1st Additional episode of Bangkok days/nights
Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th and morning of Friday 16th June 2006
On Wednesday Rosalind and Sheila went to Pilates again, after which Rosalind had a doctors appointment, so Sheila came home by herself in a taxi. Sheila was a little anxious when she got home as the taxi driver had taken a different route, to avoid congestion, and as Sheila did not recognize the route and could not converse with him, Sheila had visions of being kidnapped and sold into white slavery in the Klong Toey slums, one of the more dubious districts.
Meanwhile I had been getting some exercise by walking to the local 'Tops' supermarket getting two nine litre bottles of water each time and also some nail clippers for Sheila and a ball of string for my kite. (Still not enough wind) Normally Rosalind and Adam get six large 20 litre bottles of water delivered every Tuesday, but the King's anniversary celebrations have caused disruption to many things including water delivery. Rosalind worked out that their apartment functions on about nine litres of bottled water a day. I thought that this wa a lot of bttled water for four people until I realised that all the vegetables for cooking are washed in bottled water prior to preparation and bottled water is used to fill the kettle for tea etc. I am enjoying my little excursions to the supermarket and the simple forays into communicating what I am wanting to buy.
Thursday
Sheila and I went to a shopping centre called Central, that is just like a modern shopping centre anywher in the world, and I tailed behind while Sheila enjoyed looking at everything on every floor, well that is my version of events and I am sticking to it. We had a coffee, muffin and almond croissant then caught the skytrain to get home. we had to change once to a different line and then make sure that we exited at the right side to hail a taxi going in the direction we wanted. It is important to hail a taxi heading in the direction you are wating to go as it can be very complicated turning around in Bangkok.
More, yet more Pilates for Rosalind and Sheila, especially Roalind as she had booked a private lesson withe her instructor followed by another one that Sheila was to join. After her previous concerns about the taxi Sheila pursuaded me to accompnay her and I decided to go for a swim while they 'enjoyed' the Pilates racks.
When we walked to to end of the Soi (road) we hailed a taxi and Sheila gave the driver instructions in beautiful accented Thai. Sheila had practised her Thai with Rosalind and Khun Noy and both told Sheila they they could clearly understand her instructions to ge us to the Ascot hotel. As a back-up Sheila had theThai words written in English so that she would not forget any. Well the pronounciation was clear and complete, but the taxi driver did not have a clue as to where we wanted to go. Sheila was very patient and read the instructions again slowly and clearly, again with no success. I decided to have a go and blurred a couple of words together in a mumble and the taxi drive knew exactly where we wanted to go. I think it would be like anyone speaking 'Queen's English', to a London Cockney taxi driver, he would probably be the same an respond with something like "what they bleedin ell youse going on about luv". I suspect that we were treated to the Thai equivalent until I spoke with a more colloquial accent.
We settled back for the short trip to the gym and felt quite relaxed as we entered Sathorn Rd, a major road on which the Ascot hotel is sited. Our relaxed frame of mind was shortlived as when we came to a major intersection it became apparent that all four lanes each side of the dual carriageway were gridlocked and no-one was going anywhere soon. We glanced at each other glanced at our watches and expressed the opinion that we thought we were quite close to the hotel and it might be quicker to walk. We demurred for a few more minutes and then I convinced Sheila that if she wanted to get to the class on time we should walk. With somereluctance Sheila agreed. As we negotiated the in-side lane and mounted the pavement, the traffic started to move and our taxi dissappeared in search of his next fare. "Ah well, it's not far" I said more from optimisim than certainty. My natural bouyancy was soon deflated as Sheila pointed out tha to get across the next major intrsection we had to climb steep stairs up and down to a pedestrian overpass. Silly me had I not considered how Sheila suffers with her feet in the warm humid weather. However so after we descended from the overpass we found the hotel and few metres further on and Sheila was able to make her class on time, Rosalind was waiting for us in the foyer. I caught up with Adam in the changing rooms as he had been for a workout and was on his way to dinner with a couple of clients.
Friday 16th June
Adam had got home from dinner, with his clients, about 0300 as like me that also had been watching the football and England being vey luck to win their game against Trinidad and Tobago. It was nil all until four minutes from full-time and then England scored one with another three minutes into extra time. Adam felt the need to dscuss the game wth Rosalind until 0500 so we were all even more tardy getting up, though Adam left for work at 0930, I don't know how he does it.
