Convenience Stores and Sewers

There are a lot of 7-11 convenience stores in Thailand. In the city you are never more than a 10 minute walk from one. And even if you were more than 10 minutes away, you are never more than 2 minutes away from a local convenience store (not always a full store, but they'll at least have drinks and usually some chips). Now that's convenience.

Thailand also has a very large sewage system, not unlike most developed countries. The difference is that you KNOW it's there. There are metal grills and concrete slabs EVERYWHERE. (Under the concrete slabs is the giant sewer pipe. The slabs also have a couple of holes in them, probably for lifting them up, but also for pouring stuff into them and ventilation). 7-11 is the name of a store, but it is also the average number steps you have to take before stepping on either a concrete slab or a metal grille over the sewer pipe, as you walk along the side of the road. There are literally that many. For clarification, the storm drain system is not separate from the sewer system. There is only one system, and that means that there is a lot of raw sewage beneath your feet and it often smells as much. It becomes a part of life. You just have to know that when you're in the city, don't take a deep breath and expect fresh air, you may just get a waft of the sewer smell.