DAY 1 – 11 APRIL 2009 4:45PM

Recalling 10 April 2009

Just satisfied my overnight cravings for Burger King with an upsized Whopper meal with chili sauce (yummy!!!) and back in the hotel room while I await the arrival of (apparently MS.) Stephen Chow and the “seriously concerned” (re: anti-government protest) Mr. “Darling Chung”.

This is my first day at Bangkok and unexpectedly I half-spent it in bed. Can’t blame me for being a sloth though given (i) the city was blazed by a thunderstorm most of the day; (ii) the place Bryan asked me to go to (this underground weekend market at Kamphaeng Phet) happened to dwell at the very edge of my city map and I could not possibly get my fat-ass to commute the miles just to go shopping; and (iii) I was rather hooked on to “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” which didn’t turn out as lame as other Marvel movies (like Incredibly Stupid Hunk).

I arrived midnightish at the Suvarnabhumi airport last night only to find I still had to line-up behind a long queue at customs; it was after-all the weekend before Songkran. While I approached the customs counter, I was not amused that the custom officers were clipping their nails and chitchatting about getting a nose-job; it was a stark reminder that I was in laid-back Bangkok; at that instance, and without looking too awkward in front of the customs officers, I couldn’t help but let off an evil micro-expressed smile =P

The Airport Express coach ditched me approximately a block away from where he was supposed to in a somewhat spooky neighbourhood. There I stood in a road emptied of sane persons, the wind blew some warm dusty air onto my dampened skin while some fat rat rambled through the garbage on the roadside. After some disorientation I managed to find the YHA Hostel which I was to spend the night (without even realising where the hell the supposedly landmark ITF Tower was hmmz…).

As I entered the YHA this hippy-looking old man approached me alongside the breeze of manufactured cool-air. I was momentarily perturbed to find this bald somewhat HIV-positive-looking guy to be more clueless than me; no he was not the attendant and I ended up finding the “self check-in box” for him. I lifted my luggage up four-flights of stairs to find my room which immediately reminded me of good-old camping; the room had a “look-ga” bed which squeaked every time some weight was applied on it; I didn’t care, I turned on the air-con, jointed down the street name of the 70’s Bar and I was out on a mission.

The lost-looking taxi-driver dropped me only 2 blocks from the 70’s Bar which I ended up stumbling upon when I nearly stepped on the toes of this drag-queen (who I swear was ready to scream). I found the toilet, came out, bought myself a Heiniken and the bar started playing “go-home” slow songs. I noted it was 1:30am. I went over to the next bar “The Room” which seemed somewhat happening but then again, the music started chanting “go-home go-home”. I decided to check out DJ Station back at Silom but it wasn’t long before I got tired of muscle-Marys speaking Canto / Singaporean English. I went over to Noodi bar to grab a “Thai pork & prawn” noodle, then to 7-11 for snacks. I decided to head back for a movie-night instead (which didn’t last long… I slept almost 10 mins into the movie hehe).

Coke hasn’t returned my sms yet; cant blame him though; I can imagine the awkwardness seeing him again after the period of disappearance, loathing and resurrection hmmz… anyhow this is my holiday, it’s Songkran and I’m quite certain it’s gonna be a blast. Now I just have to hold on till the blokes arrive hmm.. maybe I should gym to loose that tummy hehe…

DAY 2 – 12 APRIL 2009 11:30AM

Recalling 11 April 2009

“Another day has gone, I’m still alone” rings constantly in my head, this is a sign for positive action wahahah… so the blokes have arrived fashionably late and I was introduced to Mr. BIG and “lemme check my” Note. It wont be long when I can actually put together a sentence out of Thai friends hehe…

So we went to China town and soon enough I reminiscenced the imaginery of the dusty Guru with the fly detractor at the Mosque. We went into this Chinese restaurant which served us bubbling hot shark fin soup in a claypot which turned out surprisingly good! Despite the food being wonderfully prepared, it all had to be hurried to make way for the clubbing ahead.

