Weekend Visitor

This past weekend a friend I taught with in Korea came and visited Thailand. It was a short trip, but we accomplished a lot. We had an extreme variety of experiences including my most negative incident to date (in any country, I think, not just Thailand), and a trip to the breathtaking Grand Palace (my first time!).

We stayed Friday night in Bangkok in an ultra-touristy area (one I didn't care for before, and now hope to never go back). We were sitting at a bar having drinks with friends and a fight broke out between some Thais. Not sure what the 'victim' did to make his attackers so angry, but I'm willing to bet he lost his life over it. It was so disgusting to have to listen as he was screaming and crying, grabbing at the ground trying to keep them from taking him away from the street. The police came, and after that he stopped fighting them (we assume to attackers paid them off). The group drug him away and we have no idea to where or what. It was absolutely horrific to be around, literally making me ill. There were people all around snapping photos and watching. I cannot fathom how people are capable of witnessing things like that with interest, but apparently many are. I don't seem to be one of them. I am young for sure and have a lot of life left to see, but I have had a few experiences for someone my age. This one changed me. After seeing something like that you have to harden a bit, and I didn't like it. As much as I love Thailand, if I choose to stay here I have to be aware that things of this nature might happen. It's a harsh reality. And absolutely awful.

Okay, onto happier times (aka everything else)...

1. The Grand Palace

Swine flu at the palace. It's everywhere in Thailand right now (or at least, the fear of it is).

Emerald Buddha, who is actually made of jade. 

Yea, he's workin on the Grand Palace listening to some tunes on his ipod. So what?

Very helpful..

2. Koh Si Chang (yes, I know, I've been there lots)

What are these guys? Okay, some are goats. Some are prehistoric horse/goat/beasts????

Yea, we definitely thought we were going to crash. Even our boat captain is looking at this little guy like he's crazy. He honked him out of the way. Just barely missed. I'd say only by a couple of meters.

3. Bowling

We found this bowling alley/car wash/driving range in Si Racha. On the outside it is very much 50s americana, on the inside, waayyyy cool. They have bowling shoe dispensers and you check your size on a foot scale. It was lots of fun. Also they have little bungalows right behind the alley (yes, beside the concrete wall) if you were so inclined to stay there. Who knows why anyone would want a bungalow outside a bowling alley, but I guess somebody does..

Velcro bowling shoes are so hot right now.

Come on, you know that's awesome.

4. Bridge Bumpers (what would you call these guys?)

Every Saturday night in Si Racha these cars flashing neon lights and booming music line the bridge between Si Racha and Koh Loy. It is amazing to see. None of the people are dancing, rather, they line the bridge and stare out at each other with their arms crossed, completely in competition with one another. The music is sooo sooo loud, and you can feel your whole body shake with the bass, but these guys are totally stoic. Some people bring food and barbeque (they have little tins filled with coals; it looks like so much fun), everybody is drinking. I've only been early around 8 or 9, but this week we found out it runs till 4 am every Saturday. Wow!

What I want to know is, where are these cars during the week. And where is all this money coming from?? I know this stuff isn't cheap.

3. Random Shots

A whole new take on fast food. These guys run out into traffic with bags of food and sell it to cars while they are waiting at red lights. This is possible I believe, only because some of the red lights here are literally three minutes long. It's crazy!

Uggh. These people have little baggies of corn they practically put in your hand (actually, they do put them in your hand as you walk by) and then demand money if you drop the corn on the ground (which you will because they have so kindly opened the baggies for you). This time I thought I was being smart and kept my hands crossed. The woman in red actually placed an open bag on the fold of my arms and then held her hands up so as to not take it back. I placed it on the ground and walked away. They are serious.