Bangkok: Gateway to the Turd World

Hardwired at a backpackers hostel in the capitol of military-controlled Thailand; my 802.11 card has crapped out so the Aussie proprietor kindly let me jack in to his internet cafe router. Took a walk this morning to catch some early morning fresh air. Got some rank odors wafting about this ‘hood, I tell you what! Turns out early morning is when the hawkers set up their stalls, street cleaners hose down the blood and piss from the night before, and dogwalkers let their mutts go ballistic on sidewalks that are literally crumbling apart from neglect. Janice was slightly feverish, possibly from getting zapped by a mosquito in the lady’s shower, so we didn’t chitchat as we normally do when we walk. Later she commented that the streets in Ermita, Manila smell like a rose compared to the cesspool that is Thong Lo Soi. I must admit I won’t be able to stomach Thai food for a long time, which is a shame because I used to love it. Our favorite restaurant was a Malaysian joint called Kopi Tiam, which reinforces my conviction that we need more Malay restaurants in the United States.

July 5, 2007