We rushed over to 70’s Bar at 9ish and found ourselves cramped onto the entrance table so I figured I’d contribute and be the door-bitch to filter the crowd. Hip and trendy it was as my gay guide promised but it wasn’t long before we moved onto DJ Station. The place was rather packed with the anticipation of singing boob-men (or should I say, drag-queens). I have to say, though it was the first time I actually got into feeling the exquisteness of the performance... maybe I am at that admiration age after all. With the arrival of Mr. Chung the pack was completed and we were ready to roll.

DAY 3 – 13 APRIL 2009 5:00PM

Recalling 12 April 2009

We were well in all the action by now. The sun was blazing (to the point it felt like there were little men dancing on your skin ya know that itchy feeling was all over) when we headed down JJ Market. The market was overcrowded as we expected; we made our way through the maze like lab rats for several hours having an eye-out for bargains here and there; had a rather interesting green curry on the way before we found the exit and Stevie with a 2000 series water-gun in hand and menacingly blasting the heads of innocent little children.

Back into hotel, we went gym / pool to warm-up for what was to come ahead. Soon after, we were driven into the warzone with somewhat “brave-heart” spirit only to find a warzone lacking verve. It wasn’t long until things warmed up though and thereafter the music was pumping and so was my loaded 2000 series annihilator. It was then when my dark side revealed itself as I became overjoyed from delivering shock treatments to innocent civilians in their Tuk-Tuk, bus or motorcycles. The party escalated and it became total mayhem, the place was flooded with a tsunami of dancing rebels waving their rifles in the air and with war-paint smeared over their faces. After some serious action and a couple of beers, we retreated back to recharge at Noodi Bar (yummy!!).

At approximately 20:00 hour we were rushed to yet another battlefield – the infamous “Or Tor Gor” – which for some reason smelled curiously like home. We setted up our command-post right outside the entrance of “Fake” where Private Sergeant Note could survey the area in an elevated position. We made sure we had plenty of fluids in our system so we gulped down glass after glass of spiked coke. Rain started to fall from the sky as the beats bumped and we became excessively exuberant. As we surveyed the hypered area of El Nin Yo, we met up with the party of Coke, Fluke and Jae a.k.a. “Abra” with their fellow friends. At some point, Stevie and Note went MIA but that did not stop us. We drank and danced and fought harder than ever until our bodies collapsed into bed like Jello dropped on a plate. For some curious reasons, I had some flower beads chained my neck – something is going on!

It was an incredible day.

DAY 5 – 15 APRIL 2009 1:00PM
(started mini-notes – written on flight back on 19 APRIL 2009

Recalling 13 April 2009

On the morning of the thirteenth, I headed over to 1531 to find Stevie laying on his bed half-naked in the Buddha position with his red undies thankfully put on, in any case I was overhung enough not to be overly bothered. What was more concerning was what we saw as we flipped through the television channel; the CNN correspondent reported that the political situation has worsened and the “Reds” has stepped-up their game and violence; he spoke of a rigged bus smashing into a hotel as he ran for cover from the gunshots that were fired and we saw imagines of angry protesters throwing flammable cocktails and banging railings with their steel rods etc.. At this instance I contemplated that the trip possibly had to be cut short as numerous countries / cities including Hong Kong issued travel warnings… for obvious reasons however I was reluctant to make a rushed decision; after all tourists weren’t the target and the hotel was a safe sanctuary for a relaxing time.

Note returned to the hotel and reported that shopping malls were all closed but he was thoughtful to have brought back a variety of snacks (marinated sausages, vinginared / spicy salads, stews of pork liver?, curried chicken and fish etc.) and iced chasmine tea. It was all really delicious!!!

Before long we were all geared up for another urban warfare at Silom; we headed out on the Tuk Tuk trying to be cautious of local warlords along the way. Just as the burning sun started to become unbearable the Tuk Tuk slowed to a halt. Without warning and before I could figure out what was going on, buckets full of water were splashed all over us and the Tuk Tuk was dancing along the beatings of the singing monkey-men who was shaking it. At this instance we knew this was going to be another day of hardcore action but what really was coming was jaw-dropping.

