Stop 8: Bangkok: Part 3 –- Bangkok, Thailand

To divert the pain of our scarred eyes, Cam decided to pierce her ear at a hole-in-the-wall Thai tattoo parlor. Be proud, Mom and Dad, be proud. The rest of the day was spent bussing back and forth from a picturesque floating market where we ate soup on boats and watched Thai women selling fruit out of their buoyant canoe shops. We also visited a coconut sugar “factory,” which was actually a home where an entire family showed us how to harvest coconuts and extract the sugar. We tasted their treats, purchased some cookies, and were on our way.

                                                  

In an attempt to aid Ben with spending the last few baht to his name, we made the journey to MBK, an eighty story madhouse with row after row of knickknacks, clothing and fake everything. We completed our backpacker transformation with the purchases of Sir Chode and Baby Beluga and Jen ate half of a juicy hamburger for a slice of comfort and a quick break from a long bout with vegetarianism.

                                                  

We spent our last full day in this exciting city at JJ market, which claims to be the largest open air market in the world. It has 6,000 stalls and spans five football fields. Along with endless food carts and the usual souvenirs, art and furniture, this market also boats a pet section. Complete with baby squirrels, hedgehogs, puppies, kittens, miniature pigs, and whatever else was in the incubators we spotted, this market left us feeling slightly sick and a little sad. We picked ourselves up and prepared for our last night in this crazy city.

                           

                           

                           

There is no better way to say goodbye to Bangkok than a true Asian vs. Caucasian dance off in a hip-hop club on backpacker row. Let’s just say we didn’t make friends with the Brit who was massacred by our two new best Thai buds. We learned new moves and danced the night away, wishing that tomorrow would never come and we’d be stuck in Bangkok for eternity.

As is always the case with time, Ben’s departure day finally arrived and we said goodbye over hangovers, tuna sandwiches and a bowl of chocolate ice cream. We sent him on his merry little way with a little slap on the butt and a tear in each eye. So long Bangkok. Until we meet again.