Milo me, baby!
It’s T minus two hours until the cab comes to pick me up. I’m going to be way early to the airport but I figure it’s better to be safe than sorry, and I’m anticipating strange decisions like “no hand luggage” in light of the recent busts re airline terrorism. Only heard about those yesterday from and English guy I met stranded in Thailand; he’s been here six weeks and is very ready to go home but told me his flight has been postponed in light of what’s happened in England. I must have been on one of the last planes they let depart normally.
As discussed I skipped Koh Samui (non-refundable flight, but it was cheap) and it paid off. Today was a beautiful day in Bangkok, weather-wise, and yesterday showed glimpses of the same. Better than that though, a particular Australian who we affectionately call Goldie (a.k.a Troy) arrived in BKK yesterday, and we managed, with a bit of hassle to meet up. He tells me Samui is forecast fine for the next few days but every forecast I see still says thunderstorms and at least a 40% chance of rain. I’d be back in 3 days anyway, so I’m not stressing about it.
Yesterday started early. The Guest House I was staying in needed to be dealt with; as I was finally drifting off to sleep, still jet lagged, at like 3am Thai time, I got a nice sharp bite from … a bed bug. Yup, I thought it was gross too, especially since there wasn’t just one but at least 5. I beat them all as well as I could then slept in the centre of the mattress with a blanket over me in an attempt to avoid further bites; it seemed to work, there’s just the one. So first order of business was to check into New World Hotel, my old hotel from the tour I did through Thailand.
New World is heaps more expensive, but still cheap for a 3.5 - 4 star hotel at about 40 AUD per night for a two bed room (all they had left, so I took it). It’s also full of non-Thais which means I have met one or two people in passing in the halls. Not that I’ve been in that much. After checking in, arranging for my new flights, bringing my suit tailoring forward, etc. I headed down to Khoasan Road for some shopping.
“Some” might be a little bit under-stated. In the end I bought about eight T shirts, only half of which fit just right. Why would I buy shirts which are a little too long or big? Because they have Baby Milo on them, man! Yup, my favourite character from chick’s tops the last time I was here has finally been promoted to Mediums and Larges. The problem is there is no consistency in the size of a T, so while they are all Mediums, some are larger than others, by a fair bit. But hey, at between $4 and $5 a piece, I’m laughing, even if I pass some of them off to bigger friends 
Actually, in general the range and quality of tops seems to have improved greatly in 18 months, and the price only gone up a tiny bit.
Next I went to Chinese Tailor and had my fitting. Having been through the process once before I knew how it all went and what to look for. The tailor had done an excellent job on the shirt, pants and shell of a jacket which I tried; a good start. I was picky about sleeve length and how much was enough in terms of the ‘athletic’ shaping of the jacket. That went quickly and easily, but finished at about 6.30 when traffic was absolute madness. The mini-vans which belong to the tailor and ferry people to and from places were all stuck in traffic. I waited. Spoke to one of the guys who Sam (my tailor) assigned to keep me company; I would have been happy to just read, but we had a good enough chat about what it’s like to live in Thailand, etc.
By 7pm they were trying to get me a cab and willing to pay so I could get back to my hotel in time to meet Troy who was coming over for dinner. By 7.30 I was already late and rang Troy who was also stuck in traffic. I called (international mobile call) from their offices and we changed our meeting place to a point only a few blocks from where I was, and easier for him to get to by car, just as the van arrived to ferry me there. 10 minutes later, as we pulled up, the driver gets a call on his mobile then hands it to me… “Ah, hello?” The voice on the other end of the phone spoke more Thai than English, and mainly to someone other than me, but from the few words she said I realized I had left my mobile back at the tailor; it must have slipped out of my pocket. Not a big deal except Troy needed to message me on it because we were meeting in a very general vicinity.
I explained i couldn’t wait until today to get it back and needed it straight away; the van had to go back to the tailor anyway, so I would just accompany it. Instead, they sorted something out between themselves, and we continued driving - with me unsure what was going on - pretty much around the block. On the other side of the block we stopped in the middle of the road and a motorbike pulled up on my side, next to the van’s sliding door. If the rider hadn’t been wearing a suit, I would have freaked out when a helmet-clad dude opened the door of the van in a random alley, but it was in fact Ram, one of the assistance to my tailor who had made the trip on a motorbike (in no time flat) to deliver me my mobile. Now that’s what I call service!
