few more pics

Back to Thailand.
Football mad, "the land of smiles" is a strange place of sex tourists, funny smells, awesome food (but REALLY different from the UK-US dumbed down versions), and in the end incomprehensible to the western mind. This is the land of universal smiles. When you meet someone, they pepper you with questions, smiling and laughing and look you in the eye. They're well versed regarding the US, Canada, Europe and have odd telling comments in the form of questions for each nationality.
Eg ..." Ahh Canada....Cold and full of French people who hate France but love america...yes?" Or "Germany, important cars for Chinese people."
Strange.
There is a universal interest in what you think of Thailand , followed by the inevitable question, "You want lady?"
"You want massage?"
This from the hotel driver of a 5 star hotel.

Off the river I took a tuk-tuk and went to the one temple still open, ironically usually closed to tourists.

The big Buddah you see is over 400 years old and was moved to Bangkok from Burma, during some long forgotten war. It was some sort of special day of worship so I had to take pics from the doorstep. As usual the Thais were gracious and friendly and seemed genuinely happy to see me.


All over Asia, and affluent parts of the Middle East, business/luxury hotels are full of American lounge singers, with multicultural jazz combos. it seems to be a box that must be ticked in order to charge 5 times the local cost of a beer. I met these guys at the Oriental and they were great fun. The Americans usually have a pedigree as a back-up singer for a "name" entertainer. Its a well travelled route along with cruise ships and similar venues. These guys were a great laugh, friendly and full of funny stories. The white girl is from Brazil and was "Bossanova" to the depth of her soul.... cool people. Nice to have met them, and NO my arms aren't around them , thats a google search flex to ease a back threatening to turn the smile into a grimace.

The Oriental reminds me of Raffles in Singapore, though its not the result of any colonial past (Thailand has none)

Thailand Observations:

• They love the King. They really do. So much so that you should be careful how you handle the money as the kings picture is on it. Fold it respectfully.
• Thailand is cheap. From the taxis to the 5 star hotels, its cheap
• The famous nightlife gets old fast. GoGo bars are sad places full of middle aged western men living out pedo fantasies. Made me ashamed to be a white western middle aged guy.
• The food is intense, fresh and SPICY
• Everyone smiles, but not every smile, means what it seems.
• "You want lady?" says more about us than them
• Thai silk is hyped, but I don't get it. But it IS cheap.
• There is a famous department store called "Robinson's" in Bangkok. Endless comment from Thais when they heard my name.
• Transexuals, or "Kateoys" as they are known in Thailand, are everywhere, and you can be forgiven for thinkng they look more like women than women. A scarf around the neck hiding the adams apple is a give away, though I watched many a tattoed, booze filled tourist about to make a miscalculation likely to result in "orientation angst". Not many with black eyes though so they must be quite skilled at dealing with the revelation when it comes!
• Thai boxing is brutal, but great to watch
• There is a respect for a foreigner, which seems to be mostly about money.
• Yes Starbucks has arrived.

That's it

One more from the river. I hope all is well.

T