It's a Long Way Home ... 24 hours total

The journey homes starts tonight at 3:30 am in downtown Bangkok. I may have an exit beer around midnight to celebrate what is probably my last solo trip to Thailand. However the family and I are booked for March 2026.

I have prebooked a taxis for 3:30 am as I do not leave it to chance. That should place me at the airport shortly after 4:00 am which is the requisite 3 hours before my 7:00 am flight to Narita airport in Japan. I then get a 2 hour layover and then fly to Montreal where I will clear customs. I only have a couple of unigo t-shirts for me and a dress that I picked up for Thavorn at Zara, Zara in Bangkok puts the Ottawa Zara to shame.

I certainly am relaxed for the flight home as I have been resting up the last 5 days. I hope I do not get delayed and rescheduled as I did on the outgoing flights to BKK.

These ladies are huge 

3 Storey Food Court at emSphere

Dress I picked up for Thavorn

Was the trip worthwhile? Yes and no. It was time to discover the new me, that is 75 years old. Now that I know me it is easier to plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

TTYL

Jouney's End

Not quite over, but soon. This is my last day at the Marriott Empire in Silom. Tomorrow I check out and head back to Sukhumvit. The areas are quite different with the Empire being in the Silom business area and Sukhumvit being the major tourist area.

I have been using the past few days to slow down and think about my trip. In some sense it was to understand what has changed in me in the past 15 years since my first foray into Thailand. I am no longer the kid in the candy shop, if you can call a 60 year old a kid. Perhaps I am the wise old sage who sees Bangkok through different and perhaps tires old eyes.

Thailand has changed and that is a result of Thais use of smart phones. Social media has educated Thais where their school system had not, Thais now see their place in the world quite differently. They also see farangs quite differently. The GFE has left and and Thais understand much more how to accumulate money. Thai women still remain as beautiful as ever but now they see how to use their beauty to earn money and still stay in Thailand.

I still see men, old and young in the chase for the elusive relationship that life has not yet provided for them. John Keats 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' ends with:

When old age shall this generation waste,

                Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe

Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st,

         "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all

                Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.

The only poem I enjoyed in high school, leaves me with the thought that yearning is seldom fullfilled so be careful what you wish. I don't wish to discourage the folks in pursuit of whatever but do so without the rose colored glasses. Young Thai women are fishing and you are the fish and usually the caught fish end up getting fried.

I consider myself lucky to be married to a wonderful, joy filled Thai woman with an 11 year old who keeps me young. If not for them I would be sitting at Tim Hortons in the morning with old farts complaining about the government and the state of the world.

This trip reinforces my belief that to be successful in life you need be lucky and be in the right place at the right time. I have always said that I do not regret the things I have done, just the things I failed to do.

Half Way

 I am just over half way into my solo Bangkok trip and it is time to share some observations.

First off, Thais are addicted to their smart phones. On the transit system 90% of them are mindlessly scrolling through them. It is also the same walking down a street, You hav to dodge the blind scrollers although it is now down to about 50%. The internet is much cheaper in Thailand than it is in Canada. 

I am also surprided that there are quite a few EV cars and most of them are Chinese with the odd Tesla.

The entertainment districts are about the same, but there are quite a few that have closed. Tourism is down and the type of tourist has changed and I believe there is not as much bar traffic as their used to be. There seems to be no shortage of ladies working in the bars but there tends to be less stunners than in the past. It is low season so I can't figure out how the bar makes money, but I suppose they make it up in high season.

However Thailand is not as inexpensive as it used to be. However, it can still be alot of fun if you use the happy hours and plan accordingly.

I am enjoying my swims and I am now up to 30 laps which I tend to do at 7:30 am to start my day. I feel I am getting back into condition and will probably sign up for a gym membership when I get back to Canada, Walking tends to be not so much fun due to the heat and humidity, but best to walk at night.

I have been relearning the mass transit system which means I can get around more quickly.

My billiard playing has not been so good and I continue to lose but still practice when I feel the urge to get better.

I have some pics to share.

Chong Nonsi landmark ... lost without it :-)

Sliom business district

Thais are now marketing Halloween

some pool pics

TTYL

Rivers

 There is an old saying I am quite fond of. 'You can't step into the same river twice ...' More on this later.

I am about half way through my 3 week trip to Thailand. It did not start well as my 24 hour flight turned into almost 40 hours. My flight from Ottawa to Vancouver was delayed, due to a staff shortage, which meant my flight to Narita in Japan did not happen. However Air Canada rescheduled me from Vancouver to Singapore, a 16 hour flight, which I could handle, but it meant a 12 hour stopover in the Vancouver airport, Twelve hours in an airport is just a pain in the ass, no getting around it. The only good part to it was that I logged about 15K steps,

The 16 hour flight was llllooooonnnnggg, another pain in the ass, despite getting up regularly for a walk. In due course, I arrived in Singapore and waiting another 2 hours for a 2 hour flight to Bangkok and arrived at my hotel about noon, on October the 2nd, rather tham 10 pm on October the 1st. Time for a nap and then a bite to eat, and then a walk-a-round.

My initial observation is that many businesses have come and gone on Sukumvit and the immediate sois, I don't think many Thai startups do the correct market surveys to see what potential, or lack of potential is available. Hence the failures.

The new trend appears to be restaurents, especially craft beer types and hiso hamburgers, neither of which I am interested in, I will stick with San Miquel Light and some inexpensive Thai food.

I tend to see more Indians and farang families with kids. Also more Gen whatevers in pairs, male and female. That is during the day. At night, not much has changed, except fewer as it is the tail end of low season.

The bars are much the same, although the traffic is lighter and the girls tend to be more pum pui. The drinks are a bit more expensive but happy hour is still available. The lady drinks are more expensive by aout 50 baht. Apparently that is how they make a living these days. Better days ahead as high season starts next month. Thais grasp of English has not improved much.

This being the rainy season, I have experienced only 3, three hour storms which is not bad. I have usually forgotten to bring my umbrella so I usually duck into a beer bar and indulge in a few beers as I wait out the rain.

I try to get my 10k ssteps in but it is more tiring in 34 degrees and high humidity. I prefer my laps in the pool which are progressing quite nicely.

Back to the river ...

The meaning behind the phrase is the river has changed and so have you. I have found that so true this time around as father age catches up to me. I indulge less as the next day hangover, both mentally and physically have to be dealt with. Just means the get up and go has gone for the next day.

Also the bar routine is still much the same so there is not much novelty for an old hand as myself. Also many of my drinking partners are either dead, out of the country, or just not available. I have always said partying by yourself is boring.

Time to get creative ...

TTYL