Bangkok

What can I say about Bangkok except that I am not and have never been a big city kind of traveler.  I wish I was more exciting and hip, but deep down, I like the personality of old quiet villages and locals hanging out at the pub.  Big cities are almost one in the same in my mind.

That being said, you have to spend time in Bangkok when you go to Thailand right?  Last year, I opted to skip it completely so this year we gave it a shot. Perhaps there was a little State Dept warning about visiting Bangkok in the middle of the latest political coup attempt but Thailand has one every year.  The unfortunate backpack incident of 2009 was a direct result of last year's coup attempt and the train stations being shut down. This year it heated up a bit more and we were forced to cancel plans one night and stay close to the hotel.  But even then, you never feel like you are in danger.  It's really hard to explain to those who just see the riots on TV.

In the end, I'm glad we did it.  Bangkok is a fascinating place--a unique mixture of old and new. And of course, having your cousin play dedicated taxi driver and tour guide for your entire stay isn't too shabby either.