Luxury Alliances in Thailand: 5 Star Hotels in Bangkok
August 28, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
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The simplest way to book a luxury hotel in Bangkok is selecting the official hotel websites of a particular hotel. Among the star rating hotels, 5 star hotels in Bangkok are the grand motels which are mostly preferred to stay by the luxury and elite class travelers. The guests of 5 star hotels in Bangkok include world famous celebrates, great politicians, famous wealthy businessmen, leaders, sportsman and great personalities.
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The impeccable service of the five star hotels in Bangkok attracts its visitors endlessly. Choose one of the most unique, elegant and exquisite grand comfortable hotel in Bangkok. It will be worthy enough if you make a search of such hotels in search engines. However, the names of some 5 Star Hotels In Bangkok can be mentioned here.
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The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa is a luxury hotel which is located near the Chao Phraya River. You will definitely be pleased to see its elegantly decorated and well equipped rooms. Moreover, if you are business or leisure travelers then this resort have lots of facilities to offer to such visitors.
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The room facilities include air-conditioning, telephone, minibar, room safe, satellite TV, voice mail, Tea & Coffee making facilities, room service, In-House Movies, Internet connection, hairdryer, Non- smoking rooms etc. Further, there are also deluxe room facilities, hotel facilities, leisure facilities, family facilities and many more. Above all, the hotel has a large swimming pool as well.
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Bangkok the capital city of Thailand has large number of sumptuous motels. In fact, Thailand also offers lots of 5 star hotels to stay. For instance Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Spa is located on the western shores of the Gulf of Thailand.
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Among 5 Star Hotels In Thailand this five star alliance is really beautiful abode to stay. The rooms of this hotel include fitness center, fine dining nearby, meeting space, fine dining on site, banquets & meetings, Spa facility, high speed internet, outdoor swimming pool, etc. During your stay in Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Spa, you can take part into various activities such as horse riding, jogging and running, biking, shopping, playing volleyball, boating and strolling along the beach. So book Thailand Hotels and enjoy the tour.
The Massage Of Madame Ow-Ow: From A Broad Abroad In Thailand
August 27, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
I was introduced to a real stress-reliever while in Thailand; a most amazing practice, and one that all new expats come to love. It was the wonderful Thai massage. It is usually performed by strong young girls, however I did notice a few males in the trade. One hour of this relaxing massage and most women would be able to negotiate with a terrorist. What a warm and muscle-stimulating practice it is – for most people. I have a problem with pain. I admit it. I have no tolerance for pain and don’t try to hide it.
After a few trips to the massage parlors around town, I’d earned a reputation as Madame Ow-Ow. The tiny massage girls all seemed to be amazed that I could be so sensitive. As soon as I appeared in the waiting room, I’d hear the giggles start. Fine, giggle all you want – just don’t hurt my body. Like it or not, they had to use a little less muscle with me. One of the little power-houses literally left her fingerprints on my arms and legs in the form of purple circles. I warned her about my condition before she started on me; in fact, I showed her some old bruises that the last girl had left on my rump. She obviously had no clue why I was pointing to four round dots on my butt, but as was the norm in this land of smiles, she giggled and began leaving her own marks. Giggling I later learned, can also be the Thai way of hiding embarrassment. Bruises or no, I kept going back – possibly because it felt so good when they stopped. Okay, I admit it, I’m a masochist.
Seeing all the massage parlors in town brought back memories of an earlier visit to Thailand. I had to laugh as I remembered being introduced to the words: “Physical Massage.” It was in the 70s and we were expats living in Iran. My husband, feeling we had earned this treat just by living in that hotbed, had surprised us with a week of R&R at Pattaya Beach. On our first day there we decided to let the kids enjoy the pool while we read and soaked up the sun. We were half asleep when my youngest son, about ten years old at the time, came running up to us. “Dad! Can I have ten bucks?”
“Whaa for?” my half-asleep husband asked.
“That lady over there said to bring ten bucks and she’d give me a good massage.”
At these not so soft-spoken words, we both sat up – as well as most of the people around the pool – and looked in the direction my son pointed. And there she was, a beautiful Thai girl who looked to be no more than sixteen, standing in her shimmering red gown, leaning seductively against the massage parlor door, smiling the sweet Thai smile and motioning for my son to come to her.
