Chinatown... not that much different.

I have to say, it was a little difficult to get excited about Chinatown in Bangkok. Whereas in San Francisco walking into Chinatown is like being whisked away to another world; Suddenly, you find yourself plunged into the farest reaches of Asia, no longer finding the familiar foods, faces, and even language that you have come to expect in American cities.
In Bangkok, for some reason, the change isn't quite as dramatic. People were still Asian. The food was still offered in street vendors. And I still couldn't read the signs.
One thing that was noticeable about Chinatown was the vast array of products available. If you want to buy something... anything go to Chinatown. An endless street market (geared more towards gizmos and gadgets than gastronomy) creeps in and out of the side streets all along the main drag. It's the only place in Bangkok that I have been able to find a battery recharger (which means pictures may be online soon!).
Otherwise, today I was quite proud of myself for further practicing taxi liberation. I walked from my "home" neighborhood to Chinatown and then up to the national stadium Skytrain station. It was quite a hike, but well worth it. I got to see quite a bit of central Bangkok and realized that it's not nearly so big as it may seem from the protective glass of a taxi.