Little Arabia

Greeting the morning with a visit to the local corporate distributor! No wonder I'm not feeling a lot of culture shock!
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After Diana left for work this morning, I walked down to Tesco to get a few things.  She doesn't have a "proper" shower, as she tells it.  No shower curtain, as is typical in countries outside of the US and Europe.  The whole bathroom it tiled, so it doesn't matter if it gets wet.  I thought, as a housewarming gift, I would get her a curtain to help the place feel more homey.

The Tesco is like a Super Walmart.  Outside of the Tesco but inside the same building (sort of like a mini mall), I bought the first thing that looked edible for breakfast - an Auntie Anne's pretzel!  I wish I had waited longer.  At the other end of the strip was a food court with hot, real food.  C'est la vie!

The whole place is covered in jungle!

What a great place! It's so dark and disneyland mysterious inside that you can't capture the ambience in a photo. But it's great atmosphere!
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My Thai is coming along alright.  I can say "hello" and "thank you."  However, since they're the only two phrases I know, I ofter get them confused.  I'm sure it's a hoot for the cashiers each time I depart with a "hello!" instead of "korp kun ka!"  So far gesturing, pointing, paper, and a tendency to see the humor in the situation has gotten me along quite well.

My first order of business, after arranging my things and showering up, was to find a hostel for Nicole and I to stay in.  She's getting in quite late tonight, but it was almost bedtime in the US for my mother, who has agreed to be our intermediary since we have no direct method of contact.  I decided against looking for a place in the slightly cheaper backpacking district.  I heard it's loud, obnoxious, and chaotic - I'm sure it's full of my least favorite traveller - those who are here for the booze and the nightlife.  Who spends $1,000 on a plane ticket to nurse a bottle and get cirhosis?

Mmmm... lunch! I know, I know... what am I doing eating middle eastern food in Thailand? I can't help it! It's familiar, delicious, and in my neighborhood!
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Anyway, the backpacking district is also inconveniently far from most forms of public transport, excepting the really slow buses and the really expensive moto taxis.  Which, I suppose, is why it's cheaper than more convenient places.  (Tanget: "Why," I asked Diana this morning, "are the moto taxi's as expensive or more expensive than the more comfortable car taxis?"  Answer: they're fast.  In a city that's in almost constant grid lock, speed trumps comfort, I guess!

This is the best I could find. The walkways make you feel like you're inside a pirate ship lit by candles.
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So, Nicole and I are now checked in to the dorm #21 at Suk 11 - a hostel in a great neighborhood really close to "Little Arabia."  I hope I can find photos for you, since words can't do this place justice.  It's like a shabby disneyland version of Robinson Crusoe's tree house.  It's all done up in dark wood like the Tiki Room, and the walkway between the rooms is an elevated solid bridge with planks.  The whole place is covered in jungle.  My favorite part about the place so far is the giant, beautiful, waist hign urn in the hallway between every two rooms.  There are two plastic, not-so-beautiful buckets on top with "In case of fire" written on them.  How practical!

After a chat with mom my to pass the directions onto Nicole, my grumbling stomach guided me towards "Al Hussein's" in Little Arabia.  I had the best Vegetable Biryani and then bought some pineapple off the street.  Now it's on to find postcards for my CASA kid and maybe to the park or chaotic Chinatown.  Do I need a nap?