“Uh, I think not, son,” I said.
“But, why?” he whined in his usual “you love her more than me” voice while pointing to his sister. “You give her money all the time. Can’t I just have ten bucks?”
Honey,” I whispered, “she’s not a nice lady. She’ll take your money and God knows what she’ll do to you. Besides, massages are for grown-ups. Wait until you’re older, then you can pay for it.”
“Paaaleeez,” he cried plaintively.
By now the male population around the pool was sitting upright, awaiting our decision.
“No! And that’s final,” said my husband in a not-so-final voice. This was not the answer my son wanted to hear. He was the kind of kid who never would accept the word “No” and could argue you to the ground until you cried “Uncle!”
“She said it was good for me,” he yelled in his outdoor voice. “How could she hurt me, Mom? Dad could go along with me to make sure I got my ten bucks’ worth.”
“No.” I said, this time in my outdoor voice. “No more talk of massages.” I turned to my husband for reinforcement, but he was busy putting a bookmark in his novel. “Go back to sleep,” I said, “you’re not going anywhere either.”
One of the best massages I found was in an old run-down home outside of town. The Hilton Hotel Spa it was not, but you soon overlooked the lack of fluff for the wonderful treatment you received. The house was over 100 years old, with cracked windows, torn curtains, sagging sills, patches of linoleum missing here and there, and a musty smell that permeated the whole environment. The interior walls in the center of the house had been removed and the space had been converted to a large dormitory-type room, with mats laid out side-by-side on the floor. Much to my discomfort, air conditioning (or air-con as the Thais say) was sadly absent in this old house. The AC phenomenon was introduced to Thailand with the advent of the farangs invading their land. The Thais don’t seem to feel the heat as the farangs do. When the temperature drops to eighty-five degrees, it might move them to put on a sweater.
Now, I could handle everything else in this place, but when the weather was at its worst, the massage room became one huge sauna and bordered on feral. I tried to get there early before it became too warm. Warm, as in 100 degrees F. The place lacked the niceties of Muzak and ambiance, but it was home to some wonderful girls.
The Blind Student Massage School, appropriately named, was home to young girls who were clinically blind, but who gave wonderful massages. The girls were mainly from poor villages where their parents were unable to get help for them. They were brought to Bangkok by Good Samaritans and schooled in the art of Thai massage. Once trained, they were sent to Pattaya and other towns to live with their benefactors, working to earn their keep. The Thai couple who owned this establishment gave the girls a home to live in, in exchange for their massage work and a small salary. They did very well on their tips and always thanked us profusely. We did wonder how they knew how much we tipped.
The routine went something like this: After check-in, you were given a towel and a pair of cotton PJs – designed to fit a ten-year-old – then escorted to individual vapor steam rooms the size of a small shower, with a bench seat for snoozing. After disrobing, you’d be saturated in wonderful mystical aromas of incense, eucalyptus steam and various other herbal delights. It took me five minutes of this heaven before I would doze off and dream I was Eve, lolling about the Garden in my birthday suit. When you’d yell “Uncle” they’d scoop you out of the shower, help you on with your PJs, and lead you to the massage room and the assigned mat on the floor. What joy! You were clean, warm, snugly, and then the fun began.
The girls would first try to identify you – a game they all played with giggles and excitement. They’d begin by running their sensitive little fingers over your face and downward. By the time they reached your legs they could identify you. Of course, with me, as soon as I uttered “Ow-Ow” I was caught, and had to listen to a chorus of giggles wafting through the room. I still think it was unfair; when they couldn’t immediately identify me, they’d give a pinch to hear my Ow-Ow.
After one hour of this heaven you were escorted to the co-ed shower room where you’d find the usual male opportunists – showering, changing clothes, urinating, or sitting and watching you do the same. At first it was difficult, but over time I would envision myself as Raquel Welsh – loin cloth and all – and didn’t feel quite as modest.
