Surprise! Surprise!

I received my final covid test results with dinner delivery on Thursday.

Negative!

For the 2 weeks of quarantine, I had to have 3 covid tests and each day I had to take my temperature twice a day. There was a new digital thermometer in the room when I checked in along with the obligatory towels, water etc. I had to send a picture of my temperature, via WhatsApp to the nurse morning and evening. She would every other day or so send me a "do you have any of the following symptoms..." text.

Now, with the 3rd negative result, I was beginning to taste my freedom and I texted her with,

"Are there any special procedures I need to follow on Saturday when I am checking out?"

Her reply,

"You can check out tomorrow!"

I called down to the front desk to double-check on my luck!

"If you want to stay an extra day you can or you can check out tomorrow!"

I chose the latter!

I had booked an Airbnb for the next month while I was still in quarantine, Old Spice Quiet luxury in the heart of Bangkok! The pictures showed a flat decorated in mutated tones of red and cinnamon and beige. For original check-in reasons, it was booked for Friday afternoon! I would be arriving on time!

Friday morning dawned with anticipation, anxiousness and a feeling of renewed yearning to actually go for a walk!!

After my Thai language lesson, I finished packing up my things and was ready to go for 11 am!

I now have my entire life in 2 large suitcases, a small carry on, a backpack and a large tube of pictures and paintings that I can't part with...so the young man at the front desk hailed a cab for me and off I went to seek adventure in fields anew!

My head was on a swivel as we drove through the city. I had chosen an area close to the business/downtown district so that I would have access within a few minutes walk to the elevated train and subway.

As the driver turned onto increasingly narrower streets I began to feel more anxious than anticipatory and the yearning to walk diminished to a level 1 on the walkability scale.

As the final turn was made we stopped as 2 trucks and 3 motorbikes blocked the small street, making it impossible to continue further. The driver got out and walked to the end of the block where he discovered the address that we sought.

Bags unloaded and wheeled down the street, curious heads turned, gazing skyward...it was like Jack's Giant walking into Munchkinland. Sorry, I don't mean to offend, I just seem to be a head or so taller than most people I have met so far. ( or as we say in Nova Scotia there was a lot of curtain-twitchin').

Now I had been forwarned by Evan, my host, that there were some concrete repairs being done on the stairs, so be careful.

As I came to the front door I gazed up the stairs, my heart sank somewhat...every other step was encased in fresh concrete. Now stair height in Canada has regulations for the ease of the gait of the average human. These stairs had the incline of a ladder leaning on a house and I had many suitcases to lug.

The man doing the work quickly realized who I was and what needed to be done. My suitcases were taken to the apartment for me in a quick hurry. I, however, or should I say Chip, had a bit more difficulty ascending as we grabbed the side walls(yes it was that narrow with tools etc. cluttering the "free steps") to pull myself up every other step.

I walked up to the 3rd floor with mounting anticipation, anxiousness and a feeling of renewed yearning and walked into my new home away from home! Little did I realize the yearning was to GET OUT! LEAVE NOW!

needless to say, it was a bit dark,(apparently, an old-world charm can be achieved by a dark wood varnish and any furniture painted in the leftovers) but turning on a few lights would make the place cheerier! Opening up the curtains too! Turning on the aircon would help. It still seemed somewhat bleak---all of these things revealed more of Old Spice's OLD than SPICE.

I sat at the desk to read the Helpful hints guide the host had left.

There was an entire page of things you should do while staying at Old Spice Quiet Luxury, the first 3 were:

Take out your garbage EVERY DAY! As leaving it will attract cockroaches and ants!

Do not leave dishes in the sink! (see above reasoning)

Do not leave food on the counter or in the cupboards! (you get the reasoning...)

I did look around the kitchen. A drawer was missing and had been tossed under the sink, cooking utensils I think my mother threw out when she moved into the new house circa 1976, I think the microwave would have caused Chernobyl to look like a light flicker and the kitchen window view would cause this Nova Scotian not to ever need to twitch said curtains!

I quickly grabbed my laptop and logged on to Agoda! (Asia's answer to Expedia)

Today's Daily Deal!!....$17 a night at Siam Heritage Hotel, breakfast included!

I then went on Airbnb and cancelled my reservation (I was there before the official check-in time)

I went on my Bolt app and booked a taxi. (like Uber but friendlier and cheaper!)

I proceeded to lug my suitcases down the 2 flights of stairs to the landing. I peered down the first set of stairs, now devoid of all human activity except for the tools left behind and concrete.

I grabbed the first case and with great balance and trepidation I made it down....the first time.

Each trip up and down with a new suitcase became an exercise in balance, grace and quiet cursing! (Don't want to make a bad impression)

Bolt said my cab was there. I looked down the street, still blocked by 2 trucks-nothing.

I looked to my right and a toothless grin peered up at me from the ground, belonging to a rather dishevelled man, lying semi-conscious hidden, sort of in the bushes---masturbating.

Time to go!

My taxi driver came down the street quizzically and called my name.

With suitcases stowed in the dr--I mean trunk, we were off!

"Hello, sir! How are you?"

"I'm doing better now thanks. How are you?"

"Good! Where are you from?"

"Canada"

"My first English teacher was from Canada. I loved her! I love Canadians! My name is Jay! Nice to meet you!"

He drives part-time while holding down a regular job! He chatted away merrily and with enthusiasm that I needed to be a part of at this point in time.

"If you have any questions just ask me! I can help! Do you have WhatsApp? We can be friends!"

(I didn't have the heart to tell him I think I'm engaged to a girl in Guatemala and I'm already spoken for---<that's for those of you who followed my adventures in Central America>)

But I said, "Sure! That would be great!"

"Now if you need to go anywhere Darren you can just text me and I can drive you!" Even like Pattaya and on trips!"

I liked the sound of this....no crowded buses, subways and trains.

We arrived at the Siam Heritage Hotel. I felt anticipation, anxiousness and a feeling of renewed yearning to explore my new neighbourhood!

Jay made sure my cases were left at the door(the lobby was small) and told me to add him on WhatsApp!

Check-in went smoothly and I was nestled in my new room!

The bed is King-sized and hard as the floor, there's a desk, fridge, bathroom with water pressure to take away any muscle aches and walking pain I may encounter.

aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh