He is from Georgia, U.S. He has been here 8 years and owns the Soi I Hostel in Bangkok. He is a lively and animated person that is fun to be around. He is full of information for us vagabonding backpackers. He never seems to tire of helping any of us and is a gold mine of things to see and do and how to do it here in Bangkok. His name is David. He is the reason I will recommend and return to this hostel any time. It's so nice to meet someone like this that runs a good business but cares about the people and not just the money.

The first hostel I stayed in here in Bangkok, I was in a private room . This one, however, is a four-bed room. I have been surprised how considerate everyone is. Each person comes and goes at different times through the night, but all use penlights to see to pack or get in bed, and are very quiet in opening and closing doors. I brought ear plugs expecting to use them for snorers and other noise, but have not needed them. Not even one snorer so far. I'm sure eventually I will run into some inconsiderate guys, but not yet.

An interesting thing to me was when I talked with the young guy working the night desk at the hostel. Today is his last day at work. He has worked here about 7 years. He looks 20 but is 27. He is not Thai, as I thought, but is from Napal. He is going home to get married. His parents have picked him out a wife. There, the parents chose the wife for the son. He has never met her. If he does not like her, though, he does not have to marry. They can look for another, or he can find one and get their approval. Also, divorce is almost never allowed . He also said when he makes money he sends it home to his parents. Each person does not work and manage their own money. All the money from family members to into a pot and each uses what they need to live on.

Thais sleep anywhere. As you walk around town, you see Thais sleeping just about anywhere. On the sidewalk, in busy Skytrain stations, even one on a parked motorbike. I've seen them sleeping up underneath the carts they are selling from. And, all the time there is a ton of foot traffic passing by. These are not homeless, they are regular working Thais. I guess if they get sleepy they just lay down and sleep.

The Thai people are really laid back. David, from the hostel, tells me they do not like confrontation. They do not raise their voices in anger and if you have a disagreement, just smile, and they will walk away or just let it go. It is because of the Buddha religion. Maybe that is why I hear so little horn blowing here .

I don't think I have talked about boarding the Sky Train. It's hard to remember what I have already written about, so if I repeat in any posts, just skip it. Anyway, when you get to the Sky Train Ticket place, you first look at the route and ticket board. Decide where you need to go and find the fare amount. Then you go to the ticket window and buy that many bahts. Then you go to a machine, select the amount you need, put in the right amount of bahts and buy the ticket. Then you go through a turnstile where you insert the plastic ticket. It comes out at the other end where you grab it as you go through. When you get off the train you insert it in another turnstile to leave the station. If you are okay on the fare, the ticket goes in and disappears. If you did not buy enough fare you go to the window and have more money added to your ticket and go through the turnstile.

Today I bought some hot dogs from the street cart . They are cooked on a skewer but when you buy them they are put in a plastic bag to eat with the skewer. There is some sort of sauce that makes them so delicious. I hope to eat them again. I really like the Thai food I have eaten so far. Thai cooking classes are very popular with tourists here I had not considered taking them, but now that I like the food so well, I might.

The cigarette packages here have horrible pictures on them of throat cancer and lung cancer. Cian showed me his from Ireland. It has a message on it that cigarettes kill. Jia showed me his package from Australia, and it has tubes coming out of someones' stomach. Very graphic, but leaves no doubt about the risks. I saw some in the Thai stores here that have horrible pictures of throat cancer on them.

A few tidbits or trivia:
4/5 of all cars in Thailand are in Bangkok
Breathing the air in Bangkok for one day is like smoking 20 cigarettes
The year in Bangkok is 2555 (note: add photos)
If a Thai asks me "where from" It is best to say America

I thought when I came here and someone asked me where I was from I would say United States, because there is a North America and a South America . But, when I say U.S. most of the time they don't seem to understand. Then I say America and they smile and say, "Yes, America". Then they want to know where in America. I say Texas because that is where my home address is. Then they say, "Yes, know Texas, cowboys."

In the U.S. and most of the world our calendars start with the birth of Christ. Before that we call B.C. (before Christ).

The Buddhist calendar starts with the death of Buddha. There are different Buddhist calendars, though. I will talk about the Thai Buddhist calendar.

Buddha passed away 2555 years ago. This is according to the Thai calendar.

So, when does the Thai year start? It starts on January 1st. At different times it has started in other months. One time I think it started in February. Before 1940 it started in April. Now it starts on January 1st.

When do they celebrate New Years? The last day of December, then they do it again in February, and the final time in mid-April. That covers the previous New Years dates. They are the common New Years around the world (like in U.S.), the Chinese NY, and the Thai New Year.

(Note) I have included photos of the River Taxi in this entry. I talked about riding it in the last
post, but with so many pictures in that entry decided to put them here. Also, it takes a very long time to do these posts, so I don't have lots of descriptions on the photos.)