If you’re going on a backpacking holiday and have Bangkok on your to-do list, then it’s almost inevitable that you’re going to Khaosan Road.
Here you learn that the vendors do not take no for an answer. Perhaps it was my pasty white skin, fresh off the plane, that lured them in… You really have to be firm with these lads and lasses.
After dark, the vendors selling suits, massages and tuk-tuk rides are joined by those selling barbecued insects, laughing gas, buckets of booze and ping-pong shows (pop pop).
Now you hear that Thailand is cheap but Khaosan Road is probably the most expensive place in the country. In fact it’s more expensive than England.
These two beers cost nearly £7. The lady gave us a free little bottle. It was a delicious beer, and quite strong, but wow – She had us, hook, line, sinker.
When in Thailand, you have to get yourself used to the local food. Although, there is a Burger King and a McDonald’s on the Road if you crave some Western food. Other than that, it’s all local stuff.
Don’t get yourself used to the local water though. It ain’t good for you. Bottled water is the way to go in Thailand if you wanna remain well. Beer is probably better for you than tap water.
We found a cheaper bar called Roof Bar, which featured a stream of live musicians and seats at the balcony.
Here you can watch the mayhem below, and slowly a bustling market turns into a party strip with pop up bars.
On Day 2 at our hotel’s swimming pool, Andy and I met Gary, a Dubliner who had also just arrived in Thailand for an adventure.
Btw. You’re definitely better off booking a hotel rather than a hostel for your first night or two. Just so you can settle into the timezone. We stayed at the D&D Inn on Khaosan Road, and as I mentioned, there’s a swimming pool on the roof which is a great place to chill out (well, not “chill”, more “cook”).
The pop-up bars are good fun but one drawback is the seating arrangements. If you show up to any of Khaosan Road’s bars at a busy time, you’ll be directed to a table and have table service. Sounds great, but it does mean you can’t really get up and dance (especially if your table is surrounded by people content with sitting down). You can’t just leave your table either cos you’re not able to pay until you leave.
At another bar, we found these guys filming the best sci-fi crossover ever.
Said bar had a pool table and also an adjoining massage parlour. The masseuse came out and challenged Gary to a game of pool – if he won he’d get a free massage, if she won, he’d have to pay.
🇮🇪 2-0 🇹🇭 🎉🎉 Gary enjoyed his free massage.
The art of the haggle is one you must learn in Thailand. Andy became quite good quite quickly. For example, he managed to get us all wristbands for 50 baht when the lady was asking for 100.
“Always offer a third, and work your way up.” – Andy Cox, 2020.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Prostitution. It really is a thing in Bangkok. When 2am hits and the bars close, suddenly the streets are full of women and ladyboys who are after your money. I didn’t particularly like being grabbed and made my feelings clear before quickly checking my pockets. You can’t be too sure.
If eventually you become fed up of drinking, dancing and being harassed by vendors, then take a walk to the Grand Palace. Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers will demand that they take you but it’s literally a 10 minute walk away.
If you’re going to a temple, or any religious area in Thailand, it’s respectful to cover yourself up – trousers, covered shoulders and no bare toes in those sandals. In some places they will let the tourists off, but not at the Grand Palace. This is the ceremonial home of the King. If, like Gary, you forget to bring trousers, you can always buy some outside…
Andy brought some tight trousers and regretted it immediately.
Anyway, we didn’t want to pay to go inside fully, so we decided to head back.
Would you believe it if I told you we were quite hot? Well we were, so we decided to take a tuk-tuk back to the Road.
One thing you should look at if you’re visiting Bangkok is the Floating Markets. I would have liked to have done that but Andy and I had a bus to catch. We’d had enough of the bustle of Bangkok and fancied a bit of ocean…
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