Today's song is: Meatloaf ... You Took the Words ...
I spent Monday night showing a 30 year old Italian man around Cowboy and Nana. He just recently started a 6 month sting at a high end hotel as a chef, specializing in duh, 'Italian dishes'. It was his first night out and about and he was like a kid in a candy shop. Despite being very handsome and fit, the ladies were not willing to budge on price, despite this being low season. This is one large enigma with doing business in Thailand. In low season, they tend to jack up the price rather than lower it. Their thinking is, I have to charge more because I have fewer customers and I still have to eat and make my rent. Price elasticity is not taught in the Thai Schools of Economics :-)
King Arthur was also out with us and Arthur and I decided to head off to Pattaya for 2 nights. Pattaya was like a time warp back in 10 years and it was refreshing to hear the refrain of 'Handsome man, you buy drink for me?' Beers at 69 baht all night long were also easy to find. Factor in a resort town atmosphere, lack of pollution, and cooler ocean side temperatures and Pattaya may be seeing a lot more of me.
Meanwhile, Thavorn and Jaidan are enjoying their family time in Phuket and Phang Na. Lots of pics:
View from my room
Thavorn's Pics:
I apologize for my poor pics but I was severely under the weather after my night out in Bangkok.
Those of you that have followed this blog for some time know that I have quite a few female acquaintances who would be classified as working girls. I would even go to state, that I would even consider some of them as close friends. Many of them I have known for over 10 years and it is wonderful to see them move on in their life after having met and married a farang. One could say they are living the life. I admire their choice of moving outside of poverty with the option life has given them.
I would use the analogy of an urban black kid using his physical gifts to take himself to the NBA and the good life that it provides for himself and his immediate family. He is not that much different than my working girl friends once you remove institutional religion from the analogy.
The working girls that I know are wonderful fun loving people. The interesting aspect to the analogy is that basketball players like playing basketball and working Thai girls enjoy indulging in sex. The tend to think that Buddhism plays a big part because it never preaches, 'Though shall not ...'. In Thai culture, it is more, 'If it feels good, do it'.
Now I would imagine that it becomes a rather difficult choice, at the end of the month, of going with a older, bald fat guy and making the rent, or declining the offer. You have to remember, there is no pimp involved (although nagging mamasans and quota fines are a problem) and girls decide who they go with. I have discovered the choice is usually around the 'fun' aspect rather than age. As Madonna was wont to say, 'girls just want to have fun'. I seem to be well liked by the ladies and when I ask them why, the reply is often, 'You are always smiling and laughing, and are lots of fun'. I think another answer would be, 'You treat me with respect', but that comes after you have known them for years.
The girls I respect are the ones that never lose fact of where they have come from, and where they are now, and are truly thankful (often to Buddha) for what they have achieved. They are also the ones that are saving, buying land, and building a house so their future is ensured. They know their working life is relatively short (similar to NBA players) and have to make hay while the sun shines :-)
I know so many in long term relationships with their 'farang' and are very happy in those relationships, as is their 'farang'. I, for one, am one of those happy farangs, as is my wife, and very good friend Thavorn.
"Private Dancer"
Well, the men come in these places
And the men are all the same
You don't look at their faces
And you don't ask their names
You don't think of them as human
You don't think of them at all
You keep your mind on the money
Keeping your eyes on the wall
I'm your private dancer
A dancer for money
I'll do what you want me to do
I'm your private dancer
A dancer for money
And any old music will do
I want to make a million dollars
I want to live out by the sea
Have a husband and some children
Yeah, I guess I want a family
All the men come in these places
And the men are all the same
You don't look at their faces
And you don't ask their names
I'm your private dancer
A dancer for money
I'll do what you want me to do
I'm your private dancer
A dancer for money
And any old music will do
I'm your private dancer
A dancer for money
I'll do what you want me to do
Just a private dancer
A dancer for money
And any old music will do
Deutschmarks or dollars
American Express will do nicely, thank you
Let me loosen up your collar
Tell me, do you want to see me do the shimmy again?
The Bangkok zoo used to be in the middle of Bangkok but relocated last year. Thavorn, Jaidan, Fon, plus friends headed out to the new zoo. Jaidan and Thavorn both enjoyed it. Thavorn had never been to a zoo before.
Some pics:
A couple of days before Jaidan joined his new buddy for a swim at her condo.
They are bot 5 years of age.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch Jimmy continues to code. Hopefully the end is in sight.