After that things went pretty smoothly. Bought a phone card, called Troy, had a chat and met up outside Starbucks. We went to dinner with Jam and one of her local friends at a Japanese place. I was pleasantly surprised to find my Japanese set - which cost all of $6 for a main and four little side dishes - was very authentic, and delicious. Troy and I discussed our trips and the girls discussed… other stuff (well it was in Thai, so I have no idea), and joined in with us a bit. At some point it was suggested (by the girls, I swear!) that we visit Pad Pong, the infamous market in the middle of the Red Light District. Troy, Jam and I had never been there, so we agreed.
The Sky Train (Monorail, *monorail, mono… doh!*) took us to Pad Pong from the doorstep of the restaurant, which was in one of four massive malls on four big blocks, all connected by overpasses. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I had heard. Pad Pong that is. The market was much like Khoasan at night, but on the outskirts, and really only there, were men with little cards which had suggestive words on them (no pictures). They who waved them at you and called further rude words, in attempts to get you to enter one or other of the bars which lines the streets. No girls in windows or anything like that, like Amsterdam and other places. It was really just like walking down the dodgy bit of Swanston St, times about 10, or walking through the Cross in Sydney, but with a cool market to keep you distracted. To my collection of shirts from earlier, I added three ties which cost just under $1.80 each. Real silk apparently *cough*, but they look good and will match my new suits.
After that, Jam gave me a lift back home and we agreed to meet this morning for more shopping together, this time at one of the big malls.
I hopped kinda straight into bed but couldn’t sleep so got up and watched Channel V (Asian edition) on cable for a few hours, then managed to fall asleep. I woke at 8 and hit snooze, then again at 9. Got up, got ready and caught a cab to Siam Square to meet Troy and Jam. We had breakfast together, then Jam went for a massage (smart move, wish I’d had time for the same!) and Troy and I went into the first of the four malls. In the four hours (ish) of shopping thereafter we manged to see a bout two levels of that one mall, only. Kel and I never really experienced malls in Bangkok while we were here, but it was crazy. Like Khaosan Road times 10; and still so cheap! Each level is dedicated to something. In the mall we were in (MBK) level 6 is entertainment, 5 is clothes, 4 is electronics, 3 is beauty products and chick stuff, 2 is more clothes, etc.
Troy and I got sidetracked at a DVD stand. Between us we bought *cough* another 85 *cough* … but most of those were his! I had taken out about $300 AUD and intended to spend it all in the knowledge I’d get thousands of bucks worth of stuff for that much. Per your email Mum, I got you some tops, good ones, and you too Reece. Hope you like them. Got myself a great pair of Diesel jeans for $20 (it’ll cost me more to have them taken up) and almost a pair of Tough for about the same (they were unique and the one in my size was the wrong color, which sucked). Unfortunately for Troy I kept spotting things which we both liked and buying them first But he got some good stuff too; and he has another few days at least to search, lucky duck! Next time I come I’m going to MBK for at least 2 days to do it justice. Then maybe a day each in the other three malls in the same area. Shopping heaven.
We caught a cab back to my Hotel, had lunch and waited for the tailor’s assistant to arrive. He showed up right on time, helped me try on my suits and departed when I said they were totally satisfactory. He was the least friendly of the assistants, but the suits, as I had hope and kinda expected, are really great, so I was cheery. Troy was there to witness the quality of the suits and decide whether he wants to go to the same guys. I get a free shirt if he does; go the kickbacks!
We then went, together, to Khaosan again, where I showed Troy the best T-shirt places; mainly those which stock Baby Milo, which I converted him to the night before at desert… oh yeah, we had desert at this ice-cream place; their sorbet has sherbet in in, yum! We tried not to be too much like girls when he like the same top as me. Soon it was time for Troy to leave, so we said our goodbyes and parted ways. Before I left, I did one more half-lap; a victory lap if you will. With thousands of Baht still in my pocket but not so much time, I didn’t bargain too hard - I’d let people have the extra 30 cents, and get a smile in return - but I got some good Ts for Maisy and another for Reece, then some other random stuff.
And that’s what finds me here now, just across from my hotel, killing time. I’ve now got just over an hour until my taxi will arrive and I head to the airport for an early check in. That time will eaily be spent trying to cram all my stuff into my bag! I’m looking forward to a night’s sleep in my own bed, and seeing my Melbournian friends again. All of you. True to form, this doesn’t feel like the end of my trip. It probably wont until I lie down in my apartment in 24 hours, but when it does, I’m confident I’ll know that I’ve made a great deal of this experience, and had a fantastic time.
Time to head out. See you on the flip side, gang.
Love, j oxox