At this same establishment they offered haircuts, facials, manicures and pedicures – I asked for the sighted girls for these jobs -’all for less than ten dollars. If you came in for a wash, you were put on what looked like a hospital gurney and rolled to the shampoo bowl. The first time I experienced this I was a tad apprehensive. Okay, where’s the operating room? But it turned out to be another treat for the pampered farang. They had a very inventive way of preparing you for the shampoo by slipping one end of a rubber tray under your neck, while the other end drained into the shampoo bowl. Why don’t we have this technique stateside? What a simple concept: the water doesn’t drain down your neck, leaving a soggy blouse; no wet towels to deal with, and no concrete slab for your arthritic neck to balance on. You’re in a lying position and soon you’re fast asleep.
Along with these wonderful shampoos would come a head massage, neck and scalp massage, and anything else you wanted massaged. The shampoo was something all the expat ladies looked forward to; three washes, three rinses, and a twenty-minute head and neck massage.
Other pleasures to the senses were the trips that many of the ladies took to Bangkok for beauty treatments. The salon offered massages, hair and nail services, and pedicures. It was heaven to spend the day being pampered. If you were in a hurry it was the best place to go. To gain entrance you had to ring a buzzer, wherein the manager would greet you at the door and ask you three questions: (1) Are you in a hurry? (2) What services do you want? And (3) Whom would you like to have work on you? If the answer to number one was in the affirmative, the manager would assign as many girls to you as you had appendages; one girl for each hand for manicures, one girl for each foot for pedicures, one girl for cutting, curling and blow drying your hair. Watching all these girls working on me, I felt I was being prepared for a Thai barbecue.
It was marvelous if you needed to be in and out quickly, but made it quite difficult to read a book.
(Reprinted with permission from A Broad Abroad in Thailand by Dodie Cross).
The Marble Mall, for Shopping in Bangkok
August 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
The MBK mall or Mahboonkrong mall has become synonymous with shopping in Bangkok. Ask any Thai what is the best mall to visit in Bangkok? And they will no doubt answer MBK mall. When the mall was built in 1985 it was one of the largest shopping centers in Asia. The sheer size of the mall means that it has lots of shopping outlets which appeals to different segments of the population.
Today this gargantuan mall is made up of eight stories and is finished of with marble houses close to 2,500 shopping outlets, 150 food stalls and a cinema complex. Due to it’s sheer size the MBK mall has become a icon in Bangkok and is instantly recognizable. Since the mall is located in the heart of Bangkok’s shopping and entertainment district in Sukhumvit, it is usually a place that is much frequented by tourists. The mall is also popular among locals especially fashion conscious Thai school girls.
The mall has a daily visitor count of over 100,000 with about 30,000 of them being tourists. Bargaining is commonplace here, though it helps if you know some Thai, also be sure to choose the right shop. The mall is known for selling cheap electronic goods and mobile phones however it also has a variety of other goods on offer as well. The eight floors in the mall are loosely divided as follows:
1st – 3rd Floor: Clothes, Cosmetics, Shoes, Jewelries, Leather items, Accessories, Paintings, Photo studios, Hair Salons, etc. 4th Floor: Mobile phones and accessories, Communication equipments, Walkman, CD and MP3 players, Electronics. 5th Floor: International Food Court, Restaurants, Furniture. 6th Floor: Souvenir shops, Food center
7th – 8th Floor: Entertainment complex, containing 8 movie theatres, 28 bowling lanes, Karaoke options, and food and drinks.
The Tokyu department store which is a Japanese department store that sells household appliances is on the North wing of the fourth floor, this floor also has a direct link with the SkyTrain.
Hotels on Sukhumvit road offer unprecedented access to the shopping mall because if their geographical proximity as well as through the SkyTrain link. A number of Bangkok serviced apartments are found in these areas that are a viable option for long stay travelers.
Museum higlights of Bangkok
August 25, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
Kicking off your tour, start at the National Museum, home to the kingdom’s leading collection of local art and artefacts. Located not far from Wat Phra Kaew, or the Grand Palace, it was founded by King Rama V and displays the treasures bestowed on him by his father. These days, it houses a well arranged range of exhibits chronicling the development of Thai history, and descriptions in English are available.
Suan Pakkad Palace Museum, the former palace of Prince Chumbhot and his wife Mom Rajawongse Pantip, displays the important role royalty played and still plays in Thai everyday life. Converted into a museum in 1952, the eight houses, built in traditional Thai style, are linked by corridors, thus forming a single, unified structure. The highlight is the display of the ancient Ban Chiang collection which dates back to 3600 BC to 200 AD and puts Ban Chiang on par with other major ancient world civilisations.
