The problem is it's 1AM. I also have a splitting headache which with no sleep are telltale signs of jet lag. I do everything I can think of to get back to sleep: warm bath (place has a bathtub, yeah), reading, play my sleep music of Ravi Shankar, I even take a sleeping tablet...nada. I lay awake and it's about 6AM, so I start thinking I should just go ahead and get up for the day. Seems as soon as I thought that I fell fast asleep. Since I didn't put the Do Not Disturb light on, there is a knock at my door around noon for maid service. Okay let's put in a full day and try this routine again later tonight.
Ive already missed my free breakfast at the executive suite, so I plan out my day. First, I need to figure out the transportation system. I walk over to the Sky Train stop which is just two blocks from the hotel. I find a kiosk with a friendly gesturing lady that speaks very good english and buy a day pass which is good on any transportation vehicle: sky train, subway, bus, all except the train. It cost $120BHT, about $3.50US...thats all? I find a route, that requires a change to a different sky train, to one of my all time favorite hotels in the world. That is saying a lot considering I haven't been to this hotel in over 25 years. The Oriental Hotel, which is now the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, is truly a unique hotel with over a 100 year history, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_Oriental,_Bangkok,
read this for history. I walk into the lobby and note all the people in dressy casual, Im in shorts and rust colored short sleeve shirt. I had forgotten the dress code for the hotel. I decide to accept my embarrassment and head quickly to one of the many lounges (most dress code required). I walk through the hotel to the back where I remember a bar area that sat right on the Chao Phraya River. It's a great spot to watch the many boats, including a Thai boat referred to as a "long tail boat." The long tail boats are long and narrow, in order to get throughout the small canals that are part of the cities charm. The "tail" is an engine that is attached to a very long metal pole (8-12 feet long) that a standing person holds that also serves as a rudder. These babies can go really fast, up to 50 MPH on the water. The waiter doesn't seem to be concerned about my dress and directs me to a very nice table with a view of the river. I order up an Oriental Hotel signature mixed drink, actually called Signature Drink: vodka (or gin), grapefruit, raspberry and honey berry. Along with the drinks comes a bowl of hot chestnuts. I remember having dinner with Beth here one night many years ago under a canvas tent, eating one of the spiciest but delicious meals I've had, while the rain poured on the safety of our tent.
I finish my second "Signature" and go to the row of stores within the hotel grounds. Very nice stuff. I remember a smoke shop from before and sought it out. I remember it was within the hotel before but can't seem to find it. I ask the concierge and he says, "You haven't been here for a while have you?", he explained once the hotel went non-smoking inside over 10 years ago, it was moved to a small place in the very back and on the lower arcade of the shopping area. I finally found it and noticed the lady watching over the register. After a short conversation, I realize she is the same lady that had that smoke shop back in the 80's, I suspect she is in her late 70's by now. I find the Cuban cigar that Al Capone was famous for smoking. Okay do I buy one or the box of twelve? I have to decide if I can get them past customs in US. "Give me a box". Now I have something, hopefully, to give to some of my friends in US. I'm getting a bit hungry, since I didn't have breakfast/lunch... only had a couple of drinks and chestnuts today. But, I don't meet the dress code.
I get back on the sky train that is within 4 blocks and head back to the Hilton hotel. Along the way I notice the many new stores. Bangkok has developed into a well conceived business plan. Before I get to my stop I remember the Pat Pong night market from my trip here before as well. It is a market that opens at night and runs through midnight. Pat Pong Street is also Bangkok's red light district. I get off at the proper stop and walk the three blocks to the market. It is huge. I start to walk down one of the shopping lanes and it goes on for about 6-7 blocks. The shops are all about the same size, about 6ft across and 12-15 ft deep. Everything you can think of is for sale. The most prominent stores are women's shoes. I must have gone by at least three dozen of these shops selling shoes for $99 BHT, about $3US. Thats all shoes, not "starting from". Also nail technicians were doing nails for $99 Baht. Seems $99 Baht is the key price at most shops. There are also several tattoo parlors...pass. I'll eat larvae in the Amazon jungle, but no tattoos. I spent about an hour looking around, bought nothing and started to see the same thing over and over. I decide to take my curious mind and "stray" out to the red light district because of my tourist obligation. This red light area is different than Amsterdam because here there are hawkers trying to swing you into their patrons. It certainly is much seedier and louder with music than the laid back casual affair in Amsterdam. I realize I am the perfect person to go after, by these male hawkers: white caucasian, over 6ft tall, though my shorts and short sleeve outfit seems to fit this locale. Also I'm the tallest person in sight. The general going price screams out at one, "$1000 baht!" Thanks but no, just visiting...really.
I get back to the quite confines of my hotel and eat at the Italian restaurant on the second floor, looking over the shiny white/gray Italian marbled floor lobby. I have a couple glasses of chianti to go with my angel hair seafood pasta. Okay, I should be tired and its 10PM. The hotel is very quiet for a Sunday night, so there isn't a bar or lounge to hangout. I go back to room. I take a shower since Ive been sweltering in the 90-94 degree weather all day. Okay let's get to sleep! Nada, same routine, up until midnight.
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