Beeline For Bangkok

[george]

Beeline for Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok and ‘massage parlours’ have become synonymous. In fact, rather unfortunately, Thailand has attracted notoriety, thanks to these sleazy joints where massage and much more is available There are also numerous pubs where one finds these ‘wallflowers’ waiting for customers.

There is no need to look over your shoulder because the cops do not bother you. Nor need one feel self-conscious since every other person seems to have the same thing on his mind. If you don’t know where to go for your cup of joy all you need to do is to consult the ‘Tut Tut’ wallah (the equivalent of our own phut phuts) or the equally ubiquitous taxi drivers who hang around near innumerable hotels. The fare has to be settled for the journey and haggling is quite the done thing whether here or in the multi-storied shopping malls.

Japanese, Chinese, Indians and Americans account for the sizeable tourist crowd. Most of them are there looking for ‘fun’.

The city has also become notorious for paedophiles. The government is trying to its best to check child sex but it looks like an unequal battle considering how deeply-entrenched the tourist trade is.

All this hides the other, more healthier, attractions of Bangkok and the beaches in Phuket or Pattaya on the Thai coast.

In Bangkok, one can see the unique massive golden reclining Buddha, the gem factory and go around the huge ‘animal safari’, a unique experience where the animals see the visitors seated in four wheelers driving through the park.

Looking at the animals in their near-natural habitat at such close quarters is a thrilling experience for people of all ages. The safari has other attractions --tropical birds performing tricks, chimpanzees boxing, Polar bears wallowing in glass domed icy waters and the dolphin show.

First-time visitors are usually overawed by the airport itself. The long, spick and span corridors, the numerous spacious lounges, the clean toilets, shops dotted all over and numerous computerised immigration counters that ensure your quick exit, the waiting taxis and mini-buses and the helpful staff (never mind their broken English) all transport you to a new world. In comparison our own airports seem to Patna or Howrah railway stations.

A word of caution, though.

Visitors would be well advised to take their credit cards or carry at least $ 500 for their short-stay. Otherwise, you might have to face some harassing minutes at the Immigration Counter.

Also nothing is free in Bangkok. Even drinking water that you ask for in eating joint costs money. Quite an irritating change from India where restaurants offer you water as a matter of normal fare, without you even asking for it. The fact that it is a heavily tourist –focussed city comes out rather clearly.

There is one another aspect which is particularly galling. Indians are not particularly loved here. One might say this is true of many places elsewhere in the world. The reasons are not far to seek. It is the way some of them conduct themselves that bring such a despising attitude among the locals.

Observe some of the traits. These species (not all of course) feel as if their shackles have been removed once they board the aircraft on the outward journey and act their ‘natural self’. The first thing they want is a drink, the hard variety. One is not enough; an order for one more is instantly placed. And another, and another.

This species has no patience. And when he is served with one, he is unhappy that he has to wait to wait for the next one. Such specimens could be seen buzzing for the air hostess time and again, now for the one thing, now for another. Never mind, if she has to serve other passengers as well. And when he has more than his fill (of liquor), he gets loud and abusive. Some even throw up.

The word ‘please’ is seldom found in the vocabulary of many touring Indians. More often than not these gentlemen tourists are noisy and argumentative wherever they go. Tipping doesn’t come naturally, which is almost blasphemous in a tourist town. And lecherous looks at any passing women only makes it worse.

Striking examples of such behaviour were given by some of this species on our return journey from Bangkok. When a couple of them were told that no more drinks could be served to them (they already seem to have had one too many) they abused the stewardess, dragged their shopping bags filled with duty free stuff, pulled out a bottle and helped themselves to it.

Earlier when a tray full of whisky was being brought, we noticed some grab as many glasses of liquor as a pair of hands could hold which resulted in the airhostess disgustingly stop the ‘drink service’ to the rest of the passengers – all of them Indians.

At the Bangkok departure counter, so many of them were carrying huge television cartons resulting in long delays to get the baggage put on the hold. As one of them explained later on arrival in Delhi, when these huge TV cartons arrived one after another, these TV sets were meant to be sold at a premium in India to ‘porn crazy’ buyers!

All this only underlines the point – that Indians are conspicuous for all the wrong reasons. It is a pity that because of the follies of some, the large number of Indians who are as well-behaved as anyone else in the world are viewed in the same colour. That perhaps, is the price one has to pay for the lack of manners of some Ugly Indians!

-- Asiantribune, India 2005-06-10