More lively royal exhibits, this time water based, can be admired at the Royal Barge Museum. This is where the Royal Thai barges are stored when not being used in one of the elaborate ceremonies on the nearby Chao Phraya River. Visitors can get a glimpse of how the barges are used during one of these exciting events. Measuring up to 50 metres in length, the old style barges make for quite an impressive sight.
Back among the hustle and bustle of the central shopping malls and department stores is the tranquil oasis of Jim Thompson’s House, tucked away down a little lane alongside one of Bangkok’s few remaining canals. This old-style teak house was the former residence of Jim Thompson, who single handedly regenerated the Thai silk trade before later disappering in the Malysian Highlands under mysterious circumstances. Visitors can admire fine Asian art and artefacts and take a break in the coffee shop, set in the lush gardens.
More hair-raising history can be seen at the Bangkok Corrections Museum on Maha Chai road. This museum is housed in a former prison and gruesomely displays how the ancient penal system, based on retribution and sever punishment, was implemented. Life-sized wax figures can be seen upstairs in grisly execution scenes, while shopping fans will love the high quality furniture and handicrafts for sale in blocks 2 and 3, crafted by prisoners from prisons around Thailand.
Pirated goods are not only widely for sale on the streets and in the shopping centres of Bangkok. Now there’s a whole museum dedicated to the ingeniuty of modern-day counterfeiters. Established in 1989, the Museum of Counterfeit Goods exhibits pirated wares seized in raids, such as electronics, drugs, households appliances, car parts, clothing, leather goods and footwear.
Shopping at Night in Suan Lum
August 25, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
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The Suan Lum Night Bazaar is a open air market that is located in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan district, opposite the historic Lumphini Park at the junction where Sathorn Road and Rama IV meet. This Night Bazaar is best described as a spruced up flea market whose clientele ranges from posh locals shopping after work and casually dressed tourists looking for souvenirs and outdoor eateries.
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The market usually opens in the afternoon approximately around 3 pm and stays open until mid night, though a number of outlets open up much later. The Suan Lum night bazaar should not be taken as a paradigm for other open air markets in Thailand, in reality the Suan Lum Night Bazaar was developed with its central focus on tourists and rich Thais. Therefore the conditions of the shops, walkways and food outlets are infinitely better than what one would experience at any other Thai market.
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The covered walkways and the conveniently located eateries make shopping here enjoyable; also one does not have to endure the usual rowdy locals that are seen at many such bazaars. A number of small cafes and food outlets can be seen inside the bazaar, while many of them offer traditional Thai food, cuisine from countries like Italy, China, Mexico and Germany can also be enjoyed here. A large Beer Garden, concert area and a large food court are located on the other side of the market and offer a variety of entertainment. Live performers often play gigs here while the Joe Louis Puppet theatre and Bangkok Hall are also situated inside the bazaar.
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The 3,000 different retails stores inside the bazaar ply a multitude of items such as fruit, clothing, antiques, jewelry, electronics, paintings and sculptures. The bazaar is actually divided into different areas that sell specialized goods. The happening night clubs of Silom are also just short distance away, tourists looking for Bangkok hotel accommodation in this area can stay in at the President Solitaire, which is a Bangkok Sukhumvit hotel located close to the Suan Lum Night Bazaar.
Bangkok Serviced Apartments
August 25, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
If you are planning a trip to Bangkok you might want to consider staying in one of Bangkok’s fantastic serviced apartments. Bangkok services apartments are great for a nightly visit or an extended holiday or business trip.
Bangkok services apartments offer you plenty of amenities to choose from. There is no reason for you to feel that you are staying in a stark hotel room. With these apartments you can expect to feel right at home with daily maid service, broadband internet, lounges, and much more. The more luxurious Bangkok serviced apartments will offer you a gym where you can go to workout after a long day of sightseeing or sitting in business meetings. Just because you are away from home there is no reason for you to miss your daily exercise sessions.
You will also find that many Bangkok serviced apartments offer you office services that give you access to a secretarial pool and meeting rooms. Perhaps you need something typed up that one of the secretaries will be able to help you with. You will also have access to copy machines and fax machines if you need them.
