Random Bits of Bangkok
-I –
We went to the Starbucks the other day for breakfast. It’s right in the most touristy area of the city called Khaosan road, where the hippy:Thai citizen ratio seems like 3:1. Anyway, we were waiting in line behind a tourist, maybe our age, who was having an enormous amount of trouble placing her order. She had a North American accent so this cannot be her first experience ordering coffee. Granted, Starbucks does have its own language but all she had to do was order from the menu hanging above the counter; how hard is it to order coffee with milk? The two fellows behind the counter speak Thai, English and Starbucks -at least- and they couldn’t figure out what she wanted.
I tuned out because it was too painful to listen to but tuned in again when she said she was going to the Indian embassy that day for a visa. I asked her friend (who was standing near the back, too embarrased to be standing with her) if they were indeed going to the embassy, and if so, to bring alot of patience and a book. He said they were just going to pick up the visas but had already experienced the worst part of the waiting. Sotto voce, Marc said, “If she has trouble ordering coffee at Starbucks, India is going to eat her alive.”
– II –
This is great: there’s a gas station near our hotel that has been transformed into a bar, but it’s not what you think. It’s not some kitchy-retro remodeling of a an old station- it’s an abandoned Shell with folding tables. The pumps (hopefullythey’ve been turned off) are draped with old blankets, and the huge lighted Shell sign that once displayed gas prices looms darkly in the corner. The tables have twinkling candles and the bar is a mobile cart with a bunch of liquor bottles. There’s actually a menu (pretty good for an unliscenced operation working in an abandoned site that doesn’t belong to them) and servers who bring drinks and work the dj booth set up near the big speakers. The whole thing is pretty an extrordinary. We’ll try to get a photo.
– III –
Speaking of classy set-up, here’s the work station from which we’ve been operating:
