Tuesday, January 27, 2009
And Just Like That, I'm Back
That was probably the mellowest trip I've ever had to Bangkok. It was also the first time I haven't suffered from jet lag after 24 hours of traveling. It's nice living only 2 hours away!!
Got to the hotel Friday night around midnight, dropped off my bag and freshened up and was back out the door. Bars in Bangkok close around 1am now so rather than heading out to the sit-down bars on Silom Soi 4, which by this time would be emptying out as people go dancing, I instead opted for the go-go bars, where I hoped to catch the midnight show. Sure enough, the doorman to one club pulled me in promising the "Big Dick" show was going on, and he was not kidding. These guys seemed to have some kind of metal implant under their foreskin because they'd swing their dick against a metal pole and it would make a "metal-on-metal" sound. (I wish I was making this up, but I'm not). Afterwards they did a sex show. Two guys, moving around the bar while connected. Wearing masks. Intriguing. During the show I invited one of the earlier performers to sit with me and have a drink as he had a number of tattoos and I wanted a better look. Sadly, his English was almost nonexistent, so he couldn't tell me much about them. I also was unable to ask, and did not check to see, if he had metal balls under his foreskin.
Or was all of that more than anyone wanted to know?
I've been to Bangkok a few times before so didn't feel the need to be all touristy. There were a few familiar places I wanted to visit, a few new things I wanted to try, but mostly I wanted to see my friend Bom and relax a bit over the weekend. Mission accomplished on both counts.
One of the new things I did was go to a Thai boxing match. I spent Sunday afternoon at one of the TV stations where they have a small arena they use for muay thai. This was my first time seeing it live and it was pretty cool. The matches were very entertaining, especially at first, when I started to get the idea that the guys were so good at this that they weren't actually hurting each other. They were even smiling and seemed friendly toward each other. Even when two guys came flying out of the ring (and, unfortunately, did NOT land on me in a sweaty threesome) it seemed like this was just very competitive but still pretty safe. Then I saw a guy get knocked out by a kick to the head and I realized how wrong I was. Suddenly, I'm not quite so sure I want to go to kickboxing camp later this year.
I got pulled out of the line going in by one of the station employees and I wasn't sure what was happening, until he tucked me into one of the ringside seats...I think he realized I might not know where to go once I got inside so he took the guesswork out of it, and once in there I was thankful. The crowd seemed to be largely made up of regulars and I would have been very confused if I'd been wandering around on my own.
The other new thing I did was go to a ladyboy bar. I'm glad i did, but I think once was enough. They were MUCH more aggressive than the guys at the go-go bars. At the boy bars I can ask to have someone come sit with me, buy him a drink, chat a bit, then tip him for his time. At the ladyboy bar I had someone come sit next to me within 15 seconds of arriving and ask me for a drink, as did half the wait staff and dancers, I realized I was being taken advantage of but kept track of my tab and decided how much I was willing to spend before leaving. It was all in good fun, a new experience, and it was Chinese New Year, so what the heck. But yeah, they were much more predatory and greedy than the guys are. I have one good friend in DC who's transgendered and I think my expectations were based on knowing her, but I think that when in Bangkok I'll stick to what I know from now on.
Got to see Bom Sunday night and we went to dinner with some of his friends far outside the central part of town. None of the others spoke a lot of English, and that made the evening go pretty slowly at first. But his friend Nathan showed up, and not only had he gone to grad school in he UK and now works for an English-language magazine, he also realized i was being left out, so he totally switched the tone of the evening. I'm glad he did, that saved the night. Afterwards Bom and his friend Pham and I went back to Soi 4 and a bar called Tapas, where Bom and I first hung out over 3 years ago. Yay for ending the night on a nice note.
I'm noticing that English proficiency seems to be on the decline in Bangkok since my first visit in 2005. Not sure what's up with that. maybe living in Singapore has spoiled me and it's just always been this way in Bangkok, but I'm not sure...
Mostly it was a time for some reading (and writing) at coffee shops, wandering through shopping districts, collecting info on attending Thai massage school later this year (on the same trip as kickboxing camp, if I still do that), and getting pampered. I had a facial at a salon I always go to and also got a couple massages (one of the massages guys had gone to Wat Po school and told me a bit about the program, which was helpful). I spent a little time at DJ Station and also at the Soi 4 bars, but never got hit on or really even flirted with, which in Bangkok can be a little bit of a letdown (when even the money boys aren't flirting, something's wrong, no?)
I like Bangkok a lot, and I'm glad I had a chance to go while living over here. And it was better than just running up for 2 nights. Its an interesting place, and I find that I learn stuff about myself while I'm there. So yay to all those who suggested I go...thanks!!