The entrance of Silom Soi was swamped with dozens of Tuk Tuk and soon enough we were well into the action; the place was so jam-packed cars were literally moving at snail speed; again the music was thumping and pumping wit Thai and English beats and everyone was hyped. This is probably the first time I have been actually on natural high and it was actually in broad daylight – it was unbelievable. Everyone (men, women, tall, fat, sissy, trendy, old, young, babies, black, white, Asian, Thai, transsexuals, ladyboys, dancers, musicians, lawyers, doctors, strippers etc. etc.) were smiling, dancing, rubbing clay on each other, splashing water, playing with water pistols all with no other mission but to savor the moment with each other. At that instance an oversized Rainbow flag was being waved by one of the half-naked hulks to the tunes of one of the gay anthems (perhaps Anaya Day) and it was that time when I was assured I am at the gayest and most gay-friendly place in the world. It was a wonderful scene and I barely had a moment of pause to absorb, breathe in the atmosphere and live it– YES, this is what we live for!! For once I thought life needed no explanations, no philosophy, no complex analytical breakdowns; we live because we are one big race – outwarded divided but brought together by the yearn for belonging, unity and recognition for each other that brings with it so much happiness – and that was exactly what the celebration was about. The party only grew hotter despite icy water running down my back every time someone decided I am worthy of bless; a truck holding Ms. Dancing Diva rode past and the roar was deafening “Woaahhh”.

After several hours, my tummy started yelling for Burger King again and I had no choice but satisfy it despite my health-conscious brain screamed “Not again!”.

An hour or so and we were back to Or Tor Gor (approximately 8:30pm I would think – too early? Never, the party has already started without us). Note was quick to reserve us a hotspot at approximately third row into the main street. What happened next needed no real explanation – drinking, dancing, body-contoured-parapara-boys etc. Lets just say we were so thirsty that it quench it we drank to the point glasses became redundant. Along the way we bumped into Leo and Andy (who looked suspiciously cheeky) and the gang of “Coke & Gang”. After another god-knows perhaps 6-7 hours of clubbing, we decided to go supper (I was too drunk to remember where we went) but we had pork noodles with Coke & Gang (with Jae, Arm, Fluke etc.). By the time we got back to the hotel, Aof a.k.a dentist was there waiting and he stayed the night.

Oh-my!!! This was the most incredible day yet!!!! My heart was on the verge of collapse….

Recalling 14 April 2009

On the fourteen I was awoken with a pat on my shoulder with a hotel note reading “Please call your mother immediately!” It didn’t take a genius to figure-out my mother has returned back to Hong Kong and has been stressing over the political situation in Bangkok. It was apparent from checking her emails that – being paranoid that she is- she would want me to return straight-away. It took a soothing email and a 225 Baht international phone call to convince her that I would be sensible and safe and ready to jump on the next flight back if necessary. Aof assured me that the “Reds” have pledged not to block the airport in any event.

Lunch was then at S&P (which does not stand for Standard & Poors btw because it was clearly not for the poor) with Aof and Kevin. When we returned back to the Watergate, we went for a swim, gym and table-tennis; the sun was furiously punishing but it was no match for the watermelon frosty that was so cool it gave me several minutes of “brain-freeze” – sooo nice!~~

At that moment my foot had “water blisters” and felt inflamed and painful so I started bandaging it up where it really matters with somewhat a dozen of plasta. I decided to wear my runners this day and thought I was invincible – of course I was not but it might (as I would explain later) have saved my foot.

We headed down to Lumphini park first for a change to find young kids splashing water in the murky water. I decided to change artilery and found myself a lower series but more persistent gun (which was perfect match with my short-range rifle I picked up sometime when I was drunk). Having recharged ourselves with some snacks we headed down to Silom and found it almost impenetratable with swamps of people so we headed straight into Burger King for short retreat before deciding to shoot to Or Tor Gor early (and by early I meant around 6ish).

We sat down at the beef noodle place adjacent the bars and found this super-cute yet ferocious dog laying beside us. This time we had a second row outpost outside Fake Club where we spent drinking pretty much non-stop. My head swung here and there and my body only got lighter with disco lights and dancing queens. It must have been only 10pm when Stevie lost all consciousness and we decided to carry him beside the row of dollies at the roadside and it was there and then when (trying to fend off the riot) that my foot got ran over. A man that I am it didn’t itch that much and no bones were fractured. Couldn’t remember much after that hehe..

