Mr. Bean Coffee Shop, Silom Road, Bangkok (December 26, 2004)

Going through BKK airport was relative easy. After immigration and getting my luggage, I went out to get some cash (several ATM machines are located outsides the customs area, after hundreds of people asking you to take their taxis). I went to the curbside and lined up for a real taxi to the hotel. I tried to call Silom Serene Hotel to check if my parents stayed there for the night. No luck. I couldn’t get through to them. The number is temporary not available. I didn’t have to wait for long before it was my turn. And twenty-minute later, I arrived at my hotel, La Residence (I have this hotel’s business card with direction in Thai for the driver, otherwise, I am sure taxi driver wouldn’t know where it is). Angkie, the receiptionist and owner (I think) recognized that I stayed there and welcomed me back to her hotel.

My room this time is a king-bed red room. After a quick change, I walked over to Silom Serene Hotel to look for my parents (they suppose to have a 6:00 p.m. flight to Vietnam). After a few minutes walk, I got to Silom Serene at around 2:00 p.m. I was told that my parents checked out of the hotel already and they had a note from him for me. What a relief! Now, I can relax since they are safe. The note basically gave me his Vietnam mobile phone.

I arranged to meet up with a few friends from the US and then went to Siam Center to window shop (I don’t want to buy anything now because I just don’t want to carry them through all my trips. I will buy them later when I get back to BKK two weeks from now). I was basically sleep walking in Siam Center, having little sleep the last two days. However, I wanted to stick the Asian time, or I will be screwed. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do it anymore. I decided to go back to the hotel and took a quick nap before meeting my friends at 8:00 p.m.

It was nice to see them, especially one recently moved to Miami and I haven’t seen him in a while. After dinner at Sprinx, one of my friends left for his date. The other two decided to see to a go-go boys show and I joined them. We had several different choices, my friend wanted to go to “Dream Boy”, but we opted for “Fresh Boy” simply because it was cheaper, 200 baht for the first drink.

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We left shortly after the show ended at around 11 p.m. One of my friends said that he wouldn’t mind seeing other show, so we went to Boys of Bangkok, one of the more famous group in BKK. Again, we came in the middle of a show, some sort of sex comedy on stage. I didn’t understand a thing since it is in Thai.

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One of my friends left during the show. So, now just me and a Thai friend who lives in BKK. He talked to me a little bit about living in Thailand and the go-go boys. These boys typically get 50-100 baht a night. If they involve in a show, they will get an additional 50-100 baht more depending on if nudity is involved. If a client pick them, the bar will get a 300 baht exit fee, and the boy typically get 700+ baht plus tips. An average college educated BKK residents make about 8,000 baht a month. After the show, my Thai friend decided to get some adult VCD and I agreed to follow him.

Buying adult VCD was quite any experience. I don’t know if it is illegal or what, but the process was quite secretive. We walked back and forth over a few blocks, and finally led to an alley. I wouldn’t do this alone if not for being with my Thai friend. There, we were presented with hundreds of VCD for 100 baht each. I got a few of the Asian ones.

My Thai walked me back to the hotel, which was on his way home, around 1:30 a.m. I had a great night sleep, and didn’t get up until 3:00 p.m. when the front desk called to ask if I wanted my room to be cleaned. While sitting here at the coffee shop, my friend just called and invited me to join him for dinner. I truly hate to travel alone. I want to share the joy of travel with someone. Luckily, I have some friends here and my partner will be arriving BKK tonight.