China, I thought, preferred to keep visitors out; many Southeast Asian countries invited foreigners in, with ambiguous wink and smile; Japan smilingly greeted visitors at the door and appeared to admit them without ever really doing so. India, by contrast, took in all the hordes and simply swept them up in the undifferentiated tide.

-Pico Iyer, Video Night in Kathmandu, p 281

Following the same vein as KFC’s Colonel in a kimono and Samurai Sanders, here is Thailand’s Ronald McDonald. His hands are clasped in the common greeting. He can be found on Khao San Road, the ultimate backpacker area in Bangkok.

Coming back from Nepal to Japan, I had a few extra days because of flight schedules. So, instead of going back to Japan right away, I spent a few days relaxing in Bangkok and happened to see this guy.

A full index of my 11-part Trekking in Nepal video series, journals, and pictures can be found here. Images featured in this post and more can be found at my Nepal Flickr Set.

As I settle down and finish the Singha beer before me, digesting the stir fried pork, spring rolls, and associated juices, Bangkok marches on relentlessly outside.

But indside, the Thai inflections of the cooks mix with the smells of the food and it seems for a brief moment there is only here.The morning’s hurdles are behind me. I had no reservation for the bus to Fukuoka, but the bus is never full so I found a spot. I was slightly apprehensive about the visa into Thailand (having not arranged it before and seeing only in passing on the internet that I need not), but the country is never full and I didn’t even need to pay to enter.

After an hour taxi, three phone calls, and an hour wait on the corner of Decho and Silhom, my couchsurfing friend arrived. To the top floor, the office for Mahinder’s cooking/massage/language school employment. He promptly disappeared again, leaving me to my devices.

At the moment I have another beer in mind.

‘Cheers’ in Thai: (phonetically) chong li clap