*A month or so has passed in the following entries so memories were fuzzy*

Recalling 15th April

The 15th began with Mr. Ging in the adjacent bed with Kevin. We decided to go chicken rice and satay which tasted nothing less fulfilling than the first time we tried it (if only the portions weren’t for babies). This day we didn’t really had to think where to go but we landed there (Silom of coz) for a change by BTS. Chung gor gor felt somewhat obliged to bless some boys with the clay so he bought some and the frenzy began. The water-fight was fierce as usual but today it was more about the sluggish clay than about water and soon I found myself looking into the mirror to see a white-clay men staring back. Gotten all tired we recharged at Burger King and met up with Fluke and Jae. After much freshening up, the four of us were escorted down by this somewhat dodgy Tok-tok to a seafood restaurant hidden in some dark alley where the food was tailor-made to rip-off tourists (the only difference is we didn’t really blend in with the rest of the Caucasian which only made us look more fooled). Anyway, the food was still quite nice despite it being over-priced, but then I thought what is a holiday without getting dodged so it was okay. I guess by now it would be obvious when I went next. At El Nin Yo I remember being sober and Box his rather cute dance with his signature handkerchief over his head haha. Mesmorised I soaked it all up.

Recalling 16th April

From what I recall the 16th was a lazy-ass hell-of-a-slacker of a day. We headed over to Platinum for lunch and I had a green curry chicken rice, egg and vege with melon frosty (sometime I became slightly addicted to). When we got back we went for a brief swim and laid dead for another while to “Sai Ming” (somewhat like retired couples). Kevin left early to meet his friend (who I could only recollect as some guy accustomed to wearing over-sized glasses when clubbing). I went online for awhile to catch-up with the rest of the world before heading down to Siam Centre and Siam Paragon and found that the place seemed all familiar. I began to have flashbacks of previous trips, trips that seemed so long ago but still fresh in my memory, I still remembered the jokes we told at distinct places. Life, it is a journey and this place, was one of those that I would trod over many times. Kevin was fashionably left but he made it up by treating us to this Japanese place called Zen which was really nice (we had soba and platters of sushi yay!). I took off to Or Tor Gor first coz Box was expecting me (for dinner apparently). This night took awhile to heat up and there and then I had a chance to finally get to know Box more while waiting for Kevin to turn up. It took him awhile and I could only speculate what he’s been up to but after some cheap whisky, we got drunk… very drunk. The night accelerated and soon I was escorted to Gstar and Rachedum bar (which must have already been closing by the time we got there). We didn’t seem to mind and partied away amongst the slightly febble yet still happening clique. I briefly met up with Mickey and at the door of Rachedum I introduced myself to Nut who was wearing this angel wing and I thought my god this guy have the nicest body and he was hot!~ We had noodles before heading back… it was a very drunken night from what I remember.

Recalling 17th April

17th was probably one of those days in a trip which I’d somewhat rather forget but I cannot have the day unaccounted for can I. Woke up to find Kevin busy scheduling his plans with these 3 guys (the singlet guy, the 10 year old looking guy and Pan). I accompanied him to Siam Paragon to meet the first and had a melon juice which was actually expensive but sucked. Kevin soon left and I had a green curry chicken and sweet soy chicken on my own beside this somewhat self-indulged drag in front of the fish-filled water tank. I wandered around on my own afterward and found that the TWD Kevin gave me weren’t accepted in all 3 Thai banks I tried coz the watermark had faded. I then realized I was in a somewhat financial crisis. I decided to exchange the HKD I told myself I weren’t gonna use unless in emergency. With nothing to do, I decided to go online and had a rather long catching-up session with Markus. After some time I felt I had to get out somewhere and went down to Silom; there I met into this really nice Vietnamese guy (who spoke proper English thank god!). He happened to be this TV star / producer and we had some interesting conversation or two. By around nightfall I went to Or Tor Gor (again alone), and there I realized Aof happen to know Fluke and Jae quite well and it was somewhat awkward given that I’ve been trying to avoid Aof (who has gotten rather sticky for the past days) before Box arrived. Kevin came super-late and only momentarily showed-up before disappearing again and I was left with his worshippers interrogating me of his whereabouts (which of course I had no idea). When I called him he was apparently not in Or Tor Gor and then I felt quite upset. He came back for show and then told me he had to go back early and that was when the drama pursued coz I got really fed up that the whole night to him was about talking up boys and nothing else. Anyway, being Kevin I had to cop the crap and apologise afterwards coz I know he could not possibly understand, that to me, as much as I would like hanging out with Box, the night wasn’t about Box, I’d much rather it being a decent night-out with my best friend. But then again, knowing that he was on a mission to get laid it would have been selfish of me to get in the way, and apparently, it was “rude” (in his own words) so that was that. Anyway, not knowing what the fuzz was about, I decided I couldn’t possibly go back to the hotel (which I paid for) early coz I didn’t want to see stuff I speculate I could possibly end up seeing if I did so we had supper with Box and his friends at this outdoor supper place on the other side of Or Tor Gor. The soup rice with pork was rather delightful! At that time, I started getting text messages from Nut telling me he wanted to come over and almost instanteously Box’s friend floated the idea that he could spend the night with me… I got somewhat paranoid coz I didn’t want more drama on the night… after some to-ing and fro-ing of sms the situation was settled, but apparently I still ended up back to the hotel a tat too early (oh well).

