Bangkok

2nd-3rd April 2014    0km on the bike   39’C

Bangkok.  What a city, full of contrasts.
The smell of diesel, the cacophony of car horns, motorcycles, tuk tuks and people.
Then the nasal conflict and sensory overload as the smell of drain, roadside culinary delights and cheap perfume all mix to form the unique blend that is, and can only be, Bangkok.

After spending the previous day exploring Ayuthaya, I decided to leave the bike in the hotel and take a minivan for the 1.5hr trip into central Bangkok, as motorbikes are not permitted on the toll roads around Bangkok, which means riding into central Bangkok is a roasting hot challenge, trying not to hit anything or be hit, amongst the crazy traffic.  Having a nap in the minivan, seemed like a great idea, despite just how cramped the seat was. (not designed for a 6ft farang)
I had my bag nestled between my legs for the entire trip, while my neighbour and I leaned on each other, and napped.   We never spoke to each other, apart from ‘Sawadeekap‘ when we got on.

When we arrived at the Victory Monument, and were ejected onto the streets of Bangkok, I made my way to the BTS Skytrain thinking public transit should be the easiest way to reach the Mongolian embassy.  I needed to apply for my Mongolian visa and Bangkok was the most logical place to do that.  I’d tried to make myself as best presentable as possible when living off a bag strapped to a motorcycle, as I thought it never hurts to look ones best when dealing with governments.
Alas I had underestimated just how far I needed to walk to the embassy from the BTS station.  After 2km carrying my bag, I was drenched in sweat in the 38’C heat, and flagged a taxi.  He had not a clue as the the location of the Mongolian embassy, but with my scratchy notes from the Internet, we made the way down three narrow interconnected lanes, until reaching what looked like an ordinary house with a big fence, and a sign indicating it was the Mongolian embassy.

After filling in a form, my passport was whisked away upstairs and returned 10 minutes later, with a question from the administrative assistant “did I want the visa urgently?  Or in one week?”  I responded “urgently” to which she said, opening up the passport to the page now holding the Mongolian visa “ok, here it is, that will be 5000 baht”

I couldn’t really argue with that, so after parting with my wad of Thai baht and within 20 minutes I was back on the street, hunting for a new taxi back to the hotel.

The rest of the day was spent buying a t-shirt as I think I have discovered that tw2 t-shirts was not going to be enough to cross a continent, along with a few other administrative items.

So tomorrow back into the minivan for the zip up the freeway to Ayuthaya and the bike.  After two days without a ride, it is time to get back on the road.  My Thai visa is rapidly expiring, and I need to be across the border and into Cambodia before the 7th April.

This was the result of an oversight on my part, as when crossing into Thailand by a land border, only a 15 day visa is issued.  Had I researched this properly I would have known and could have requested a longer visa in Singapore before departure.  A lesson I hope I don’t need to learn again.

Tomorrow moving to the east and the border within a few days.