Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand is a massive city of 8 million. What can I say about it that hasn't already been said? It's got insane traffic, it takes twice as long as you'd think to get anywhere. It's loud. It's got some pollution issues.

It also has a staggeringly beautiful Grand Palace. It has infamous nightlife. It's also has probably the best backpacker setup of any city on earth. I spent only a day and a half here, so I'm in no position to judge it. It's an overwhelming city at first, and you'd need to spend a week here to see everything.

Khao San Road is the ultimate backpacker ghetto. Spend a day on this street and you can get anything a backpacker could possibly want for next to nothing. T-Shirts, toe rings, tattoos, beer, drugs, a hostel bed, a bus ticket to Cambodia, a massage, a flight to Nepal, a tourist VISA for China, a fake press pass stating that you work for a Swiss financial newspaper, a cell phone SIM card, a memory stick for your camera, a fake international student ID, fake watches, fake sunglasses, fake dreadlocks...I love it.

Monks on a lunch break. How do they got their robes so bright? Must be colorsafe Tide.

This Reclining Buddha is very large. How large? I forget, but let's just say it's the largest Buddha I've ever seen, and I've seen more than a few.

Spires in the Grand Palace grounds.

The Grand Palace

Lindso imitating the goddess of something or other.

Sam imitates the monkey god Hanuman

The gold stupa inside the Grand Palace.

I'd like to come back to Bangkok someday, there's lots more to see. I also only had time to buy half of the cheap fake crap that I really wanted. There were several Japanese t-shirts with hilarious nonsensical English phrases that really should be in my collection. The best among them: a picture of a Star Wars stormtrooper in a Michael Jackson crotch holding stance, with "Smooth trooper loves yo momma's flapjacks" written on it.