So it turns out, Thailand being a Buddhist country, they have a unique relationship to alcohol and other forms of excess. Clearly, they tolerate it - vice, drinking and all sorts. One thing they don't do, however, is open a Thai run bar before 5:30 PM, or 17:30 as they say here. And I badly wanted a drink after a full morning and a light lunch. I wanted my time to sit in the semi dark, air conditioned coziness of a fine drinking establishment and write, and catch up with my fucking self.
I consciously booked an extra day on this trip. Yes, I probably could have squeezed some additional meetings in, but I got the moneymakers done. Significant money makers, although it will take some time to really make things happen. As it turned out I had a 6:30 AM working breakfast meeting that went for nearly two hours in the Thai manner, followed by a workout, followed by a quick shower and trip to an oddball museum/aristocratic residence, because one should always do something cultural. Like legitimately cultural. Soi Cowboy not being on the list of approved activities. Not that I swing that way anyway, but had I not lived in San Francisco for 10 years perhaps I would have found ladyboys intriguing. Not so much these days. Plus it was still morning and the museum was open and sparsely attended.
And speaking of ladyboys, may I just say that Australian rules football . . .
Lady bruisers?
Oh I should mention I am in an Irish Pub in the Soi Convent neighborhood. Aussie rules is on the telly.
Back to the melody
So I really wanted a casual bar to hole up in for the afternoon, and the main drag Thai mall/hotel area I am staying in didn't see fit to provide one until 5:30/17:30. But thank god for Yelp and Google+. I might have had to ask somebody otherwise. I found the expat neighborhood (the aforementioned Soi Convent) and reviews, and Irish bars that open at noon. Saints be praised. Not that I was drinking at noon, mind you, but I could not stand another goddamn Asian mall food court for three to four more hours.
I feel a bout of honesty coming on. I might be in line for another post.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Together Again for the First Time
The concept of reunion really presupposes there was a union to begin with.