Friday, January 30th, 2004 – Day 346
I was up at 9.00am in order to attend an appointment at the Dental hospital. I decided to finish off some fillings that needed filling. I rang yesterday from the MBK to make an appointment. Its a clean, professional and relatively expensive place that most resident expats attend. I was ushered up on time at 10.00am and spent the next two hours on the chair. I don’t like going to the dentist but some rear guard action to save my teeth had to be undertaken. I received five fillings and I was glad to be out of there after two hours.
I headed back to town and went to Pantip Plaza for buy some pirated software. Again, I did little today. My mouth was in no mouth to eat. Another early night. I watched a terrible film called Pootie Tang.
Saturday, January 31st, 2004 – Day 347
I was up at 9.30am and took the skytrain to Chatuchak Weekend Market.
Though there are many markets throughout Bangkok, Chatuchak Weekend Market is still pretty much the undisputed king of them all. The scale of it is pretty unbelievable – it covers an area of 70 rai (35 acres), contains more than 15 000 shops and stalls, has over 200 000 visitors each day, and they spend an estimated total of 30 million baht (approx US$750 000). The range of products on sale is extensive, and includes household accessories, handicrafts, religious artifacts, art, antiques, live animals (which unfortunately are frequently caged in cruel conditions), books, music, clothes, food, plants and flowers etc…
Chatuchak is a particularly good place to buy all sorts of Thai handicrafts, as there’s a huge range, the quality is high and the intense competition keeps the prices low. Be careful when buying antiques, the large majority on offer are fake and telling the difference between the genuine and the copies can be extremely difficult. Genuine antiques require a permit to be taken out of the country, but you will also need a permit if a fake is good enough to fool the inspecting customs officer.
I was there from 10.30am until 2.30pm. Its a massive, massive market with everything you can imagine.
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Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Selling IRA T-shirts at the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok (31-01-2004)
I am taking it very, very easy in Bangkok. In its humid heat, its no place to rush about. I am currently reading Sideshow: Kissinger, Nixon, and the Destruction of Cambodia by William Shawcross. Its a good book and I am looking forward to watch a DVD I have purchased called The Trials of Henry Kissinger.
I had a few too many drinks tonight and not enough water.
Sunday, February 1st, 2004 – Day 348
I felt like death warmed up. Dedydrated. With the market and no water yesterday adding to the fact t that I just drank ice coffee and beer – I feel like shit. Dizzy and sick. I did not leave the room until midday. I did little today. Decided I would not stay in Hong Kong tomorrow.
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