The next day was a slow one. Sleeping in. Wandering around MBK for a little bit. Catching up on e-mails and the boards.
We had a couple things on the schedule.
We did something. I forgot what it was now, but I ended up with about an hour to find a companion for the dinner cruise or we'd end up wasting another seat. This time a little more expensive.
I was based out of Siam Square so I didn't have much time and it was early in the evening which made it a bit more challenging. I'd considered relaxing and just taking it easy, but I had already wasted a seat on the tour and didn't want to burn a ticket for the dinner cruise. Plus giving it a shot was a fun challenge.
Just past 5PM. I hopped on the SkyTrain and took it to Asoke. My plan was a quick sweep through Soi17 and then on to Soi Cowboy (a bit ambitious given time constraints). I got to Soi 17. I had never been there before and as I walked down the short block I made note of the different bars. I didn't see any attractive ones as I walked down. Most bars had barely a handful of ladies, most of them the less attractive variety. One bar looked promising, though, so I stopped in. I regretted it. As i sat down and ordered a diet coke, I looked around and didn't see anyone I was really interested in.
The best looking of them, a slender one with a nice figure and an average face came up and sat beside me. She was pleasant, putting a hand on my leg while we were talking and we exchanged stories. She had come to Bangkok a few months ago after leaving the Koh Samui bar scene. She was a bit older, just a little over 30 and of course wanted to go. I looked at my watch. It was about 10 minutes to 6PM already. I figure 15 minutes for travel time and I had 10 minutes on the clock. Not enough time to get to Soi Cowboy and do anything meaningful.
I'm looking at my options and I figure it's take the Koh Samui girl, or go empty handed. I'm actually considering the latter, as the lady - though she's ok, isn't really my type.
Just then a petite one walks in with a "cute" look about her (my type I guess). She heads to the back to check in and leaves me wondering who she is. She comes back out a little while later and goes behind the bar. I'm trying to check her out while mindlessly chatting with Koh Samui gal. I'm down to 3 minutes at this point...it's 3mintues to 6 and I need to get back by 6:15.
Koh Samui girl at this point excuses herself to the toilet and I take the opportunity to request check bin. As I get up to get my wallet out, I say...actually more like blurt out...as I'm out of time... "I have dinner cruise. Do you want to go to dinner?" to the girl behind the bar. She looks at me, a little confused, a little stunned, and I repeat with a big smile, "Dinner with me? I pay barfine". She looks at me and says barfine? I say "yes! I have to go now for a dinner cruise and want to take you. I'll pay barfine. Good?". She says ok and off we go.
Silly. But now I have a girl who I find interesting and, it turns out she speaks English VERY well.
We don't really talk too much on the SkyTrain as we head back to the hotel. It's hard, due to the people around.... I don't want to do bartalk101 in front of the strangers.
We get back to the hotel at 6:18. Not bad, all things considered. I ring up to Hungry's room and they're just about to head down for our 6:30 bus. We drop off a few things at my room and then meet up in the lobby.
It was a dark and stormy night...
Weren't they all that week? The bus picked up quite a few tourists before heading to the dock. By the time we got to the dock it was raining. Luckily the dock lies right by a hotel/shop complex and the overhang is more than ample. Getting from cover to the boat, we all get soaked though. The crew tried to help with umbrellas but it was umbrella, buckets of water, umbrella, buckets of water, you get the idea. They had about 50% coverage from the overhang to the boat.
Nice boat. We sat upstairs. Live music and a large buffet awaited.
It turns out, as we talk and exchange stories, that she's one of two bartendees that the bar has. Cutest girl in the place and she's a no-go bartender. This doesn't bother me at all, since all I was looking for was a dinner companion and I am pretty wiped out from Da the night before (and the morning too).
I just roll with it, as I find I'm actually really enjoying her company. She's an excellent conversationalist and if it is to be believed (my constant caveat even if I forget to type it here all the time), she doesn't go with men and hasn't been with anyone (i personally read that as "not too many") since her break up with her boyfriend a few months back. Me, Bartendee, and my friend's dinner date.
Photos: Dinner Cruise 07 08
The dinner cruise was very nice and a couple hours later we're back in dock. I invite her the next day for to join me for cooking class. I love thai cooking class, as I cook at home and (i'm told) pretty decent at it.
She's a cutie.
Photos: Dinner Cruise 09 10
I get her number and the whole bunch of us head back out to Asoke by cab to drop her off.
We drop her off and continue on to Soi Cowboy.
(picture quality may suck due to trying out the limits of no-flash, natural light settings on the new camera. sorry.)