Thailand Trip (Day 24)

Day 24:
After a long night out we woke up to freshen up for the day ahead. Since the cost of a flight to Bangkok was reasonable (and only a bit more than a train or bus), we decided to splurge and fly back. After a brisk lunch we found a tuk-tuk/ songtaew driver that would take us to the airport for a good price. The reason I said "tuk-tuk/ songtaew" is that "tuk-tuks" in the Phukett area are actually miniature pickup trucks (similar to songtaews). It's all really confusing... ohh Thailand. :) As we headed up over the mountain by Patong in route to the airport a huge rain storm started. Luckily the tuk-tuk was covered, but we had to put down the plastic windows. Still, we got a bit wet. The ride became more entertaining when the tuk-tuk began to sputter and belch smoke, but it soon stopped. At one point we got a bit freaked out because a passing dump-truck backfired and it sounded a bit like gunshots. Soon the rain ended and the driver pulled over on the side of the highway to literally "roll up the windows" (which is actually how you open them). At the airport we had some Burger King, which I think made me sick later. The flight was a bit bumpy, but only lasted a an hour and twenty minutes. At the airport we caught a metered cab for Kao San Road (a backpacker haven in the heart of Bangkok). The ride should have taken 50 minutes, but due to a heavy rainstorm which put traffic to a near standstill it lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes. At that time we were so close that we asked the driver if we could walk the rest, he was more than happy as I think he might have been missing dinner. Kao San Road is pretty difficult to describe. It's a frantic strip of neon signs, blaring techno, hip-hop, and bass, mixed with street vendors selling literally everything. We decided to stay the night in a guesthouse slightly off the strip and enjoyed some of the best Indian food I have ever had for dinner. Despite our guesthouse facing away from the road, we fell asleep at 12 to the sound of the crowds and intense music.