I sit by the pool in the 95+ degree heat with 55% humidity looking at the puffiest white clouds against the blue sky and I wonder if I am ready to say good bye to Magen, Katie, and Tom (who has since returned to Thailand after escorting
Brooke and Tommy back to the States). At times it seems like only yesterday that we arrived and at other times it feels like forever. This is our last day in Thailand.
Before leaving, however, I want to take one last walk to
Terminal 21 and perhaps even get up the courage to walk down Soi Cowboy (the Thai location for the Hangover 2 movie). Soi Cowboy has had a long reputation (even before the movie). Finally, I want to have a drink at Denny’s Corner (a renowned
bar) across the street from the apartment.
Let’s see how my plans turn out.
After 2-3 hours reading by the pool Steve and I returned upstairs. We watched the end of the movie Due Date with Katie, Tom, and
Magen after which time Tom offered to make us drinks. Steve and I started our last night with a homemade Lithuanian honey cordial that Tom and Katie’s friends made.. It was sweet and potent. Conversation revolved around evolution, c-sections
and bigger brains (thanks to Steve). From there we talked of Thai construction and toasted our good times together. Steve and I then left for our final 2 hours of “touring”. We walked toward Asok and crossed busy Sukhumvit (thanks
to a walkway). We came upon a little girl begging as well as a man lying prostate on the ground (begging cup near his hand) in front of a shrine. Every once in a while he would look up and around to see if any one was coming. He reminded
me of the old gypsy beggar on the Spanish Steps in Italy. Then we turned the corner and made our way to Soi Cowboy.
My goodness! Soi Cowboy is only one block long, but it is lit up like Las Vegas. Girls abound.
One hand made sign read “Many beautiful girls, some ugly girls, and a fat girl”. However, the establishment signs were neon and from the looks of things handmade signs really weren’t necessary - there were more than enough patrons
hanging around. In addition, scooters, old woman walking hand in hand with little children, and city residents were also using this as a short cut to their homes. In appears, that for the locals, it is not an issue to walk down this street.
Tom had told us to go into the establishment Suzy Q’s. So, Steve and I stopped there for refreshments, but instead of going inside we sat on the outside “deck” to take in the sights. I really didn’t want to see what was
happening inside. I was perfectly content to people watch outside. Old men, middle aged men, young men – (almost all white), looked like boys sitting on the sidelines of a school dance waiting for a girl to approach or for the gumption to
approach a girl. However, I didn’t see any Bradley Coopers. After that Steve and I walked to the end of the block, took some photos, and walked back along the street. This time there was an honor guard (of sorts ) lining both sides of the
street. Young, beautiful women wearing tags on their clothing (sorry, but I didn’t get up close enough to read what the tags said). I will say that aside from the working girls, I was one of a very few woman sitting outside. I asked
Steve how old he thought the men sitting amongst us were, but he said he didn’t see the men (he was too busy looking at the sights).
Next we walked over to Terminal 21. There wasn’t any major importance here. I
just wanted to stroll through the area and take in the ambience one last time. Finally we walked back to Soi 22 (Katie and Tom’s street) and we went to Denny’s Corner where I had a Mai Thai (originated in the States, but since it has Thai
in it I thought it would be an appropriate beverage).
We finally crossed the street (we have become daring and just cross – those who hesitate are lost or worse yet, killed). I was able to say “ra-tee-sa-was” to
the very nice “guard” at the apartment gate who gets a kick out of teaching Thai to visitors. Ra-tee-sa-was means “good-night”. He was pleased I did that.
Steve and I finally made our way up to the 14th
floor where Katie, Tom, and Magen were waiting to take us to Makkasan station to catch the express train to the airport. Magen loved the ride in her car seat and Steve and I loved being able to sit on either side of her and look at her one last time
before leaving. We calmly* said our good-byes to Tom and Katie and Magen. Steve and I bought our tickets, and joined the other 8 passengers waiting for the train. Our last day was exactly how it should have been – low key and unrushed.