Back to Bangkok

July 24th, 2008 | Posted by Sharon Joy

My Little Southeast Asia Adventure – Twelfth Stop: Bangkok, Thailand

I was reading the book Sophie’s World in Chiang Mai airport when a Italian guy sat next to me. It’s innate reflex that you’d look at whoever sat next to you and when I did, he said, “I’ve just finished reading that book”, I said “Interesting read, huh?” which progressed into more conversations. Since Air Asia planes have a free seating arrangement, he sat next to me. I know what you’re thinking. He was kinda cute so I didn’t mind. His name was Francisco.

He asked me where I was staying and I said I didn’t know yet but I’m going to scour Khao San Rd for cheap accommodation. He suggested a new guesthouse in Khao San Rd that’s really clean for only 200 baht and gave me the address. We took the same bus to Bangkok from the airport and then he asked for my number. I still had the Thailand SIM card I bought when I first arrived Bangkok and I gave him that number. Then we parted ways after we got off the bus.

I found the guesthouse he suggested and I was happy with it. Then I went out to check the scenery and then decided to have a few beers in a rock bar. I met Karen and Angela, two awesome, and hilarious British ladies there. They looked friendly so I asked if I could join them because I didn’t want to be on my own in a bar. We talked about traveling, and how they thought San Miguel Beer was from Spain (San Mig was served in that bar). They were quite surprised that it’s from the Philippines. They mentioned that the next day they would be getting their tattoos done (Angela’s 6th and Karen’s second), and I said I was planning exactly the same thing! (Funny how things turn out) I was supposed to get my tattoo done before I started my journey, but I was advised by my friends that it would be better if I get it in Thailand, and at the end of my journey because I’ll be doing a lot of travelling. I knew I had really smart friends. So when they asked if I wanted to come and meet them at noon the next day, I said yes right away.

When I went home, Francisco sent me an SMS asking if I’m up for clubbing. I replied with a “Sure”. He picked me up from the guesthouse and we went to a club at the end of Khao San Rd. He was already a bit drunk, and I was getting uncomfortable. So I told him I was tired and should go to bed. He offered to walk me home and I told him I can manage on my own and he doesn’t have to worry. When I got home, he texted me “You didn’t go straight home.” WTF? Was he stalking me? I did go straight home.

The next day, I was walking along Khao San Rd when this heavily bearded Indian man with a beard suddenly came out of nowhere and told me, “You’re a very lucky girl, you have a very happy face!” I was like, “Oohhkay… Thanks.” Then he went on about how he’s a fortune teller and at this point, I knew he was after MY fortune. I told him “It’s ok”. If he indeed was a fortune teller, he should have known I didn’t have much fortune with me. So I went and had lunch and as soon as I got out of the restaurant, the bearded Indian man was across the street, sitting on the pavement and calling after me! It was only around 11 and I’m not meeting Angela and Karen until another hour, so I decided to find out what this guy got. He asked me to sit beside him, which I did and he kept going on and on about how I’m a lucky girl, but I don’t have balance. Then he performed neat tricks like writing something in a piece of paper, asked me to hold it, asked me to choose 3 numbers and finally one, then asked me to open the piece of paper and voila! The final number that I chose (which was 7) was already written in there! Ok, cool trick. Then he wrote something else and made me choose 3 colors, and finally one color (blue) and then he showed me that he’s already written the word “blue” even before I chose it. Ok, now you’re talented. Now, he told me to “donate” money and he will tell me my fortune. I put in a few notes and he said “That’s it?” Why, aren’t you a cheeky one. Thank goodness I didn’t withdraw money yet and had only 300 baht with me so I put all 300 baht and showed him my wallet and told him that’s all I got. He then proceeds to tell me that I was going to live in another country that starts with an “A” and ends with “ustralia”. Then he tells me that something good will happen to me in September 29 of that year, and also around December. What freaked me out was he said something about my past that was spot on. He said if I give him more money, he’ll tell me my fortune but I told himI’d rather find out on my own. (He was asking for 5,ooo BAHT! WTF!) He told me he was not gonna tell me about my future, but instead the secret to finding balance. I told him, no thanks. He then said “But you’re not ok.” and I replied “I’m ok with being not ok.” He then smiled and shook my hand and let me go with his blessings.

Then I met with Karen and Angela at 12 noon and found out that Karen went through the same thing with a fortune teller. While I got ripped off of 300 baht (about $7) she got ripped off of $20! Then we decided to go tatto shopping, but didn’t really go tattoo shopping because we ended up getting it in the first shop we went to LOL! I stuck to the tattoo idea I wanted. The Filipino word “Malaya” which means “Free” written in the ancient Filipino script, Alibata. I printed out the script and pointed to the artist how I wanted it. I wanted it on my right ankle, the 3 characters forming a triangle. When people ask me why this particular design, and why in the ankle, there are many reasons actually, but I just say “I roam the earth freely.”

The next day, I was hanging out at a coffee shop and guess who came up to me. Francisco. At this point, he creeps me out already. He asked what I was doing that night and I told him I was gonna meet up with Couchsurfers. (I was making it up). He must have sensed it because he excused himself and left.

I was using a Nokia N95 then so I immediately used the coffeeshop’s wi-fi to check if CS Bangkok had any gathering that night. I’m in luck. A bunch of them are going to Khao San Rd to party. So I immediately texted the organizer Minimi that I’m joining. I met with them that night and had lots of fun. CSer Giovanni from Italy (I know, right) and I decided to go to Chatuchak weekend market the next day.

After Chatuchak, we met with couchsurfers again and left for the airport at midnight.

Bangkok was a BLAST.