Coils offer excellent protection

It’s my last night in Thailand and I’m miserable at the thought of leaving this wondrous place. Tomorrow it’s an early start for a two day slow boat cruise, following the Mekong to Luang Prabang. For now, I’ll enjoy some Boar curry in the hotel’s restaurant and some inspiring scenery.

From 28 Jan 2010

(This time I remembered my tripod. That’s 60 seconds of opened shutter; you just can’t do this kind of shooting with 35mm film. I’d guess at least a few minutes, with a cable release and a tripod that counteracts the earth’s rotational forces.)

Thailand has been an amazing experience and I’m sorry to be leaving her behind. Laos is just across the river, however, and I hear it’s even better. I’ve over half a million Kip in my pocket; fourty quid more and I’d be a millionaire. This currency is useless outside their borders – you may as well use it to light a fag. I’m also wondering if there are any coins; my smallest note is 5000, which is roughly 30 pence. That makes 1 kip worth about as much as an X-Factor winner. It’ll probably go just as far, too.

From 24 Jan 2010

This curry is superb, though they leave the gristle on so remove it, unless you like to chomp. Being dinner for the night myself, though, I ask the waitress to fetch a mosquito coil – they work like a charm and for a good 10 metres in all directions.

Whilst it’s been an interesting month, there are clearly some extremes to this country. Their animals are treated dreadfully; dogs roam the streets and by adulthood most have debilitating illnesses. I find Ivory for sale in most marketplaces, chains made from Shark’s teeth, Monkeys for sale and majestic animals manipulated for a few baht from punters. The flies, vampitos, enormous wasps and hornets are enough to drive you insane. It can be a hard life for the locals; making ends meet seems to be a perpetual struggle.

It’s clean and tidy; but where’s the dustbin man? The buses let you on without pre-purchase of a ticket. Trains operate much the same way. There are no barriers here; it’s all on the honour system. I could never imagine the UK functioning this way; where the Thais applaud you for a good sporting effort, in the UK you’re abused, mocked and thrust on the front pages of the papers, crying. We wouldn’t pay out of respect; we’d keep taking until the whole system crashed. And then complain about the crash. In a queue; waiting patiently for our turn to complain. Whilst moaning amongst fellow queue members; about the length of the queue and the matter at hand.

In any case, through all of this, the Thai people are jovial, perpetually welcoming and will go out of their way to help: A Dutch girl I recently met had her bag stolen and was put up by a shop owner until she could get organised. There’s no charge for her; it’s all kind generosity. How’s that for a selfless act.

Much like some of my cynical posts of past though, I am still drawn to the conclusion that this is control; on a colossal scale. Karma is such an ideological way of life, yet it works. There is corruption here I’m sure, but in general people seem driven to do good. It’s like the ten commandments, except actually followed. There aren’t any Priests abusing children over altars here, or boring you to tears every Sunday as they make you feel guilty about your entire existence; it’s interesting religion. Try balancing a coin for good luck, stake everything on a single money pot, shake some sticks and try your luck, get a taste for arson with incense sticks, leave some food out on your mini-temple; it’s a comedy of a religion and I love it. This is definitely the light side of the Force.

And if you want to experience what the movies of old depict British politeness as; visit Thailand. Just learn how to say hello and thank you first.

From 28 Jan 2010