First weekend in September

So the first weekend in September was my first real night out on the town. It all started at the swing dance bar. One of the girls at work is a member of the swing dance club here, and I thought (just like netball) I’d be good at it with my two step experience. I couldn’t even count the step! The dancers were almost as amazing as the Asian rocker chick in her monster high heeled tennis shoes shouting out the tunes to old 60’s hits. I’ve made the decision that I will go to swing dance lessons until I am that good! Then, after buying a dress from a ladyboy on the street (it was pretty!), we moseyed on down the “Ping Pong” area, where I naively learned they weren’t referring to table tennis. Those of you that don’t know what I'm talkig about, including my parents, don’t google it,! Just be naïve! I fended off local men enticing me with menus full of “show” items that I can’t bring myself to mention. I avoided their calles for “sex show?” by keeping my eyes down and feet forward! Whew, once through, we stopped at this fun Aussie bar where the live band was playing all the pop songs from home. Afterwards, we hit up the gay Soi (street) for a friend of a friends birthday. This place put Austin to shame! Imagine 4^th street times 100! I have never seen so many shirtless men of all cultures grinding shamelessly all night to dance music techno beats! I’ll have to make sure to go there anytime I need a pick me up, as the gay Indian men thought the blonde chick was the prettiest thing they’d ever seen =)

Saturday, we did a little sightseeing from the Tuk Tuk including Chinatown and the flower market.

 

I misunderstood when I read “floating” in Lonely Planet and spent most the evening searching for the water to see theboats of flowers floating by. I realized later, it was only referring to the floating of colors down the street.

 

As my friend and I wandered in search of the river, we ended up behind the storehouses…probably leading many people to wonder why two white girls were randomly wandering around. We happened upon some of Bangkok's finest insects, but politely declined...

 

Lucky for me, we popped out at a banana/chocolate crepe stand and had a delicious dessert. Unlucky for me, we also saw our first Bangkok sized rat poke his head out of a drain!! They are the size of cats!

Sunday, a friend and I ventured over to check out the monitor lizards at Lumpini park. All I have to say is that I am glad a friend warned me about them because if I had gone in blindly, I would have run through the park like a lunatic screaming, “crocodile!” Instead I just went around like a lunatic trying to get close enough to take a good picture.

 

I used the excuse that I needed to get my heart checked before working out to not run the mere half mile around the park. Those of you that know the story can go ahead and laugh. I finally did get an ECK and no worries, according to the test, I'm healthy! I waited for my friend with the lizards and then we headed to the pool. Finally, I got to use my apartment pool. After a few hours (and finally getting iternet installed) we decided to go get some food. We went to a place down Soi 71 for some authentic street food. Authentic meaning they don’t speak English or have English menus or pictures. However, my aide at school had given me some catch phrases including pakraow moo (which is chili with basil and pork). It started pouring the Bangkok rain on us and we ducked into a “restaurant” to eat. I was very impressed that we were able to order two dishes on our own! I’ve really come a long way.