Bangkok Bus 53 {1}

 A Late Night

[On arrival into the country / takes on route Bus 53 / This story will continue as I send more travels and places to see on Bus 53 in Bangkok]

Late last night [midnight] I arrived in Bangkok and, because of the late hour, decided to check into a small hotel near the airport and then go grab a bite to eat. Fortunately, it was lovely to step into the cool, damp night air – to find past memories resurface. Those first impressions are always the most memorable. It was lightly raining and yet, in this city of 8 million people, it was unoccupied and dark on the soi [alleyway]. The pooled water on the road reflected low clouds and lights from the surrounding city. Luckily I saw several noodle vendors as I walked down the long soi to the main street. They were still open for business.

Bangkok’s inclusion of nature and the Thai respect for sentient life always astonishes me. Several choruses of different species of frogs were singing into the damp night air. Insects cone-whirled up toward the occasional street lamp and frequent bats would shoot through to collect their light-attracted prey. The vacant lots were overgrown with vines, rogue trees, trash and contractor materials. These odd groups of building materials supported and gave rise to the new, multi-storied buildings popping up near the airport.

Noodles

I spotted a small noodle vendor.

His cart was stacked high with bowls, various noodles, fresh bean sprouts, Thai basil and steaming brass pots. After shyly beckoning me with a palm-down hand wave, he was immediately put at ease when I spoke Thai. Sitting under his large umbrella with bamboo chopsticks and bent-tin soupspoon, I downed the noodles that he had heated on his charcoal grill. Nearby, under the building overhang and happy to be out of the rain, slept a half-dozen mangy dogs all curled up and quiet for the night. The vendors had blanketed the concrete with cardboard to help keep them warm.

From my low perch on my rickety stool I felt like the King of the World; a lucky monarch witnessing the monsoon rains, the dream-deep dogs and the high-pitched trills of rainforest frogs.

Teeming

After a fitful nights sleep I’m now sitting on the hotels veranda eating khaaw thom (boiled rice gruel). Sloping down next to me and covered with tall bright green razor grass, is one of the klongs (canals). These crisscross Bangkok and gives the city its eighteenth century nickname, ‘The Venice of the East’.

The canal is teeming with life. Birds and bugs, fish and plants known and unknown float together – rooting, skimming, sinking, sailing – every variety and type. Standing in the water are several magnificent white storks with wings and tails tipped black. They take flight and cruise the canal for fish. Two of them stalk and beak-stab through the canal and return to their nest. There, two small cotton-ball fledglings stumble haplessly about fighting for the parental catch.

The elegant storks are not even 100ft away. They appear oblivious to my presence and pleasure of their company.