Fish on a Stick

Sawsadee kha! Greetings from Thailand!

I have learned two phrases in Thai now: Sawsadee kha (hello, good-bye) and Khawp khun kha (thank you). I try to use them liberally as the rest of the time I'm clearly a foreigner saying "cool" and "no worries." My dad on the other hand keeps saying, "gracias senorita" to our servers or even bringing out a little Swahili, "Asante sana" (thank you very much). He thinks it's funny. Sure dad! :)

Well my first few days in Bangkok were good but interesting. When we first stepped out on Silom street I got a little nervous with the hustle and bustle of the street, all the food vendors and merchants, and the people pressing all around. My dad said to me, "I bet if I wasn't here with you, you'd be nervous." I looked back at him in shock and said, "I'm nervous NOW!" He laughed and assured me everything was fine... and it was.

As before metioned, the traffic is quite busy and motorists have the right of way, not pedestrians. My dad must of warned me 14 times to watch for cars as we crossed the street to the point where I almost got annoyed with him. I know I know! But I was humbled immediately as I stepped of the curb and suddenly a motorbike nearly took me out. My dad gloated a bit. But a few blocks later he almost got took out by a car. It was my turn to gloat. :)

We stopped at this shop called Coffee World to get kiwi smoothies which were amazing. My dad pointed to some ladies sitting outside on the balconey. "They're hookers," he announced. I looked at the large Russian man hitting on them and became disgusted. Poor girls. Stupid man. I realize most girls here get involved in prostitution as their own way to make means, but it angered me that ridiculous men take advantage of them. As we left Coffee World, I glanced over at the ladies again. One was looking at me. When she saw me, I smiled softly. She smiled back. Instantly she changed from a lady of the street, to a young woman just scared, just trying to make her way in life. She seemed innocent and frail. I said a slient prayer for her as we left.

We jumped on the BTS rail system and headed towards the Emporium mall. The malls here have all your big named shops: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc. And it's the real stuff too (the fake stuff you buy in back alleys). Fashion is very important here if you can afford it. Those who can are always well groomed and taken care of. I don't feel as bad for applying my lipgloss 47 times a day.

We wandered up to the food court which I loved! It was like a high-end farmers market. Everything being made out in the open, little vendors everywhere. We walked into the grocery store there and I had to laugh for they have a store worker in every single aisle to help you find what you need! Great service!! They had eggs out on the shelf like bread, no refrigeration. And a single imported US peach was 350 baht (about $10 USD).

Now Thai people really don't eat meals but they snack an awful lot. That is why the streets are covered in food vendors selling dim sum, fresh fruit, rice in banana leaves, and meat cooked on the grills in front of you. But for the restaurants they do have, meals are done up elaborately. Plates are decorated with pumpkin roses and paypaya curls and such. Almost too pretty to eat. The coffee here is very very strong, even for me! So I've been drinking tea which the British side of me prefers anyway.

You can't drink the water here or even use it for brushing your teeth. So we buy bottle water (which is like a quarter a bottle) and use that instead. Twice I forgot and out of habit used the sink! Whoops! But I also ate some fruit I wasn't supposed to.... but I'm okay. So I won't let it stop me. :) The fresh fruit here is truly amazing. I'm in love with watermelon juice for breakfast every morning.

As we traveled back to our hotel from the Emporium, I saw a man walking down the street carrying a large stick full of live fish in blown-up bags. I did a double take, but sure enough, he was selling fish on a stick! I laughed and smiled at my dad. Life here is quite different but I'm learning to love it.

I walked back to the hotel with out a bit of apprehension. I was an old traveling pro now. A traveling pro looking out for cars!