Opportunities, options and assertiveness
Since it's Saturday I decided to go to Chatuchak - Bangkok (and the World’s) largest weekend market. On the way there I met a nice German who I got to chatting to on the Skytrain since he was wearing a Capoeirista's Batizado (baptism/grading) t-shirt. He was on the way to the market too and then to the North for some scenery and fresh air. We had essentially the same ideas about where to go next and what we wanted to do and I guess if I hadn’t wanted to be alone for now and if he wanted some company we could have explored the market together and met up to travel onwards. I can see now what people say about how easily travel companions and new friends can be found. When I arrived at the market I wished him well and went my own way and within seconds of getting out onto the street and experiencing the humidity, I knew that I wasn’t going to stay long. That’s the upside to solo travel. You can change plans at the drop of a hat and please yourself. Within the hour I was at a huge and air conditioned mall sourcing out a cinema, some upmarket eateries and familiar but up-market clothing stores. It’s good to know where to go to find familiarity should I need it. I also realise how extra important it is to be able to be assertive when travelling. Especially whilst alone. When wandering around a temple yesterday a Thai man stopped me and started giving info about reduced fees to enter temples etc and even gave me a tourist map and marked out the tourist office but when he hailed a tuk tuk and instructed the driver to take me somewhere I was all out. I won’t have anyone dictate to me about where I will go and when. Unsurprisingly, he was more than a little put out that his kind advice was not being followed to the letter. I don’t think that I was necessarily at risk of anything bad happening but I couldn’t know for sure where the tuk tuk driver would take me, how much he would want and how I would get back to a familiar area afterwards. I always follow my instincts and if something doesn’t feel right, I assert myself and get out. One thing is for sure, I want out of the big city. Like London, Bangkok has a lot to offer if you know what you want and where to look but I tire of hussle and bussle and crowds pretty quickly and I want to find some more calm and quiet somewhere with more to see.
Tuk Tuk