Most Bangkok serviced apartments also offer you a swimming pool that you can enjoy during your stay. Nothing is quite as relaxing as a quick dip in the pool to cool off after a long day of sightseeing or working.
After your dip in the pool you will usually find an excellent restaurant within the complex or located nearby. Most Bangkok serviced apartments are situated within walking distance of shopping, entertainment, and eating. If you are not in the mood for something substantial to eat you might consider relaxing in the lounge for a quick snack and an enjoyable drink.
With Bangkok serviced apartments the only thing you have to do is relax and enjoy your stay. Everything you need will be catered to you. You will feel as though you are a pampered guest at a lush resort. The individual attention you receive will make your stay pleasant and enjoyable.
Backpacking In Thailand
August 22, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
Planning a trip to Thailand appeals to travelers of all shapes, sizes and budgets because it is quite easy to navigate about the different cities and main attractions. The travel is also inexpensive, leaving you with more money to explore the booming silk industry, as well as the delicious cuisine. Thai food melds a combination of mind, body and soul into their spicy and sweet balanced meals, offering some of the best dishes in the world.
Why Thailand is So Popular
When planning a backpacking trip to Thailand, you may have heard of what attracts tourists to the various areas about the country. In the North, trekking through the mountains is quite popular. More than 300 temples can be located in the beautiful natural surroundings of Chiang Mai. Top-notch quality and inexpensive stays can be found at every corner, offering flavorful food and interesting shopping outlets.
As a backpacker, you will find an abundance of places to stay at in the area, including Julie’s Guesthouse. At this establishment, you will be able to sign up for a couple of days trekking through the jungle that features lovely views and a first-hand look at how the locals thrive. To avoid getting hit by the monsoon rains, plan an adventure for this area between the months of October and April.
Central Thailand brings the allure of Bangkok, which overflows with shopping, addicting cuisine, palaces and temples. The Chao Phraya River provides a great scene to explore. Main attractions to consider include the Royal Palace, the Wats and Chinatown, as well as the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Notable festivals can be experienced in Ayuthaya, where scenic riverside gardens await in Sukhothai. The endless possibilities for exploration are mind-boggling. The islands of Southern Thailand bring you closer to white sands and warm waters. The largest of the bunch is called Phuket, where other notable selections include the Phi Phi Islands and the waterfalls of Krabi.
Nightlife
Many tourists enjoy the overall aspect of Thailand nightlife. This is one of the main reasons a large amount of travelers backpack throughout the country: nature, culture, food and fun. If it’s a good time you’re looking for, try the many go-go and beer bars in Pattaya, as well as Chaweng Beach (Ko Samui) that parties into the wee hours of the night. Koh Phangan is the site where thousands of locals and tourists gather to celebrate by the light of the full moon. It’s a world famous beach party that never seems to end, offered once every month. It is one of the best places to experience the food, drink and dance of Thailand island life in an event that literally rocks the senses.
The law of the land states that bars and nightclubs close at 2 in the morning when visiting Bangkok, but there is always somewhere to go, whether it’s just a delicious restaurant tucked away on a side street. The largest area to explore is called Patpong, which provides three streets to explore. For more information on the ins and outs of Thailand, check out the latest information posted on www.jeng-thailand.com.
Thailand Private Investigators – We Get the Answers Because You Have the Right to Know the Truth!
August 22, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
Thailand is not only known as a tourist paradise or a shopping haven but also for its highly competent Private Investigators. They provide a broad range of the best professional services covering all areas of private investigations. Need a private detective to do background checks, perform fidelity checks on loved ones, locate a missing person, conduct surveillance and monitoring or investigate other special cases? Thai Private Eyes can get the information or evidence you need quickly and accurately to help you make informed decisions.
When considering hiring a private detective, look no farther than LP Concept Co. Ltd. (Thailand-Investigation.com). Established in 2002 with Michel Mauquoi (a former Belgium Police Investigator) as managing director, the company provides the best quality and effective service at fair and reasonable cost to clients and assures them absolute confidentiality. Its team of expert private investigators is well-versed in Thai customs and culture. LP Concept Co., Ltd. is based in Bangkok and also serves Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin, the Isaan Region and all points nationwide.
