Morning 5:30 am Bangkok time, half dead,
exhausted and sleepless body walks around the huge Suvarnabhumi Airport to find
a local sim card or a paid internet access- just then I see my friend waiting
for me to arrive, perhaps from an hour or so more. He had made all the
arrangements as discussed prior to my initiating the trip itself. I got my sim
card fixed, got the data working, got my luggage picked and thus a I breath a
sign of relief. Straight from 13 to 30 temperature I was overdressed
for the place. As we step out of the airport, along with the lady who was
appointed to receive, I could feel a drop of sweat by my temples. The was my
first smile is Thailand (I hadn’t sweat in couple of months or eased my dress
while in #Delhichills- the winter) and so much to my bird brains I almost forgot
what is it like to drink chilled water trickling its way into your oesophagus,
lovely sunrise and bustling airport I get into the van- air cooled, fresh wet-towel
and quick introduction by the lady about the location, the city and the hotel
#Eastin Golf at #Thana city. It was a good 30 mins drive on the broad tarred roads
of the city, running mostly over the flyovers and between tall skyscrapers, well-disciplined
road manners at traffic congestion, sights of digital advertising hordes-
unlike flex banners all over in India and drizzles of rains every now and then.
The rains and the traffic reminded me of Mumbai- city that never sleeps in
India and displays a very similar welcome to Bangkok city. As we get past through
couple of toll booths on the highway (although most of the roads looked like
highway in India), diversions to various locations ( most of them sound very
Indian but spelt differently), also a diversion to second international airport
and so on, the road slowly turns into an austere city side, hosting some of the
best villas and bungalows, perhaps the posh Thai once lived there. My brains
trying hard to find someone on the way or on any of the balconies, perhaps it
was too early, but then seamlessly, we enter the hotel gateway, roundabout to
the reception via the water fountain to find another receiving team expecting our
arrival. It felt like as it the hotel was part of the Villa avenue that was so admirable.
Here we start with welcome drink, little
formalities for we foreigners and the woo-doo of the staff who leave you speechless
with their undaunting customer service. We are walked through the stairs down
towards the swimming pool and a passage of tiny boutique stores, across the
stores and massage center we see the alfresco restaurant, I could imagine
myself relaxing there over my next morning breakfast with coffee. It’s about half
a mile walk to Building #3 of the vast golf resort hotel, maybe couple degree
lesser in temperature to that of what one feels in the city. The entire hotel
has a smoking corner outside the building which strange. Why would one have a
smoking corner, just before to step into the building? They must be having
smoking rooms and people must be largely partying indoors. Quizzically I asked
the porter and he politely replied that the entire hotel is “non-smoking”. As
we enter our little resort apartment there was mild fragrance of lemon grass, a
bottle of Australian Red Wine, a bowl of exotic fruits and room temperature maintained
to complete our Red-Carpet welcome. As I launch myself of the cosy sofa and
move the curtains, I was amazed to see the expanse of lush green golf field, a
small water body (golfers water area) and in the corner stands a huge tree under
which was a hallmark temple neatly planted, perhaps to emphasis on Thai
Culture. My heart goes hummmmm like a baby who found a lost toy (Reminds me of
my first visit to Galle face hotel (aka Taj Samudra maybe) Sri-Lanka a few
years ago).
I scanned my room completely, desperately
wanting my morning Chai… With some catching up of news and office on-goings,
found nothing. In a minute a team of two arrived to assist me with the
facilities and handed me a teacup, hot water, a tiny bottle with some powder
and a wooden sieve (so pretty that I did not mind stealing it). Initially I kept
my dumb mind aside and as she finished introducing the facilities, I asked her
to assist me with tea. Very diligently, the petite lady did the deal and said, “Enjoy
your herbal tea Ms. Makandar”! Haan… That is it! A nice cup of herbal tea,
aromatic and fresh feel.
This day was defined as my “Party Day” in the itinerary.
I quickly unpacked my bag to check if there was anything suitable for the
evening at all (with a busy schedule I did not even pack my bags orderly. All
help from people around me, I was certain to be perplexed by the time it is to
party). Nonetheless, found more than one option in my suitcase and to my
goodness also a decent pair of sandals, what a sign of relief as much as
anxious I was to visit this party in a new land. There was sufficient time in
my hand and the always-busy-person that I am in India, here I was wondering
what to do? Maybe Swim, try some cuisine to avoid food in the party, to visit
some trying to gather souvenirs or…. Yes! The THAI Massage. I slowly stepped
out of my room, passed no information or update to any friends present in other
rooms and booked myself for a nice Thai Massage. Afterall this is the most
talked about from the Thai returns in India, so why not? As I lay there in the
living room facing towards the golf course view, reading my book on Ms. Indira
Gandhi by Pupul Jayakar (I know it sounds boring but the love for biographies
of personalities is irresistible, especially at airport bookstores) in no time
I get a call to confirm that I am at my free will to walk into the Massage
parlour. A luxury I always like to treat myself with. Here I was- the Indian
queen in Thailand getting pampered by her Thai masseurs. Very relaxed, smooth,
soothing lavender oil, an experience I can’t forget, though I recall my Ananda
days for the bestest of the massages in my past. Just as I was to end, I see
numerous calls from friends trying to figure out the time and place to meet to
enter the party. One after one I reach out to each one of them and fix up a
time that suits me to get on floor. By 7pm Bangkok time, I had my peach frock
on, with hair that fell free until the curls at the end, subtle lip-colour,
silvery heals (no stilettos for me), touch of Charlie perfume and just my phone-
as I walk to aisle of the passage way towards the main hall, we all exchange pleasantries
and discuss our challenges and time spent to get there from different parts of
the world, to world of #EastinThana. None of us preferred to use the golf-cart as
we did not wish to miss the pleasant walk in the evening. Lovely!
Where is our host? The birthday boy? It took us
a few minutes to figure out the exact venue as we got distracted by a local
wedding party which was also on the same day but across another hall. We figure
out a door with shiny strings glittering afar. We walk by and slide the strings
across that formed a curtain to be welcomed by hugs, kisses, roses and welcome
shot. The evening just went by swaying here and there, dancing the salsa and
doing the disco. Early dinner, late evenings and a set of hand-picked friends
from all over the world makes it all the more precious moment in one’s life. A
few Indians, Russians, friends from the USA, the Europe, Bali and where not… all
were part of one universe this moment- Party in Bangkok with Johnathan our man.
Little about John- wonderful, generous, happy
going, bigggg hearted man that he is- one cannot afford to forget. May he be blessed
many more years to come and may we party many more times on his birthdays.
No comments:
Post a Comment