So you better go back to your bars, your temples, your massage parlours

I'm back. Woohoo!! Can you feel the excitement? I feel like I should write tons of stuff about the trip. And I probably will. There's some small issues about not remembering exactly every detail. That's what happens when you drink a lot of 6%+ beer in succession. ANd besides, there's a photo essay on my FB that will give way more justice to the trip than my literary attempts.

The impression I get of Thailand is a very positive one. Sure, it's not Eden. They have their problems, but generally the people were always friendly and helpful, even if not speaking clear English. Which was better than my Thai by far. I don't feel that I was scammed or anyone took advantage of the "farang" on holiday. They do start high with prices in the markets, but usually come down to a fair rate. Or a rate that makes it harder to argue anymore (really, I can go back and forth over $.50?). But they start high because some people pay it. Can't blame them for trying to make a buck.

There is a sense of poverty in the country, and least in the western notion. On the trip to Koh Chang, we passed a lot of houses that looked a bit ramshackled and in disrepair. ANd some of the city blocks had the appearance of near shanty like. Through a westerners eyes, it's hard to think how can some one live in such places. But the more I think about it, the people seemed fairly content. I'm thinking they don't owe a mortgage that will take their lifetime to repay, or that they have no idea what Visa is and how bad it can be. Most transactions were paid with cash cash, since I'm guessing no one has a real business in the "licensed" sense we use here. They just have a cart that has whatever it is they peddle, be it food, clothes, or liquor.

Adam was telling us that most Thai live in one room homes. No kitchen really, since all the food is bought and prepared on the streets. It's delicious too. I never thought I'd be the kind of person to buy a meal and dine in a back alley, and live to tell about it. But it's the accepted practice.

I read an article about the average income for an individual. Seems there's a huge disparity between regions of the country. Of course, the more touristy areas have a much higher average (Bangkok for instance was around 290,000Baht a year (roughly $9000 a year). And that's the highest region in the nation. The northeast region ranked lowest at 36,500Baht annually (about $1100). That's incredible. But in the context of the prices there, I can see it possible. In general, I think the vast majority of the people aren't preoccupied with having it all. Unfortunately, having it all in the western world comes with a massive amount of personal debt, and then you become the indentured servant to a bank.

I can see the merits of the other way of living. I'll probably revisit this issue in the future, but now more about vacation.

The song says one night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble. Well, try 2 nights. It'll make you feel like rehab should be in your future. I can't remember drinking that much, or the last time I came in just after watching the sunrise. And we pulled it off twice, without even knowing it. Well, I didn't know it, and judging from the pictures we had a lot of fun. The memories are still a little fuzzy.

One of the more amusing activities was watching the old men with their "friends." I'm not going to judge... well, yeah I will. I'll judge the guy with the 2 foot mullet, solely based on him having a 2 foot mullet, not picking up a prostitute. I was most amused how open and out in your face it was. Here, it's pretty much an activity for dark corners. There, you can proudly walk down the beach with your 20 year old Thai beauty in her thong while waiting for the viagra to kick in. And it's not like you're the only one.

Grace and I had the conversation about if there's enough business to keep all the girls working. Seems to be, but it's more that the working girls are charging a 2000Baht (we did a survey) for an hour. If you bring home one man a week, you've paid 3 months rent for your family back home in the northeastern provinces. That's why the girls are smiling when they're escorting the men around.

There's also the matter of it always being hot. Great for a tropical weather environment, though we did miss the rain season. The islands and beaches looked so nice. Not yet have most of hem been developed to the level of towering high rises destroying the natural beauty. Yes there were beach front hotels, and bungalows. But that's a lot less imposing on the landscape. I hope the "condo kings" don't find this p[lace and pull a Panama City beach on it. I like it the way it is, even if that means not having every amenity you can dream of. Besides, what more do you need than sun, sand, ocean, $6 massages under a palm, and good cheap food?

I think I'll go back someday, maybe find a different island to lounge on. I'd also like to get over and visit some of the neighboring countries (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia). Or maybe I'll just go back and buy the bar I've become so enamored with. Friends who come to visit drink free!

That's it for now, time to find food and run some errands and try and slip back into the world of the working man. Hopefully I'll get some word on my status at Brown for the next schedule year soon.