Tales From Bangkok
geb dok mai
Aug 3, 2001
Well it has been a couple days, 3 maybe. I don't really know, but if
any of you are tired of hearing me babble about what an insane place
bangkok is, just let me know and I will stop writing... I don't know.
Its sorta like therapy, I think.. but I haven't been to that since I
was like 3 or something so I don't remember.
Anyway, I think Bangkok might need a little bit of therapy. I met these
two guys Vaughn and Toby who are teachers at the same place I am...
Toby is falang (Thai word for white) and Vaughn is Philipino. Both
interesting guys. I am not too sure about all of their ways yet, but
fun none the less. Heh. Stupid me didn't know that all Philipinos speak
English, it is their primary language. Apparently there are over 100
native languages, so they all just use English. Fun fact for the day.
woo hoo. So I went with these guys down to a street called Soi Nana,
which just means Nana Street... This place is popular because they have
a lot of the go-go bars, and special shows etc. This place is weird,
weird, weird. I guess after a while it wasn't so bad but it was sort of
a disaster at first. There is a three story structure with all of
these filthy bars and prostitutes and bar girls. All of the bar girls,
waitresses, everyone, is for hire. They all wear numbers so you can go
up to counter and request one. So, we all went in to the bar and then
we saw so we left.
At 2 am everyone flows out of the bars onto the street. All of the bar
girls go get food, unless they can get a last minute date. But it was
cool. we got some watermelon.
So, we wandered around just looking for a bar, cause if there is no
nudity it can stay open all night, and they do. We played pool, and
then went and sat a a bar. We would shed off women every couple
minutes, and just watch these filthy old men praying on these young
girls. So intense.
We got a cab at like six am and all of us were ready for sleep.
desperately ready.
Oh, I forgot the best part... they have these carts where you can buy
these huge overgrown fried beetles, and scorpions, and a bunch of
really intense things. I didn't get any, but last night I ate
grasshoppers and beetle larvae... I think I am going to work up to the
scorpions, it is a little much right now. (they don't look good
either.) The bugs I ate weren't good, but I still ate a couple of each
just cause. This guy at the pub ordered it and then Vaughn coerced me
to eat them. I think I am going to pass on the beetle larvae next time.
The grasshopper was okay but still not something that I would buy
everyday... actually it was nasty, it was just better than the larvae.
I did find food that I like... it is called pat pa luang meat, or
something close to that. It is just veggies on rice with a good sauce,
(a mixture of a bunch of stuff) and then you can choose meat if you
want. I always get squid. heh heh. So good. If you say sai tong, it
means "to go." I eat it at least once a day. It is better than the
other vendors cause it is hot food... and made to order. I am sure they
make other things that are good but I need someone to teach me how to
order it. The pointing thing doesn't really work at these places. But a
meal is only 20 baht. or about 40 cents.
I went and sat by the canal right by my house the other night, and had
a beer with Vaughn. It was so gorgeous. It was so warm and it was about
midnight, but there was a nice breeze and the water was moving along
slowly. The moon was so brilliant, and there were these clouds straight
out of a horror movie. The whole thing was just amazing. We just sat
there for about and hour and a half and just talked. Shorts and tank
tops... flip flops. The whole deal. With the exception of the garbage
floating by occasionally it is a great place to sit. I think it is
where I really realized that I am in Bangkok. Sometimes I sorta
forget... it is almost not real. But then someone comes up and says
"soi thai nugn fawn juk sit" (i don't think the spelling is right, and
I clearly don't understand it) and then I remember.
If you buy a beer in a store, 20 ounces or so is 35 baht. so it is
like 75 cents or so. If you have a beer at a bar it is like 75 baht and
up. So it can get expensive fairly quickly. But getting drunk is just
as easy. (who said that???)
I do have a phone and a phone number but I haven't figured out what it
is yet.
