23.03.2017 - Jordan

 

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Throughout our 10 days in Bangkok, we have mainly been searching internships for the end of our studies. So, every morning, we were ready to work. Our coffee was next to the computer. It was rather stressful to wait for answers. But, to get some fresh air, in the afternoons, we were visiting the city! 

 

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Here are few of the adventures: 

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Thailand, and Bangkok even more than the other cities, is currently in mourning. King is dead. In every store, every house, on the billboards, everywhere, REALLY WHEREVER we go, we see portraits of RAMA IX. He died in October 2016, and for a whole year, all public institutions must wear black clothes (teachers, police officers, etc...). 

 

Why doing so much? Because this man almost became a God in Thailand! He was in power since 1950 and is really loved here for everything he has brought to the country. He has always known how to lead Thailand through military putsches or time of trouble. Nevertheless, it is better to love him, because the lese-majesty crime still exists! 

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Moreover, Thailand can be proud of its food culture! While visiting, we discover many tasty recipes, as well as the national Pad Thai, a dish made with noodles, bean sprouts, carrots and scrambled eggs. Surprisingly, even if the country is much more developed than Cambodia (in Bangkok at least, they are closer to our living standard than the Khmer one), prices in restaurants are cheaper! We live for almost two times less money per day here. Without limiting ourselves, it's happiness for our palates! 

 

So, we eat everything and anything: Massamans, Pad Se Ew, soups, etc. Sauces based on coconut milk and other curries fill us. And some pastries with a coffee taste, comfort us at the end of the evening, when we see no reply for our internships. The street food is delicious too. Food in general is an important part of local life, and then like most asian countries, it is possible to eat 24H/day! 

Happiness. 

 

Getting lost in the alleys along Chao Phraya, the river crossing the city, we find a dried fish market. I assure you that the smell is very far from being the most delicious one. It is better to see the markets near our hostel: covered with fresh fruit and vegetables. A dream for us, who would like to cook! 

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To forget Buddhism would be a huge miss! Being in Bangkok is an opportunity for us to visit Wat Pho temple and its reclining Buddha. A huge golden statue with many details. The feet, encrusted with nacres to create illustrations, are incredibly beautiful. And then, the building which borders the statue accentuates this gigantism feeling. We feel so small in front of this 15x40 meters statue. 

 

It's great to see that each country has its own religion definition and its different rules. Here we learn that the images of Buddhas are only to religious vocation. This should never be, in any case, decorative (that what's written on the huge billboards near the roads)! It is even a blasphemy to have a tattoo with a Buddha face. 

 

 

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21 pm. 

Five sweating idiots, eyes fixing the screen, and dancing with strange movements. 

 

Yes, it's all of us, playing video games in an arcade place! We spend a full evening, as if we're discovering technology again. Also a short bowling and that's it! We are satisfied for, at least, the coming year! 

 

Real kids. 

 

Love!