Once again, Norm was the hero that got me started on my journey. During the day, he attended Thai language class, leaving me to my own devices (where I stumbled upon the MBK, a 7-storey mall with crazy little stalls and an amazing food court), but when he could, he'd take me out and show me around. Some activities included taking a canal taxi from close to his place to Thonburi, the old part of Bangkok. Walking by the Democracy Monument (pictured, a tribute to the government becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932) enroute to the backpacker ghetto on Khao San Road (other pic). At one point we hired a tuk-tuk, this little motorized three-wheeler that gets its name from the put-put of the engine. I preferred the motorcycle taxis, where you hop on the back, sometimes get the frill of a helmet, and speed down the road, weaving around the traffic gridlock. Really, the only way to travel in this city.

Our night excursions included Muay Thai boxing at Sanam Muay Lumphini, a gritty little stadium full of Thai men engaging in an incomprehensible system of wagering, and the heaviest weight class of the night was 112 pounds; a Night Bazaar; catching Casino Royale (good flick, though its "Bondness" is a point of debate); a party and attempted night on the town with some of his Thai classers (a hour long wild goose chase in a taxicab cost us 155 baht, about $4.5o); and finally, some sex tourism tourism at Soi Cowboy and Nana Entertainment Plaza. Interesting to see the clientele that shows up at these places, the creepy old dudes. I feel bad for any white boys with legit Asian wives or girlfriends who happen to come to Thailand, as everyone, ahem, assumes. And Dunk, while the katoeys may be beautiful, you can still tell... most of the time. We also returned to Khao San Rd, which proved to be even crazier at night, with bars, neon, pirate CD vendors, clothing hawkers, and the omni-present wooden frog vendors.