We had dinner at the “Old Lady’s.” I use the term “dinner” loosely. We drank beer and wine. We ordered. We cooked on two table-top charcoal cookers (would not pass the fire-codes back in the US) and bought shoes. I think this is typical street-life in Pattaya. It’s not boring.
We had lunch overlooking Pattaya Bay. Exquisite. When you get down on beach road it’s not so exquisite. There are a few delights available that we’re not used to seeing offered in such a public manner. This has provoked some interesting discussions with our teenage grandchildren and some interesting questions from the younger ones.
Pee Paw finally got in a foot massage with the boys. It doesn’t take much to convince you that this is as necessary as a daily shower. It’s as feel-good as it gets.
Walter and Maggie’s home is lovely with a beautiful pool and a yard full of tropical plants. Yesterday the gardeners killed a snake living in one of the palm trees. Evidently this is not unusual. Don’t complain about the raccoons or possums that might visit your patio. The neighborhood is full of beautiful homes – some yards full of gold-leafed shrines others with immense statues. There’s even a white unicorn with a silver horn that is larger than a full-sized horse in one of the front yards.
Soi (Pronounced “soy”) dogs live on the smaller roads – a lot of them. They don’t seem to bother the traffic and they don’t hang out on the larger throughways. They seem so stay in front of a certain buildings and don’t run in packs. It appears that someone is feeding them – sort of free-roaming pets. They do not eat dogs or cats in Thailand, but we’ve heard there’s a lively trade with Cambodia at the border.
There are very few stop signs here and intersections are mostly a game of “chicken.” We’re thankful for Khun Biayoon (the Elms’ driver). Maggie and Walter also occasionally take the wheel. Most people get around on motor bikes. There are tens of thousands on the roads. They observe no traffic laws. This also makes driving interesting.
We spent a day in Bangkok. It’s an amazing city – about two million more people than New York. We visited the Great Shrine and saw the King’s palace. The great reclining Buddha at the Shrine was over two-hundred meters long. Very impressive area. We ate lunch on the river at a lovely restaurant on a deck and could watch peoples’ laundry dry. Zoning is non-existent. We had a drink with Greg and Ronnie Auberry and their daughter in one of the beautiful hotels before heading home. I’d love to visit this city again. They even protest politely and stop for the holidays. Hope the political problems are worked out without any damage. The government is democratically elected; however, the protesters feel they do not have representation as the North , being more heavily populated, manages to control the government. The same family has ruled the country for generations.
Thailand is gorgeous; however, many people live in tin-roofed shacks which are anywhere and everywhere. Apparently some type of retail or food service is many people’s substance and this takes place in the front of the shack. Folks are not starving and seem busy but there’s not much chance for a better tomorrow. Wages are low. In the newspaper I saw an ad for an experienced person with a Master’s Degree in Anthropology between 40-60 years old. The position paid less than $30,000 a year.
High-Society:
The Friday after we got here, we attended a “Misfits” party – a gathering of expats who do not leave for the holidays - at Maggie and Walters’ friends’ house, Michelle and Greg’s. Fun time – good food, beautiful home and darling kids. Ryan and Erin attend as adults. We’re getting too old.
Santa comes Christmas morning and brings an outdoor basketball hoop. We’ve had street basketball ever since – Pee Paw even managed to participate. (The house is at the end of the subdivision.) Don’t ask how Santa’s helper, Walter, managed to get this back from the US. Look for the picture of us in our Michigan State outfits and guess who brought those gifts for everyone.
Maggie and Walter had twenty-eight for dinner on Christmas. Dinner is outside around the pool. Not too shabby.
We are off to Cambodia for our New Years Eve adventure. More on that later.
Enjoying our visit
Carol
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