Bangkok Continued

Bangkok
I chatted to a young lady from Canada and mentioned my concerns with the hookers/pimps approaching me and the ‘old’ men taking advantage of the girls. She provided a more balanced opinion that is probably more reasonable. She sees the girls taking advantage of the men as much as the men taking advantage of them. The girls are looking for money and a possible way out of their situation therefore both parties are gaining from the arrangement.

There was an incident that I have been holding back on writing about, partly because of my own shame at my lack of action. I had seen a bloke the day before and noted him with a young local girl (he was in has 40s she was perhaps in her 20s) I don’t know why he stuck in my mind as it was a common sight. The next night I was walking down Koa San Rd through the markets, it was very crowded, there he was again walking past me and he had a different girl in tow this time, with his hand on her back urging her on, the problem is that she was only a child, and his intent seemed obvious. I felt sick, it was like in a dream he passed me and no one looked, no one seemed concerned. I let them disappear into the crowd, I felt this urge to do something, run after them, front him or follow them and report him to the police. But I did nothing, it was too late I thought (only an excuse), I let it pass. This has been worrying me for some time and I still think of it several weeks later. I have discussed this with Linda and agree that if I did manage to do something right there it would have been unlikely to change anything in the long term, as the same thing would happen the next night... we need to do something that stops this type of thing at the beginning, perhaps indirectly by educating or providing folks with another avenue to survive. However, when I look back I still feel upset and disappointed with myself, something I will have to live with.

Acting under instructions I have had lots of massages
• The foot massage – 30 minutes of luxury where a young lady works on your legs from the hips down,
• The Thai massage – great for the back and shoulders,
• A facial - even with a cucumber pack and the most exhilarating,
• A fish massage - where little fish nibble all the dead skin off your feet. I sat on the edge of this tank with 6 other folks (beer in hand). Well they loved me (the fish), must have been the six weeks in sandals they mostly deserted everyone else, I had hundreds of the little things chomping on me, so very weird it’s a must do.

I had planned to spend a day at Chatuchak Markets before my flight but time got away from me. Left my glasses at the Airport mmmm not good