Bangkok was just as I remembered it from a few years ago: small sois (streets) crowded with dread locked hippies wearing fisherman pants, neon lights, lady boys, music pumping day and night, massage parlors, culinary ecstasy for any taste bud, but most of all - the ideal location for complete and utter debauchery. I stayed at a cute, modern guesthouse called The Green House (pictured above). My room had a comfortable bed, AC, hot water, and a window. There was a movie room, travel services, and an excellent restaurant. I've sampled the falafel, soup, curry, potatoes, pizza, and salad. That's "soft food" right? During the hot part of the day, I curl up on the sofa and watch flicks such as: Jack Reacher, Forrest Gump, and The Holiday.
Used bookstore are as ubiquitous as 7-11s, pharmacies, and currency exchange kiosks. I found some good bargains including a travel book by Tim Cahill and a few more in the Bangkok Eight series. It's nice to recuperate in the relative peace and quiet of my room, without nurses chasing me around asking about my bowel movements. I remember that one time a nurse asked me how many c.c's I had peed that day. Are you kidding me? That's like asking how many jelly beans are in the fish bowl. And what the hell is a c.c?
Each day, I feel healthier and stronger. I take long walks around town, browsing the stalls selling clothing, wooden carvings, paintings, jewelry, etc. The food vendors are everywhere, particularly at night, and they sling everything from pad thai, skewered meat, roasted squid (pic. above), corn on the cob, fruit smoothies, coconut ice cream (in the coconut shell), and bugs. Lots of bugs! The local favorites are grasshoppers, scorpions, and beetles. I somehow ended up trying a bite of large black scorpion. I wasn't sure where to begin, so I chomped down on a front claw. It tasted pretty much how you would imagine - was crunchy and gross.
The tattoo parlors have amazing designs. I fought the temptation and ended up getting a new belly ring instead. I also bought some Western foods like cereal, pasta sauce, tortilla chips, instant soup, some dresses, and a fake Rolex watch. Now, if I could just find a washer, dryer, microwave, and dishwasher, I would be all set.
My other exciting purchase was finding some undergarments. I've been wearing the same five bras for the last four months, and let's just say that hand washing is not really doing the trick. So, I found the bra stalls and was sifting through all the pathetically tiny Asian sizes when a lady said, "What size you wear?" The sizes are different in Thai, so I just cupped by bodacious bosom, and she got the point. She dug out a sack from underneath her stall, and pulled out some bras which could double as a parachute. Perfect! Of course, there was no way to try them on privately, so I just put one on over my shirt and sported it for everyone walking by. I mentioned I could use some underwear, and she pulled out some matching panties and said, "Here. Big! For you."
The last two nights, I have watched this Thai guy play guitar and sing. He specializes in American classic rock, and he's really good. He played The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Don McLean, Neil Young, Ben E. King, Johnny Cash, even the Clash. The live music scene is refreshing after listening to nothing but chanting monks, Khmer music, and screaming children. I got a large tattoo on my arm with birds and various designs. Quit having a heart attack, Mom. It's just henna.
I indulged in hot oil massage this afternoon. You just can't beat an hour long massage for $9, especially when your masseuse is a good looking guy. He began by crawling on top of me, tucking my panties into my butt crack, and giving my ass a good rubbing. Hey, if that's where he wants to start, I'm not complaining. He kept asking if the pressure was ok by saying, "Is this too hard?" Me -stifling giggles.
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