bangkok!

This place is too fast. Too much hustle and bustle. Everybody is out to make a Baht. You can't trust many people, especially if they're friendly. That's tough. For instance, the tuk tuk driver (a motorcycle with a two-seater behind it) who asked us the ubiquitous, "Where you go?" and then gave us the wrong directions. The very very friendly "security guard" who showed us around a bit and then took us to a great place to get a "free" map of the city which had his name on it (did the tourist office belong to him? did he work there? was he just getting commission). The reasons for this culture are complex but it doesn't make you trust the Bangkok natives anymore. This is an especially strange and extreme transition from Korea, where everyone was extremely trustworthy and their more guilty ulterior motive was their desire to learn English. Very few prices were inflated and Koreans despise tipping and don't pay sales tax; they always turn on the taxi meter and they will chase you down the street to return a dropped wallet.

On the very, very bright side, Bangkok has amazing, and amazingly cheap, street food! It's delcious, it's diverse, and it's everywhere! And the fruit! Oh, the fruit is amazing! I can't get enough. Whole pineapples for $.80! Steaming bowls of delicious noodle soup or plates of green curry with eggplant and tofu for $1.50. It is heavenly.

Photos coming soon!