Oh!!!!!! my new favorite thing... So there are these guys that sit
around and wait to give motorcycle rides... its like a taxi, but soooo
much better. especially at night. HAHHAHAHAH. It is so great, and
moderately safe. They take you around all of the tiny back alley
streets and just go hauling ass around everywhere. It is warm and just
gorgeous. But you have to make sure you keep your knees in. oh and
don't swing your arms to much. its fun but its not safe kids.... when
you get off, you feel like a million bucks. It is totally awesome. I am
not that big of a fan during the day cause there are too many cars that
go where ever they want.
The women always (most of the time) ride sidesaddle on the back. Now
that is nuts. But it looks cool.
So I have been going into work everyday, which is why I haven't seen
any sights this week. But it is cool. I am starting to get how it
works. I pretty much just sit and observe classes so I can get an idea
on what I should be doing. Basically you just play games with them.
Thai's love having fun, and if learning isn't fun they won't do it. So,
you have to be energetic and exciting and come up with new stuff all
the time. Basically you just need to get them talking amongst
themselves so they practice. They have been learning english in Thai
schools from Thai teachers for years and years, so it is all about
pronounciation and making the sentences correctly because the syntax in
Thai is much different and they don't really have tenses. I think I am
actually going to have to teach tomorrow though cause they need a
fill-in. Sorta exciting. I might play cards with them, depending on
what level they are. And I start training on monday.
I guess you can go to Siam square (where my training is) by boat from
where I am, but I am not exactly sure how to do it. Sounds cool though
huh.
I am getting down the bus system, even though I still don't really know
where I am. wow. I need a map. But I can't find one. who would have
thought that it would be so hard.
I tested out my radio today. God the music here sucks. It is really
stagaring. It sucks. I tried some of the english stations, but I think
I like the thai ones better. Yup its that bad. I am going to give it
another shot though.
They love ricky martin here. tee hee.
Planet of the Apes is out here so I might go see it tonight. I have to
work at 9 am tomorrow though.
I don't know, If I think of anything great that happened I'll put it in
next time. I am sorta falling into a rountine, but not really. I still
go on a fairly long walk everyday. Flip flops and all!
heh. Thailand. who wudda thunk.
Kev
any of you are tired of hearing me babble about what an insane place
bangkok is, just let me know and I will stop writing... I don't know.
Its sorta like therapy, I think.. but I haven't been to that since I
was like 3 or something so I don't remember.
Anyway, I think Bangkok might need a little bit of therapy. I met these
two guys Vaughn and Toby who are teachers at the same place I am...
Toby is falang (Thai word for white) and Vaughn is Philipino. Both
interesting guys. I am not too sure about all of their ways yet, but
fun none the less. Heh. Stupid me didn't know that all Philipinos speak
English, it is their primary language. Apparently there are over 100
native languages, so they all just use English. Fun fact for the day.
woo hoo. So I went with these guys down to a street called Soi Nana,
which just means Nana Street... This place is popular because they have
a lot of the go-go bars, and special shows etc. This place is weird,
weird, weird. I guess after a while it wasn't so bad but it was sort of
a disaster at first. There is a three story structure with all of
these filthy bars and prostitutes and bar girls. All of the bar girls,
waitresses, everyone, is for hire. They all wear numbers so you can go
up to counter and request one. So, we all went in to the bar and then
we saw so we left.
At 2 am everyone flows out of the bars onto the street. All of the bar
girls go get food, unless they can get a last minute date. But it was
cool. we got some watermelon.
So, we wandered around just looking for a bar, cause if there is no
nudity it can stay open all night, and they do. We played pool, and
then went and sat a a bar. We would shed off women every couple
minutes, and just watch these filthy old men praying on these young
girls. So intense.
We got a cab at like six am and all of us were ready for sleep.
desperately ready.
Oh, I forgot the best part... they have these carts where you can buy
these huge overgrown fried beetles, and scorpions, and a bunch of
really intense things. I didn't get any, but last night I ate
grasshoppers and beetle larvae... I think I am going to work up to the
scorpions, it is a little much right now. (they don't look good
either.) The bugs I ate weren't good, but I still ate a couple of each
just cause. This guy at the pub ordered it and then Vaughn coerced me
to eat them. I think I am going to pass on the beetle larvae next time.
