Hard days of an Indian Traveller is back again.
After all the dramas of the photo scam at the bangkok airport, I refused to make new pictures. They some how considered my case as I had a picture with white background.
But I did see some helpless travellers who were struggling for money as they had no thai bhats. Some did not have the money at all. They had assumed to withdraw cash at atm which was not possible as there are no ATMs before the immigration gates.
The next thing was to check into the pre booked hotel. Usually I go to Mango Lagoon in Khao San Road, which is an excellent recommendation by my fellow traveler friend, Jorge. They always have the rooms available.
But this time my best friend, Vijay, an Indian by birth and Australian by citizenship is traveling with me. He believes in prebooked hotels and luxury. This is not my way of traveling but I agreed to him as thought its okay, I would enjoy some comforts.
So I took a bus from the airport to the city and then a taxi to drop me at the service apartment booked from airbnb. The address in airbnb booking says Hip studio,street 56 in Sathorn. But which building in the street 56 of Sathorn.
I went several rounds looking for a board or landmark stating Hip studio but hardly found anything. Then I decided to get down the taxi and look for it by walking in the street. Still so difficult and it has been 3 hours.
The website has a number to call but it is a canadian number. So to find the apartment in Bangkok one has to call Canada. I decided to look for the address online. So I decided to step into any next hotel on my way and ask for help. I was really frustrated with the situation.
On top that there was language barrier. I came across a bunch of motorbike taxi guys. One of them decided to help me at a cost of 70 THB. 70 THB to look for an address in a 100 mts street. Then he started to take me around the area and the very expensive hotels. I explained him that I do not need a hotel, I need to reach the hotel which I have already booked. Still no help. At some point I stepped into a 4 star hotel. Explained the whole scenario and there was a little kid who decided to help me. While he was looking for the details of my accomodation, the biketaxi guy started to crib for more money. Now he was asking for 100 THB. I gave him the amount and did not even respond to his Khapun Kap(Thank you) for the fact that even he knows he scammed me. I took the telephone number from airbnb. I thanked the little kid who was like an angel to me and was back on the street scouting for my hotel.
I tried the number from a public booth and it never connected. So I finally decided to take a Thai sim card. Even that was not so easy with the staff of 7eleven. Atleast one thing was easy at this moment that the telecom company do not ask for documents to buy a simcard. They barely understand my english that I needed data pack and credit limit in my account. I tried dragging words and bring thai accent in my english and still no luck.
One of the girls went out to call a street seller who has learnt a bit of english by speaking to tourists. So she managed to activate data pack and got my number recharged. I tried calling the canadian number only to loose all the credit from my phone.
So went on whatsapp to tell my friend about the situation who called the canadian girl to get the number of her father who could help. Upon that the father insisted that I should walk to the service apartment again to which I refused. I was waiting for him outside the 7eleven sitting next to my back pack.
By then the entire 7eleven and shops around were sure that I am in big problem. There was a burmese girl with nepali origin who was counselling with her little Hindi. She told me I do not know your problem but do not worry. If anything goes wrong I would help you. I must have looked really helpless to her.
So the father who could be 75 year old came on a moped to guide me with directions.
To be continued
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