Day of contrasts
More random Bangkok observations
Bangkok’s air was, um, 1971ish this morning. So much for my Saturday assumption things were better than the used to be. That sickly twinge in throat accompanying the disappointment your eyes see was tragic this morning.
However, all was not lost on this day of contrasts.
The reunion program was spent out and about in groups. We opted for the smallest one which oriented itself by riding the sky train to look down on the city—or across as we did in the photo above. Sky train cars were standing room only except for the final few minutes. It was no surprise the busy interior of the cars mirrored the similarly packed roads as people drove the elevated roadway paralleling the train.
Most alumni, I gathered, went to the Erawan Shrine which noted a central point near our old school. I have no idea what they did later.
The third gaggle headed to Jim Thomson House. A location of lore. Thomson came to Thailand iwas the Cold War heated up, sniffing to many as a spook. He is best remembered by two facts. First, he disappeared while hiking in southern Thailand around 1967, never to be seen again. Did he slip on the trail? Did the Commies, of which there were many back then in Southeast Asia, lure him into a trap? Did space aliens seize him? Did he just decide he had had enough? No one knows but the house where he lived for a generation commemorates him. As one guy commented while we awaited our ride this morning about the past in this country, we all had our stories.
The other Thomson commemoration is of his deeply important support reviving for the essentially-discarded method of creating Thai silk. Thomson is seen by many as the man who made it into the luxury item it remains long after his disappearance. Thai silk has qualities my daughter-in-law, a highly talented professional dressmaker earlier in life, could explain in great (and far clearer) detail. Fabric shimmers to reveal a second colour is the best I can say. A royal blue silk will have an additional reddish colour as one rustles it.dresses and scarves are beautiful but ethereal and expensive. The largest outlet for these are Jim Thomson House.
Our small band toured the Sukhumvit corridor, near my husband and my location yesterday seeking my old apartment, but elevated today above the troublesome traffic. A power boat connected the hotel to the sky train so it was a considerably quicker trip. The amount of plastic bobbing in the Chao Phraya was startling, I should add. Thais have always seemed addicted to plastic as millions upon millions of plastic wrappers formed into cups for iced street tea ended up polluting what passes for the sewer system so desperately needed during the monsoon season late in summer. I have not noticed so many tea plastics this time but several municipal boats sail the River to clean out the bigger plastic bottles and enmeshed trash.
One other thing struck me today. Smoking, ubiquitous when I was a kid, is much less obvious now. It must exist, especially upcountry, but the only person I have seen smoking in our three days was a farang, the Thai term for those of us from somewhere west of Iran (Europeans, in other words). As I say, I am sure smokers are out there but I am not seeing the vile habit so far.
Lunch was genuine Thai food. (I say that as we met my brother and his wife I. July for what allegedly was Thai but was schlock.) This was seasoned oh, so perfectly with plenty of peppers to satisfy my yen for delectable glass noodles with a kick. My husband stuck with vegetable fried rice, inhaling it. We were amused we each asked for water but they brought a single bottle to split. Inexpensive but thoroughly yummy event. Not a chopstick to be seen, either, which is further evidence of change at least in the place we ate this afternoon near the River.
Bangkok clearly has some changes but they surprise at times. As I noted in my addendum yesterday, I am trying to recount without generalizing entirely since I may well be encountering the only three hundred non-smokers out there. But these distinctions catch my attention aafter all these years.
Congratulations to all the Michigan fans out there. It was so refreshing not to see Alabama, Ohio State or Georgia winning the NCAA title this year. I laid Washington as being a noble opponent as well.
Thank you for reading Actions Create Consequences. I appreciate your support. Rebuttals, questions, and comments remain most welcome.
Be well, be warm, and be safe. FIN