Once again, the return to Bangkok was a welcome return to the modern world.

When I complained to an expat I met in Phnom Penh about how shitty Khao San Road is, he tipped me off on the A One Guesthouse, off of Siam Square. Siam Square, even though not really a square, is Bangkok’s version of Times Square or Piccadilly Circus, and is full of stores, restaurants, shopping malls, and mini-skirted babes. It’s where I’ve always ended up spending time, but taking a bus every day was annoying.

So the A One is about a ten second walk from all this good stuff, down a secret side street, or soi. These sois are wonderful: peaceful, leafy, and lined with street vendors. It’s amost surreal that it can be so quiet in the middle of noisy Bangkok. And I love the way I can step outside and choose from fresh papayas, mangos, and pineapples, fresh orange juice, sweet corn, satay, or mysterious Thai foods.

That said, my first day here I had to make up for being denied greasy American food, so I visited McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Outback Steakhouse (yeah, that’s American too). Not surprisingly, I ended up with a stomach ache. On subsequent days, I’ve struck a balance of Thai food for lunch, which is always a crap shoot, and familiar Western food for dinner. After all, a man cannot live on rice alone. Well, he can if he’s Asian, but I’m not.

More good stuff about Bangkok is the hands-off approach of taxi drivers and beggars. No guys stopping next to me and saying “hello” repeatedly. And no bums staring at me pathetically while I eat. In fact, most beggars simply prostrate themselves as I walk by. I’ll consider giving people like that money.