I traveled all day today getting to Singapore. This was written yesterday. I have made it to Singapore and will be on my way to Bali tomorrow…YAY!
I got a very early start to this day. My morning wake-up call was the family outside my window chatting while making family breakfast at the outdoor kitchen. Lights glared through my window, laughter and enthusiasm filled the air and were very nice to wake to.
I made it to Lumphini Park and had a lovely stroll. Set amidst the noise and busyness of Bangkok, it is indeed an oasis of quiet. I saw nearly a dozen monitor lizards, was serenaded by birds I’ve never seen before and sat by the lake listening to the fountains. Trees were wrapped with orchids in all colors and were carefully tended by park staff.
A man rode by on his bicycle, his daughter perched on a tiny seat behind him holding on to his waist. She must have been five or so. No helmet, no foot placement or restraint of any sort, just a happy smiling face waving as she and her father rode past. In the US, parents would panic at the lack of safety. Here, kids develop a sense of balance and perhaps self care by the freedom. People jogged, bicycled, practiced their golf swing, slept on the grass, and worked their Tai Chi routine.
Even though it was early it was hot already. I’ve learned to always start with a bottle of water.
After lunch and a nap, I debated getting another massage before leaving. This is the point in the trip where I start counting local currency so I don’t run out or have too much left. My cash fund was suspect and I didn’t know how much it would cost to leave with public transit? I headed to the hostel around the corner and they confirmed what I suspected, it cost about 65 Baht by local transit to the airport ($2.00 US).
Next, I stopped at a currency exchange office, they did change small US bills, and I now had enough to go get that massage. My body was directing me, demanding a massage actually. I’ve been walking sometimes four hours or more each day. I’ve been here for a week now almost. My flight arrived tomorrow morning local time. A week already, really, where did that go?!
My first massage was amazing. My second marginal. This one, I was cautiously optimistic. When I stopped in to ask about a massage, they called for a woman who does the Thai massage. She was amazing and really worked me over. Her hand was half the size of mine and she stood all of 5’2”. Feet, heels, knees and elbows, she used those tools with any leverage she could to work deeply on tight muscles. This really was a great choice!
After the massage, I have my first offer of marriage on the trip. The ladies all wanted to know about my family. When I said I was by myself, they offered the massage therapist saying she would make a very good wife!
I’m surprised it took a week for that to come up in the conversation!
Later, I went to a local restaurant around the corner at the recommendation of the family. It was crowded, people shared tables, and even in the open air environment, it was hot from all the cooking taking place. And the smells coming off the stove, they were only surpassed by the quality of the food I had. Wish I had discovered that earlier.
As I walked around my final evening here, I reflected on some observations here. There is clearly an affluent part of Bangkok distinct from the working class. And there is an effort to groom to impress. Finger nails are elaborately painted, Make up, even in this heat, is carefully and often thickly applied. Eye lashes, skin whitening agents, dress, even the artificial decorator contacts are everywhere. I felt like I was looking into the eyes of a robot with the artificial pattern of the iris in the contacts. I don’t know if they are really contacts or cosmetic enhancements.
When I leave my hotel, I’m asked to leave the key the desk. That was true here and at my last hotel. Attached to the room key is a specially designed plastic piece that fits into a slot in the wall. Once clicked in place, the electricity comes on. Removing it, the power goes off and they save energy cost. Here, they even have a separate breaker for each room and turn it off when a guest leaves.
I thought it was about conservation or at least saving in energy bills. However, when I was out walking along the street even in China Town, open sidewalks in the heat and businesses with doors wide open. Air-conditioned air blasting out into the 95° temperatures and the 95% plus humidity. Seems a strange contradiction?
When I went to the Air Asia office, my prior experience was confirmed. The agent there was really helpful looking up a flight I gave her but she got really confused when I asked her to look at some options for me. For lack of a better word, that creative possibility portion of the brain seems to be lacking. I had to take several steps back, communicate one step at a time and help her help me to get what I wanted.
MBK shopping center is right around the corner from where I’m staying. The businesses there reflect the majority of little businesses here with the exception of the giant malls. Space for retail merchandise it tiny! In some cases, not much bigger than a walk in closet. And that’s fine with them!
When I went to Roti Mataba, it was always packed. I sat with locals waiting for space to open up and several explained that it is always like that. Yet, they haven’t franchised, don’t have more than one location, haven’t “gone public”, have no shareholders to support and seem quite content to be doing what they do the way they do it. In the US, they’d be another “Chipolte” or one of any number of other franchise businesses.
They even take a day off and close completely!!!
Now, it’s late and I have an early start tomorrow. I don’t know when I’ll get this posted but wanted to write this while the thoughts are fresh.
Next stop, Singapore!
Ciao…..