Mark’s Vagabonding Blog

One odd thing I’ve noticed about Thailand is:

There are no squirrels here.

At least I haven’t seen any. I’ve been in Bangkok most of the time, but, although this is a metropolis, there are parks and trees and other places loved by all the squirrels I’ve ever known. And I have also been to other parts of Thailand north and south, and do not recall seeing any.

The other day, while roaming in Santichaiprakarn Park, near the famed Khao San Road, searching for a sign of my bushy-tailed friends, darkness snuck in like a horny teenager through his girlfriend’s bedroom window. Penetrating the darkness on the other side of the park were spotlights, illuminating a gathered crowd. So I abandoned my squirrel hunt for the night and traversed the park toward the lights. When I reached the scene I saw a seated crowd, circled around two people. Natural steps acted as seats for the crowd, and I joined them.

One of the people on the stage was an attractive asian female in her mid to late 20’s. The other was a middle aged caucasian man. The two stood facing each other, about five feet apart. The girl stepped out of her sandles, and seconds later, the guy followed suit. They switched places and the girl stepped into his sandles and the man into hers. They waied (bowed) to each other and the man left the stage and joined the crowd. The girl slowly surveyed the audience, then took the hand of an asian girl, about the same age as she, and brought her to the middle of the stage. They stood silently facing each other, again about five feet apart.

Original Girl unbuttoned her pants and slowly removed them, revealing silky black underwear. Three seconds later, Audience Girl slid out of her black skirt. A furious deluge of flashbulbs lit the night as the two girls exchanged garments. Original Girl pulled on her newly aquired skirt, as Audience Girl stepped into her new Khaki pants. They waied, and Audience Girl went back to her spot in the crowd with her new pants.

The next participant in this ritual was a blonde white female, late 20’s/early 30’s. The crowd tensed in anticipation when Original Girl grabbed the bottom of her own shirt with both hands. She slowly lifted the shirt over her head, and off of her body. Her sleek, black bra was the only thing covering her finely toned torso. Audience Girl was not shy. She seductively unbuttoned her blouse.

They both stood silently staring into each others eyes in bold contrast. Original Girl in her black bra and matching jet-black hair, and Audience Girl with her blonde hair and white, lace bra. The crowd was now rasped in deep anticipation. Flashbulbs ready to explode in a cacophony of light.

With a simultaneous, subtle nod of their heads, together, they unhooked their bras. The crowd, released from their tension, cheered, as the cameras were filled with images of the two girls, from opposite ends of the world, standing topless and proud.

The two girls stepped toward each other, and handed their shirts and bras to one another. They put them on, then waied to each other, and the ritual continued. Next, shoes were exchanged again. Then Original Girl moved in my diection. Oh, oh. Am I ready to drop my pants in front of all these people? Even worse, I came into this in the middle, and I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on. I didn’t know if everyone was going to get their clothes back, and I did not want to lose my sandles. But I was sure I would do it if she chose me. Luckily, or maybe otherwise, she passed me by and chose an asian man sitting near me. To the delight of the crowd, this man had to don the lace bra, and blouse of the previous girl. The man returned, humbly, to his seat in his new outfit, trying to figure out how he will explain this to his children when he got home. Original Girl bowed to the appreciative crowd and the ritual was over.

What I had stumbled upon was the final act of the night, of a performance artist group called Asiatopia. “Original Girl” is from Singapore, and this was her performance: Exchanging clothes with various audience members. The final asian man was glad to get his clothes back. As were all the participating Audience People.

I wish I had noticed this earlier and seen the previous acts, but I’d say I arrived at just the right time.

As for the squirrels, I’ll keep my eye out for them. But it still remains to be seen whether they exist in Thailand or not.

Mark

This blog is called “Mark’s Vagabonding Blog” and, honestly, so far I feel I have not done much vagabonding or growing. Yes, for more than a month I have been a world removed from my home, but for the most part, I have been staying comfortably with June. Someone whom I have initially known from home, but who lives here in Thailand. I have stayed in a few hostels, and have been on my own a little, but I still haven’t met, or barely even spoken to, any other travelers. I also haven’t done much but go to malls and street markets, and I have been in Bangkok way too long. I’ve been in Bangkok so long, I even feel comfortable here on my own now. And since I’ve been out of the hospital, and June’s been back from Lampang, I’ve stayed with her every day. Partly because it was easy and comfortable, and we had fun, and partly because she wants to be with me all the time, and worries about me being on my own.

But the whole idea of this trip for me was to experience the vagabonding trail on my own, and grow from the experience. “Find myself” if you will. Well, today, for that, and other reasons, we decided it was time for me to get on my own again. So I am here at the internet cafe across the street from her apartment, about to venture on my own again. She is at her voice lesson.

I still haven’t looked for a hostel yet, and it is Saturday, a tough time to find a hostel with an openeing. So I will try to get out of here soon. In a couple of days I think I will head south to the beautiful beaches of Thailand. I only have about 2 1/2 more weeks left in Thailand before I have to move on to another country.

But first here are a couple of pictures:

June and I went to see a documentary called Innocence. Click on the link to see all about it. It was playing at the Lido Theater at Siam Square in Bangkok, and the filmmakers were on hand to lend support to the cause.

June with Nisa Kongsri, one of the film makers of the documentary Innocence. June is the one with the glasses.

June with Areeya Chumsai, one of the filmmakers of the documentary Innocence. Areeya was also Miss Thailand: 1994.

It is inspiring to me as a one time filmmaking hopeful that this movie was made. Areeya visited this school a few years ago, and knew immediately the story should be told through film. With no filmmaking background, she searched for someone to help her make the movie. She found Nisa and the two of them, basically alone, with a camera, made the film. I hope something inspires this much to get me out with my camera and produce a film of importance of my own.

Okay, hopefully the next post on Mark’s Vagabonding Blog will be about a vagabonding adventure somewhere on a beach in southern Thailand.

Mark

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