In Thailand where prostitution is prevalent, pre-nuptial background checks, fidelity checks and surveillance have become commonplace. Investigating cheating or infidelity is one of the most important services that LP Concept Co., Ltd. renders. If you need to know if your partner is cheating on you, the private investigators can help you find out the truth. They will gather information about your partner’s activities and interactions, do research and interviewing. When conducting surveillance, there is no better way to document the true facts than irrefutable video and photographic evidences. We uses the latest surveillance technology and investigation gadgets and equipment. You will receive a complete detailed report and pictures (if circumstances permit) of your partner’s activities. Digital voice recording may also be utilized if possible. The private detectives will provide you with concrete evidences to undeniably prove your suspicions. They also do background checks on employees, discreet business checks on current/potential partners.
Lost touch with an old friend? Need help locating a family member? LP Concept Co. Ltd. has the knowledge and resources to find virtually anyone – relatives, lost friends, runaway children, business associates, witnesses, debtors and so forth. Its experienced private investigators use a wide range of methods to locate a missing person including updated special databases, advanced Internet searches, public records and other innovative techniques to find a missing person in the shortest time possible.
We always works with clients every step of the way to make sure they receive the services they need. It tailors its investigations to fit a client’s specific needs while providing a professional and affordable service where facts are delivered to clients in a timely manner.
So, whether you need a Private Investigator in Thailand to check on your cheating partner (husband, wife, fiancée, fiancé, boyfriend, girlfriend), to do an employee background check, to track a missing person or to search public records, the company’s network of private detectives can guarantee a thorough, results-oriented investigation to successfully resolve your case. For further details visit www.thailand-investigation.com.
Yaowarat Road – “Experience the splendor of Bangkok’s Chinatownâ€
August 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
Yaowarat Road is situated in the centre of the Bangkok’s Chinatown, which is one of the most vibrant cities in Bangkok. The Yaowarat road has a unique curvy shape, a shape of a dragon which symbolizes a dragon’s curvy body. Dragon is an important symbol for Chinese since they consider it as auspicious. Thus the dragon shaped Yaowarat road is considered as an auspicious location for business and pleasure.
Many food outlets with a variety of local delicacies, a large number of gold shops, clothes shops, souvenirs and antique shops coupled with imported goods shops and many more varieties of shops are located alongside Yaowarat road making it one of the most attractive streets for the discerning travelers who love food and shopping.
In the night this road becomes very colorful with the magnificent lanterns that are decorated in front of shops and restaurants. In the past this road was famous for striptease dance and for gold trade and it still retains the reputation for high quality gold products. A cinema hall is also built up on this road where movies are shown every evening.
Today this road has become a main economic road in Bangkok and the largest Chinese cultural center in Thailand which still retains the ancient Chinese traditions. There are numerous Chinese Buddhist shrines that are located in Yaowarat road which emphasizes the firm belief of Chinese descendants in Buddhism. Statues of gods and goddesses are also built throughout this area to highlight its faith in religion.
A large number of tourists visit this lively and breathtaking street every year to get the most memorable experience of their lifetime including shopping and pleasure. Comfortable and luxurious Bangkok hotel accommodation is available at a number of apartments such as Grand President near Yaowarat road to provide guests who are visiting Bangkok a truly pleasurable experience.
The Exotic Streets Of Bangkok
August 18, 2009 by admin
Filed under Tourist Attractions
After two days of jet-lag, I decided I was now ready to do some sight-seeing in Bangkok. I dressed in shorts and T-shirt, and carried a towel and a bottle of ice water to pour over my head to ward off heat stroke. I wasn’t going to let a little monsoon keep me inside. My husband, Dick, came along, reluctantly, but I knew it was to keep check on my impulsive spending habits. He is not a shopper. I can’t help it if my DNA is overrun with sales signs and discount figures. It’s what most women do. I do it well.
The sights and smells of Bangkok cannot be adequately described by a mere mortal such as I — but I’ll try.
Bangkok is a mish-mash of elegance, squalor, delicious aromas, and putrid smells — from an overworked, under-built sewer system. Sightseeing was going to be a problem, I could tell. I had to keep my head down and a wary eye on the pavement to avoid various bricks and rocks strewn here and there. An unsteady obstacle course awaited the hapless toe. I’d heard that archeological excavations revealed civilization was alive and well in Thailand over 4,000 years ago. Could these bricks be the remnants of their digs?
