Riff-Raffles Update #14

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Kevin Meacher (board member Cookie), owner of Jasmine Mansion on Soi Buakhao, has a bunch of new stories on the companion site to his book, Riff-Raffles. Here are some excerpts.

 

Hua Hin Internet and Sleeping Maids

Work in Hua Hin was finally picking up. Kevin managed to do some work on the new book and together with the pages proofed that I had emailed him prior to our trip, we appeared to be at least making a start. I did a couple of hours editing before Kevin called and made arrangements for us to go out and eat. A pizza and a glass of quite dreadful red wine followed and we returned to the hotel for an early night. I was quite amazed that we were both being so sensible.

 

 

Up early the following day and with no hangovers, both Kevin and I made considerable progress on our specific tasks. However, there was still no Internet connection and two days had passed without any sign of the hotel staff doing anything to rectify the situation. We both decided to visit the reception and confront whoever was now on duty. Back in charge was the large female receptionist and we went through the problem with the Internet yet again.

Full Story

 

 

 

Hua Hin Nightlife and the Faulty TV

By the time Kevin’s last night in Hua Hin arrived we had completed over 90 percent of our work. He was going to finish off the last few pages of proofreading the following morning, before his taxi arrived at midday. We decided to go out for a few drinks and a bit more of the Hua Hin nightlife. We managed a few bars, several beers and a few games of pool before heading back to the hotel. We were probably a little on the tipsy side but in control of ourselves and had successfully managed a few days away together without getting into any real bother.

 

 

I bade Kevin farewell and as his taxi disappeared, I recalled that nothing had been done about my faulty television set. I was gripped by a sense of panic at the thought of having to discuss this with the reception staff, but composed myself and spoke to the manager. He apologised for the inconvenience and assured me something would be done immediately. He was not wrong. By the time I reached my room, the room maid was there with the television on. “Look it okay now,” she said smiling at me. I took the remote and tried the channels only to find it was exactly the same as before. “No, it is not okay. You see only these four channels work and the other six do not?” I said smiling back at her as I kept pressing the buttons on the remote control. She was no television engineer and it really was not her fault. She used her walkie-talkie to inform somebody of something and told me it would be fixed soon. I suggested the television only required retuning, but that I was unable to do this as the menu was in Thai but, again, she simply smiled. I returned her smile and she left the room.

Full Story

 

 

 

Peace, Ladyboys, and Credit Card Issues

After Kevin’s departure and my completing the changes to my work, it was now time for a few days rest and recuperation in Hua Hin. I would spend the day by the beach and eat early evening before returning to my room to watch a movie. Sunday, however, there was a football game that I particularly wanted to watch, which was not on any of the channels on the hotel television. After wandering through Hua Hin’s red light district, such as it is, I came across a completely empty bar which I felt suited my mood perfectly. Nung’s Bar is hidden away in one of the narrow side streets that make up this part of the original Hua Hin. I was soon chatting with Nung, a rather butch lady, and then playing pool with her. She was extremely friendly and hospitable and termed herself a boy. So she was born a lady and now considered herself to be a boy. “Er…is that not then a ladyboy?” I mused. I then recalled Mrs. Boss having made up the expression “kating” — the opposite of katoey — to describe women who want to be considered as men. I decided it probably better to go with this than travel down a completely new, confusing and, to be honest, completely pointless train of thought.

 

 

Nung’s number-two in the bar was Jennifer. Jennifer had been born a man but was now a katoey. Jennifer spent most of the evening by the mirror doing her make up whilst the business carried on around her. To be fair to Jennifer, the final results were well worth her effort, but how anyone could endure that length of time putting on makeup day in and day out is, quite frankly, beyond me. When it came to pool, Nung was good but Jennifer was better. Over the course of the three nights I spent visiting Nung’s bar, she thrashed me every time — at pool that is just in case you allowed your mind to wander!

Full Story

 

 

 

The Return of the King (to Pattaya)

After what was a narrow escape from an embarrassing situation, I headed back to Pattaya, full of the joys of spring and looking forward to seeing my wife and children. We stopped en route in Bang Na, on the outskirts of Bangkok, where I purchased some toys and games as my belated birthday presents for James. I arrived back at the Jasmine Mansion at around 6:00PM.

 

 

I had to do a double take on entering the hotel as the café area, in particular, was somewhat different from how it had been only 10 days prior. The tables were all covered with tablecloths and upon them sat candles, plates, folded napkins, wine glasses and small bouquets of roses. It actually looked rather wonderful and very similar to how I had imagined the café looking when I had discussed this matter with Mrs. Boss more than a year ago. I was soon speaking with the staff — all somewhat more eager to hear what I thought of the new cafe style rather than my trip away. I soon discovered that one of our new male recruits, Dan, had suggested these changes to Mrs. Boss who had heartily agreed and set off immediately to buy everything he had considered necessary. Funny, I thought, how Mrs. Boss listens to every word said by everybody and anybody other than me!

Full Story