I was shy to take a photo from the front of the lady being bored by everyday promoting things “making everyday extraordinary”
Canto had leave earlier in the morning, and Pam and I met with her parents. Because of the rainy weather they had chosen something indoor and that was a huge newly opened mall, the Iconsiam. In a touristy surrounding, you could see a big variety of nicely presented food at one level,
in other levels were different Thai and international brands, including those expensive flagship stores that you can see everywhere.
We went outside to the ‘Sri Mahasamut Ship’ floating museum at the the Chao Phraya River.
It shows the life on a ship 2-300 years before with additional movies,
Animations
and interactive means.
For me, the visit had two problems, the guide was only talking in Thai and there was not enough time to read all the information boards. Those information boards were also interesting, because Pam had made the Thai-Chinese translations (Assisted by her Chinese language teacher)
Back in the mall,
Iconsiam in the middle
we attended an exhibition called “Lady Dior as seen by” and another one of contemporary Thai artists.
Then we went back to the “food-level” that was even more crowded now, so it took a while to find a seat and then it was difficult to choose only as much as you can eat out of that diversity of tastes, smells, colours, textures…
We made a short stop to visit Pam’s grandparents. Last time in Bangkok, I had been staying with them and it was nice to meet them again and interesting to see which memories had been lively and what I had totally forgotten. Grandma soon will go to Sweden with her daughter and her twins and Swedish husband and she had to prepare well for the Swedish winter.
Pam’s father then drop us at a place for a Thai massage, a totally new experience for me. It was interesting to feel the different muscles being activated and treated and the energy and power of the tiny masseuse bending, stretching, beating and kneading around.
We went home, taking only a little food this time, and had a nice talking-evening spiced up by the “Royal news” on TV, giving me an insight of the unbelievable devotion to that king. You could see ceremonies in the style of ancient times, all the way people falling on their knee or completely on the floor.
But when I think back to Europe or Turkey and see the devotion some people give “their leaders”, be it Erdogan, Orban or, in Austria, Strache & Kurz, the fascination mixes with embarrassment.