Udon Thani Rocks!

Well, what can I say, only two days in this battered old city and already I've seen more Thai culture than in my past two months together. Sort of. The first night out, I enjoy a drink in a cozy restaurant, owned by some friendly Thai lady and her Steve from England, as some of the waitresses ask me over to a sort of bachelor's party. So after the restaurant closes, about eleven something, I jump into a 4x4 with blue headlights and ditto neon under it's frame, together with some of the waitresses and the brothers of the boss. Thai. All of them. The girls giggle and the man holler, I seem to be part of their gift to the groom. It turns out to be somewhere far into the countryside, and they ask me if I'm not scared going with a bunch of strangers to a place I don't even know is there. (this is the first and only time I feel like I should worry, but it only takes a second, as I see some hundred Thai people scattered on a field looking at a Thai Soap-series on a big projection screen. No, it's not here.) Finally we stop in front of a wooden house, and after a minute or so a man peers out of the door. Turns out they are all sleeping, since tomorrow is the big day and all. But hey, before you know it I sit inside of the house with about 17 Thai people, most of them don't speak English nor Engrish, and all kinds of delicious snacks are being presented whilst lots of beer is being served. I even get to try some Thai Rice-whiskey. Very strong, but very nice too! I seem to be some sort of an attraction, brought along to entertain the men and women just by being white and grinning as I sip from my whiskey. I didn't mind, and in the end they even gave me some good-luck charms in the form of white cotton bracelets. On the way back I realized that now would be a good time to feel scared, because our driver seemed to have trouble remembering what side of the road he was supposed to be on. But as there was no traffic, not even chickens or rats crossing, there was not much to worry about. All in all a nice outing, and the night after that I would be able to catch a glimpse of Thai nightlife that was not seedy. Country-music and Beer Leo!! Yep, the next day I was escorted by two Isaan ladies to the local countryclub. The men decided they needed their sleep, as they had to wake up considerably earlier next day. No problem for me mate. The countryclub was crammed with Thais, many of them wiggling and shaking their arms and legs while singing along with the local band. The music was quite alright, not that I understood any of the words, but these guys knew how to get people moving, and not long after my second beer I was wiggling and shaking along. Nobody seemed to notice I was trying the same moves as some the cool Hip-hoppers from Mtv do, 'cause everybody seemed to have their own indistinguishable style around here. Lots of fun guaranteed. Waiters and waitresses ran around carrying platters of food and mainly drinks, dressed in Wrangler-copied Jeans and with Krama-bandana's around their necks. Cowboy-style all over the place. If it wasn't for their Thai looks, I would have thought I was in the deep south of the U.S. of A. (Tears of the Black Tiger doesn't looks so far-fetched anymore, by the way, there's a new movie from the same director coming, and critics in Thailand are once more puzzled and baffled and try to forget they have to come up with some sort of impression that translates to a big audience) Oh, it's happy hour again, bye folks! (My hat turns out to be real sharp-looking around here)