The grasshopper was okay but still not something that I would buy
everyday... actually it was nasty, it was just better than the larvae.
I did find food that I like... it is called pat pa luang meat, or
something close to that. It is just veggies on rice with a good sauce,
(a mixture of a bunch of stuff) and then you can choose meat if you
want. I always get squid. heh heh. So good. If you say sai tong, it
means "to go." I eat it at least once a day. It is better than the
other vendors cause it is hot food... and made to order. I am sure they
make other things that are good but I need someone to teach me how to
order it. The pointing thing doesn't really work at these places. But a
meal is only 20 baht. or about 40 cents.
I went and sat by the canal right by my house the other night, and had
a beer with Vaughn. It was so gorgeous. It was so warm and it was about
midnight, but there was a nice breeze and the water was moving along
slowly. The moon was so brilliant, and there were these clouds straight
out of a horror movie. The whole thing was just amazing. We just sat
there for about and hour and a half and just talked. Shorts and tank
tops... flip flops. The whole deal. With the exception of the garbage
floating by occasionally it is a great place to sit. I think it is
where I really realized that I am in Bangkok. Sometimes I sorta
forget... it is almost not real. But then someone comes up and says
"soi thai nugn fawn juk sit" (i don't think the spelling is right, and
I clearly don't understand it) and then I remember.
If you buy a beer in a store, 20 ounces or so is 35 baht. so it is
like 75 cents or so. If you have a beer at a bar it is like 75 baht and
up. So it can get expensive fairly quickly. But getting drunk is just
as easy. (who said that???)
I do have a phone and a phone number but I haven't figured out what it
is yet.
Oh!!!!!! my new favorite thing... So there are these guys that sit
around and wait to give motorcycle rides... its like a taxi, but soooo
much better. especially at night. HAHHAHAHAH. It is so great, and
moderately safe. They take you around all of the tiny back alley
streets and just go hauling ass around everywhere. It is warm and just
gorgeous. But you have to make sure you keep your knees in. oh and
don't swing your arms to much. its fun but its not safe kids.... when
you get off, you feel like a million bucks. It is totally awesome. I am
not that big of a fan during the day cause there are too many cars that
go where ever they want.
The women always (most of the time) ride sidesaddle on the back. Now
that is nuts. But it looks cool.
So I have been going into work everyday, which is why I haven't seen
any sights this week. But it is cool. I am starting to get how it
works. I pretty much just sit and observe classes so I can get an idea
on what I should be doing. Basically you just play games with them.
Thai's love having fun, and if learning isn't fun they won't do it. So,
you have to be energetic and exciting and come up with new stuff all
the time. Basically you just need to get them talking amongst
themselves so they practice. They have been learning english in Thai
schools from Thai teachers for years and years, so it is all about
pronounciation and making the sentences correctly because the syntax in
Thai is much different and they don't really have tenses. I think I am
actually going to have to teach tomorrow though cause they need a
fill-in. Sorta exciting. I might play cards with them, depending on
what level they are. And I start training on monday.
I guess you can go to Siam square (where my training is) by boat from
where I am, but I am not exactly sure how to do it. Sounds cool though
huh.
I am getting down the bus system, even though I still don't really know
where I am. wow. I need a map. But I can't find one. who would have
thought that it would be so hard.
I tested out my radio today. God the music here sucks. It is really
stagaring. It sucks. I tried some of the english stations, but I think
I like the thai ones better. Yup its that bad. I am going to give it
another shot though.
They love ricky martin here. tee hee.
Planet of the Apes is out here so I might go see it tonight. I have to
work at 9 am tomorrow though.
I don't know, If I think of anything great that happened I'll put it in
next time. I am sorta falling into a rountine, but not really. I still
go on a fairly long walk everyday. Flip flops and all!
heh. Thailand. who wudda thunk.
Kev