Next episode next time
On Wednesday Rosalind and Sheila went to Pilates again, after which Rosalind had a doctors appointment, so Sheila came home by herself in a taxi. Sheila was a little anxious when she got home as the taxi driver had taken a different route, to avoid congestion, and as Sheila did not recognize the route and could not converse with him, Sheila had visions of being kidnapped and sold into white slavery in the Klong Toey slums, one of the more dubious districts.
Meanwhile I had been getting some exercise by walking to the local 'Tops' supermarket getting two nine litre bottles of water each time and also some nail clippers for Sheila and a ball of string for my kite. (Still not enough wind) Normally Rosalind and Adam get six large 20 litre bottles of water delivered every Tuesday, but the King's anniversary celebrations have caused disruption to many things including water delivery. Rosalind worked out that their apartment functions on about nine litres of bottled water a day. I thought that this wa a lot of bttled water for four people until I realised that all the vegetables for cooking are washed in bottled water prior to preparation and bottled water is used to fill the kettle for tea etc. I am enjoying my little excursions to the supermarket and the simple forays into communicating what I am wanting to buy.
Thursday
Sheila and I went to a shopping centre called Central, that is just like a modern shopping centre anywher in the world, and I tailed behind while Sheila enjoyed looking at everything on every floor, well that is my version of events and I am sticking to it. We had a coffee, muffin and almond croissant then caught the skytrain to get home. we had to change once to a different line and then make sure that we exited at the right side to hail a taxi going in the direction we wanted. It is important to hail a taxi heading in the direction you are wating to go as it can be very complicated turning around in Bangkok.
More, yet more Pilates for Rosalind and Sheila, especially Roalind as she had booked a private lesson withe her instructor followed by another one that Sheila was to join. After her previous concerns about the taxi Sheila pursuaded me to accompnay her and I decided to go for a swim while they 'enjoyed' the Pilates racks.
When we walked to to end of the Soi (road) we hailed a taxi and Sheila gave the driver instructions in beautiful accented Thai. Sheila had practised her Thai with Rosalind and Khun Noy and both told Sheila they they could clearly understand her instructions to ge us to the Ascot hotel. As a back-up Sheila had theThai words written in English so that she would not forget any. Well the pronounciation was clear and complete, but the taxi driver did not have a clue as to where we wanted to go. Sheila was very patient and read the instructions again slowly and clearly, again with no success. I decided to have a go and blurred a couple of words together in a mumble and the taxi drive knew exactly where we wanted to go. I think it would be like anyone speaking 'Queen's English', to a London Cockney taxi driver, he would probably be the same an respond with something like "what they bleedin ell youse going on about luv". I suspect that we were treated to the Thai equivalent until I spoke with a more colloquial accent.
We settled back for the short trip to the gym and felt quite relaxed as we entered Sathorn Rd, a major road on which the Ascot hotel is sited. Our relaxed frame of mind was shortlived as when we came to a major intersection it became apparent that all four lanes each side of the dual carriageway were gridlocked and no-one was going anywhere soon. We glanced at each other glanced at our watches and expressed the opinion that we thought we were quite close to the hotel and it might be quicker to walk. We demurred for a few more minutes and then I convinced Sheila that if she wanted to get to the class on time we should walk. With somereluctance Sheila agreed. As we negotiated the in-side lane and mounted the pavement, the traffic started to move and our taxi dissappeared in search of his next fare. "Ah well, it's not far" I said more from optimisim than certainty. My natural bouyancy was soon deflated as Sheila pointed out tha to get across the next major intrsection we had to climb steep stairs up and down to a pedestrian overpass. Silly me had I not considered how Sheila suffers with her feet in the warm humid weather. However so after we descended from the overpass we found the hotel and few metres further on and Sheila was able to make her class on time, Rosalind was waiting for us in the foyer. I caught up with Adam in the changing rooms as he had been for a workout and was on his way to dinner with a couple of clients.
Friday 16th June
Adam had got home from dinner, with his clients, about 0300 as like me that also had been watching the football and England being vey luck to win their game against Trinidad and Tobago. It was nil all until four minutes from full-time and then England scored one with another three minutes into extra time. Adam felt the need to dscuss the game wth Rosalind until 0500 so we were all even more tardy getting up, though Adam left for work at 0930, I don't know how he does it.
Next episode next time
posted by John Lunn at 11:38 PM
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