I am having a relaxed day today in Bangkok, Thailand. For April fools day, I spent a relaxed day (it was raining) just hanging out in the lobby of my All Seasons Hotel. I met my friends for the weekly 2 hours of badminton. Wore me out. Something about 20-30 somethings (12 today) playing all out competitive pairs badminton. I won a game...ok the professionals that paired with me let me win. They could see that I was sweat drenched, outa breath and still willing to go out and be slaughtered by their rocket returns, strategic net plays, powerful overhand (Martina Navelatovaesque (sp)) and then the direct power shot for the crotch just for fun and to hear me scream. But other than that I held my own....barely. Great game guys & girl! Thanks for letting the amature hang witht you Pro's!
I passed on dinner with the boy's after taking a shower and just strolled down the Soi (street) to locate something for dinner. I went to the front desk of my hotel to ask for aeasy quick dinner recommendation and they sent me to the 7-eleven. Yeah they as well as many other familiar names from home are on every corner. But as a dinner choice it was not for me. I kept walking as there are endless street vendors from single carts to what I will call franchises of multiple carts all together restaurant style that meets all the diners needs. I passed the first one which consists of 4 carts for a more intimate experience. I know what you are all saying....you are eating from a street vendor? I tell you what; I was so ignorant of the way of different cultures and experiences when I started this adventure....I barely knew what to expect however I have definitely decided to open myself to any and all new experiences (good & bad). Some of the things that I have seen I will not publish pictures of as they were hard to experience the first time but definitely moments of my daily reality that I felt I needed to remember. Face it not everything at home; wherever that may be for you; is Not always postcard picture perfect, most of the real/ugly stuff that surrounds us in everyday life; we are programed either to ignore or choose to overlook but that doesn't make them disappear. Being able to expereince all levels of travel reality has been the best part of my adventure.
As found a smaller cart and was greeted in Thai, still not bilingual (big surprise) so I asked for dinner. My dinner host recommended his BBQ chicken and bottled water. I agreed and was seated. The table and chairs are nothing more that rather fragile plastic outdoor furniture and plastic step stools not chairs. Whoever markets/sells this furniture makes a mint as all outdoor food carts/vendors and anyone selling stuff in street markets have these for themselves and their customers. And the food begins to arrive, first the prerequisite mound of rice on a plate, then my bottled water with a glass and asked if I want ice. Knowing that they do not have an outdoor ice maker I declined. As I will say alot, when in Rome participate as a local...it truly enhances the experience. So any and all Diva's leave your attitude, preconceived notions and alot of what you are used to at home because the experience you will come away with will far outweigh anything compared to fine dining, air conditioning, toilet paper, napkins, 5 star service.....the real experience is in allowing the world you are visiting to envelope you so that you come to be comfortable with rather than appalled by or afraid of the way things are in another place.
I really enjoyed my meal, eaten in the dark, on the sidewalk, outside a closed business, with the locals and that they allowed me this experience. The American, not fluent in Thai, in shorts, t-shirt and flip flops pulling up a chair and enjoying my dinner with the locals. As I was finishing a tall lanky Dutch kid 19yrs old walked past and ordered his dinner. I offered my table and we sat and talked for 2 hours about traveling, his 2 months after high school before starting training to become a flight attendant and my first 3 months on the road. His staying in a hostel at about US$4.00 and I shared my US$31.00 hotel experience with continental breakfast. He advised that I take in the night market and I advised he take the boat ride down the river and visit the temples. He was on a budget so I bought his dinner. Baht$80 each = US$2.64 based on conversion at the time. What a wonderful way to spend the evening. Sometimes when you open yourself to the moment the moment is worth a million bucks or as the marketing slogan goes...Priceless!
I hope you enjoyed your April fools day and enjoyed a dinner experience to blog about.
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