Smile

Today's song is: Something  .. ?  .. can you guess?

For quite some time I have noticed an increase min western women coming to Thailand, alone, or in groups.  I am not sure why they are hear but I suspect curiosity plays a role. They are curious to discover what attracts men to Thailand.  I also think they are curious to walk on the wild side.

I suspect that their experience often does not work out well. The only western women I see that are having fun are the ones in a bar that immerse themselves in the fun and are at least a wee bit drunk. These are the types that discover that being in Thailand, in the bars, is like being back in college.  Just a lot of fun being bad and reliving your youth.

However outside the bars, I seldom see a western women who appears to be happy. Part of it may be the realization that here in Thailand, it is hard to compete with Thai women, who are blessed with good looks, come hither smiles, and slim bodies. It is extremely difficult to guess the age of Thai women. I know some beautiful, entrancing women who are 55 years of age and look 30. I am quite good at guessing age, weight, and the number of children and have made a game out of it that Thai women love to play.  Ask a western women how old they are, how much they weigh and the number of children they have birthed and you instantly become the devil's disciple.

Smiles play a huge role in Thailand.  A Thai women can be thinking this guy is a real dick, while smiling sweetly. I have many Thai female friends and when I ask them 'kuhn chop poom mai' they invariably answer yes, you are always smiling. It is true, when I am happy, I am smiling, and if you can't have fun in Bangkok, then there is something seriously wrong with you!

Lo-so Thais work very hard for their living and when they head out to party, they party hard, and like Madonna, just want to have fun! Lifers, those of us that have adopted Thailand as home, are easily distinguished by Thais from the typical tourist who is passing through. It is only through time that you will be accepted by the locals.  It is unfortunate that it takes so very long but it is worth the effort.

It is a great feeling to walk into Hillary 2 and have the lead singer step off the stage and give you a hug and speak into the microphone, 'Jimmy, long time no see, where have you been?'. Despite the instant cred with the audience of beautiful young ladies, it is just nice to be welcomed.

In a few months, I will return to Canada with my Thai wife and 4 year old. It will be an interest time for them as they adjust to a new culture and climate. It, will probably, be more interesting for me to discover whether I can still live in the great white north, a land of few smiles, and a land that older folks spend their time in Tim Horton, with like minded folks, complaining about the government and taxes.

There is not a week that goes buy that I do not meet an interesting person from another country who wants to jump outside the box and try something different.  These types are much different than the younger back packer tourists who tend to hang with fellow back packers, doing the same old stuff they would do in any western civilization.  Not criticizing, just observing. Staying in some eco resort is not ground breaking  .. just so common  .. try staying in a real Thai village  ..

Some pics of the past week:

Heading to the village

Birthday dinner for Dun, served on the floor

Thavorn's two oldest Tai and Dun

Jaidan and his 2 cousins  .. both older, but smaller

My American friend Arthur, singing at Country Road on Soi Cowboy

Jaidan at the market

Ditto

Jimmy, in the school gym working out and smiling

Jimmy, Arthur and my female friend Phai out for dinner

Jaidan at KFC eating his favorite thing  .. nuggets

Ditto

Someone in the village getting married  .. the whole village participates

Jimmy and his friend Phai  .. gf of his English friend Harvey

TTYL