Bangkok was just an explosion. Like they took a small area of land, a paint brush of colour and threw it down. Basically the first couple of days in Bangkok, I was just trying to get my feet under me. Where as before, I hit the ground running.
Everywhere you went there was a market of some sort. The main street in my general location called Kohsan was constantly a bustle of people. Day was pretty busy, but night...haha well look out...this place evolved into a machine of a night market. You could buy basically anything. Ya even bugs...mmm...tasty.
Thailand had some of the coolest markets I've ever seen. Yes they don't compare to the size and magnitude of the one in Cairo, but just utterly unique. My favorite looking market was the floating market. Unfortunately, it has now become extremely touristy. So the prices are very, very expensive, but to look at...amazing.
My favorite buying experience was walking down the main streets, maybe peaking into a few suit shops, and having three guys run out trying to sell me a suit. That's when I knew I could get a deal..."sir...sir...cheap suits...cheap suits" I'd go..."hmmm...how cheap?"
I read in a book somewhere, that if you were a recovering shop a-holic...Bangkok was not the place for you, and that's the truth. I've been very tight on my budget, but when there's soooo much for so little...ya I ended up paying more in that week then the last three weeks put together. Still, it's all perspective.
Therefore, after all the shopping and bustle of the city, I decided to take a few day trips away from there. I decided to go on an elephant and crocodile tour. Here I was able to see an outstanding spectacle with up close elephants, as they spun and jumped. Acting more human than animal.
The elephant show was neat, but I found it a little too touristy. The best part were the crocodiles.
Yes they're drugged so they are very docile and won't attack as much, but still seeing a guy stick his full head into its mouth...wow...balls of steel.
However, I felt the two individuals that were putting on the show to be very...inexperienced. Yes they have way more experience then myself, but when one gets bit on the leg, another one falls on the croc, which almost attacks him and then lastly you chicken out on one of the events...ya not a pro. I kept saying to others...prolly their first day on the job.
Back in Bangkok, one of the most memorable parts was hiring a tuk tuk (three wheeled taxi) for free. Now how was I able to do this you may ask? Well...they get paid on commission for dropping tourists off at certain shops. So I told the driver he drive me to my stops...then could go to one of his. That's how I got around the city of Bangkok...for free.
During my drive around, I looked at the majority of Bangkok's temples. I was able to see the worlds tallest boudha.
The leaning boudha
While gazing in one area of the temple, I started talking to a local man, who was surprised I was at "this" particular temple. I had read about something unique about it, but manly it's not very touristy. Anyway, during the talk I mentioned about meditation, well this kind man was able to set me up with a meditation class at on of the largest temples in Bangkok.
This was probably the most outstanding part of my Bangkok visit. Arriving at this huge temple...locating the english speaking monk, reading the meditation handbook for about an hour and a half, then going into the instructional part. He went through all the steps with me and then wanted me to show him what I learned.
However, he wasn't impressed, and therefore told me to keep practicing and he will return within half an hour(he did this twice) The first time, I was shocked. He walked out of the room and shut the door. I was like...hmmm...ok I guess. But there was nothing else I could do, but practice, so that's what I did.
The second time was when it finally clicked. It's very tough to explain what happened, but it was as if all my surroundings faded away and I was in complete realization of my being. For example, I no longer heard the werring of the fan, the swishing of the wind or anything else. I could only hear my heart beat, and feel my breathing. It's almost like I could feel every cell in my body moving, and then my time was up.
I actually lost complete track of time, when the monk came back down and said that as of now I had understood. Now comes the funniest part of the meditation...after sitting up right, with my legs crossed for half and hour or so, my legs were numb and body sore. During the precession however, I felt nothing, but when it was done...all the pain and blood rushed through my body. Ya a little tougher to stand after that, but boy did I feel rejuvenated and extremely relaxed.
Walking back to my hotel I felt complete bliss. It was one of the best things I've done so far. Maybe not the most exciting part, but definitely fun and worthwhile, giving me a new perspective on life per se.
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