Let's start with Bangkok:
Flying above Thailand as we circled the Bangkok Airport, I could only wonder what this strange new world held for four (three at the time) young travelers. None of us had ever been to anywhere like Thailand... so this trip was already pushing us out of the comfort zone of familiar, Westernized locations. Upon arrival, Monty, James and myself jumped into one of the brightly colored taxi's and headed into the city of Bangkok, ready for whatever the night held for us.
We booked at a small, boutique hostel in downtown Bangkok. The location was fantastic because we were right on the edge of the historical districts and far, far away from the infamous red light night districts. We arrived to a friendly staff, who lead us up the stairs to somewhat of a thai-closet-darkwood bunkroom. It was actually quite lovely, with open air showers and fresh, clean sunlight pouring into the thai-style living quarters. For a hostel priced at 15 dollars a night, we were doing pretty well. That evening, we all headed out to the night market on the other side of town to find some dinner and hopefully get some shopping in. The night market was fantastic. Endless vendors, selling everything from thai pants to bath oils. We grabbed dinner at a small local restaurant underneath an enormous tree, right in the middle of the plaza. This is where we first discovered the beauty of the Thai Baat. Everything in Thailand is incredibly cheap... which makes student travel a dream. Sitting under our bungalow in the open air plaza, we enjoyed our first of what turned into many thai meals on this trip: Pad Thai, Green and Red Curry, with delicious thai jasmine rice. After dinner, we strolled along stopping to our hearts content. James, like all good males accompanying women while shopping, grabbed a beer and silently strolled along behind Monty and myself.
We all headed back and waited for our fourth piece, Amy, to arrive. After crashing hard, we all got up the next morning for a day of sightseeing.
DAY 1:
We all got up the first morning tired, but excited for the day. After grabbing some coffee at the hostel, we strolled around the neighborhood looking for the route to the Grand Palace. Though beautiful and sunny, Bangkok was BOILING. At 95 degrees with thick, tropical humidity, we were all sweating and ready to eat by the time we got to the palace. After a quick brunch at Au Bon Pain (they have those in Thailand!) we went into the palace. Built in 1782, this palace had me singing "The King and I" all through the tour. How fabulous it must have been , to be here in the height of imperial Thailand. The sprawling structure kept us busy for most of the afternoon, looking at the different areas of the compound and the fabulous architecture of the traditional thai culture.
After the grand palace, we were all feeling the heat and exhaustion of the Bangkok sunshine. We headed to the nearby river stop to ferry across the river. After browsing the street fare and enjoying some of the local culture, we ventured cross the river to Wat Arun, one of the most traditional and most famous Wat's in Bangkok. Wat, in Thai, means temple... so everything is Wat this, Wat that. Wat Arun was beautiful, with elaborate carvings on a spire-like pillar that reached high above the river. What struck me about this architecture is how very different it is from everything else in the world. It isn't Indian or Chinese, and certainly not Western. The architecture and culture of Thailand is uniquely Thai... with bright colors and patterns I've never encountered before.
After Wat Arun, I realized I was sunburnt. No, not sunburnt... crisp might be a better term. However, no slowing down for our team. After a quick shower and some quick R and R, we all jumped in what had to be the longest cab ride ever (traffic...ick) to go to the highlight restaurant of the trip: Cabbages and Condoms. Despite the name, the restaurant was fabulous. We enjoyed pad thai and curry ( I think our count at this point was around 3 meals with just these staples) while learning about AIDS prevention in Southeast Asia. At the recommendation of the New York Times (which, while being in Asia, has been my saving grace for news, travel recommendations, and good articles) we attended dinner with an open mind... and our cameras. Not only were condoms a central theme; they were also the decor. All and all, it was memorable to say the least. On the way back from dinner, we spotted a Starbucks and immediately had our taxi driver pull over. Before we could correct our mistake, we were standing outside a Starbucks, surrounded by prostitutes.
Now i'm not someone who gets uncomfortable around prostitutes, especially in Asia. After reading Half the Sky and listening to Nicolas Kristof speak at Castilleja this past winter break, I feel I have a greater understanding of the true travesty that is Human Trafficking. Monty, Amy, and James all ran for the Starbucks. I hesitated, standing there with these women, many younger than myself. I watched as Western, Chinese, and all ethnicities of men passed, picking out women like items on a dessert tray. It was heartbreaking. Outside one of the most well known and profitable coffee chains in the world, I was watching women being picked up like grande lattes. The group was pretty shaken by this experience. I however am glad I saw it. From this point onward, human trafficking has a face in my mind... the face of the teenage girl outside of Starbucks who, in any other lifetime, could have been myself.
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