One night in Bangkok we went out with Ken and other Thai friends to 'Yes Indeed', one of many large bars they have sprung up on the outskirts of Bangkok near the airport. They had an all girl Thai band playing english (and thai) covers - they were one of the best covers band i'd ever heard! To one end of the bar they had a huge rack of whisky bottles (like 200 maybe). Whiskey is the most popular top shelf item in Thailand by far. Apparently, because alcohol cost quite a bit in Thailand, you can buy a whole bottle of of the stuff and if you dont get through it all (Thai rarely get drunk) you can store it there for next time you come to the bar - what a great value system.
Later on the same night we went to a ragey three story night club populated mainly by uni students - was a very happening place but mentally overcrowded. Afterwards we went (as many Thai's do) to an open aired food market where the socialising can continue for the night owls. I was introduced to quite a new custom here; as I entered the bathroom and lined up beside everyone else at the urinal, I felt a warm moist cloth press against my neck. There's not much you can do when you're going full stream so I just relaxed into the shoulder and back massage that ensued. I was definitely not expecting the spine cracking neck re-alignment finale, but I felt great afterwards so was happy to part with 10 baht for the experience, even if I didn't really have a choice in the matter. So the next time you're at the urinal and someone comes up behind you and starts massaging your back...be open minded - you might enjoy it ;-)
Grant and Simon's Travel Journal
Monday, June 16, 2003
Posted by Grant, 1:07 AM | 
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Reply to this postINDIAN FORTUNE TELLERS
Well, I was approached by one of these Indian fortune tellers, and couldn't resist the urge to partake. From Grants experience, it sounded amazing and worth the relatively expensive price I thought. I figured that to experience this kind if mind boggling thing first hand would hopefully help me have more faith in these "mystical" aspects of reality in general, maybe even help me develop myself.
Anyway, it was simply amazing, although I expected it to be given Grants experience. I was really excited by it all, and it's kind of like a super energy boast to experience something like that.
Unfortunately for me, the next evening when I was trying to get to sleep, I suddenly worked out a way they could have done the whole thing with cunning trickery, and I simply couldn't get that off my mind. It's also like a super energy drain when doubt seeps back in like that, and I now confess to the strong possibility I was conned.
I should note however, that Grant's "process" did differ from mine, and the "trick" wouldn't have worked in Grants case, so that aspect still keeps me hopeful. Gah!, it's almost a lose lose situation now, either I got conned, and feel silly for that, or I'm kind of being like the slightly less blessed disciple Thomas who wouldn't believe in the resurrection of Jesus until he saw it with his own eyes. The only thing to do I think, is to wait it out and see what happens. If it is a fraud, then I am disgusted with the area of human exploration these guys are using to scam money out of people.
Anyway, at the least I've learnt a really cool party trick.....
Well, I was approached by one of these Indian fortune tellers, and couldn't resist the urge to partake. From Grants experience, it sounded amazing and worth the relatively expensive price I thought. I figured that to experience this kind if mind boggling thing first hand would hopefully help me have more faith in these "mystical" aspects of reality in general, maybe even help me develop myself.
Anyway, it was simply amazing, although I expected it to be given Grants experience. I was really excited by it all, and it's kind of like a super energy boast to experience something like that.
Unfortunately for me, the next evening when I was trying to get to sleep, I suddenly worked out a way they could have done the whole thing with cunning trickery, and I simply couldn't get that off my mind. It's also like a super energy drain when doubt seeps back in like that, and I now confess to the strong possibility I was conned.
I should note however, that Grant's "process" did differ from mine, and the "trick" wouldn't have worked in Grants case, so that aspect still keeps me hopeful. Gah!, it's almost a lose lose situation now, either I got conned, and feel silly for that, or I'm kind of being like the slightly less blessed disciple Thomas who wouldn't believe in the resurrection of Jesus until he saw it with his own eyes. The only thing to do I think, is to wait it out and see what happens. If it is a fraud, then I am disgusted with the area of human exploration these guys are using to scam money out of people.
Anyway, at the least I've learnt a really cool party trick.....
Posted by Simon, 1:01 AM | Reply to this post
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