Bangkok, Thailand

March 13.14, 2009

Ah, to be breathing the unique air of Bangkok once again. Back at our “usual” guesthouse we feel right at home. We did nothing of substance for two days.

Went to Soi Cowboy – which is a street in Bangkok famous for its go-go bars and go-go girls (and also for the large number of old foreign men found on the street). Lana and I had a few drinks and watched it all like some kind of spectator sport.

I have never seen so many Dallas Cheerleader outfits or prom dresses or very short school girl outfits in my life. The neon lights are very bright and only some of the clients are shy.

Wondering around Bangkok (looking for a snake farm) and met an older gentleman who started to ask us questions and then said he was going to the temple across the street and insisted that we go with him. He took us to the different buildings, explaining how things worked (where the head monk lived, when the monks do devotions etc).

He pointed out that even through this was a very large and visible complex that it was not listed on any of the tourist maps. According to Thom (the gentlemen) this is a temple that many VIPs come to (like head of the Army) and tourists are not directed there. He talked us through making a small offering and then we were blessed with holy water. According to Thom one of the gods comes into the temple each night and renews the blessing on the water. He said it would make out lives happier and better so who were we to refuse.

He then took us to a little hole in the wall restaurant that had excellent food although don’t ask me what it was. I suspect that Thom was, as he told us, retired but I also suspect that he was also a “finder” for a travel agency. There are many of them in Bangkok and they will help you with directions or whatever and pretty soon you find yourself on the doorstep of the “cheapest travel agency” in Bangkok.

Thom directed us a place and we went in to make him happy. He had already spent the afternoon with us. When we came out he was gone. We didn’t buy anything from the agent but enjoyed the afternoon and I hope that Thom got something from it too.