Going round and going out

Saturday 4th

No golf on the weekend but a few of the guys were planning to go Go-kart racing. We met up at Le Katai about 10 but it was after 11 before we were ready to leave. Unfortunately it started to rain about then so we sat back down again. Eventually 5 of us caught a Baht bus to the track, which is over near the pier. TVL, TB and Dane all bought the 4 race package, which included an extra free race and a T-shirt. This cost about $100 and it wasn't some thing I wanted to spend that much money on and neither did Ed, so we just watched.

The boys decided to have 2 races then and save the other 3 for the evening. The setup is quite sophisticated, with multiple overhead screens displaying the field for each race, pictures of drivers and their car numbers showing downstairs at the pits and an electronic timer that gives a print out of lap times for each car in each race as well as fastest lap time tables for the race, the day and the year. They also provide racing suits and helmets for everyone.

It was drizzling a bit for their first race and the track was wet, but they went out anyway. There were a lot of spin outs on corners but they seemed to have a good time. It then just poured down but they still went out for a second race. More spin outs and a couple of times their cars just stalled and had to be restarted. In the end it got so bad they came in early and managed to get an extra race credited for the evening. They were all soaked to the skin at the end and said they could hardly see because of the water coming off the front wheels. I also took a couple of movies. The one below is from the second race when it was pouring and shows a couple of near spin outs and a stalling. (Quicktime format )




We came back via a taxi, after the Baht bus guy upped his fee compared to the cost to get there. They try that all the time and if the customer is smart he'll just refuse and get a cheaper one.

I had lunch at the same place as last night - another Pad Thai. The street alongside was inches deep in water by that time. Then a group of us went to the new Mall. This has been completed since the trip last year and is typical of the modern malls here - lots of "name" brand shops. I didn't see anything I wanted or needed so I walked to Mikes mall thinking to find another dress, again without success. I had nearly run out of local currency so I had another trip to the ATM to replenish the wallet.

The plan was to meet about 8 so after some time in my room, I headed off for an oil massage about 6. This is the sort that people probably think of when you say "I had a massage" although for me that phase usually meant a painful experience trying to fix an injury. The oil massage is quite gentle and relaxing and becuase of the oil you are naked. It was less than $10 for an hour.

I joined the others about 7-30 and worked on a cross word while waiting for the others to arrive. Our plan was to go to Walking street - the entertainment hub and full of bars, restaurants and so forth. Some of them left early to watch the AFL game at the Roo Bar on the way. This is owned by the father of one of our golf club members.

The guys returned from their carting but weren't ready to go, so 3 of us headed down separately. The Blues Factory were celebrating their 8th anniversary and that was our target. WeE arrived a bit early and found the others in the Roo bar. I didn't stay there but went for a wander and picked up some sweet corn. The group eventually headed to the Blues Factory and Dane an Kiky had already arrived an reserved a table right in the centre at the front of the stage. So close in fact the the tops of our heads were at the bottom of the close circuit TV picture. They had a couple fo long sets and had a few guest players join the band. One was a Russian guy, 7ft tall and skinny as a rake who played the blues harp and sang and another had played with the Grateful Dead. Dane also got invited up for one song and there was the inevitable Elvis impersonator, who wasn't too bad.

Because of the celebration they laid on a small smorgasbord, with green curry, noodles and fried race as well as European food like sandwiches, chicken legs and potato salad. Each time you bought a drink you also got a raffle ticket and they drew the prizes after each set. The prizes were all electrical appliances with the big ones a microwave and a DVD player but also irons, blenders, rice cookers and toasters. As it turned out, my number was the very first one drawn and I won a blender. Kiky also won 2 prizes in the second draw.

After midnight and the second draw, the blues band left for a rack band. I probably would have stayed for a bit of that but a guy in the next table lit a cigarette. Apparently the Non smoking rule which we'd enjoyed all evening gets suspended at 12-30. I guess smoking becomes healthy at that time of night. When a second one lit up I could see it would soon be full of smoke and took my leave. None the less it was a fun night.

I walked to the end of the street to catch a baht bus back to the hotel. I asked the driver of an empty bus where he was heading and he wanted 100B to take me back. Instead I jumped on the one in front, which had a couple of guys on it and got to Mike mall for 10B. A short walk from there got me home.