Part 1: Public Service Announcement
Yes, I KNOW, COMMON KNOWLEDGE... Still...
Have a completed Thailand Digital Arrival Card, submitted, [B]BEFORE[/B] you arrive (earliest to submit: 3 days before arrival).
[URL]https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home[/URL]
It's just the electronic version of that paper arrival card we (I say mature, you say old) remember, the one that the cabin crew passed out on the plane, you filled out before landing on the fold-down table, surrounded by fellow passengers asking if they could borrow your pen, and there was always one who wanted to borrow your pen, your hand, your brain, because he just didn't understand what was required and wanted you to fill it out for him.
Arriving [I]Swampy[/I], late evening, you know where the two arms of the airport meet at the center, the slight ramp up to the immigration booths. Well now, there's a LARGE sign hung from the rafters, [I]"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here"[/I]. No, wait. DAMN AI translation APP. That's actually something along the lines of "Completed Digital Arrival Cards Required Past This Point". There's also floor signs with the same message, specifying what you need: (1) Passport, (2) Digital Arrival Card, (3) Arrival boarding card, (4) IF applicable, E-visa. Couple of airport staff (to answer questions?), no enforcement being applied, and a LOT of befuddled people staring up at the sign, down at their empty hands, back at the sign, back at their empty hands (along the lines of Alice's Restaurant).
And getting through that crowd bottleneck was the only problem I had as I had gotten the memo. Up the ramp, joined a short queue in front of a booth (lines no doubt shortened due to the previously mentioned bottleneck), hoping to pick a "good" line. Myself... well, in the line I chose, there always seems to be one. Held up at the booth, a lengthy discussion, seemed to have the correct papers, but, another officer called, the person led away back through the waiting lines, off somewhere.
Still a shorter wait from previous visits. Handed over the paperwork, fingerprints, photo, passport stamped, DAC initialed, done. Even though my checked bags were priority tagged, some of the first off the plane, I still beat them to the baggage carousel. Collected and out the door into the night (which reminded me of opening that preheated oven's door... the shock of the heat and humidity).
Part 2: Traditions Must Be Upheld
Because... they are traditions. Next day, early afternoon, a visit to MTW (and YES, I do fly half-way around the world to visit such a place.) A bit jet-lagged, more so the oppressive heat and humidity (rainy season not finished), walking down Patpong Soi 2, looking up, spy the Meet The World painted window sign. Up the stairs, left turn, lady sitting out front... and I'm a bit lost as I've lost sight of said sign. The lady is saying this is the place, but, at my age, I have MY landmarks, reference points, and I'm not seeing it. Down at that end of the soi, I don't want to walk into the wrong bar; nothing wrong with that lifestyle, just NOT mine. The haze clears, focus regained, and I'm in through the open door, lady following.
Inside, the "good" heavyset mamasan welcomes me back (no BS, she making reference to a mutual friend), the outside lady, now inside, IMMEDIATLY moving to "battle stations": door locked, curtains drawn, lights dimmed... I AM remembered. I pull up a bar stool, order a Singha, and proceed with a price check. Lady drink? [i]200 baht[/i]. What happened to 150? [i]OK, 150.[/i] BJ? [i]1000[/i]. I don't bother with following the litany (What happened to 800? [i]OK,...[/i]) I make the mental adjustment: the price now INCLUDES the tip. Asked to pick the music I'd like, I go with hard rock 70's-90's. Large fan turned on; great. A/C turned on... oops... given my shirt was drenched with sweat, basic physics says arctic freezer, so I ask the a/c be turned off; just the fan; perfect, cooling, not chilling.
Before arriving, I'd already decided to forgo the rugby scrum (I say jet-lag, heat, but honestly, age has certainly crept in, influencing the decision). But fate seemed to have its own ideas - seemed there would be a rugby scrum, a scrum of 1, as there was only 1 lady working at that time. Fine, a [i]scrum[/i] it would be.
I enjoy the ambiance (yes, ambiance: long, cool, dark bar; cold beer in hand; tunes I like playing; staff being [i]attentive[/i]...). Lady drinks bought, catch up with the news from the mamasan. She excuses herself to finish some paperwork, I adjourn to the bench seat across the aisle... and get down to [i]business[/i]...
Tradition complete, ask for the bill, I check, but unlike skinny granny, no need for any adjustments - what I like about the heavyset mamasan.
And on to the next tradition. Walk over to Dunkin Donuts. YES, I fly halfway around the world to have some Dunkin donuts in Thailand (preference Chocolate Bavarian to go with my spicy Thai breakfast omelette, coffee). Another one of those things I indulge in while in-country that I pass on at home. I look for any "sale" sign. Takes me a bit of eye searching as I'm standing at the counter, but then I spot what I'm looking for: Dozen for 199. Great. Select the 12 (I take the 6 remaining Bavarians, plus a mix of others). Bill rung - 192 (TIT).
One last tradition. On the RTB, stop off at the rehydration station, Foodland's lunch counter. Several cooks and the cashier recognize me even after a year. Like Cheers, my drink of choice is delivered without having to say anything.
Traditions.
BTW: SOL permanently boarded up. Last year, plywood hung; this year, more like SEALED. RIP.
PS: needed some antibiotics for a bacterial infection. Stopped in at Sukhumvit's Southeast Pharmacy, between soi 13-15, basically next door to Thermae. Been using them for decades. Nice thing about a [i]civilized[/i] country like Thailand - non-narcotic pharmaceuticals don't require a prescription/script. Had the US name prescribed by my doctor; they found the equivalent, cheap.