Got to the hotel Friday night around midnight, dropped off my bag and freshened up and was back out the door. Bars in Bangkok close around 1am now so rather than heading out to the sit-down bars on Silom Soi 4, which by this time would be emptying out as people go dancing, I instead opted for the go-go bars, where I hoped to catch the midnight show. Sure enough, the doorman to one club pulled me in promising the "Big Dick" show was going on, and he was not kidding. These guys seemed to have some kind of metal implant under their foreskin because they'd swing their dick against a metal pole and it would make a "metal-on-metal" sound. (I wish I was making this up, but I'm not). Afterwards they did a sex show. Two guys, moving around the bar while connected. Wearing masks. Intriguing. During the show I invited one of the earlier performers to sit with me and have a drink as he had a number of tattoos and I wanted a better look. Sadly, his English was almost nonexistent, so he couldn't tell me much about them. I also was unable to ask, and did not check to see, if he had metal balls under his foreskin.
Or was all of that more than anyone wanted to know?
I've been to Bangkok a few times before so didn't feel the need to be all touristy. There were a few familiar places I wanted to visit, a few new things I wanted to try, but mostly I wanted to see my friend Bom and relax a bit over the weekend. Mission accomplished on both counts.
One of the new things I did was go to a Thai boxing match. I spent Sunday afternoon at one of the TV stations where they have a small arena they use for muay thai. This was my first time seeing it live and it was pretty cool. The matches were very entertaining, especially at first, when I started to get the idea that the guys were so good at this that they weren't actually hurting each other. They were even smiling and seemed friendly toward each other. Even when two guys came flying out of the ring (and, unfortunately, did NOT land on me in a sweaty threesome) it seemed like this was just very competitive but still pretty safe. Then I saw a guy get knocked out by a kick to the head and I realized how wrong I was. Suddenly, I'm not quite so sure I want to go to kickboxing camp later this year.
I got pulled out of the line going in by one of the station employees and I wasn't sure what was happening, until he tucked me into one of the ringside seats...I think he realized I might not know where to go once I got inside so he took the guesswork out of it, and once in there I was thankful. The crowd seemed to be largely made up of regulars and I would have been very confused if I'd been wandering around on my own.
The other new thing I did was go to a ladyboy bar. I'm glad i did, but I think once was enough. They were MUCH more aggressive than the guys at the go-go bars. At the boy bars I can ask to have someone come sit with me, buy him a drink, chat a bit, then tip him for his time. At the ladyboy bar I had someone come sit next to me within 15 seconds of arriving and ask me for a drink, as did half the wait staff and dancers, I realized I was being taken advantage of but kept track of my tab and decided how much I was willing to spend before leaving. It was all in good fun, a new experience, and it was Chinese New Year, so what the heck. But yeah, they were much more predatory and greedy than the guys are. I have one good friend in DC who's transgendered and I think my expectations were based on knowing her, but I think that when in Bangkok I'll stick to what I know from now on.
Got to see Bom Sunday night and we went to dinner with some of his friends far outside the central part of town. None of the others spoke a lot of English, and that made the evening go pretty slowly at first. But his friend Nathan showed up, and not only had he gone to grad school in he UK and now works for an English-language magazine, he also realized i was being left out, so he totally switched the tone of the evening. I'm glad he did, that saved the night. Afterwards Bom and his friend Pham and I went back to Soi 4 and a bar called Tapas, where Bom and I first hung out over 3 years ago. Yay for ending the night on a nice note.
I'm noticing that English proficiency seems to be on the decline in Bangkok since my first visit in 2005. Not sure what's up with that. maybe living in Singapore has spoiled me and it's just always been this way in Bangkok, but I'm not sure...
Mostly it was a time for some reading (and writing) at coffee shops, wandering through shopping districts, collecting info on attending Thai massage school later this year (on the same trip as kickboxing camp, if I still do that), and getting pampered. I had a facial at a salon I always go to and also got a couple massages (one of the massages guys had gone to Wat Po school and told me a bit about the program, which was helpful). I spent a little time at DJ Station and also at the Soi 4 bars, but never got hit on or really even flirted with, which in Bangkok can be a little bit of a letdown (when even the money boys aren't flirting, something's wrong, no?)
I like Bangkok a lot, and I'm glad I had a chance to go while living over here. And it was better than just running up for 2 nights. Its an interesting place, and I find that I learn stuff about myself while I'm there. So yay to all those who suggested I go...thanks!!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Bangkok Weekend
On advice from friends I am rolling out of town during Chinese New Year weekend. So, I'm off to Bangkok to see my friend Bom. Should be fun!! I'm at Singapore airport now and it's time to board my flight, so I'm off!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration
I've always been proud of my country...even when it does the wrong thing, it always seems to try to correct it.
Today, though, I'm really, really proud.
Today, though, I'm really, really proud.
Labels: Wandering Mind
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
生日快乐 to Me!
So I'm a day late on the birthday entry. Too bad. I was busy celebrating.
