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I've been in Sakon Nakhon, Thailand, for only a few days so far.  I'm still learning the ropes on how to live here, but one thing that's certain is that you can live on very little money up here in the Northeast.  The weather is hot everyday, and while other have told me it rains everyday, so far it only rained for about 10 minutes once, today actually.

I've only taken a few pictures yet, mostly of Bangkok - but let's have a look!

One day three of us hopped on a river ferry and took it as far as we could. 14 Baht and about an hour later we were at all points south - a section of Bangkok called Nonthunburi.  No surprise, there was a giant market! A very cool one though - we walked into a virtual maze of what was a local Thai food market.  Anything you could imagine would fit in your stomach was being sold here! And plenty of things you would never want anywhere near your stomach.

Small boat passes our ferry as we move along the Chang
to Northern Bangkok - Nonthunburi

Last stop!

Slithery and slimy - not the scariest food we found

Catfish and eels

Unfortunately - not a live person! Part of a mini-temple,
ones that locals set up randomly on the side of the street.

We'd heard a lot about Wat Arun - or The Temple of Dawn.  It was only a quick ferry ride across the river from where we were staying.  Three of us paid 3 baht a piece to cross the river and check this very cool temple out.  The steps were super steep getting to the top, and this may have been the hottest day ever.

Really friggin steep! Emphasis on CLIMBing the stairs.

View from atop Wat Arun.  We never did figure
out what the green plants were doing floating in the river.

Central Bangkok

Gotta get down somehow.

Kyle and Peter getting in the shade.

I thought he was studying scrolls of ancient Buddhist magic
- nope, just algebra homework. 

Reminds me of the old tree we had in front of Mom and Dad's house.
We filled it with cement, but they just stuck a big rock in it!

Donations! Flowers, Candles, Food, and of course, Money gladly accepted.

Another day, another market - This time the Chatuchak (Jatujak) weekend market. Of course my camera died before I could get too deep into this one - but this place was bizarre.  It was like going to Sears, Shoprite, and a carnival all in one small park.  Tiny little alleyways connecting the major semicircles that you see below.  But the alleyways proved to have even more incredible things going on - the smallest of shops crammed into the tiniest of places - and then even the alleyways interlocked to find more room for shops of all sorts.

Semicircle 1

Semicircle 2. 

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A little kiosk devoted to billions of beads.

While in Bangkok I spent my nights near Khao San (Kaosarn) Rd.  It's a backpackers joint.  The locals know how to scam the foreigners, you meet people mostly traveling RTW on low budgets, but at night time the place went wild.  You can't walk ten feet without being proposed to go to the "Ping Pong Show" or be asked to buy a new, custom made suit just for you.  And the music of choice at the bars and clubs - Korean pop.  No idea.

Hookah-ing near Khaosarn.

And within a week and a half I was off to Sakon Nakhon. Like I said earlier, still learning about this place.  More pictures to come! Until then, you can see my room that I pay 3000 baht a month for.  Frankly, I can find cheaper once my Thai speaking ability improves.

Stray dogs! Very popular all over Thailand, but these are
super-friendly and bark when strangers come by.

My jungle of a backyard.