Sawat-dii ka

Day 2 : Sep 30, 08

The flight touched the runway of the ‘Suvarnabhumi’ airport at 8.20 am local time. My adjacent seat was occupied by a Canadian guy who had finished his college and was on a 6 month vacation to Thailand. We didn’t talk much as he was watching movies back to back. I watched ‘Sex and the City’ and then took a short nap so that I could utilise my first day in Bangkok without having to rest in the hotel room.

The visa process was simple. it is one of the few places on earth where we Indians get a visa on arrival. It hardly took 10 minutes and in the next 20 minutes I was out of the airport. I was warned by Deepnaker not to take fall for the taxi services that will pounce on you but to go directly to the ‘Taxi Meter’ office and book a taxi to the hotel. I did the same.

After a 25 minute drive I reached hotel Rembrandt. The hotel glass door opened and I walked in with my luggage. "Sawat-dii ka" greeted a beautiful Thai face…she smiled at me and then bowed with the face touching the folded hands. I finished the hotel formalities and took the elevator to my room on the 10th floor. The huge windows opened down to the swimming pool on the 4th floor and to the Bangkok skyline beyond.

Since it was mid noon I decided to go out later in the evening and to utilize the time at hand for a traditional Thai massage. The Thai masseusse rang the bell 25 minutes later. The next 2 hours was a rejuvenating experience. I wore a Thai suit (a soft cotton loose pyjama and top - similar to that jet lee wears in movies wherein he thrashes 20 others who also wear similar suits). I thought this was one of the best night dress man could ever lay his hands on. Anyways the massage progressed and at several points I felt aroused, slipped into quick naps (I even softly snored….and woke up hearing my own snoring) and endured slight pain at times. My body was bend and twisted around her body and swirled in all possible postures that I never ever imagined my body could handle. She was a professional .... dexterously managing the authentic spirit of Thai massage.

After a lunch at the Indian restaurant (Rang Mahal) on the 26th floor and an hour later I walked towards the Skytrain station armed with a map of the city. I took the skytrain to the Siam city centre station (ticket price Bhat 25) and walked towards the MBK mall. This mall houses brands as well as duplicates of all major brands, lots of Buddhist artifacts, cheap clothes, leather, furniture, accessories, coffeshops and what not.

Reached hotel by 8 pm and had dinner at the Thai restaurant in the hotel. I had a sea food soup, grilled pork topped with raw paste of garlic, chillies, lemon grass and lime. I didn’t quite like it. Since I had a slight throat irritation (thanks to the freezing air circulation in the Qatar airways flight) I stayed away from all cold drinks and even wine. So I finished the dinner with a green tea. At a corner i saw malaylam film director/producer Lal and two others engaged in a discussion. one of them looked like a popular cinematographer...i couldnt remember his name.

After dinner, I went for a short walk on the Sukhumvit road and then took a tuk tuk (our very own auto rickshaw). The driver immediately displayed a brochure. A selection of photographs of naked and scantily clad girls. This was not a one time incident. Even while walking in the street or taking a taxi/tuk tuk tourists are approached with such brochures. Its shocking to see the enormity of the sex trade that has entrenched the society. Every second shop in the Sukhumvit by lane is a massage parlour that offers everything. Girls call out to tourists inviting them into the shop.

I came back to the hotel and booked a tour for next morning to the ancient city of Ayuthaya. The tour agent repeatledy informed me that i will be picked up at 6.30 am in the morning....and i placed a wake up call for 5.45 am with the hotel reception.