Melting asphalt stuck to my shoes as I tried to pick my way across the steaming streets. Dirt, grime and debris cluttered the sidewalks, buildings and alleyways. Scurrying tourists and expatriates from all over the world filled the streets, along with the wonderful smiling Thais. Bangkok, I’d read, is truly an international city and one of the largest ethnic mixes in the world, with people shopping, selling, buying and trading, cooking and eating. I found myself caught up in the frenzy and excitement.
Stores, stores, and more stores, selling leather goods, ready-made clothing of wools and silks made by artistic Thai and Chinese tailors, genuine Ralph Lauren shirts, jewelry, paintings, footwear, and household goods. Carts with fruit sellers and fortune tellers squeezed into small stalls dotted the area. My eyes could not keep up with my thoughts as I surveyed the excitement surrounding me. Whatever Madame’s heart desired could be produced, and all you had to do was ask! I loved this place. The gracious vendors smile, wai and disappear, returning a few minutes later with just what Madame requested. And tailor shops were everywhere, each offering ready-to-wear in twenty-four hours. If you had a favorite outfit purchased at, say, Nordstrom’s, and wanted it duplicated, all you had to do was give it to the tailor and two more would be ready for you the next day at one-third the price paid for the original.
In fact, if you stood still long enough, you might find them coming up to you with their measuring tapes at the ready. On one such encounter I stood peering in a shop window when I felt someone touching me. I whirled around. “What are you doing?” I shrieked at the startled man beside me. I was worried he might be one of those pickpocket experts I’d been warned about.
“Sokay Madame, I jut fit you foh new clothes. We make what you like foh goot baht.”
“What kind of clothes?” I asked, not quite so worried.
“Genuine copy, Madame!”
Having something tailor-made, plus a “genuine copy” was exciting, but I had nothing with me at the moment to give him. “Maybe I’ll come back and bring something.”
“Sokay, sokay, you come back latah, yeth?”
“Probably not today, but maybe…”
Dick had been checking out some western boots in a shop window when he heard the transaction take place. “Christ, don’t start. You already have more clothes than you can wear and no closets to put them in.”
“No mattah,” the vendor said, pointing to my slacks. “I make copy foh you now.”
“Well, I do like these…”
“Don’t you have enough to wear? Come on, let’s go,” my husband hissed as he grabbed my arm and started walking away. The vendor looked startled at Dick’s outburst. I learned later that it’s out of character for Thais to raise their voice or show any kind of aggressive behavior in public. It’s fundamentally against their nature and their Buddhist beliefs. To witness this kind of behavior was not acceptable. He looked down at his shoes.
“Excuse me?” I threw Dick a hateful look. “Could you be any more rude?”
“Yeah, well, I know you when it comes to shoppin’. Say goodbye, let’s go.”
I gave the vendor an apologetic look as I turned to leave, but made a mental note of his area. I would return — sans husband.
I noted dozens of these vendors milling about. They didn’t have a specific area where they did business but rather walked around drumming it up, sort of like a tailor’s rep. If they found any live ones they’d drag them to the shop, drop them off to be fitted and then leave to find another customer. I assumed they received a commission for all the bodies they brought in. I was sure I’d find just the right place when I returned.
Dick grumbled that he was hungry, a euphemism used to drag me away from shopping. We followed our noses toward the food smells, but as we approached the area he slowed his pace. “What?”
“Maybe we should wait ’til we get back to the hotel.”
I could hear the fear in his voice. “Come on! What’re you afraid of? I don’t see any tourists bent over with signs of botulism.”
“Maybe they’ve been here a while. They’re used to the food. We’ve got USA stomachs. That stuff might give us the runs.”
“We have to get used to it sooner or later, we’re going to be here for a while and I plan on eating like the natives, not the tourists.”
“And in the meantime, we suffer?”
Geez, what a wuss! “We’ll build antibodies.”
I strode off ahead of him, wondering what I would do if I got a case of the runs right here in downtown Bangkok. I should have put some Lomotil in my purse before I left the hotel, a purse that was now heavier than a pallet of bricks as I kept adding all the things that I felt would keep me from getting all the things that everyone said I’d get.
