Bowling and fungus
Another day in Bangkok....
Hope this finds you all well. Watching TV news at the restaurant the other night (TV's are everywhere including the tiny barge shack homes), the anchors closed the evening not by shuffling and collecting papers, but by the polite, respectful "wai" done in unison. For those of you unfamiliar with this, it is the hands in a prayer like pose, with hands near the chin or nose or forehead (depending on the degree of respect and formality) and a slight bowing of the head. So beautiful and yet another reminder of the the graciousness of the people here.
A bit in stark contrast to experience of this am.... Funny and a bit shocking.... Was walking on the main street here to the internet place. Group of business men in black slacks and impeccably ironed white dress shirts sitting at a food stall table eating. Man turned away from the table and closing off one nostril, blew the other nostril's snot onto the sidewalk. He then wiped his nose with the back of his hand and went on eating. Cultural differences!!!!
This city is soooo great!!
So, about the bowling and fungus....
It seems that every time I leave my oasis of a condominium, there is another adventure. Yesterday I set out to get a cell phone. Seemed simple enough, but after searching all the regular type mall places, I found that they were upwards of $100 for a very basic model. On the skytrain on the way to yet another possible shopping mall, I was squeezed next to a Thai Michael Jackson look-a-like (although he didn't bleach his skin). He smiled and seemed so sweet! He was hanging with an older western-looking chap who also had a nice feel to him. We all got off at the same place and changed trains and were together again. We started conversation and I mentioned I was going phone hunting. Where were they going?...Bowling. Yes, in the middle of the afternoon, bowling. Well, Nom (michael j.) decided that I should have the same Nokia phone that he had and that he would get it for me for cheap like he had gotten it. Anyone traveling in Thailand (and other countires like Egypt as you remember, mom) have to be wary of the local that will take you to his "cousin's" shop and then you can't leave without buying lots of stuff. I just trusted, and as Nom sped through the mall crowds through hundreds (so it seemed) of shops, up escalators, around corners with Andrew and I dashing behind trying not to loose him, we arrived at a maze of shops all selling phones. Here Nom bargained with one after another until he found a great deal for me-his same phone for 1600 baht + 200 for SIM card = about $47. What a deal! Only problem was, that everything on the phone was in Thai, so Nom set me up with the English settings. We were then informed that yesterday was Nom' birthday (26) and Andrew should buy him a gift. What he wanted was a $5 multicolored flashing light phone face plate. He gave me his old baby blue plate. Nom wanted me to come bowling with them and how could I resist such a warm hearted "character". Bowling in Thailand-what a trip. How long has it been since you've been bowling ?(not too long for Lori I know!) Ya- me too. This bowling "alley" was a high tech, disc (CD) spinning, loud, amazing scene. Everyone know Nom and he soon had my cell phone charging somewhere, a pitcher of beer ordered and us with "grateful dead" and neon colored bowling balls brought to us by the many helpers (labor is very cheap here!) We danced as we bowled and Andrew and I did our best to loose to our Michael Jackson performer host. I( I won the first and lost the last game). Onto the fungus.....
Gotta eat after bowling, so off to the MK restaurant in the mall. Nom ordered. They bring an electric wok to the tabel filled with water and it simmers and boins whatever you order and put into it. Tons of veggies went into it first. Then you take your ladle with holes, fill it with whatever else you have ordered that is on the little trays, and you cook it in the water. Ate lots of undiscernable stuff-jellyfish? etc...At one point Nm decided to feed me this "thing" . It looked like across between tripe and the net sponges that you use in the shower. He said it would make me "healthy and more beauty". Couldn't resist. I just kept asking " no animal intestines, right?" Seemed he fed me a huge mashrrom fungus thing that was highly prized and it was rather good!!!
Onward to ice cream shop where we ate great american style ice cream and picked our teeth (with other hand covering mouth) with little American flag toothpicks (gotta get some of those for you Susanne!). Finding a photo booth, we picked out backgrounds and crammed into the booth, took picutres of us to remember the eve together! I finally bid my farewells and found my way home and to bed. About midnight, Nom and Andrew were leaving their "club" (they said I wouldn't like it-not any heterosexuals there for me I guess) and they called my new phone just to say goodnight. So sweet! I have two new friends in Bangkok who I will meet up with and go and laugh with some!
The sun rises on the calm river and I lay in bed watching its crimson orb make its way through the smog and clouds to begin the day. Mornings are almost quiet in the city. Most places don't open 'till 10am. As the sun rises to about 45degrees, it becomes yellowish and the sky a light blue. The heat begins. Not opressive as I thought, but is still winter I'm told. Moon rises over the river again, now not so calm as the boats of the day have churned it up. Moon rise is subject to the same smog as the sunrise and the color is an orangey/gold color.
Amazing city. Amazing people. Think I'll go and explore some more!!!
Best to you all-
Monk
posted by Monica @ 12:07 PM
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