For my first day in Bangkok, I decide to go to discover in the streets by leaving the guidebook of Routard at the hotel. The hotel in which I booked for six days is called the Four Monkeys. I chose this hotel a bit randomly on Booking, sorting the hotels from the cheapest to the most expensive, while trying to keep a certain quality.
I didn’t read too much about the areas of Bangkok beforehand, about what there was to see, because I prefer to be surprised. My hotel happens to be in the Khao San Road district, one of the oldest districts of Bangkok, in which most of the temples are located, but also the Grand Palace, and many universities. It is not really the district the most appreciated by the tourists who come to Bangkok to have fun even if there are here some streets which are intended for the animation of the foreigners especially and the night life.
In this district the Europeans have rather the backpacker profile one sees more with backpack and trainers with the feet than in luxury clothing.
My first day, Wednesday the 7th, I spend it wandering the streets at random observing the Thai people, 
the very many small food stalls that line the pavement,
the Tuktuk that I would not take, not only because I have doubts about the quality of their driving, but especially because I want to be able to pass through small streets, small alleys where I might meet more authentic people. And it was a success. From the first day I am amazed by all that there is to see in Bangkok, the incredible flower markets, the young people who come out of the schools in uniform, the policemen who are everywhere but we don’t see them because they don’t intervene, but also the homeless people everywhere on the sidewalks.
The extreme poverty is visible, but all have a smile on their face and not only because they have something to sell to the tourists.
I return to the hotel only in the evening, exhausted from having walked so much but with my eyes and head full of new things.
