Hello all! Well I am entering into my final week...it's Saturday night here
and shortly I will be leaving Bangkok and heading for Georgetown, on the
Island of Penang, Malaysia off the Malayan Peninsular Coast. I was just
informed by someone on my mail list that there is a departure tax from
Bangkok of 750 baht (about $25) again! I hate that....why do some countries
have that and some don't?

I was thinking today....Bangkok is a very modern and western city...there is
Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC, etc. I did not see any of that in Vietnam or
Cambodia. I guess it is comforting to westerners who visit...but I like it
when that stuff is not available...it forces me to rely on local places,
restaurants, etc. It feels more exotic and foreign. When it has all these
western icons...I feel like "I could have just visited Los Angeles in an
Asian Neighborhood". And I guess more and more of the world is getting that
way with economic globalization. I suppose that is good for someone’s first
trip or not a seasoned traveler...you get a mix of the exotic with some of
the comforts of home...but I, I prefer the less civilized, less developed,
more authentic regions. We shall see how Malaysia compares.

Well, after I wrote last night...I went back to my room and didn't feel all
that well...nothing in particular...just a little tired, run down,
dizzy....I slept for a while and then felt a bit better. Last night I went
out to eat and walk around a bit. Finally as the sunset...the streets
changed and came more alive. This area has some very nice posh places,
restaurants, etc. But then just off the main Silom Rd. is the Patpong
District or Red Light District. I had heard so much about it, I wanted to
see it at night in all of its glory...mind you to see it...not partake!!

It was more than I imagined...there are about 6 streets Patpong 1 &2, Soi 1
& 2, off Surawong Rd. There is parlor after parlor of massages, sex shows,
go go dancers. The people in the street run up to you showing you naked
photos of who is performing begging you to come to their establishment.
Three off the streets are hetero and three are gay.....one of which was very
seedy. The men and women line the streets yelling at you "you want
massage...you want sex". Some come up to you and literally grab you by the
arm to pull you into their establishment and say "free to look for one
minute" I had read though prior to my trip...don't do it! Once you cross
the threshold..they have you trapped and will charge you a huge amount to
get out! I yanked my arm away and continued in awe at all this activity.
Neon signs flashing "live sex shows", prostitutes working the street,
establishments begging for your business. It was unbelievable! And there
were many tourists...couples, wives, families...walking up and down taking
all this in. It was worth it to walk through that. I then went back to my
room and went to bed about midnight...and for once I slept in late until
7:30 am!

I woke up slowly and went to the Grand Palace which was very nice. I then
mastered the Metro and Skytrain system and took it to Chatuckhak Market. It
is the biggest market in the world. I couldn't believe it...stall after
stall of goods, trinkets, souvenirs..but my favorite part was looking at the
food section crickets, squid, live animals, every animal part imaginable. I
seriously got lost in the market. I allotted myself $30 for shopping and
spent just about that and got a lot of goods. By then it was almost 2 and
the mid day sun and humidity were taking it's toll on me. I caught the sky
train back to city center and went to lunch. After I walked around a bit
and then went to take a nap.

Just had some iced coffee and using the internet now. Will probably go to
dinner in a little bit and then pack. I have a 7 am flight tomorrow...so I
will need to leave at 5 am. I arrive in Penang about 10:30 am and will have
to clear customs, immigration, etc. I will be in Malaysia for 5 days.
Malaysia is an Islamic State....so like last year I will have to get used to
the prayer times on the loud speakers in the cities. I just don't want a
room near one of those speakers for 5 am prayer..that's what happened last
year in Jordan.

Today was a much better day....I think because I did not interact with any
taxi drivers or tuk tuk drivers. The metro was cheaper and less drama.
Haggling at the markets is fun so that was not an issues. So things worked
out for the better. I think my biggest thing now...is I’m just tired....I
wish when I got back I had another week off just to rest!