Welcome to the land of Smile

I was wondering after seeing the welcoming info board just behind the custom of Thailand international airport. It was pretty crowed and colors of different nationals are roaming around. We are had a flight to catch for our most waited world tour on bicycle from Dhaka. Best Air, a new airline from Bangladesh started regular flight from Dhaka to Bangkok so we thought our journey will be smoother if we can catch them during the inaugural month. We are prolonging a dream of travel around the world on our two wheelers, we haven't got any chance to get a good bike to carry them for the whole trip across the globe. Our target is to kick off the journey from Latin or Central America. But, Bangladesh is not having any embassies of those countries. So finding no other alternative, we are here for fixed them up. After two and half hours, we have got glimpse of Thailand, the so called landscape, paddy fields with no giant structures, not a single casino in sight and the modern marvels. The whole landscape was divided by roads and highways without having single break for long, from the top it was looking like arrows in the green! The only similarity with Bangladesh is the green but we have with plenty of isles.

After had a safe landing, while facing the immigration police, saw a board just behind the counter, vibrantly written in blue colored ink, welcome to the land of smile! Queues were growing fast and long, though there were number of counters having the same backdrop and officer but we dint find any of them who having smiling face. The dutch-british-african-arab-indian-or us almost every one was astonished about the behavior of the officer and their backdrop slogan! Small mistakes or anything that she or he may dint like, had to left the queue and fix that and again follow the queue! For me us it was more embarrassing, all on a sudden they inquired us by saying “show money”! after all of these happenings we found out the green channel and ensure our landing in Thailand. It was mid day, bright sunny day. Catch up a taxi to Kausang Road, as it was backpackers hub in the town. Long way to go and so long to wait in the traffic jam. The saying “you can come to Bangkok airport sharp, but you can hardy reach the city in a same day due to the traffic” though there were hundreds of multi storied highways to follow – toll ways and many more but almost all the same. We have boarded in New Vong Thong Hotel for our first day, room was big and clean. Bangladesh food available near by. Mr Ibrahim, early aged Bangladeshi running this business who had come to Bangkok eight years ago with the help of his uncle. Small room vertically split into two with floor board, skewed stair case in the front. A kitchen, four tables and a Burmese helping hand cum waiter. Moderate cost per food which has common of our food. This is very popular meeting place for all Bangladeshis – tourist-businessman-residents.

Bangkok, a decades ago it was alike ours economically but now fended couple of decades within very short time. Deliberately constructed roads, high ways and express ways are pack with vehicles and their sense of obeying the law drove them to prime stage of saving times of daily life. Though roads are often packed with traffic during peak, causes several minutes to wait in a single traffic signal. Only for that they trying make more fly overs to reduce loads on the common roads. City is having subways, number of buses, sky rails, taxis and famous Tuk-Tuk. Living is bit costly for generals as Thai peoples annual average income is nearly 2000 us dollar. But local food is quite popular among the locals and tourists and it’s within budget. So far it is a very well maintained city where dwellers will get every facility of basic need to live. In my understanding this is one of the most fast grown countries to reach the standard as a nation. Bike shops: Its quite clear that locals are not that much into cycling as the roads are vigorously packed with fast plying vehicles and there is not sign of cycling track on the street. But two wheels like motor bikes of different types are very common among guys and girls. No age and sex barriers, peoples loves to ride on their motor bikes very much, its very clear. We have hardly seen any bicycle rider during day time but at night after 9 we have seen flock of cyclist are paddling as a matter of recreation specially before any weekends. We have found two very good bike shops in Bangkok. All are imported and brand cycles. Some other shops are available in the China Town too.