Oh yes, the intrepid traveler was off on a mission.... to buy a cheap guitar in Bangkok. And who is more sophisticated than this experienced wanderer, this erudite 'earth citizen'. Uh, anyone, apparently.
First I asked at the Guest House where I've been staying. She said 'go to Department Store, have guitars'. I said, no, I want to go to a music store. She said, 'don't have'. I said, 'yes have'. We smiled and said goodbye. I talked to the tuk tuk driver who overcharged me, of course, but took me to the right place... not all that far from where I'm staying. I figured I could find my way back here on foot. Note to self... whatever the tuk tuk driver quotes you for a price... come back with an offer about 1/3 of what he said. That seems to be in the ballpark. But hey, I've been took by a tuk tuk before.
So I get to the guitar place and start trying out a bunch that were in my price range. I found one that I liked well enough, steel string, Chinese made, holds its tune, good sound for the $100 price tag. I was going to ask if there were any other shops around, but I figured, this one is pretty good, I like the kid who was helping me, let's do it. Bought the guitar, a strap, cloth case, extra strings. He knocked the price down some, threw in half a dozen picks and voila, Glauber has a guitar. Nice... Intrepid traveler scores.
But then when I left the shop, I noticed there was another guitar place right next door, and another and another and another and another. I was in the flippin 'Garment District' of guitar places. How did I not notice this? I could have spent the day trying out dozens of guitars until finally settling on the best one for me. Could have played one place off against the next. Could have been the sophisticated man about town. But no, I bought from the first guy I met. And ya know what? I'm happy about it. Humble and happy. The experience was just right and I've got something I can use. something to create with.
How do you spell 'alienation'?
Well let's see, I would spell it like this... 'A couple of western tourists getting foot massages while surfing the internet on their smart phones'. Something about that scene stuck out somehow, as if they are the masters and the lowly women rubbing their feet were some kind of hands-on potted plants. Not cool.... at least to this judgmental westerner. But of course, if I am to judge 'tourism', then it's an exercise in self-loathing, because I am it. But those smart phones are getting to be too much... Everyone is surfing, photographing, talking, recording, mediating at all times. It's amazing how quickly it has become the new normal.... Kind of grosses me out, but oh well...
Yesterday I basically crashed out and tried to get acclimated to the time change. Slept most of the day, read the Haj, by Leon Uris, a very interesting take on the Arab view of the world.... It's pretty scathing in its portrayal, as would befit the author of 'Exodus' but it's a good read nonetheless. Apparently all the Jews are heroic forward-thinkers, while the Arabs are simple-minded, misogynistic power trippers who use Islam as a refuge and justification for their failed society. I take it with quite the grain of salt, but there is enough historical information in the book to keep it interesting. It's good to be reading again... I miss it.
This morning I was up at 6am to get a walk in, start figuring out the geography, which way is north, where is the river, stuff like that, and I even managed to find my way back where I started from.... Wonder of wonders. A little coffee, and I'm starting to feel like I've arrived. Today is Saturday and I'm gonna buy that guitar that I need, maybe grab a tuk tuk and tell the driver that I need a music store or two. There was a terrible little street jam last night around the corner, led by a Japanese dread who played an out of tune guitar and sang with a lisp. Other than that, it was pretty good. (he said with some sarcasm) The folks who gathered on the corner were quite the international mix... some Chinese girls, one of whom had just ridden a bicycle from China to London... took her a year. I talked with a couple of young US guys, friends from the military, who were in Bangkok to drink beers and smoke lousy weed. One of them had just completed 8 years in the Navy where he was a 'Pirate interdiction' squad member, and it was heartbreaking enough that it propelled him out of the service. He talked about boarding ships, and seeing people in desperate need, broke down, drifting at sea, no food, no water, kids on board, and they weren't allowed to help them. They could give them some rations and water, but beyond that, hey good luck.
It's hot and sticky at all hours of the day, but there was a breeze on the river, and it was nice to be moving and seeing. Got to this one place where the old ladies were doing Tai Chi, some younger people were working out to some horrid techno-zumba groove, being taught by an emaciated looking instructor. Yikes! But hey, people got to move. (I guess). Not to be judgmental, of course.
In other words, nothing much to report, just trying to get my feet on the ground. And I'm wondering if I even want to write. (of course I do). But the last couple of years I've been extremely open about what goes on in my brain, good and bad, and maybe that desire has run its course. We shall see...
Yesterday I basically crashed out and tried to get acclimated to the time change. Slept most of the day, read the Haj, by Leon Uris, a very interesting take on the Arab view of the world.... It's pretty scathing in its portrayal, as would befit the author of 'Exodus' but it's a good read nonetheless. Apparently all the Jews are heroic forward-thinkers, while the Arabs are simple-minded, misogynistic power trippers who use Islam as a refuge and justification for their failed society. I take it with quite the grain of salt, but there is enough historical information in the book to keep it interesting. It's good to be reading again... I miss it.
This morning I was up at 6am to get a walk in, start figuring out the geography, which way is north, where is the river, stuff like that, and I even managed to find my way back where I started from.... Wonder of wonders. A little coffee, and I'm starting to feel like I've arrived. Today is Saturday and I'm gonna buy that guitar that I need, maybe grab a tuk tuk and tell the driver that I need a music store or two. There was a terrible little street jam last night around the corner, led by a Japanese dread who played an out of tune guitar and sang with a lisp. Other than that, it was pretty good. (he said with some sarcasm) The folks who gathered on the corner were quite the international mix... some Chinese girls, one of whom had just ridden a bicycle from China to London... took her a year. I talked with a couple of young US guys, friends from the military, who were in Bangkok to drink beers and smoke lousy weed. One of them had just completed 8 years in the Navy where he was a 'Pirate interdiction' squad member, and it was heartbreaking enough that it propelled him out of the service. He talked about boarding ships, and seeing people in desperate need, broke down, drifting at sea, no food, no water, kids on board, and they weren't allowed to help them. They could give them some rations and water, but beyond that, hey good luck.
It's hot and sticky at all hours of the day, but there was a breeze on the river, and it was nice to be moving and seeing. Got to this one place where the old ladies were doing Tai Chi, some younger people were working out to some horrid techno-zumba groove, being taught by an emaciated looking instructor. Yikes! But hey, people got to move. (I guess). Not to be judgmental, of course.
In other words, nothing much to report, just trying to get my feet on the ground. And I'm wondering if I even want to write. (of course I do). But the last couple of years I've been extremely open about what goes on in my brain, good and bad, and maybe that desire has run its course. We shall see...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)