One Night in Bangkok...

The time it takes for the ticket agent to look up your ticket in the computer takes approximately 30 seconds, followed by a series of questions: “Are you checking any bags?” “How many people in your party?” “Any connecting flights you wish to check into now?” So when the Thai clerk was pressing buttons on the computer for a minute and a half followed by a very confused look on her face made my heart drop. She politely asked to see our booking confirmation number and then made two phone calls. I have never thought of learning Thai, but in this moment I never wanted to know a language more. We never completed our booking.

When traveling, it is important to notify your bank accounts of the countries you will be in then constantly check your e-mail incase they contact you to verify purchases. Being no stranger to shut down credit cards I covered all my bases. However, in the time it took for me to purchase tickets, reach working wifi and verify my purchases the flight was full and AirAsia decided a “pending” button in light yellow writing under our confirmation number was enough to let us know we did not have a flight.

A waive of sympathy came over the Thai clerk’s face as she directed us to the payment desk for AirAsia where we were put on standby for the 9:00pm flight. Keep in mind we were originally on the 11:50pm flight from Phuket to Bangkok and the time stamp is currently 7:52.

It didn’t take long for me to panic—I panic in situations for no reason because I think it will make a difference. After calming down we decided to go to a different airline to see what we could do. At this rate, we were on track to pay full price for a ticket leaving that night so it couldn’t hurt to check the ratings. Thai Airways was very enthusiastic about putting us on the only two seats available on the 8:30 flight—it is currently 8:09.

We booked the flight. Checked in and ran through security to gate 10 to find out the flight has been delayed until 9. The plane touched down at Bangkok International Airport at 10:15 and we were back to the oh-so familiar bag drag to the taxi line.

There are two options when taking a cab: bargain or take the meter. If you take the bargain chances are they will start around 1,000 Bhat and work their way down to around 400/500. If you take the meter you have to pay tolls and a meter fee of 50 Bhat. Depending on where you are staying it is usually cheaper to take the meter and after being weaseled out of money in the past, we took the meter. The cabbie drove through downtown twice, took three different highways, went around the entire city of Bangkok to land on Khao San Road in 30 minutes with a meter fee of 450 Bhat (about 175 Bhat over what it should have been.)

One of the busiest party spots in Thailand and we are tossed out in the middle of the sea of people either already drunk or on their way to getting drunk. We check into Chill Out Hostel at 12 midnight.

I’ll give credit where it is due; Chill Out was relatively clean, nice, and lived up to its name of being chill. But there were bed bugs. While traveling there are few things you do not put up with, dirty bathrooms or strange stains you can deal with but bed bugs are an absolute trip killer. The tiny mites hitch a ride on your clothes, wreak havoc, and then set up camp in the nearest mattress. Waking up to the fat little terror was not how you want to start your morning.

After taking a flashlight and inspecting every inch of clothing, seams of backpacks, and the beloved sleep sack, we packed up and left. In between we had a long conversation with the owner about Dengue Fever and how bed bugs are not a real concern. Just to be clear, I will burn everything I own to not carry bed bugs around with me, I’ll buy some bug spray to not get bit by mosquitos but this tiny asshole of a bug could be the death of my trip.

It is 8:27 in the morning and the temperature is already at 90. After looking up three different hostels with 90% Hostel World ratings in the clean department we wandered the streets for a place to sleep. Settling on Pannee Lodge for $18 a night per person with an air conditioner that only had two settings 16 degrees Celsius and 18 and pristine white sheets free of bed bugs-- after a thorough flashlight inspection—it was our kind of place.

12:00 noon and settled into our room it was time to find some food. The instructions clearly stated to lock all important belongings in the safe and the lodge was not responsible for any stolen items. There are no directions for the safe but how hard can it be? Apparently very, very difficult, I successfully locked two passports, my wallet with all the money and credit cards, a computer, an iPad, and the GoGo Pro into the safe with no passcode, or hope, to get it out. Luckily, Fa, the manager, had a master key that she handed over, but not without warning of the 3,000 Bhat fee for losing the key.

30 Bhat Pad Thai, two plates of spring rolls, five large Chang beers, and a banana and Nutella crepe later I am happily shivering on my clean white sheets with the AC set as low as it will go.

One nigh in Bangkok, am I right?