Our day began quite uneventfully...after breakfast we wandered across the street to a local travel agent to book excursions for the next 2 days.
As we left the agency, intending to visit Bangkok's Chinatown, we were very fortunate to meet Mr. Lao, a tuk tuk driver who offered to take us on a city tour and then transport us to Chinatown for a mere 50 Bhat (about $1.65). Mrs. Mundain was somewhat skeptical, but I, not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, jumped into the tuk tuk before Mr. Lao could change his mind.
Mr. Lao proceeded to warn us that Chinatown was closed due to the water Festival, but that regardless, he would take us there after the city tour. After a few minutes and a series of twists and turns through the bedlam that is Bangkok traffic, we were surprised when Mr. Lao stopped in front of a gem factory. Shades of China tourist scams!
Playing along, we decided to humor Mr. Lao by going inside the factory outlet, confident that we could not be tricked or coerced into buying anything. As expected, a few minutes later, we emerged sans purchases, smugly knowing that we were not your average gullible tourists. Mr. Lao looked a bit disappointed as we hopped back onto his tuk tuk and got underway again.
After weaving in and out of traffic for a few minutes, Mr. Lao handed us a note in English explaining that he would receive petrol dollars from certain merchants if we would allow him to drop us off at their outlets. Before we even finished reading the card, Mr. Lao promptly stopped at a tailor shop called James Tailor and promised that there would be no obligation on our part to make a purchase.
We figured that since Mr. Lao would receive his free petrol and it wouldn't cost us anything but a few minutes of our time, it was the least we could do in return for Mr. Lao's low fare.
Well, wrong we were when we waddled willingly (I have a fetish for alliteration) into James Tailor...right into the "fire and rain", in dire need of a friend.
8000 Bhat later on my MasterCard, we walked out with a silk tie and an order for a tailor-made suit plus a custom dress shirt pour moi, Mr. Mundain! Now, before you say "sucker", that's only $260 USD, including shipping to Canada.
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You've Got A Friend...
in Rajan, my fitter and new best buddy at James Tailor |
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Tailor made suit...8000 Bhat.
That pampered feeling...priceless! |
We emerged from the tailor shop to be greeted by a grinning Mr. Lao. Climbing back into the tuk tuk and not travelling more than a few minutes, Mr. Lao suddenly stopped in front of a jewelery store!
Mr. Lao gave us the same spiel, but s-l-o-w-l-y I was getting wise (it just takes me a little longer these days) and agitated..."fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me"...we played along one final time.
Shortly after entering the jewelery store we exited with a $2 purchase of disposable sunglasses; Mr. Lao was no longer smiling.
Now, the game was getting tiresome; Mr. Lao insisted on taking us to the Royal Thai Palace but we DEMANDED to be taken to Chinatown. Mr. Lao re-iterated that Chinatown was closed but reluctantly and angrily took us to the outskirts of Chinatown, where indeed, Chinatown appeared to be closed.
By this time, our once helpful, friendly Mr. Lao had morphed into an agitated, angry Mr. Lao Tse (that's pronounced "LOUSY" in pinyin). We paid him the previously agreed upon 50 Bhat, blissfully bidding badgering bully BSer bye-bye (sorry for the uncontrollable fetish).
As Lao Tse Mr. Lao roared off in a huff, we stepped around the corner to a vibrant and bustling Chinatown...
*note to self, forehead tatoo: "HOOK, LINE AND SINKER"
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in spite of Mr. Lao's claims
...around the corner...a gateway to a busy Bangkok Chinatown |
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| Mrs. Mundain scouring the market...on the lookout for an umbrella |
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| got the munchies...so ordered off this picture on the wall |
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| a reasonable facsimile of the poster on the wall |
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| Good value at $1.65 a bowl? ...you betcha...tasty too |
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...huge retail and wholesale market place...
where one can purchase singles or by the gross |
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| of course in every Asian market cooked snacks are ever present... |
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| ducks and chickens... butterflied and sun dried... |
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| packaged foods... |
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| fresh foods... |
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| cooked foods... |
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| foods being cooked... |
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| foods being prepared...with a smile |
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| desserts... |
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| custom made to your liking... |
After scoping the market for a couple of hours. Mrs. Mundain was thrilled with her purchase of an umbrella for only 150 Bhat...until she found another vendor selling the identical umbrella at 3 for 150 Bhat!
Can you say "HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER" again?
Disgusted with our gullibility, exhausted, and overheated in the 38 degree heat, we sought the sanctuary of "the mall", a place where the air is conditioned and the prices are labeled on the products.
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Terminal 21 Mall at the Asoke Train Station
THIS IS THE INSIDE !!! |
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| a modern, multi-level, mesmerising, mega mall |
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| ...with a food courts on several levels |
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| every asian mall offers TONS of yummy food selections |
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| ...yakitori... |
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| cooked fruits...dried fruits...raw fruits |
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| taco-like creations which I regrettably did not try... |
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juice vendor with an array of fruit and vegetables nectars...
...also sold the most delicious coconut ice cream, made with fresh coconut
milk, garnished with juicy, tender slivers of young coconut flesh...a Mundain fav...went back 3 times in 5 days... |
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| konyaku and manju-like delicacies... |
It's been a long day...time to say goodnight...yawn...
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