If the World is a House, God I Just Came Knockin!

Protesters tent

Thai st noodle?

My first full day here, I woke up, OK no wait first of all! 

I got back to my room last night, unpacked, went up stairs and had a spicy green mango salad with fried catfish for dinner in the upstairs cafe. Yowza!

Passed out by 6pm ZONKED!

I woke up in the middle of the night to a dull roar...no, more like a ROAR ROAR, coming from the street. A  roar like 20 people playing beer pong at the foot of my bed while singing bad Chinese karaoke roar! 

Well hello Bangkok nightlife!

Woke up at 7 and had a bubbling feeling of awe...I'm here! Still!

I set out to find a bus stop to take me to one of the most famous shopping centers in Thailand, gross I know, but I needed somethings.

I work my way following a map to an unmarked bus stop.

I hop on and walk across the wooden planked floor to find a seat. A woman comes to collect my fare, she picks out the right change from the coins I show her. 

All the windows are open blowing in slightly less hot air, we watch the city blur by.

I count the stops like google map told me, after 9 stops I ring the bell and jump out onto the balmy street. 

As I'm walking I pass a man in camo on the sidewalk, then I start passing army men behind sandbags, bullet proof jackets and police helmets on the side of the road. 

My poor mamma ran through my mind. She's a good sport...

I asked and they said it was safe. 

Realizing I was lost, I bought a mango and sat on the curb to eat. I looked up to see an old toothless man sitting on the sidewalk selling necklaces and trinkets. He spread out another empty rice sack, like the one he was sitting on and waved me over.

I went and sat down next to him. We tried to talk, mostly me saying Dii chan mai kow jai...I don't understand.

He rubbed his belly saying something, #1! #1! 

I laughed as he hopped up, leaving me with his blanket of goods. Locals started walking by laughing or wondering what the hell this western girl was doing on the sidewalk selling charms! 

He came back from the stall next door with two bowls of the most beautiful soup! "#1! #1!" 

We sit on the ground eating soup. Other vendors open up smiling and chatting with us. After we finish he picks out a pink beaded necklace and puts a golden figure on it. 

"Put on! You!"

I put it on, thank him the best I can and continue on my way. 

I finally find the shopping center. It is surrounded by camped out protesters and Shut down Bangkok booths. 

I get what I need and enjoy the AC.

Then headed out looking for a near by park.

I stop to ask an officer to directions and woman comes up and said I could walk with her, she says "You no want to go to that park, big mob." She told me she was going shopping and I should have coffee with her. We went into another huge shopping center packed into an elevator and went up, up. More people kept piling on until the over load sign went on.

We get to the 5th floor and go into a bank that she (Tom) said she was a member of. They had a fancy lounge area with free tea cakes. A woman came and brought us iced coffees. Air conditioning AND iced coffee!?  She told me all about her two daughters through broken English. She told me "Don't date handsome men cause they will sleep around and eat your money! If you're with a handsome man you might as well sell your body for sex cause at least you will make money. Maybe buy yourself a nice dress to look pretty and then you can meet a rich man! 

Date someone ordinary, not ugly, not handsome. Have a simple life with someone who really loves you."

I promised her I would! 

She went upstairs to shop and I stared to make my way home.

I stumbled upon a beautiful temple. Inside I met a man, also named Tom, he showed me how to ask the Buddha for good luck by dipping out a bowl of holy water and slapping it on my forehead 3 times and pouring the rest over my head. He showed me how to ring he bells outside, told me the world is like a big house, we must ring the door bell for god to answer. 

He pointed me towards Chinatown. I felt a wave of relief when I finally saw a River View Guest House sign nailed to a junk truck with flat tires.

I went right to the river to watch the sunset. Sitting in a small gazebo. It got dark and the lights came on. 

Four men walked off the docks, one shooed my feet off the table and they all sat down.

They didn't speak any English and laughed at my lack of thai. They did express their love for Obama and chatted among themselves. More of their friends came and sat down, each laughing at my feeble Thai Hello. 

One man brought a bag of oranges. Another farted loudly while trying to make a point, making us all laugh. 

We sat in silence, smoking, eating oranges and talking politics (I'm assuming).

I got back to my room and before i fell asleep I  learned one new phrase, seeing as I spent a good part of the day lost.

Kuhn roo jahk thee nee mai?

Do you know where this is?

*Gabbi points to map