First impression of a monster

The sky outside was dark. The road was as modern as anything back in North America , smooth and brightly lit with a few other cars coasting in the approaching dawn hours. It was strange to be driving on the left side of the road. Chris wandered what else would be opposite in this new land. Most peculiar and unexpected was the concrete sprouting up in every direction.

Though the backseat was wide enough for even three westerners, Jenny didn't keep her distant. She scooted to the middle in touching proximity to Chris. Sitting on Chris's hand, she leaned forward and began talking to Jan in the passenger's seat. Chris subtly removed his hand and turned his head looking out the window.

. Even though a freezing blanket of AC manifested the interior of the fully equipped modern vehicle, he could smell and sense the humidity outside. Building lights glared scattered into the dark horizon---the expressway velocity forming a flickering, yet dazed light show.

Jenny was ranting to Jun and Chang about some New Year's party in privileged suburbia. Chris didn't pay close attention. It was hard as is to follow, as half of their conversation was in broken Thai. Besides, many other things occupied his thoughts. Though his material baggage took up the entire trunk, he still left a lot of personal baggage behind---parties, friends, social drama…Jenny's boasting of stateside pop-life was the last thing Chris cared to intake for the moment.

In Phoenix , Chris had his share of parties in several different social circles. He'd ‘boozed' it with the rich preps in Glendale and passed out plastered in some of the shadiest neighborhoods on the South Side.

“Jenny, what are all those concrete pillars for?” Chris cut in

“Huh, oh, those… they're either future or on-hold construction for the expressways. Chai mai pee Chang?” Jenny touched the seat in front of her addressing the driver.

“What?” The man turned down the volume of a up-tempo pop song.

Jenny repeated her question in Thai as to confirm the facts she had given to Chris. The man rubbed his nose looking at Chris in his rear-view mirror. “Oh, dat da Hopewell pillar. It suppose be big transport train projec many year ago. Have problem with money. Stop in middle of make.” His English was worse off than his girlfriend's. “Wut you name, sir? I am call Chang. And you?”

Jun beat even Jenny to answering for Chris. “ Kao cheu Christopher ka .” She was brushing her hair and checking her face in a mirror. This made Chang a little uneasy. He made a nervous rub to his neck before speeding up. Like most guys with a beautiful girl friend, Chang had a jealous side. With self as a reference, he knew, so he thought, what most guys had on their mind. A sweet talker was one thing but the silent type was even more deadly with secret ambitions.

“Christopher. Christopher Reeb. You Superman. Ha ha.” Chang tried to make a joke. Nobody laughed

Chris was nervous from the speed. He clinched the car door and seat like a cat hanging off a tall building. Sure he had just been on a much faster Boeing 747, but that was also much larger than this German car. The speedometer was clocking 140. That's km/hour. Chris didn't have to calculate that to miles to feel it. He had a slight fear of car accidents. His close friend died in a car wreck the year before.

Jun noticed Chris frightened expression in the rear-view mirror. “Chang, slow down na kaa. Nah glua . You scary.” She grabbed Chang's arm and like magic the speed of the vehicle decreased.

As they got deeper into the city, more cars appeared on the road. It had to be getting close to sunrise. Chris wondered if these people were starting or ending their day. Most likely, it was a mix of both. His guidebook says that many Thais do there business in the early morning hours buying/selling meats, fruits and vegetables at various markets. On the other hand, from a look at some of the entertainment guides and websites, Bangkok is one of those cities that never sleep. Is there any multi-million populated city that does sleep?

Concentrating on all the concrete flashing past his eyes outside began to make Chris feel nauseous. He shut his eyes. Jun and Chang were talking to Jenny in Thai. For all Chris new, they were gossiping about him. He tried hard not to pay any attention. He had loads of information and thoughts congesting his mind. Gradually, the slow Thai love song's spell-casting groove pulled him into unconsciousness.

Lingual Footnotes

Chai mai pee ใช่ไหมพี่ : Isn't it/aren't they/aren't I/aren't you.

*The word pee พี่ is added when addressing someone senior

Kao cheu Christopher เขาชื่อคริสตะเฟอร์ : His name is Christopher

nah glua น่ากลัว : (It's/You're) scary/frightening

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