Being far from home on your birthday can suck, as I found in Iraq 4 years ago. This time, however, no one was shooting at me, and the food was better. Plus, even though I had a couple good friends in Baghdad, I am very lucky to have met quite a few really wonderful people here.
The birthday wishes started on Monday, when one of my students dropped by with a card and a gift from home (I'm on Facebook and am linked to some of my students, that's how they knew, I didn't announce it in the syllabus!). A number of them sent notes through Facebook as well. Tuesday night , my actual b-day,I was invited out by my friend Joshua, and we were joined by the always-very-charming Derek, to make it a great night (Derek is the first of my gay friends other than Stan that Joshua has met, and I will say again how pleased I am to have become friends with that very open-minded straight man). It was great that derek was there but he wasn't able to go out to a local bar with Joshua and I (they have live music every night and it's Joshua's favorite), so I'll be seeing derek and some of his friends Saturday. Joshua and i had a very nice time out, though we cut it short about 11;30 so we could catch the trains home.
Wednesday after work i met up with my friend Ed and he took me to dinner at a German place he'd discovered that day. We'd made dinner plans the day before, but he had no way to know it was my birthday, so I let him know in advance, figuring it would come up in conversation and he'd be annoyed if he found out while at dinner instead of earlier. Anyway, he brought a very cute card. Ed is someone I met only recently, after he was flirting with Stan, and he's turning into a very nice friend to have.
Later this week I get to see Alan, then Allan (don't get confused!), and then next tuesday KK and I are going out, and that should about do it for the birthday, a week after the fact. :-)
Various visitors celebrated with me in advance. Stan brought me the perfect gift (the first season of "Big Bang Theory," and I agreed to wait until my actual birthday before watching it) and also sent flowers that arrived on my birthday. Azhan visited last week and brought me a teddy bear. Linh passed through town a couple days after Stan left (I don't think I blogged about that yet) and brought me a couple very cute gifts from Bangkok. Adrian sent some beautiful flowers that arrived a few days before my birthday and have made the place smell nice for a week.
The folks back home sent lots of birthday wishes, courtesy of Facebook (how did we ever remember birthdays before that?) and it felt really good to be remembered. I miss my friends there and even though I will be sorry when I leave Singapore, it will be good to see them again.
For the last couple years birthday's have been a tad stressful for me but this one was nice and festive. I haven't had a birthday party in about 8 years so all the going out this week adds up to a pretty good party in my book. I appreciate the good wishes from everyone and hope I can make them feel as good on their special day as they made me feel on mine.
Being far from home on your birthday can suck, as I found in Iraq 4 years ago. This time, however, no one was shooting at me, and the food was better. Plus, even though I had a couple good friends in Baghdad, I am very lucky to have met quite a few really wonderful people here.
The birthday wishes started on Monday, when one of my students dropped by with a card and a gift from home (I'm on Facebook and am linked to some of my students, that's how they knew, I didn't announce it in the syllabus!). A number of them sent notes through Facebook as well. Tuesday night , my actual b-day,I was invited out by my friend Joshua, and we were joined by the always-very-charming Derek, to make it a great night (Derek is the first of my gay friends other than Stan that Joshua has met, and I will say again how pleased I am to have become friends with that very open-minded straight man). It was great that derek was there but he wasn't able to go out to a local bar with Joshua and I (they have live music every night and it's Joshua's favorite), so I'll be seeing derek and some of his friends Saturday. Joshua and i had a very nice time out, though we cut it short about 11;30 so we could catch the trains home.
Wednesday after work i met up with my friend Ed and he took me to dinner at a German place he'd discovered that day. We'd made dinner plans the day before, but he had no way to know it was my birthday, so I let him know in advance, figuring it would come up in conversation and he'd be annoyed if he found out while at dinner instead of earlier. Anyway, he brought a very cute card. Ed is someone I met only recently, after he was flirting with Stan, and he's turning into a very nice friend to have.
Later this week I get to see Alan, then Allan (don't get confused!), and then next tuesday KK and I are going out, and that should about do it for the birthday, a week after the fact. :-)
Various visitors celebrated with me in advance. Stan brought me the perfect gift (the first season of "Big Bang Theory," and I agreed to wait until my actual birthday before watching it) and also sent flowers that arrived on my birthday. Azhan visited last week and brought me a teddy bear. Linh passed through town a couple days after Stan left (I don't think I blogged about that yet) and brought me a couple very cute gifts from Bangkok. Adrian sent some beautiful flowers that arrived a few days before my birthday and have made the place smell nice for a week.
The folks back home sent lots of birthday wishes, courtesy of Facebook (how did we ever remember birthdays before that?) and it felt really good to be remembered. I miss my friends there and even though I will be sorry when I leave Singapore, it will be good to see them again.
