So, as I did when I arrived in Taiwan (read that entry here), this is a random collection of thoughts and observations during my first month-ish in Bangkok.

• Random things are more expensive here, but on the whole everything is about 10-15% less than in Taiwan. Fortunately, 30 Taiwan dollars equals 31 Thai Baht, so the conversion is no issue for me. But, there are some exceptions like...

• Fast food. I don't know why, but fast food is stupidly expensive. Actually, any proper restaurant is a bit more pricey than its Taiwanese counterpart. Maybe 30% or so. Unlike the rest of Asia, KFC and Subway are the cheapest, and McDonalds is the most expensive. A Big Mac combo is nearly twice what it costs in Taiwan!

• Public transportation. The metro system is about 20% more expensive than Taiwan's. There are a wide variety of systems available - the Skytrain, MRT, river boat, canal boat, airport link, and bus rapid transit. They all are not integrated and each have their own fare system. Cause it makes sense to build two identical stations next to each other.

• Buses cost nothing (8 baht), but the system makes no sense at all. It's just a number without any listing of origin and destination. Also, buses of the same number but of different color will take slightly different routes. Thais just call a number and ask an operator which to take. Or you could maybe not pay an army of people to stand by the phone and have the system not be retarded?

• But, taxis are about half as much as Taiwan's. Bike taxis are even less. Tuk tuks are always more expensive because they're assholes.

• The intercity trains are hilariously cheap. It's 20 baht to a city an hour and a half to the north. For comparison, going one station on the subway is like 16 baht. I don't know how they stay in business. Maybe because their trains are super old and crappy. But hey, they bring you where you need to go, albeit with frequent delays.

• Internet. 1.5GB/mo of 3G is 400 baht a month - less than half of Taiwan's, and America... please. Get your shit together. Outside Bangkok the coverage is a bit spotty, though. After you use the 1.5GB, you still have unlimited internet, just at Edge network speeds.

• Bangkok is dirty. It's pretty much on par with China. After seeing places like Japan and Taiwan, it makes you appreciate how clean those places are. It is nowhere near as bad as Manila. I wanted to burn my shoes after walking around there for a day.

• People are more relaxed, less hard working here. It's nice that people don't work themselves to death like in China and Taiwan. They have a much more leisurely "when it's done it's done" kind of attitude.

• That being said, I hate walking in Thai crowds. It is the most infuriating thing imaginable. They don't walk anywhere with conviction, they just kind of wander. Slowly. It's like an entire country on ADD, they will just stop suddenly, in the middle of the walkway, to look at something that catches their eye. And they will block escalators by standing wherever they want, because screw you, "person in a hurry."

• Almost all food here is spicy. I'm getting used to it. But c'mon guys, there's also sweet, sour, savory... you're really only focusing on one part of the flavor spectrum here. Though I understand why you go for spicy, because it's not like you get a chance to sweat in 40 degree heat all day.

• Speaking of which, an exception is ice cream. They love ice cream. Maybe it's because of ALL THE SPICY FOOD?!

• They dig foreigners more than Taiwan, but less than China. You're not a rockstar, just a minor celebrity.

• Which, there are a lot of foreigners. Like, a stupid amount. I like this country and all, but the fact that like 1/5 people aren't from here is kind of weird. And I feel it really hurts Thailand, culturally. In order to appeal to them they kind of lose their identity.

• ...but they will still use that to cheat you. Having a white face means the price of things suddenly jumps. Maybe a little. Maybe a lot. They seem to have no shame in doing it. Unlike other places, when you prove you're not a dumb tourist and cite the correct rate, they will give up and say "Alright alright, fine." Here, it's more like "No, you're a white person. Of course you pay the premium... duh?" In general you have to try more than one before you get a fair deal.

• Which, speaking as someone looking for a job, there are a lot of jobs out there preying on desperate foreigners passing through. Poverty level wages for a work visa. It's a bit disgusting. Even more so that people will take them.

• There are a lot of 7-11s in Bangkok, thank god. But they don't have seats like in other countries! Lame. Where else are you supposed to hang out at 2am?

• Outside of Bangkok, stuff gets really rural really fast. I don't really know of the reasons why, but if you're an hour from the city you basically live with pigs and sheep. Which is why jobs outside of the city aren't even on my radar.

That being said, this is a great city. If I end up staying here, I hope to get the time to enjoy it. And if I end up moving on, I'll be sure to give travelling around a shot before I end up in who-knows-where.