With cauldrons of boiled chicken — feathers floating in the water — frying fish and oysters, coupled with the noxious fumes from the cars and sewers, it was easy to understand how a newbie could get nauseous. I strolled and sniffed. Oh the smells; some good, some disgusting, rancid, flowery, spicy, fishy and others unnamable.
A bit further down we found the origin of the odors. Natives were hawking their foods and wares on card tables, pushcarts, wooden tables, concrete-blocks, showing and selling their treasures and serving their food. One cart might have Rolex wannabes and genuine look-alike pearls and rubies, while the next might sell fish — cooked or raw — while ravenous flies were no doubt dropping their larvae as they hovered above the food. With a wave of the hand to disburse the flies, and an exchange of baht, off went the food to the Thai’s iron-clad digestive system; curried chicken, noodles, shrimp, squid, and the all-important staple — rice.
Next to the food were tables with T-shirts, shorts, “genuine” Gucci purses, leather pants, more watches and “No Copy” Dior perfume. The next cart might be laden with kettles of boiling squid, noodles or shrimp soup, sending their tempting aromas to the heavens. I took a quick peek inside the pots. I could have sworn I saw some very dubious looking characters bearing an uncanny resemblance to octopi, bats, snakes, and strange looking mushrooms. Maybe I’d pass on the soup. The next cart could be moo (pork) or gai (chicken) and mee grob, the Thai national favorite of fried noodles.
Standing at the ready, beneath the food carts, were the ever-present ravenous dogs, waiting for a tidbit to fall their way. This was one of the most pathetic sights I’d ever seen. Literally dozens of dogs roamed the city, the majority of them looking sick and emaciated, fur coming out in large patches. Some were bleeding from mange with flea-infested scabs invading most of their ravaged bodies. With their hind legs in constant motion as they scratched, they appeared to be permanently standing on three legs. Years of inbreeding and lack of care left them looking more like canine caricatures than real dogs. Some appeared to have begun their lineage from a large breed with perhaps a smaller one infiltrating the love nest. Many had at least one of their legs broken and twisted from either a head-on with a motorcycle or a car.
The Thais didn’t seem to notice the pitiful creatures as they walked around or stepped over them. But they never seemed to be upset by the sight of them and most didn’t even bother to shoo them away. They seemed to tolerate them — as they did the farangs — without showing animosity.
The number of dogs running loose without a home saddened me. In the span of a few blocks, we saw, and nearly tripped over, dozens of them. Some were mating, some looky-loos wishing they were mating, very few were fighting, and some were just cooling their heels by a rubbish heap waiting for a juicy morsel to unearth itself. The dogs seemed to have the same kicked-back personalities as the Thais, lying outstretched in the middle of a street or highway or just dozing under food carts.
Adding to this carnival-type excitement, on the sidewalks and streets, were the merchants who pushed or drove their portable kitchens on what appeared to be old Schwinn bicycles with sidecars attached. On top of the sidecar stood a shelf with a butane burner, which kept the food tongue-scorching hot. Down the street they’d peddle — fires burning, kettles boiling and pots swaying to and fro.
Further along I saw frail little pushcarts on spindly wheels with pots hanging from wires over a small butane burner, brimming over with boiling delicacies. Ten to twelve plucked chickens, open eyes staring, dangling limply on wires stretched across the cart. The seller, after shooing away the flies, would grab a handful of chickens and toss them into the steaming cauldrons, along with boiled corn on the cob and fresh veggies to finish off the well-rounded meal. Next to these pushcart, and stacked high on blocks, were a profusion of tape recorders, cassette tapes, candy bars melting in the heat, and Buddha statues. All this seemed quite unsanitary by American standards, in fact, an inspector from the Health Department might drop with apoplexy, but I said damn the fly larvae and ate with abandon. I ordered what I thought looked edible but dumped the little wiggly things that appeared to be treading water. Dick opted for corn on the cob and rice.
I had made up my mind that if I was going to live in this country, I’d better learn to like their food. And like it I did. In fact, I can close my eyes today and fondly recall the smell and taste of Bangkok.
After a busy day of shopping, walking and eating, I slept like the dead — concrete-slab mattress and all.
