I have been so busy that I have had to keep a list of what to post so when I can, I can update. Bangkok traffic sure has its extremes. Traffic can be bumper to bumper and then when it clears-watch out. The road becomes a raceway. I mentioned that last Saturday traffic was stopped for royalty in my neighborhood. That has happened twice more this week-once coming back from dinner and today when I was walking I had to stop. The Princesses palace is nearby. I even have to stop when I am on the way to dinner and the Royal anthem is played. Everyone who is walking stops. It is played every night at 6 in the neighborhood where I sometimes eat.
One thing I have noticed is give a security guy a whistle and he will blow it constantly. One of the gates to the University is right close by my room at the hotel. The guard blows his whistle constantly to control (if he even can) traffic coming out of the University.
Earlier this week I went to MBK to get a new watch. Mine died. Well let me tell you at 4PM is not the time to get hail a cab. All the school kids are in cabs going home. I had to walk a few blocks to hail one. I did find a watch on sale at a department store and then had supper at Au Bon Pain-needed a change from Thai food.
The other night I found a new restaurant to eat at in the neighborhood. It was good and only 50 baht. I also have had take out lunch from the nearby bakery.
Thursday, teacher day was celebrated at the Faculty of Education. I was invited to the early morning ceremony where the monks blessed us.
Did learn a bit more about education in Thailand. The children go to school and then often get tutored after school so they can get into the best schools and universities. On Saturdays, some go to school for art, music or sports. However, few play any sports even though the papers are filled with news of English football teams (soccer) and basketball including NBA.
Thursday night Warunee invited me to dinner with friends of hers. The food was good, but the cab ride was awful. So I couldn’t eat very much. Friday I went to her office to meet a Purdue grad who is teaching at her demonstration high school. While there, some of the high school students recognized me from their trip to ISU last spring.
Friday night a faculty member invited me to what looked like a senior center for a New Year’s party. I only stayed a bit because I was really tired. I went to walk back (party was right next to University) and I wasn’t allowed to go by myself until I got to University gate. Not sure why as neighborhood is very safe.
Today, I wandered the neighborhood and found another market. I had gotten a salad earlier for my lunch and so got a little turnover to go with the salad. The salad was about 10 little shrimp each wrapped in lettuce and bound with a rice noodle. Came with a spicy sauce. Quite yummy.
This market was one I hadn’t been to so was fun to wander. I saw two Siamese cats while I was out (Thailand was formerly called Siam).
Had a Thai massage on campus and took a nap. At dinner I saw the ISU grad who got here a week ago so I treated him.
Tomorrow I am invited to a wedding that is in a province just west of here. If it is anything like the wedding that is on campus today, should be interesting. Apparently actual ceremony is done in the morning and only attended by a few and then party goes all day into the night. The one on campus has a band. More on my experience in a day or so.
