Day 1: Bangkok

Linz:

Surprise, Scott in Asia is the early bird...who knew? We didn't have a clock but it was light outside and people were walking around the BTS (skytrain) as I walked to our communal bathrooms for the floor. Again, I was amazed at how pristine the restrooms were in this hostel...and got ready for the day.  Now, being opposite MBK (if you haven't been to Bkk--its the giant megastore that has everything in it...everything, the only thing larger is JJ Market on the weekends which is not air-conditioned) I was stoked to get in there and buy cheap phones and eat.  It wasn't until we got there, we realized that it was not yet 10am and sleepy Bangkok had not yet risen.  

So the search for food begins.  Of course we could hit 7-11 but I was sure there was something open. We walked the streets and the only eateries open were Starbucks and the 24 hour Hong Kongese place.  *sighs* So Hong Kong fare would be the first thing we ate as a "real" (non-7-11) meal.  I was a bit bummed but even the street food wasn't the first that I wanted to show Scott--nothing really caught my eye and I love street food.  Oh well...

We walked through a few places and waited to storm the MBK as people wait to storm shops on Black Friday...except it was 10am...haha and tropical.  Finally the lights flickered on, the security guard stood aside and we all walked through the metal detector beeping (I'm not really sure why its there if we all beep) and I rushed the escalator.  We went up to the electronics floor and most the booths were closed...ah yes, it was not yet 1130, how could I expect that some of the stalls be open....

....then it happened...a vendor and I locked eyes and we were on our way over there.  I scanned the booth for the cheap phones, he had cheap ones but I wanted the bare minimum ones--the old school Nokia ones (Tricia, I did look for the old Nokia with the flashlight and I didn't see it :( but I thought of you while looking for phones)...he kept trying to help me find the cheap ones, yet I had a type in mind.  I explained in rusty Thai and mostly English we were traveling, I wanted the one I didn't care if I dove into the ocean with, wouldn't be too sad if it got stolen and he then pulled out these old school Motorola.  Exactly what I wanted.  No bells and whistles, the phones with only one color for the backlight and did bare minimum--perfect.  After some haggling we got the phones, the sim cards and I was slightly amused that they were half charged.  I grabbed a name card and we headed to do a little light shopping.  

It was only after I left I realized the phone wrote in Thai.  We wandered back to the stall, he led us to the phone company that wasn't yet opened....and so we continued to shop...headed to the stall and they turned everything to English for us.  I called Poy, she didn't answer.  I called Opor and he said someone would be at home so we could drop our bags there (otherwise Klass-Jan, Scott and myself plus the bags would have to go in two taxis tomorrow).  

(For those of you not familiar with the names above--Poy is my college room mate from the University of Macau.  She is my Thai sister and a great organizer of many of the things that I do when I am in Thailand.  Her brother is Opor.  The three of us lived together for a semester and since then have spent a lot of time together...they are pretty much my Thai siblings.  Klass-Jan is a Dutch exchange student from the semester after the SARS outbreak in southeast Asia who we got to know quite well over the semester...and I hadn't seen him since my last visit to Amsterdam...)

We went back to the hostel, re-packed our bags and headed to the house.  It was great returning back there as I've been there so many times and it does feel like home.  We did introductions and Opor took us to eat our first real Thai fare in Thailand.  Mmmm. (Opor, you're awesome!! *Scott)

We got dropped off by a park that I wanted to show Scott. Scott was interested in walking through but I instead took him to a little Thai massage place I found when my mom was last in Thailand.  It had changed a bit, but the massage was amazing, as always.  We then walked the BTS line towards our hostel, stopping at Central World to see the photography art exhibit featuring "Faces of Asia".  It was pretty cool. The editor in me wanted to draw red circles around the errors in the displays...but the pictures were great!

I got hit by a bout of sleepiness and around that time Scott saw the Art and Cultural Center.  I hit the 7-11 to purchase water and then got myself ready for bed just as Scott's night was starting...

(Scott)

After a truly amazing day experiencing new found friends, real Thai food, amazing massages, and the Labyrinthine shopping centers (Universes more aptly put) that are Thanon Rama 1 road I was absolutely thrilled to see a shining diamond of Thai Art Culture. The Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre, www.bacc.or.th

Honestly, there are few experiences in this world that can elicit a pure ecstatic adrenaline/endorphin dump in my mind and body--Art is one of them. The dynamic creative displays of human perspective on display evoke some of the most creative, stimulating, and engaging conversations this Man has ever experienced. Thus, this beacon of Art drew me in and woke me up quite quickly. 

I really wanted Linz to join me in exploring this gem as Art is not just pretty things or random baubles to me; it is an opportunity to explore the sub-cultures and internalized mental landscapes of the few brave souls courageous enough to make themselves vulnerable and open to the World. Sadly, she was practically sleeping on my shoulder so we said our goodbye's and I made my way. 

At first, I found myself in a very simple student exhibit. Thinking that this was all there was I happily strolled around, taking in the budding voices of some of Thailand's Art Students. As I walked further into the exhibit I was suddenly confronted with a stunning sloping spiral akin to Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum in New York City. I was a gasp!!

The BACC suddenly transformed into a very alive cultural endeavor. Above me in this spiral jetty I saw sculpture hanging from the ceiling and below me students, intellectuals, and creatives roamed. I began to experience that twinge of excitement one feels before flying across the world or jumping out of an airplane (both of which happened this year). 

I was toward the bottom (on the second floor) of the BACC and made my way around toward the beginning of the sloping spiral walkway to the top. A faint clamor above me drawing me in as moth to the flame.

As I made my way up I could see a food court, a coffee shop, various appropriately decorated classrooms, and different local folk artist on display. The clamor began to grow in volume and I could see various colored lights above me shining on to some unknown scene. I reached the bottom of an escalator and had to turn around to drop off my bag. After this I walked passed the smiling security guard and landed on a floor filled with finely dressed Artists, Art Students, Educators, Intellectuals, and a generally Posh and Polished international crowd. Despite my attire(a pair of shorts and a t-shirt saying "Don't forget to Chew") I happily strolled right into the fray to discover "Dialogues" a Belgian and Thai eclectic display spanning the full spectrum of artistic mediums save performance... Heaven.

To really understand what I was looking at be sure and visit the website www.bacc.or.th or simply ask me. Needless to say I could write for hours on the various displays. My favorites being a series of projections and sculptures. For those friends of mine interested in more please ask. Consider this the Teaser ;-)

After that I made my way back to Lub-D(Amazing Hostel!) and crashed with a smile on my face. Thank you Bangkok for inviting me to my new home~ Bless