In the days before my departure, it started raining. I have nothing against rain; it brings down the temperature and it can even cancel classes. However, I’m no longer in school and rain and travel don’t really go well together.<\/p>\n
On the morning of the 17th of May, the sun was out and it was bright and sunny. Thank God, I thought, I just hope it holds out until I reach Thailand. The weather was good, even when the plane has took off from Singapore. I looked outside the window, marvelling how much light there is still out, even though it’s already past 7:30 in the evening. <\/p>\n
While we were over northern Malaysia though, crossing into southern Thailand, the sky darkened. There was lightning in the distance, and I heard a faint rumbling of thunder. Next, of course, was rain.<\/p>\n
The airport bus was right outside the airport exit, so I didn’t have to worry about wandering lost in the rain. Well, not until I had to get off the bus to look for my hostel. <\/p>\n
There I was, standing in the rain in the Silom sidewalk without an umbrella and a big and heavy pack on my back. And wondering where the hell to go. I look up and saw the skytrain. Thanks to my geekiness, the countless hours I spent reading travelouges, guides and maps finally pays off: I knew where to go. Or at least which way to walk to hopefully stumble upon the Hostel Thailand.<\/p>\n
It was dark, it was raining, I haven’t had much sleep in the past 32 hours. I was cranky, tired and irritated. How much further to the hostel? <\/p>\n
And so begins (or end) my first night in Bangkok.
\n<\/p>\n
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * <\/p>\n
The following day, the daylight streaming from my window showed promise. Fueled by a renewed energy, I got up early and set off to the Grand Palace. Less than three hours later, it started to rain. <\/p>\n
And it continued on the whole day. I spent the rest of the day mall-hopping instead of temple-hopping.<\/p>\n
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * <\/p>\n
I woke up on my third day in a train coach heading towards Suratthani. I note with satisfaction the absence of raindrops on my window. <\/p>\n
Not for long. It started drizzling as we got closer to my stop. Great. It continued even as I walk out of the station and hopped into the bus going to the pier. Thankfully, it stopped as we were about to board the ferry. <\/p>\n