Finding my grin in the "Land of Smiles"

You may have caught a negative vibe in the last few threads. I admit I was struggling to stay positive and there were many times that I didn't feel like I was "living the dream." Thanks to some self evaluation and the help of a friend who called me a "Nego" for picking out the negative in everything, I'm seeing things in a different light now. It also helps that I'm in a new place surrounded by new things, people and wonderful, wonderful food!

Bangkok surprised me by how clean (yes I just called Bangkok clean!), green and organized it is. Thailand is very much a main destination on the backpacker trail and everyone from child-toting parents to new-age hippies and straight-out-of-high-school newbies come to experience it. Not since Australia have I seen such a strong traveling community.

Of the many things Thailand has to offer, it was the food I was most anticipating and I haven't been disappointed. There are great local Thai dishes consisting of perfect combinations of sweet, spicy and well... sweet! International restaurants abound and I've had great Italian and Middle Eastern food also. I'm keeping an eye out for food of the creepy, crawly variety but I've yet to find it. When I do, I'll be sure to inform you.

My favorite venue I visited in Bangkok was the snake farm. The Red Cross works in conjunction with the snake farm to produce antivenin for snakebite victims throughout the country and the world. I went hoping to watch the milking of some of the local venomous snakes but, as there was no milking that day, I instead was witness to the best snake show I've ever seen. We all gathered round a small sitting area in front of the show area and as the show began, a man brought a 9 foot long king cobra through the audience and released it on the ground in front of us! The snake hooded and followed the handler while the show announcer educated us about the biology, physiology and general attitude of cobras. Every once in awhile, sensing an opportunity for escape the snake would turn from the handler and come towards the crowd. The handler would grab the snake's tail who would then turn and hood instantly while the entire crowd oohed and ahhed.

The rest of the show played out in much the same way. They brought out more venomous snakes, Siamese Cobras, Mangrove Snakes, Palm Vipers and Banded Kraits, and carried them close enough to the audience that if we were back in the States, mothers would scream and lawyers would salivate. After a particularly close encounter with a teenage girl and the dangerous end of a mangrove snake I turned to the man next to me and commented on how liability must not exist in Thailand. The girls in the front rows provided the most entertainment as the handlers casually dropped tails on them or draped snakes over their shoulders when they weren't looking. I can't say that they cure many phobias but it was definitely good for a laugh.

After the show I walked through the exhibits and was impressed at every corner. Walk into any zoo, reptile house or local pet store and you'll probably agree it doesn't smell too good but this place was immaculately clean. The snakes were well displayed in large, clean cages and the non-living exhibits were very educational. You could learn all about snake anatomy, snakebite first aid and the effects of different types of venom. It really made me miss Delilah, my pet python whom I left at home and it made me think of the crocodile farm in Australia, and I began to wonder what kind of snake, if any, would I get to fill those empty cages once I get back home. And you know what? I was smiling the whole time.