Highlights from my recent trip

[Specialist]

Nothing much noteworthy.

 

I can confirm what everyone already knows: NEP is going downhill fast.

 

One really bright moment stands out.

 

I was staying at the Nana Hotel. I'd pulled this cutie out of one of the bars in SC, we'd had a fun time, and now it was the next morning, time to take her back to SC. She hailed a cab outside the hotel, we got in, the cab headed out. I noticed the cab was running with the meter off (BAD sign!), but figured she'd talked to the cabbie before I got in.

 

On the way, she and the cabbie were chattering away in Thai. She knew very little English, was working to learn more, had her books in her purse.

 

We arrive at Soi Cowboy, and the cabbie turns to me and says "One hundred fifty baht." Which is ridiculous. Before I could say or do anything, the girl said "Hasip baht", in that "I will brook absolutely no nonsense, you are NOT going to cheat my friend" voice and demeanor that only a Thai bargirl can do properly. She then turned to me and repeated "Hasip baht", in a normal converational tone. She knew I understood Thai numbers, and not much more.

 

You guys all know it, but "hasip" is Thai for "fifty".

 

The cabbie's expression was priceless. It was this sheepish, "I'm caught, you've got me, you win" look that only a Thai cabbie can get when he's just been nailed by a Thai bargirl.

 

I had sixty baht in my hands at that moment; I handed it to the cabbie, and everyone was satisfied.

 

The cabbie asked if I wanted him to take me back to the hotel. He's just tried to cheat me, got caught, and he wants me to let him try again??? I answered that I'd be taking the skytrain back.

 

I dropped her at her bar, walked the rest of the length of SC, crossed Asoke through the subway station, and rode the skytrain back to Nana station.

 

Memo to self:

1. Verify that one can access all four corners at Sukhumvit and Asoke from the subway station, with or without crossing through the skytrain station.

 

2. Find out how late the subway station is open and can be used to cross Asoke. It is a LOT easier to get back to Soi Nana from Asoke if you can start on the correct side of Sukhumvit, and that requires crossing both Asoke and Sukhumvit.

 

[Encore]

>1. Verify that one can access all four corners at Sukhumvit and Asoke from the subway station, with or without crossing through the skytrain station.<

 

You can't One corner you still will have to cross a street, Suk or Asoke.

 

>2. Find out how late the subway station is open and can be used to cross Asoke. It is a LOT easier to get back to Soi Nana from Asoke if you can start on the correct side of Sukhumvit, and that requires crossing both Asoke and Sukhumvit.<

 

Why bother. Catch a cab (Meter, insist, your lady for the night will help you find one) and it's about 40 Bt.

If you're alone on your way home and hope to clooect one o the way home, Cross Asoke with the crowd when the light changes.

 

Always insist on meter on getting into a cab.