A Debut with the Sea

I am going for the above. A not so well known island off Phuket I will go. I don’t care if that is one of the most expensive resorts in Phuket even for a Singaporean. I need my brain activity to cease functioning at extreme thresholds of burn out. My debut with the sea is next month and I am looking forward. Meanwhile.. I am cleaning shit.

Statistics: There is a 90% chance that, when working with Thais on crucial projects, will always result in the shit hitting the fan. No one does anything to prevent the shit from splattering and no one ever thinks ahead. Sometimes, it’s not about the shit hitting the fan, but the fan being put into a pail of shit and turned on. Correction…. Make that a bunch of fans being put into a pail of mushy shit and turned on.

Anyway, back to the resort. It cost THB$10,000 per night. That’s a hefty SGD$400 but I’ll go anyway, I deserve self indulgence to reward my worn soul. It was a recent tour event held at one of Thailand’s many convention halls. Being smart now, I parked my car and took the MRT. It’s wiser to do that and I encourage all foreigners in Bangkok to do that where possible. It really saves a lot of time compared to being stuck in jams. Remember, Bangkokians prefer to live their lives out in cars.

Booth of the mentioned resort looks empty. Then I made contact. And only after that, curious onlookers came and suddenly there was a small crowd. I hated crowds. See, in Thailand it’s like this. Anything that looks extremely elegant gives conclusion to pricy tag and no one will dare come. Face value thing exist here like among mainland yellow people, so better not to ask if think cannot afford. But when conversation already in progress, hang close and listen without ever having to loose face with unintended shocking expression revealing monetary status when answered on the price tag.

Filled the forms and made the deposit. Seems like I was the poorest fellow there. I had Gold card. The other two high-so (high society) customers were paying with their Platinum. My accountant has a pay of below THB$20,000 and she’s got a Platinum – a Platinum with a credit limit of THB$40,000 (SGD$1600)…. guess that explains the inferior standards of banks in Thailand.

Most of the resorts on show were sub THB$1000 per night. Those were very crowded. It was a fair for Thais. Printed on some brochures “price for Thai People Only”. The standard Thai travel budget is of this level. In such resorts you will find mostly Thais and the handful of foreign backpackers. Wise on money. I tracked back my time spent in Thailand and surveyed my experience. Normally Thai people stay in sub THB$500 accommodations. I, of course stayed in many before during site work and they are really crappy. Most of these hotels have a small basket with packets of condom for convenience. However, I did not use them to accident fuck my fellow workmates no matter how drunk. You could also rent such rooms by the hour, typically about THB$200. Accommodation at THB$1000 is considered expensive. Anything above is ludicrous on the wallet of Thais.

THB$10,000 per night is 10 times that of ludicrous. I think I am shit stupid to pay for that kinda hotel. THB$10,000 I could rent a local apartment for two months, even three. Goota go, gotta try, gotta indulge.