Back to bangkok

Early in the morning we head to the beach and play in the warm water.

My friend on his wanderings has reserved a cab for the ride back to the airport that is 500 baht less than the one reserved through the hotel.

Aware of how long it took for us to be checked in when we arrived, we elect to go down to the front lobby well in advance of our check out time to straighten out the bill.

The ride to the airport is uneventful. At the airport we spot Burger King and order a bunch of sandwiches. It's the best food we have had since landing in Thailand.

Back in Bangkok, we get our luggage but our friends luggage hasn't arrived. We wait while our friends try to sort out the problem with the Thai airways baggage counter. Just when they have given up hope, there is an announcement of the arrival of another flight from Phuket. They collect their luggage and we head to the hotel in downtown Bangkok.

Bangkok is a city that is quite modern with a highway system that is equal to any in the west. Why can't we do the same in India, we ask ourselves forlornly. There are high rise buildings everywhere as far as the eye can see. I notice that large portraits of the king adorn the front of most buildings. I learn later it is the king's birthday and that he is highly revered by the people.

I notice that the highway going the other direction has been closed. No cars are being let in from entrance ramps. I ask our driver the reason but he knows little English and I give up. Soon a convoy of cars with sirens blaring pass us. Perhaps it is the king going somewhere, we guess.

In the far distance, the sun gleams off the windows of another high rise. I can barely make out the banner that is on top of the building. For a moment it appears that the words are "SEX CINEMA". But later I realize it reads "SFX CINEMA" which is a chain of theatres in Thailand.

We check in to the hotel and are not surprised by how long it takes to complete the process. We share a two bedroom suite with our friends that has a living hall in the center. From our room we have a view of downtown Bangkok.

The streets are noisy. We notice that there are loudspeakers everywhere blaring out loud music apparently from a local FM station.

We head to the mall that reminds me of the malls in Japan that had shops upstairs and the subway downstairs. School children dressed in uniform seem to be everywhere shopping and chatting with friends. It is 8 p.m. in the night and I wonder what they are out doing at such a late hour.

On the way back to the hotel, I wait for our friends who have gone into a nearby shop. I sit down on a curbside bench watching people and the traffic flow by. A man saunters up and asks me if I'd like to have some fun. He says he can take me to a massage parlour. It is my first taste of the world famous Bangkok sex industry. I decline and he goes away.