Saturday 16 February 2008

Day Three: 16 February

Laurie and I got up and went to Chatuchak weekend market, which is the size of Knoxville, Tennessee, but thankfully, much more attractive. I am so proud to come from Nashville, which has played a critical role in spreading civilisation around the world, a well-known fact that was clearly in evidence at Chatuchak this morning.



Laurie has found a whole section of the market that is devoted to helping to give a good home to valuable relics from underprivileged parts of southeast Asia. This morning for example, she bought what is left of a whole Burmese temple, and we brought it home in a taxi. It still has termites, but she is generously going to put it in her living room anyway. Paul and Laurie are devoted to good works like this, and when they run out of space they just buy a new home to continue with their charity. We love you, Paul and Laurie!


While I am on the subject, let me tell you some things about Paul and Laurie's new home here in Thailand. One of the great things about it is that all the people who work here salute when you walk in the door. This is a good tradition that has been lost even in Nashville and it is great to know that it is still being followed in Bangkok. Besides Nicole at All Seasons Spa down the road, the security guards here are Laurie's best friends in the neighbourhood.



We came back and puttered around for the afternoon, finishing the leftovers from last night and relaxing. As you
can see, the flat is simply divine. Laurie has maybe overdone it on the orchids though, it looks like someone's getting married in here! Oh, and she needs to close her eyes and click her heels and find a beautiful Thai woman to do her ironing for free. But other than that, it's great! We ate dinner at Baan Klang Nam 1, at 288 Soi 14 Rama III Rd., another riverside restaurant, this time specialising in fish dishes, and located to the south of the city on the Bangkok side. Again, a good popular place with Thais and the food is great. Got back and tested out the home entertainment centre at the flat with an early Mike Leigh film.