the road less traveled

I finally decided to do the touristy things during my latest trip to Bangkok. I'm usually not a huge fan of typical tourist attractions, especially after going to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, which probably still ranks in the top 10, possibly numero uno, of the biggest disappointments. I can now check off blessings from the Emerald Buddha (who is really made of jade) at the Grand Palace, a long tailboat ride at the Damnoen Saduak floating market, and a bare-back elephant ride.

But when a friend invited me to go on a random neighborhood walkabout in the shanty town near Phra Pin-klao and Rama VIII bridges, I was totally game. He explained that he got lost a few years ago and ended up in the area, making a mental note to come back and explore. We had no map and no clue what we would discover. It was a great afternoon of discoveries and meeting such friendly people who were happy to share their lives and feed our curiosities.

A few things we learned:

• Monks get cremated, and the cremation chamber has a number of wide doors that are opened for the soul to fly.
• Bhuddists believe that there are 65 heavens (six worlds of desires with 60 levels in the sixth world).
• Only 2.7 million of the 65 million people in Thailand pay taxes since it is mostly a cash-based, sole proprietorship society (similar to Vietnam).
• Although it is more developed with a huge reliance on the tourism industry, less people speak English in Bangkok than in Saigon.
• Similarly, there is also less free wifi.
• Wind blows in the opposite direction of the direction of the rainclouds.
• Thailand is probably the only country where the entire country is predominantly one religion - so cultural and religious beliefs are difficult to distinguish one from the other.
• The society views raising children as a group effort rather than individual parent(s)' effort.

We ended up getting lost trying to find a restaurant that he somehow remembered he wanted to try. Although we ended up a different place, it had a live local band, riverfront views, and with only one other foreigner there. The night ended with a nightcap at Khao San road, another touristy spot, but at that point, I stopped noticing.