First stop: South East Asia

After possibly the worst flight of my life, I arrive in Bangkok. I am apprehensive, not knowing what to expect or how difficult this is going to be. I am not feeling well and don't know if I can tackle another difficult country. I am happily surprised to learn I don't need a visa and I have a painnfree entry through immigration.  I get on bus 1A from the airport and then get off at the skytrain which I take to my stop. I follow the directions but after 30 minutes of walking I find myself at the next skytrain station. I know this doesn't make sense so I turn around and start walking back. I finally find it, right where they said it would be.....but the street signs aren't as clear as I thought they were. My hostel is like a hotel but with dorm rooms and I am so excited when I see the foot thick mattress, the big comforter, and fluffy pillow. There is air conditioning (right next to my bed), plug ins and wifi. Things are looking up! I am not hungry nor am I feeling good but I haven't eaten much so I head down and order some Thai veggie rice. It is delicious. So different from Indian food where the flavour assaults your senses. Thai food is delicious and flavourful but understated and light. I head to bed that night and sleep straight through for 11 hours. This never happens to me and I am shocked that I didn't get up once. I'm feeling pretty weak and wobbly so I spend the day catching up on laundry and watching movies, I may even have had a nap. That night I'm sent to the pharmacy by daddy dearest as chances are I'm dehydrated and I'm feeling pretty neasous. The pharmicist's English isn't great and she wants to give me pepto, which I already have and it didn't help, or antacid, which is definitely not the illness I have. I buy electrolytes instead and walk back to the hostel. I haven't eaten much so I eat another Thai rice while drinking my delicious (eye roll) electrolytes. The next day I feel much better and I decide to get out of the hostel. I go to Siam Centre which is South East Asia's biggest shopping centre and start looking for walking sandals because flip flops just don't cut it. I am lost in this complex of 3 separate malls and decide to stop for lunch. I don't want to overdo it or eat too much grease so I order grilled chicken, green papaya salad and sticky rice. It's delicious, and just what I need. I am not having much luck and decide to go to the Siam Aquarium (biggest in south East Asia) in the basement of the shopping mall for a break. After the $30 entry fee I enter a world of water, fish, and other creatures. I love the ocean and all its wonders and for a couple of hours I am lost in the colour, sounds, shadows, and shapes. About three quarters through my stomach starts to make weird rumbling noises....not hunger sounds. I continue through and when I finally escape to the bright lights and sounds of shopping I begin my task of shoe searching. I try on several pairs; Merrell barefoots, Columbia, but nothing fits quite right. I am directed to yet another mall a block down the road where I find some Merrells that fit and are comfy. A whopping $150 or 3800 bhat later I exit into the night. My stomach is really making noises and I can't wait to relax after a busy day out. I'm still a bit weak and it's been quite an outing. I decide to eat something different and go to subway for dinner. I want something simple that won't upset my rumbling tummy. I Skype some friends and family and head to bed.

I'm up several times in the night and the next day I stay close to the hostel. By this point I don't want to leave Bangkok or the comforts of my hostel and I have no idea where my next stop should be. It's an overwhelming decision and after the difficulty of travelling in India I am more than wary of getting around any new country. Another day indoors feeling sick and I am ready for home. In the lobby, looking at maps and researching locations I meet an American couple who have been travelling for 2 years! They are great fun to talk to and have also just arrived from India. We go for dinner and I order some greens with rice. The next day I head to the doctor. The hospital lobby looks like a 5 star hotel. There's a chandelier and marble floors, suede chairs are set up around tables for people waiting, and there's a "Conceirge" to help you find what you need. I am sent with a form up to the third floor and the gastronomy department. I wait for less than 5 minutes for the doctor and I'm then ushered into a room where the doctor is seated at a desk. We discuss my symptoms and he asks some questions and then does an examination of my abdomen. When I told him I was in India his response is "Ah, India is very dirty, many people come here sick after India". He prescribes rest, and a clear liquid diet (ugh) for 2 days as well as some drugs. He then sets up some lab tests to check for parasites and samonella. I head down to the lobby and wait for a few minutes before I whip out my visa and pay in Canadian dollars! I grab a free water from the basket and wait for my prescriptions. I'm out the front doors a moment later and heading for the street food a few blocks away where they have great big bowls of noodle soup with clear broth (which he said I could eat). I decide to take it easy the rest of the day and drink lots of water.

My last day in Bangkok. I've finally decided I'm going to go to the beach for a few days before heading to Cambodia. I've applied online for my Cambodian visa and I am nervous but excited for some proper beach relaxation. I decide to sightsee and take a boat taxi to Wat Pho, one of the bigger temples in Bangkok. The temple complex is beautiful and huge. It's scorching outside and I take a few breaks in the shade. I've been good and I've had lots of water. This is my first Buddhist temple and I love the gold Buddha statues, the curving rooflines, the small garden waterfalls hidden in corners and the intricate carvings covering everything else. The large golden reclining Buddha is something to see and, with a florescent green robe provided by the temple, I wander slowly around the figure. In the feet, mother of pearl is inlaid.....it's beautiful. I take a short ferry across the river when I'm done and explore another Wat, or temple. I decide not to go in and take some pictures around the outside instead. It's really hot and I've been out and about for a long time on fluids only  so I grab the water taxi and head back towards home. I walk slowly back to the hostel, enjoying the sights of the streets of Bangkok. I enquire about the government bus, which is a third of the price of the tourist bus and am told I should be up and at the sky train at 6 am. Ya right! I decide to wake up at 6 and I'm out the door half an hour later. I arrive at the bus station, purchase my ticket and board. That easy. I actually can't believe how simple it all is. I've heard it's easy but after India I'm not quite ready to believe it, until now that is. I sit back and prepare to relax!

I loved Bangkok! It was clean and easy to get around. The street food smelled amazing and I realized on my bus trip to Koh Chang that it's also quiet....compared to India anyways. Not every car is honking and tuk tuk's aren't chasing you down to give you a lift. I am excited to come back and explore when I'm feeling better. I've lost over 3 kg in the last 5 days, and not in a good way, so I'm ready for some food and some sun and a little r and r.