Yes, yes, I’ve skipped over the Laos part, I’ll get back to that at some point. TL:DR is that southern Laos is not as interesting as northern Laos, so I bounced back to Bangkok.

So what to do with an extra week here? Well, just explore, wander about, buy stupid stuff from the 7-Eleven at the end of the street.

Today I:

• Had breakfast in a place where they played NTWICM Summer Hits 1997 (or similar)
• Walked along a walking street (?)
• Walked along a regrettable street
• Took a boat along the river
• Bought stupid stuff from the 7-Eleven at the end of the street.

The Ong Ang walking street is a bit strange. A couple of years ago I think they had a street festival here and wanted to promote the street sellers. But nothing much seems to have come of that. There is some street art, as promised, but it’s not the East Side Gallery (maybe that’s a good thing).

The regrettable street is the infamous Khao San Road. I thought I should see it, just once, and in the daytime it’s just a bit sad. Lots of people trying to sell food, beer, North Face gear, massages, and trips to other touristy places. Plenty of western tourists (heavily skewed to young lads) and by nighttime I am sure all the worse for it. There’s clearly a market for this; I am clearly not that market.