After a brief respite from the Bangkok air (read: we sat in our AC room and wrote postcards), Jen and I ventured out again for some dinner. We had found a woman with a cart who made delicious spring rolls the day before (on our way back from massages, day two) and we decided to each grab one, and an order of pad thai. We sat on a curb to eat our meal, and marveled at how truly Bangkokian we were, what with the sounds of Hotel California being sung in the background and all.
Then it was on to our exciting plans for the evening: Mambo Caberet! Words cannot describe...
But let me back up, to our taxi ride to the other side of Bangkok. The taxi itself was fine, and the fare was a whopping 100B (roughly $3). But he didn't drop us exactly at the Washington Theatre; more like just the general area. After flailing around a bit, we stopped in at a hotel to ask for directions. After being pointed in the direction from which we had already traipsed, and given vague advice like "take a right," we set off again. A bell boy stopped us to say he was on his way to the Mambo Caberet just that minute. "Perfect!" we exclaimed. Yeah, only 50B, he replied. Umm, no.
We walked a few blocks in what ultimately turned out to be the right direction, only to hear the bell boy shout "Madam! Madam!" as he ran to catch up with us. His story was that his manager had told him it wasn't safe for us to be walking around on our own, so he would show us the way.
We tried to shake him off, but he insisted, so we followed. However, when he took a right into a poorly lit alley, and then a left into an unlit alley, we both shared a look. When we questioned him, he explained that it was a short cut. Both silently debating our chances to fight him off, two against one, we nearly stopped dead in our tracks as an elephant lumbered into our path. (Where does he live?!) Momentarily distracted, we soon remembered our predicament, and began to discuss our options.
Seconds later, we rounded a building, and saw the caberet.
I tipped the guy 20B and we went into the show.
I have pictures, I even have some video, but even those mediums could do no justice to what we saw over the next hour. The caberet is a music-and-dancing event, but with Thailand's third gender, kathoey. (Definition: lady men.) It's amazing how difficult long hair, make-up and a frilly dress can make it to tell the women from the men.
Destiny's Child was there, along with the Blues Brothers. Japan and China were represented, albeit in Day-Glo and black lights. And a fat guy in a kimono stole the show. (And showed a boob.)
Then it was on to our exciting plans for the evening: Mambo Caberet! Words cannot describe...
But let me back up, to our taxi ride to the other side of Bangkok. The taxi itself was fine, and the fare was a whopping 100B (roughly $3). But he didn't drop us exactly at the Washington Theatre; more like just the general area. After flailing around a bit, we stopped in at a hotel to ask for directions. After being pointed in the direction from which we had already traipsed, and given vague advice like "take a right," we set off again. A bell boy stopped us to say he was on his way to the Mambo Caberet just that minute. "Perfect!" we exclaimed. Yeah, only 50B, he replied. Umm, no.
We walked a few blocks in what ultimately turned out to be the right direction, only to hear the bell boy shout "Madam! Madam!" as he ran to catch up with us. His story was that his manager had told him it wasn't safe for us to be walking around on our own, so he would show us the way.
We tried to shake him off, but he insisted, so we followed. However, when he took a right into a poorly lit alley, and then a left into an unlit alley, we both shared a look. When we questioned him, he explained that it was a short cut. Both silently debating our chances to fight him off, two against one, we nearly stopped dead in our tracks as an elephant lumbered into our path. (Where does he live?!) Momentarily distracted, we soon remembered our predicament, and began to discuss our options.
Seconds later, we rounded a building, and saw the caberet.
I tipped the guy 20B and we went into the show.
I have pictures, I even have some video, but even those mediums could do no justice to what we saw over the next hour. The caberet is a music-and-dancing event, but with Thailand's third gender, kathoey. (Definition: lady men.) It's amazing how difficult long hair, make-up and a frilly dress can make it to tell the women from the men.
Destiny's Child was there, along with the Blues Brothers. Japan and China were represented, albeit in Day-Glo and black lights. And a fat guy in a kimono stole the show. (And showed a boob.)
Teasers for next time: Sketchy bus rides, Jen and Kristen join the (Thai motorbike version of) Hell's Angels, Where is the wat? and (drum roll, please) TIGERS!!! (No lions or bears though. Yet.)
P.S. Dad, I saw two "country and golf clubs" so you could totally come here.
4 comments:
Oh my god, I can't believe you went to a tranny show without me!!!! That sounds like an amazing adventure monkey, glad you were safe and the boy wasn't a bad kid.
Now what about this elephant??? WTF? Are elephants in Bangkok so common?
I miss you, and when you get back I have a booth at the Chalet I picked out for us:)
I love you!
Was there someone driving the elephant or was the elephant just like chillin? I'm sure if it was in America, there would be laws about that stuff - meandering elephants in small alleyways. I feel like big elephants (I'm assuming it was big) can't be walking around in small places where there are pedestrians. Sort of like how big trucks aren't allowed on parts of the 110N. I'm going to research that ASAP.
As my first blog ever, I must say WTF?! I can't believe you're in Asia! I am thoroughly enjoying your notes and it sounds like you're having a great adventure!
i think it's scary that frank is sooo let down you went to a tranny show without him.
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