851 Relieved at last to throw myself into serious journalistic work. 852 Thailand has long] called travellers from around the g]lobe 853 to take spiritual succour and karmic rest. 854 For centuries, Western visitors have been inevitably drawn 855 to some of Bang]kok's oldest sanctuaries. 856 So true, Bridg]et. Even l, fig]ht it as I may, am no exception. 857 The moment I arrive here, I almost feel an irresistible pull... 858 ...to this. The Temple of Tranquillity. 859 Indeed, nothing] symbolises Thailand's extraordinary fusion of East and West, 860 of tradition and innovation, better than this. 861 Fully body-to-body massag]e. 862 - Sawatdee kha? - Sawatdee khrab? 863 An incredible thing] about Thailand is the amazing] traditional cuisine. 864 I'm g]oing] to taste kapaluk, the ultimate delicacy. 865 Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck! 866 Oh, my God. My God. 867 Um... Er... Mmm. 868 How about a lovely locust? 869 I can't. No, no, I can't. 870 - They're delicious. - [crunching]] 871 Oh! 872 [Daniel] Now that is Ko Panyi, which is the setting] for a very famous Thai poem, 873 which I think you'd like very much, Jones. 874 It's all about a badly-behaved prince who finds true love with a beautiful, 875 and as it happens, very slig]htly overweig]ht princess. 876 - You're teasing] me. - I never tease about poetry. 877 "Oh, Suvarnamali Why can you not see that I adore you?" 878 "Why do you avoid and scorn me?" 879 "lf you cast me off and leave me 880 How should I live another day?" 881 And you thoug]ht all I knew of Thailand was pussies and ping]-pong] balls. 882 - You wouldn't sleep with him? - No, of course not. 883 Absolutely not. 884 But he is clever. 885 - Yes? - And handsome. 886 He's also a dysfunctional, fucked-up, middle-ag]ed, lost boy. 887 Well, no-one's perfect. 888 [birdsong]] 889 I didn't realise you were busy. 890 - He's young] enoug]h to be your g]randson. - I know. Isn't that g]reat? 891 - [man yells] - [ladies shriek] 892 Come on, g]uys, I've g]ot a very special treat lined up for lunch. 893 [Bridget] I'm getting rather fond of Jed, 894 and I must say he has a genuine interest in Thai cuisine. 895 [Bridg]et] I wouldn't have thoug]ht omelette would be big] in Thailand. 896 - Or mushrooms, for that matter. - [Jed] It's mag]ic. 897 It is a mag]ic mushroom omelette, isn't it? 898 Well, that's awful. There is nothing] funny in this at all. 899 Althoug]h, thank God, 900 the mushrooms don't actually seem to be working]. |