Bangkok - Take 2

I spent about a week in Bangkok in April, which you can read about here if you missed it before. I had booked a flight out of Bangkok on July 5th, so I headed back. I probably would've just spent a day or 2 there before flying out, but I headed that way a little earlier to meet my friend, Eddie Cliff. Eddie, who many of you know, currently resides in Singapore, but he was out of town when I was in Singapore in May, so we ended up meeting up in Bangkok the weekend before I left.

Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me most of the time I was in Bangkok. So, rather than a huge block of text for each of the days I was there, I'll just share a few notes.

I arrived on Saturday (June 30) from Cambodia, and I really enjoyed the train from the Thai border into Bangkok. The "3rd class" seats, which is all that's offered on that train trip, were much comfier and roomier than a bus would've been (and cheaper too), with plenty of fresh air and views of the countryside filled with rice fields.

From Cambodia - Siem Reap

When I arrived in Bangkok on Saturday, Eddie and I headed over to Bed Supper Club, a trendy restaurant and lounge, where we got an amazing dinner, that included performances from a modern dance group between each course. Those "performances" were easily one of the most bizarre things I've seen during the whole trip. I really wish I'd brought a camera, but luckily Bed has a gallery online from an earlier performance by the same group, so I stole a few from there, though they don't even start to capture the utter weirdness of it all. First, a couple of photos of the place that I stole from online:

From Thailand - Bangkok

From Thailand - Bangkok

And then a few of the "performance" - perhaps someone can explain to me why you'd run around wearing a stocking and/or plastic bag on your head and then crawl under a fur rug while an inflatable alligator sits off to the side covered by another animal skin rug:

From Thailand - Bangkok

Or why this dude in a gorilla suit is getting rather cozy with these two inflatable alligators.

From Thailand - Bangkok

The following Wednesday was July 4th. Finding somewhere to celebrate July 4th in Bangkok was not as easy as I had anticipated. After a few minutes searching online, I found a few references to the Great American Rib Company. I was used to starting my July 4th celebrations during the AM hours and making a full day of it, but I figured it was safer to wait until mid-afternoon before heading over there. I got there about 3pm and got pretty excited as I was walking up and could smell the meat being smoked.

From Thailand - Bangkok

But as I approached I realized there was no one there and I was informed that the buffet and celebration didn't start until 6. What kind of 4th of July celebration doesn't start until 6pm? I guess the kind in Bangkok, when 4th of July is on a Wednesday and most of the Americans in town have to spend the day at work. So I went back a few hours later and for the first time in over 6 months I enjoyed: pulled pork, smoked ribs, cornbread, mac & cheese, and a host of other traditional American/Southern food.

From Thailand - Bangkok

So, while I would've much preferred to celebrate in Newport or Charleston, or really anywhere in America, I did get a little taste of home despite being on the other side of the world.