KSR is definitely an onslaught on the senses. It’s pretty much the center of backpacking life in Thailand and it’s filled with noises, smells, vendors, stalls, hotels, bars, restaurants, travel agents, and about a million tattoo parlors. Hm, I wonder how many regretted tattoos are done every day?
Like the start of all my travel experiences, I was feeling pretty overwhelmed here this morning. Maybe it’s because I have grown accustomed to the slow pace of life in provincial Mongolia and now I’m in the heart of a large, bustling, and sweaty city. I also feel a little out of place amongst the other travelers. There’s lots of skin, tattoos, piercings, beads, and dreadlocks going on. Thankfully, though, I’ve got Ashlee here with me – which means that I can just kick into co-pilot mode and let her take the lead. Now that’s what I call teamwork!
Sitting here, I can’t help but remark on the wonderful atmosphere. There is just a really great vibe going on. I can tell that the vast majority of the people around me are just looking to relax and have a good time. With that said, however, I’m glad that Ashlee booked us in the hotel that she did – which is just a few blocks away on a quiet canal. It’s fun to be able to come down here to KSR and enjoy the noise, the crowds, and the hustle-and-bustle – but it’s great knowing that at any time we can retreat to our quiet little hotel room with its AC, shower, and cable television.
Ashlee and I had a great first lunch here in the city. We went to a small road-side vegetarian café in the KSR area that Ashlee found through her research. We had green curried vegetables, pad thai, spring rolls, and a couple of fruit smoothies – all for about $12! I can already tell that finding good food here will not be a problem.
As we have been enjoying our morning, the thought that keeps running through my head is that Thailand is a Peace Corps country. It’s even in the same administrative region as Mongolia – which means that we easily could have been placed here instead of Mongolia. What would service here be like? I totally know that it wouldn’t be a cake-walk and that we would encounter just as many problems here as we have in Mongolia, and I know that during our trip here we will only be seeing the good things about Thailand, but I just can’t help but think that our two biggest problems with Mongolia (the food and the winter) don’t exist here. Hmm, imagine spending a few months with a host family here or being invited to dinner at a counterpart’s home. Pad thai and spring rolls instead of horse milk and sheep head? Sure!
A benefit we DO get to enjoy from Thailand being a Peace Corps country is the fact that we have a support system here to call upon should we need it. Just a 20-minute walk from KSR is the Thai Peace Corps office with a fully stocked medical unit and a safety and security officer.
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