We Go Together

After a tough Bikram class (in came the monkeys and boy, did they have fun up there in my head!), I was crossing the street when a guy started talking to me. ‘How are you?’

Normally I don’t really respond to questions like that, but he instantly started talking and asked me if I thought the traffic was a bit crazy over here, while he got nearly hit by a scooter, and told me he had only just arrived in Bangkok a couple of days ago. He wanted to hear my opinion on the city, and as you might or might not know: I don’t shy away from sharing my point of view.

Little did I know that he was about to follow me like a soi-dog, but it was okay. It was a friendly enough guy (of my own age) and it is always fun to talk to strangers. He lives in Qatar and came over to discover Thailand, although he was thinking about staying in Bangkok only. (He thought about visiting Pattaya, but I told him to rather go elsewhere - if he wanted to see more of the ‘true Thailand’). I gave him some advice on places to see and do, especially when he said Thailand only seems to be good for shopping and business, while explaining a bit more about Thailand and it’s people. (As far as I know, that is).

I was surprised when he wanted to come in to the supermarket with me, but what the heck, it was fun talking. So I picked up some tomatoes, carrots, kale, bananas, almonds, toiletpaper and soup - while we talked about Bangkok some more. He asked me if I liked it here; I told him I love Thailand, Bangkok, and that it will be hard to say goodbye to this lovely place. That I will move to Canada soon, to be with my boyfriend, and that it will be more than worth bearing the cold. But yes, I love Thailand.

When it was time to pay, he grabbed his wallet and said: ‘it’s okay’. I was like: ‘huh, what are you doing? You don’t have to pay, are you crazy?’ But he insisted and well, what can you do?

Honestly, I met you five minutes ago and you are paying for my groceries?

(Next, he asked me to come out on a date - to grab a bite, but no thank you. Thank you.) He continued to walk along, while I asked him some questions about his experiences (‘Why is everybody in this city after sex and massages? Why can’t I go to a club, without meeting the same girls that have been with a thousand of guys before me? I hate the food over here, I only go to Mac Donalds’).

I told him to go check out some foodcourts, or - if that is not up to his standard (fuck the standard, foodcourts rule!) - to visit some of the nicer restaurants, maybe visit Ekkamai or a nice Indian restaurant in this area? It is not worth traveling to Thailand and never try the local kitchen - hell, it is the reason most people are here!

He asked me if it was not unsafe for me to walk around in ‘this’ neighbourhood (mind you, this is probably one of the safest areas in Bangkok - or at least, it feels that way), as a girl on my own? I said I could not see why. ‘Because you are a pretty girl?’ I told him Thai people would not hurt me, because they live of tourism and don’t want to get negative stories in the news. And that I always follow my intuition and act responsible. ‘But they can see you are not from here, that you’ve got money to spend’.

Honestly? ‘I don’t look fancy, I am wearing the most touristy clothes ever (tanktop, shorts, H&M shoulderbag, flipflops). I think there is more danger in talked to guys from other countries’.

HAHA

Oh well, it was fun talking to him and to listen to the experiences of a person that has just arrived in Bangkok. I thanked him for the groceries, told him to go to one of the fancy cinema’s and check out the foodcourt at Emporium (or anywhere else for that matter).

When I came home I had a good laugh with Kae (who works at the reception) over it all, ‘pity you didn’t fill up an entire cart! You should have said, oh wait, I forgot something!’.