Heading into the city - a little about everything

Heading into the city again, using minivan this time. One must try all different ways, right, so that I know what to recommend and what to use in the future myself... Was planning on Reading my book but I managed to forget it at the last place I was staying at - the book and my excellent Bangkok map. I realised before I left the island but I couldn't be bothered to go back, I just hope the owner hands it to the Used Books store and doesn't throw it away. I'll by a new copy the next time I order books, which will be soon anyhow.

Anyhow, so here I am on the minibus. A word of warning for those of you heading out to Thailand: They love to sell return tickets. Avoid that, ask for one way even when that is more expensive in total. But chances are that you'll be wanting to take another connection back home, if you don't want to wait an unnecessary long time, and besides, how easy isn't it to lose a little ticket when you are warm, sweaty, sun- and sand drenched? Very easy, I'd say... So one way tickets is the thing.

I ended up taking a smaller boat home, or back to the mainland I should say, an enjoyable experience, you got closer to the water and could feel the movement, and you didn't have the same diesel fumes either, which was pretty nice. The part of the pier you get off at is a bit further left, seen from land, and once you arrive you also have info for tourists. Minivans are big business so beware of the people trying to sell you tickets, it seems getting it from the (official? Unofficial?) tourist info was the most clever. And forget the people trying to sell you taxi trips, the taxis are pricy and not worth the price, they can't drive faster than the minibuses anyhow. The normal bus is cheaper (take the air conditioned one, not the local) but it doesn't stop quite everywhere. But the bus still takes 3.5 hours while minivan is about 2.5 hours. The bus is about 150 cheaper but that is 3 EUR so it's not a fortune if you are from the west.

1 hour time difference may be worth the 3 EUR. Minivan doesn't have a toilet but if you have to go, tell the driver and he'll stop - and it's far easier than using the toilet on the bus. A bus toilet is crammed anyhow and when they then ad a bucket of water, which is what is used instead of toilet paper (as I said before, never go anywhere without tissues in your pocket...), on the floor it gets tricky to go, especially when you have big feet like me. There was almost no space for me to cram my feet in so that I could close the door, and then I wanted to squat, as it didn't feel like the cleanest place. Try that in 80-90 km per hour... Otherwise I am OK with the toilets here. Yes, many, especially on the country side, as well as public ones, are of the model where you have to squat (funny note by the way, they are often marked American Standard. I have never seen a toilet for squatting in the states...
(But yes, I suspect it's just a brand. It's fun anyhow)) but quite frankly I wouldn't have wanted to put my behind on the toilet seat in all places anyhow. It IS a bit of a problem to some westerners, yes, since we are not used to sit like that and may have to balance on our toes but I am fortunate to be able to do it without much effort so...

The lack of soap is worse but that's solved through carrying disinfection liquid of the same type that is common now, to help preventing spreading of swine flu. Good for travelling, or get the gel. No need to overdo it but when I can only wash my hands with water I will use the disinfect liquid.
And back to the trip; I feel like a real Thai country girl, stocking up with drinks, local snacks, fruit etc before boarding the bus/van, but going hungry or thirsty is my worst nightmare, and I have to remember to drink, I have no intention to get dehydrated- it's bad from all aspects. I am actually not just sticking to water as I normally do in Germany and Sweden - or the west in general - but here I feast on green tea with honey, soy milk and other things, I need plenty of extra energy as I move so much, and I add salt too, through the food and through snacks like dried seaweed etc (Japanese treat).


One looses a lot of it, and I have no intention to get I'll just because of stupidity. The extra salt helps binding the water and replaces the minerals I sweat out. Because yes, one does sweat... but it doesn't bother me, my body seem to take the heat well. It's certainly cleaning the system though, but I am glad I don't sit next to myself without having eaten some of what I have eaten - I am starting to think that there will soon be garlics and chillies growing out of my ears, considering how much of it there is in everything I eat, including the Thai breakfast I feast on; Rice soup with chicken and roasted garlic...
Will be hard to adjust back when I come home...