There was a time ten or more years ago when bragging about visiting Thailand was worth something. Nowadays – perhaps it’s just me – but it seems like everybody’s been; it’s like bragging that you have a DVD player.
Anyway, I’m back in the Kingdom, writing to you from the front desk of the Golden House. The space bar sticks. It’s 3:14 am and I can’t sleep – my internal clock says it’s afternoon. I’ve just returned from a quick walk down to a local 7-11 (past a pack of street dogs and street cat even I wouldn’t pet) where the teenage cashier informed me that in Bangkok, it is illegal to sell beer past 2am. What the??? Since when is anything illegal in Thailand?
Fortunately, the receptionist – her name is Apple (her Thai name is Worawolat which means a person with a good appearance) – just sold me 2 Heinekens from her personal stash; made me promise not to tell anyone. “No way!” I replied. “Do you have anything you want to say to the internet?” I asked.
“Hello,” she said. “How are you? Please be my guests.” I’ll get a photo of her tomorrow.