Land of Smile

We are back in Bangkok now. Yesterday there were about 5 soldiers with automatic rifles on our corner. Today there are about 20, and they are talking on their gigantic radios, and looking stern and serious, presumably because of the attempted assassination of Sonthi, a leader of the Yellow Mob.

Yesterday I just looked down and walked past the soldiers gravely. "I feel so sorry for them," I told Poo, "wearing those multi-layered camo uniforms when it is so HOT!"

Today I smiled at them. The oldest amongst them not only smiled back, but he reached out to pinch my arm. It's a bit scary when a man with a uniform and a rifle reaches out to pinch you, but, fortunately, he was wearing a big smile.

"Thai people, we like to do that," said Poo, as she pinched my arm.

"Yes, I know, I see people pinching Jason's arms and his cheeks every day."

"But he is a 4-year-old boy!" I protested, "I AM A GROWN MAN!"