Another Day on Khao San

Every time I come to Bangkok, I make the obligatory pilgrimage to Khao San Road. A big part of it is nostalgia: like almost every other backpacker who's ever done an Asia trip, I spent my fair share of time on Khao San back in the day. By visiting Khao San, I can almost taste the feeling I had when I was a lot younger and just starting out on my first big trip. That was back in 1994. Needless to say, the road has gone through some serious changes since then. I mean, when I was there, the only people who had heard of the internet probably worked for NASA. We used to cram into little telephone booths at the back of travel agents to call Mom and Dad and say, "Guess what: I'm in Bangkok!" Still, the vibe of Khao San is essentially the same.


Just when you thought Khao San couldn't get any more developed, well, it gets twice as developed. Here's a picture of the way it looks now. I can't understand how, but in two years or so, it will be twice as developed as this. Perhaps they'll figure out a way to combine Starbucks, an internet cafe, a travel agent, a pad Thai place, a tattoo parlor and a bar. Actually, I bet if you looked hard enough, that place probably already exists on Khao San:


There are several places on the road where, for a modest fee, they will put braids, extensions and beads into your hair. These folks never cease in their tireless task of making white women look ridiculous. Note to white women: the only white woman who ever looked good in corn rows was Bo Derek.


In my more cynical moments, I find myself thinking that there is nothing lamer than sitting on Khao San in the afternoon drinking beer with all the other punters. Then, I have to remind myself: I sat in that same restaurant and drank that same Singha beer and, you know what: I had a blast. I mean, let's face it: a bad day on Khao San is better than the best day at the office.