Silom Sauna

The Silom Sauna is located on Soi 22 and it is composed of a 2 story arrangement of corrugated steel living units. I believe it is named the Silom Sauna as a joke because it must get unbelievably hot in there, especially at this time of year. It is populated mainly by the itinerant Myanmar construction workers and down on their luck (and funds) farangs. Reminders of a typical bar saying ... 'No money, no honey'. It is not unusual to see a farang sitting on the sidewalk with a sign ... need money to go home ...

The Silom Sauna

Thavorn's family minus her sister. Her brother looks possessed ... check out the eyes.

Thavorn's brother Tum came to visit for the weekend. He lives in Bangkok about a 60 min taxi ride away. His wife is home in her village expecting their 2nd child. When Tum's wife was pregnant with their first child (not married) Tum was shot by his gf's family because they were pissed Tum got her pregnant. Tum has the usual future prospects of most Thais with a grade 9 education (minimum wage for life). Tum was not a catch. 

Tum had to go to the hospital and bullet wounds are not treated for free (and at least in this case, not reported to the police) so Jabba had to borrow 20,000 Baht form the village loan shark to pay for the surgery (1 year loan). Of course in true Thai tradition a year later ... Jabba had not saved the necessary 20,000 to pay the loan off so the resident MATM (mobile automatic teller machine ... yours truly) was tapped for the necessary funds to keep the wolf from the door. Again, in true Thai 'saving face' there was no thank you or acknowledgement of the deed by Jabba or Tum. Thavorn was happy and did say thank you. Thavorn is very unThaiLike (new word I just invented).

Tum has been accepted into his gf's family and I must admit the wedding was lots of fun and Tum's gf's (name purposely left out) mom is hot ... even with the road rash from the latest motorcycle accident.

Thavorn's family having dinner.

I now have 4 family members to feed. Jaidan and I eat alone as he prefers his high chair and I prefer a seat at the table. Little do rural Thais know that only cats and dogs eat on the floor in Canada. I have kept that little detail to myself and Thavorn can discover it for herself when She and Jaidan visit ... hopefully in May of 2016.

Jaidan and I went for our daily walk about 1 pm and I was dismayed that my favorite bar tender (Puis ...  Lady) is now working the night shift from 6 pm to 6 am (instead of the day shift from 6 am to 6 pm ... all for 300 Baht). The new bar tender is some 15 year old kid who just finished his grade 9 and is now in the workforce. Such is life in Thailand.

I guess it is not much different in Canada because education is only mandatory until 16 years of age although most Board's of Education) will have over 95% graduation rates to grade 12. In Thailand it is 59%.

At times I am beginning to feel like Archie Bunker ...

TTYL