The final day of my stay in Thailand came to an abrupt end actually, not only was I pleasantly surprised to find myself driven in a luxury limousine to the airport, but I was also escorted by simply the most beautiful Thai lady I had ever met. I hoped she was coming with me. To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure where I was during my stay here in Bangkok, after being laid up in hospital for part of my holiday, then waking in a hotel room perhaps days or perhaps weeks later. It wasn’t until I was actually on my way home that I realized the full gravity of the situation that had passed. After all, I could have been killed.
The people of Bangkok are not exactly famed for their safe driving practises. Tuks Tuks, taxis, family-straddled-mopeds and buses weave in and out like spiders in a thread of intricacy that only local Bangkokians themselves believe to be great driving skills. So to be involved in an accident here, especially when you had counted on hiring a car and driving for while should really come as no surprise to anyone. Precisely what had happened is anyone’s guess. I remember leaving my hotel that morning on whichever date it was. I remember looking at hotel boutiques and I remember getting in to my hire-car and driving along the hotel and boutique areas of the Sukhumvit Road. But as far as
what happened after that, who knows. The police didn’t, the other vehicle if there indeed was one, had fled the scene. No witnesses, so there we have it. My stay in the local hospital and my consequent return to the Tai-Pan hotel (I had previously been able to find and book into), were-as it turned out- very pleasant retreats from the bustle-bustle of the mad Bangkok streets. I had a most comfortable bed, delicious food and great views of Bangkok and the surrounding areas, including parks of lush green and birds in song and all the nature you could find. And although I was pretty much concussed and incapacitated with a broken arm and injured leg I was well enough to be escorted by the wonderful staff of the hotel for a stroll in the gardens or to the hotel boutiques and stores- a real find. As the days ran by here, I had the feeling I was on some strange journey of enlightenment that had been printed in the lines of some exotic novel of far eastern lands. I had no friends but didn’t feel lonely, I had no urge to call anyone and let them know what had happened but felt no concern. I hadn’t died and wasn’t too seriously injured. And although the wave of my thoughts undulated up and down like a calm tsunami, I felt a sense of peace and tranquillity that I had never had in all my life. So as we drove slowly back to the airport, courtesy of the Tai-Pan, accompanied by this lovely lady I said “There is one last thing I’d like to do…I haven’t seen the Grand Palace yet”. In fact I’d seen nothing of Bangkok, so as we drove onwards towards the Grand Palace complex and surrounding Sunamluang Park Gardens I can honestly say contently I was glad I’d come here, this was a holiday I’d never forget.
