In Transit

Bangkok.

After a few unsuccessful attempts at the phone booth at the airport, I finally managed to get in touch with Justin Foster, my field supervisor, and wasted no time in grabbing a taxi to TBBC's (Thailand Burma Border Consortium) Bangkok office.

"So how old are you?"

my response.

"Married?"

my response.

"Girlfriend?"

"Boyfriend?"

I laughed.

"Ah...boyfriend it is!"

Welcome to Thailand. Famous for the girl-boys. Or boy-girls. My taxi driver commented on how he had once fetched a couple from Singpore not long ago (not married, he stressed), and they were kissing for the entire ride.

"Singapore. Freedom." There was a slight note of disdain in his voice.

This coming from Thailand? Home of the infamous Tiger shows, condom restaurants, and risque scene?

"So what if your daughter kissed her boyfriend like that?"

He made a gesture with both his hands, universally understood as: don't even think of it, bubba.

Funny, since we're on this topic, there's a funny little shop not more than 5 metres from where I'm sitting now.

No doubt for honeymooning couples. Or other ki

nds of couples.

After a rather fruitful 45 min meeting with Justin (who had to duck out of an arduous meeting with UNHCR, Government officials, TBBC staff, and other field staff), I started to get hungry. So, after getting some advice from Lek, the rec

eptionist, and armed with my basic Thai from my last visit, I headed out to procure some nourishment.

Here it is!

The rice is Thai sticky rice (yumm!), and the piece of meat looks like roast pork, to which Lek agreed.

After catching up on Thai news (apparently they're not happy with the Cambodians), and filling my belly, I decided to go for a walk around the city, just to have a feel of things. After a while, I realised that I needed a hair cut, so I got one.

After one shampoo wash, a cut, another shampoo wash, spraying with some styling foam, spraying with some styling spray, and then some kind of wax, this is the finished product:

Lek wasn't too impress

ed. As you can see, it's a little lopsided!

After this photo was taken, I tried to fix it up, so I think it's a little mor

e presentable. After all, for 200 baht (A6.6), it wasn't that bad.

I decided to head out with my camera in search of some interesting shots.

Guess what this lady was trying to sell me.

Naaa...it's not what you think. It was free membership to a fitness first wannabe. But granted, the advertisement seemed to offer other services

In 15 minutes, I'll catching my cab to the airport. Lek is already chasing me.

And then you'll know all about my Indian taxi experience. Or not.