On my second full day in Bangkok, fearing to tackle the public transport system yet, I decided to walk across the city to Wat Pho, which is home to the enormous reclining buddha. I think that it is easier to get fully lost when I get on a bus or subway, whereas walking allows me to keep my directional bearings, as well as learn what is inbetween my home and where I want to go. It has been a nice surprise that I have not found the city to be thronged with tourists. In fact, I can go hours without seeing another pasty face, and when I do, they are often european tourists, and not americans. And more often, the tourists are from China. I have seen many buses full of chinese school children in front of the wats. My blonde hair is cause for much open-mouthed staring here--it is as if I have two heads instead of one.

On this same day, I made my way to the loathed Khao San Rd., which is the young tourist/backpackers ghetto. I came to this area specifically to search out some vegetarian restaurants. In a small alley, there are a cluster of vegetarian/thai open air restaurants. It's quite far from my hotel, so I won't be going often, but I found some great food for only a couple dollars. Mostly, Khao San Rd. has stall after stall of cheap clothing, sort of like in the fashion district in LA.