The Lost Boy

It's bloody freezing in Bangkok

Have you noticed how cold it’s been in Bangkok for the past three days? I had to wear a jacket to work today. I remember last year there was one day when I was so cold that I was shivering. Well, it’s happened again. I checked the BBC weather report and, to my surprise, it was allegedly 29 degrees today. I have my suspicions about this because it felt pretty chilly. Tomorrow temperatures are set to plummet to 25 degrees.

Back home in England, a day like today would be a heatwave. There’d be thousands of people taking to the streets in shorts trying to get sunburnt. In Bangkok, though, it’s hardly ever cold. Mama, my landylady, told me that it was going to stay like this until next year. That’s great news, but it makes my shower routine a little awkward. I don’t have hot water, and when it’s this cold a shower is almost painful.

I don’t use air conditioning in my room, but this week I have not even needed to use my fan. Walking back home from Central World Offices I almost felt like I was at home. The ghastly Christmas decorations reminded me that I’m not though. Have you seen the enormous red Christmas monsters outside Central World? If I was a child I think I would be terrified of these huge gingerbread men and suchlike. I’ll try and take some pictures if I get a minute. Inside Central World there is a Christmas market. It looks a scene from a horror movie with all these giant creatures looking to eat unsuspecting children.

Someone has also had the bright idea of playing Christmas songs all along the elevated walkway between Central Chitlom and Siam. It makes my walk to and from work a little unsettling with all these carols blaring out at me from every direction. I’d like to cancel Christmas in Bangkok. It’s consumerism gone crazy. The only places where there are decorations are places where us farang are likely to buy something. That’s all Christmas is. I’m considering working Christmas Day. I won’t get paid double time or anything, but I figure that I have no family here so what would I really do with myself?

I might take a day off (unpaid leave) because we are having a Club Pros Christmas party this Sunday. I guess I could get drunk and then sleep all day Monday and catch up on some Final Fantasy V on my DS. I think I’ll have sweet ‘n’ sour chicken for Christmas dinner. That will be a bit special.

Happy Christmas.

Techno’ tags: Weather, Cold, Bangkok, Thailand