Mai Pen Rai - Made In Thailand


Sawasdee Krab!


There's something about Bangkok, in general Thailand that I like. They say first impression counts. The lovely places, friendly people and warm smiles not just in Bangkok but all over the kingdom and I learned this first hand as far back as in the 80s. 

 It was not so commercialized back then and a few of us were in Phuket, rented a beach buggy jeep for $20 a day and navigating with a map drove all over the island and stopped wherever and whenever we wanted. It was so care free that we didn't need a watch. We bought 4 durians and on our way back to the hotel we got lost. At a traffic junction, we asked a young native lady om a motor bike for direction and without a word, she drove off and signalled to us to follow.

She actually took us all the way to the hotel! We were very impressed but felt bad so we wanted to reimburse her at least for her cost but she flatly refused. We were so impressed and one of us advocated to least give her a couple of durians instead. She refused at first but on our insistence she relented. We felt happy until we tasted the durians which were so good we wanted to smack the smart Alec who advised us to part with the durians. A fool and his durians were soon parted.

Bangkok is a regular destination for work or holidays but I have not been there for a few years. It was sad to read that many parts of Bangkok were inundated by flood but the heart of the city centre where old and new existed together remain unscathed. I was glad to be back. Mai Pen Rai - It's okay, no worries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGTq_bc_oL0


















This pictures above & and below was Patpong by day.


Yes the world-famous Patpong. The logistics of transformation is amazing, how quickly the forklift would come and set up each stall and then the reverse in a nifty.


I have many friends here - old and new so I knew Bangkok intimately. I know some or many of  you are very intimate in Bangkok too.


I didn't see this the last time - Hokkaido restaurant.


Further down from Patpong, another popular street - Thanon Thaniya. Most popular among the Japanese crowd.


These fish can eat your dead skin till you become  a lady boy. 


They are suckers! I have never tried this, is it good? If you have corn, you will need piranha.


Their trains provided welcome relief. Clean, cool and efficient.


I met Steven Gerrard and he wanted a picture with me. I relented.


Mah Boon Krong or MBK is still ever so popular.


It was way past lunch time, we have to have lunch. We ordered too much as we were very hungry like  eating double what we needed . There is a tendency to overdo when hungry.


But let me tell you that this duck is a champion especially when dipped in this sauce. A must try must do at MK!


















Simple MK steamboat.



 Since my nephew introduced this, I haven't had enough.

Yes, Black Canyon Frappe.


A drink from paradise available on earth. That said it all.


Young people in some dancing contest adding to the vibrancy.


This was how they set up stalls at Patpong Night Bazaar.


The view from the hotel room on a clearer day as it was raining intermittently.

We stayed at the Montien, a good business hotel, oldish but charming. Just look at the room key.


An old friend there brought me for drinks. I am a workaholic so I was glad to come to "The Office". I always like to go to the office. I wish to have an office like that. More offices should be like it and I will always be in the office.


Right up the neighbourhood you have "MOJOS". It must be Austin Powers.


This is the man!


Big In Thailand with the Guru.


Cheers Bro!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbD_aIUUJ-o (Tata Young)

Welcome to Soi Cowboy. Baccara, not for under-aged people like me. The other as famous is Soi Na Na.




This door man at the hotel has been at it for years and he is always so cheerful and polite.





Patpong taking on a new life as the sun sets. I like the pink taxi.





Black Canyon Coffee is everywhere. Fear not.






More steamboat. This time at Koka. It is still the best.






There is magic in the chili sauce!






End of day dinner with lots of drinks - beer, whiskey.....etc.



Patpong has everything including knuckle-dusters and nunchaku. 


It was already morning. We will be leaving during the day so we had to tuck in a little more - phad thai at a road side cafe. It was delicious. At 2am this is the last order.



















As we ate, we could see the unpacking of Patpong as the stalls closed.


The last omelette at the hotel before leaving for the airport. Why is this my favourite? It is too troublesome to prepare so much ingredients to do it for a person or two.


The final top up - Black Canyon before boarding. Oh dear, they were announcing the final call. We are leaving on a jet plane.


















 

Thailand is lovely and amazing as ever!






Mai Pen Rai - It's Okay, no worries. In Singapore, it's equivalent could be nevermind lah, no sweat or relax one corner. Or Hakuna Matata in Africa. I like Mai Pen Rai and Hakuna Matata! I need it as my email has been inundated and flooded with more than a 1,300 emails. Bo pien, lai lah.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejEVczA8PLU (Hakuna Matata)

Our prayers are with the Thai people and hope the flood subsides.

The land of a thousand smiles. Khon Khun Krab!

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