For the last couple years birthday's have been a tad stressful for me but this one was nice and festive. I haven't had a birthday party in about 8 years so all the going out this week adds up to a pretty good party in my book. I appreciate the good wishes from everyone and hope I can make them feel as good on their special day as they made me feel on mine.
Labels: Age, Friends, Life, Living in SG
Monday, January 12, 2009
First Entry of 2009
Aaaaaaaaannnnddd it only took 12 days.
What can I say? It's been a busy 12 days.
I'll try to catch up a bit.
OK, well, Stan's trip here was a good one (from my perspective, anyway, and from his too I think). We returned from Penang on December 30th and had a couple mild adventures around town that evening. Wednesday the 31st was our day to catch up on any place he wanted to go but hadn't visited yet, but unfortunately the design Museum was closed. However, we made it to the Urban Redevelopment Authority for their exhibit on the master plan for Singapore, because we are both geeks who are intrigued by city planning. While we realize that no plan ever works out exactly as written, we were just impressed that Singapore actually HAS a plan for the next 50 years, which I don't think most US cities have. The exhibit was very impressive, though we both got the sense that it was a little overly optimistic, with lots of pictures of how beautiful things are going to be, a sense of urban beauty that I haven't yet seen here. I hope they stick to it closely, this is already a pretty nice place and it would be cool if it improved even more.
Anyway, with our nerd genes satisfied, we went to the Asian Civilizations Museum, and we wished we had more time there because the 2 1/2 - 3 hours we spent there weren't enough. Very interesting, and I'll be back again. We saw flyers for a New Year's Eve party there that night hosted by a radio station, so we made plans to return after a nice dinner in Little India (Stan is a big fan). At the Little India restaurant we decided that the whole "don't tip because service charge is included" thing might not always be the best idea, as we waited 30 minutes, and asked 3 times, for our bill, and we're pretty sure someone whose income depended on the quality of their service might have made a little more effort. But we made it to the New Year's festivities, saw some very impressive fireworks, and started the year off right.
On the 1st we met up with my friend Jasen for lunch, which was very nice as I wanted him and Stan to meet. We headed to a dim sum place down the street and somehow got in past a HUGE line of people (still not sure how that worked). Stan handled himself well with the mandarin that he knows (he's primarily a Cantonese speaker) and we had a great time. We had some more wandering around to do during the day, had dinner and a nice night (including drinking from IV bags at The Clinic, yay!), and then Friday morning it was time for him to take a very long trip home.
Lots has happened since the year started that involves meeting new friends and seeing old ones who were passing through and having a weekend visitor and going to the Singapore premiere of Milk but I'm tired and it's time for bed.
What can I say? It's been a busy 12 days.
I'll try to catch up a bit.
OK, well, Stan's trip here was a good one (from my perspective, anyway, and from his too I think). We returned from Penang on December 30th and had a couple mild adventures around town that evening. Wednesday the 31st was our day to catch up on any place he wanted to go but hadn't visited yet, but unfortunately the design Museum was closed. However, we made it to the Urban Redevelopment Authority for their exhibit on the master plan for Singapore, because we are both geeks who are intrigued by city planning. While we realize that no plan ever works out exactly as written, we were just impressed that Singapore actually HAS a plan for the next 50 years, which I don't think most US cities have. The exhibit was very impressive, though we both got the sense that it was a little overly optimistic, with lots of pictures of how beautiful things are going to be, a sense of urban beauty that I haven't yet seen here. I hope they stick to it closely, this is already a pretty nice place and it would be cool if it improved even more.
Anyway, with our nerd genes satisfied, we went to the Asian Civilizations Museum, and we wished we had more time there because the 2 1/2 - 3 hours we spent there weren't enough. Very interesting, and I'll be back again. We saw flyers for a New Year's Eve party there that night hosted by a radio station, so we made plans to return after a nice dinner in Little India (Stan is a big fan). At the Little India restaurant we decided that the whole "don't tip because service charge is included" thing might not always be the best idea, as we waited 30 minutes, and asked 3 times, for our bill, and we're pretty sure someone whose income depended on the quality of their service might have made a little more effort. But we made it to the New Year's festivities, saw some very impressive fireworks, and started the year off right.
On the 1st we met up with my friend Jasen for lunch, which was very nice as I wanted him and Stan to meet. We headed to a dim sum place down the street and somehow got in past a HUGE line of people (still not sure how that worked). Stan handled himself well with the mandarin that he knows (he's primarily a Cantonese speaker) and we had a great time. We had some more wandering around to do during the day, had dinner and a nice night (including drinking from IV bags at The Clinic, yay!), and then Friday morning it was time for him to take a very long trip home.
Lots has happened since the year started that involves meeting new friends and seeing old ones who were passing through and having a weekend visitor and going to the Singapore premiere of Milk but I'm tired and it's time for bed.
Labels: Friends, Living in SG, Relationships, Travel
