At the end of the annual Songkran Festival which happens at the time of Thai New Year, I am on my way to work on the first day back. And what do I see? Outside the Tesco Lotus Express right by the Catholic Bishops' Conference Building is a cat sleeping on top of the stacked water . To me, this says it all about where Thailand is at today.
After five days of holiday and three full-on days of throwing water at each other, people are exhausted. Much energy was expended and much fun was had. There were also the stories and the tragedies and the falling-outs that happened along the way. As always here, I have my story and it speaks of my Bangkok, a city like no other I have ever experienced.
On Monday night, at the end of the three day Songkran Festival and the massive water throwing, I am outside my apartment building, having presumably a quiet beer with a group of local, western males, living longterm here. Then onto the scene comes a local Japanese guy with his Thai girlfriend. They are intent on throwing water at Nando, the guy with our simple, local Italian restaurant. Yes, the Thai woman is quite absurd and over the top but then what does one of the western guys do? He throws his glass with beer and it hits the Japanese guy in the face. There is then a full-on fight between these two. It happened quickly and I wondered what to do. This is not a situation I would have expected and not one I seek or engage in. On the spot, I tried to be the peacemaker but that was not working as it needed a stronger enforcer than I. In the fracas, the western guy had his computer stolen by a friend of the Japanese fellow. When the high energies at play dissipated, I acted as consoler.
What was exhibited by both sides was bizarre and unacceptable behaviour. You don't throw glasses at people, you don't steal computers and there is no point in violence. The outcome was two sore and tired bodies, with two angry men, both of whom felt wronged. It all left a bad taste for everyone there and there was a shared sense of disgust and shock.
I am always friendly with the guys in my neighbourhood. I don't get into the local, western drinking routine, avoiding it purposely. This time I joined them as I had reason to talk with Mickey, a good guy from Canada. So I was there to witness a part of their group dynamic that arises because a couple of the guys drink too much and can't handle it. After this, I have decided to avoid totally having a drink with this group but I will always be friendly.
Then what do I see by the end of the week? The western guy in the fight is back there at the same table with some of the same others sharing again in their nightly, social round of drinks. Amazing! Until the next fight? Some people never learn until it is too late. As for me, I am tired of this. I just stand my ground and think the cat in the picture shows much more wisdom than many western guys in my Bangkok.
On Monday night, at the end of the three day Songkran Festival and the massive water throwing, I am outside my apartment building, having presumably a quiet beer with a group of local, western males, living longterm here. Then onto the scene comes a local Japanese guy with his Thai girlfriend. They are intent on throwing water at Nando, the guy with our simple, local Italian restaurant. Yes, the Thai woman is quite absurd and over the top but then what does one of the western guys do? He throws his glass with beer and it hits the Japanese guy in the face. There is then a full-on fight between these two. It happened quickly and I wondered what to do. This is not a situation I would have expected and not one I seek or engage in. On the spot, I tried to be the peacemaker but that was not working as it needed a stronger enforcer than I. In the fracas, the western guy had his computer stolen by a friend of the Japanese fellow. When the high energies at play dissipated, I acted as consoler.
What was exhibited by both sides was bizarre and unacceptable behaviour. You don't throw glasses at people, you don't steal computers and there is no point in violence. The outcome was two sore and tired bodies, with two angry men, both of whom felt wronged. It all left a bad taste for everyone there and there was a shared sense of disgust and shock.
I am always friendly with the guys in my neighbourhood. I don't get into the local, western drinking routine, avoiding it purposely. This time I joined them as I had reason to talk with Mickey, a good guy from Canada. So I was there to witness a part of their group dynamic that arises because a couple of the guys drink too much and can't handle it. After this, I have decided to avoid totally having a drink with this group but I will always be friendly.
Then what do I see by the end of the week? The western guy in the fight is back there at the same table with some of the same others sharing again in their nightly, social round of drinks. Amazing! Until the next fight? Some people never learn until it is too late. As for me, I am tired of this. I just stand my ground and think the cat in the picture shows much more wisdom than many western guys in my Bangkok.
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