Recalling 18th April

The journey was nearing the end now. Box was rather sick when he woke up so I cunningly helped him dry his clothes while pretending to sunbathe at the hotel garden. While Box was recovering from his sickness and Kevin gone with his pal, I decided to try Ae’s number as I vaguely remembered that he moved down to Bangkok to work and apparently he indeed was around and working at a English institute in Silom. After Box woke up I bought him chicken rice and satay again coz I couldn’t shake myself off it before we played a couple of games of table tennis beside the rain. The night started to dawn and the humid settled when we headed down to the Night Bazaar at Lumphini to have dinner with Kevin at the Puppet Master restaurant where we had tom yum with prawns, stir-fried vegetables, red curry shrimps, fried pork neck and the of course watermelon frosty!! We browsed around some furniture and décor antique shops and found some interesting stuff but the market was way too humid and hot and soon enough we headed back to the hotel. That night, we (Kevin, his singlet guy – excuse me that I forgot his name now, Box and I) headed down to the 70s bar but it really didn’t pick up for me. Ae arrived and we had a good time catching up which probed my memories of Changmai. The party ended rather early and we went for supper at Silom which also ended early coz Kevin got freaked out by the swamp of cockroaches which crawled out from dark shadows. The night ended in some unsatisfactory mood (or maybe it was just me thinking we had to make the most out of the last night there). The heaviness of nearing the end started to dawn on me.. I only had to distract myself from the thought of what was waiting for me back in Hong Kong.
the journey

Recalling 19th April

The 19th was too short. Waking up at noon time we left for Siam Paragon for lunch with each step getting more sluggish. 9th Café was light and breezy but our mood was heavily and numb as we knew that soon enough this fairytale would end and it wouldn’t be re-ignited for perhaps another year or perhaps never at all. At such instances, being the age that I am I could only wonder when the day would come when my batteries wear out and I just wouldn’t have the energy to buy those flight tickets … or worse that I’d be given the cold shoulder for just trying to blend in the party given my age. Anyway, point is, the pad thai and watermelon frosty didn’t really do much to lift the sad atmosphere. I decided to distract myself with some last minute shopping with my remaining currency and bought some crafted chopsticks, scent sticks and some other souvenir at the airport. At the airport, I took a final deep breathe and readied myself onto the plane.

On the flight FD 3696 back to Hong Kong, it was good that it was still bright and sunny outside because it made the atmosphere somewhat less depressing than it actually was. Beside the street parties and clubbing nights which were undeniably the most happening ever, Bangkok has filled some gaps within me and made me feel more loved that I have for a long time. Over this trip I have met some really interesting people; I met Mickey at Silom over a water fight; met Nut at just outside Rachatdum Soi bar; Box at outside the bathroom at El Nin Yo (in yet another water fight); was introduced to Jae through Fluke who was a cute hyper-dancer etc. But then again, if every day was this happening and special it wouldn’t occur so… life need some balancing… the thing is that over this trip, and any other trip to Bangkok for that matter, Bangkok has always managed to tip the balance way over the lighter and more enjoyable side and I hope it would always be that way.