Someone finally tries to bribe ME!

Okay, well, sort of. During my few years in Thailand, I believe I have handed out a total of three bribes (two in Thailand, one in Burma). That's about one a year. Not too bad, I guess. Still I usually carry a 100 baht bill (about $2.50) in my pocket when on my motorcycle just in case. You never know.

So, I'm eating at one of my favorite "farang" or foreign food restaurants. I've gone a few too many times, especially since the manager greets me with a warm greeting of recognition and informs the waiter to put me in my usual table. After a typically satisfying meal, the waitress, who has been especially attentive, brings me the check. She happily announces that she has deducted 10%. Thinking this was just part of the frequent-eater-appreciation comments I'd been getting that day, I smiled and told her how nice that was, thank you, etc. etc. Then she promptly plunks down a piece of paper and a pen next to me.

It takes me a moment to realize just what exactly this is -- a ballot. Ahhhh okay. *mild amusmant, though no surprise*

It's for one of these "Best Restaurant of " that you have in nearly any city over 10,000 people in the world. The waitress kindly pointed out exactly where I could fill in the name of her restaurant and informed me how she'd happily collect my ballot as soon as I'm finished.

*snicker*

Is my integrity worth 10% off of some chicken fingers and french fries (and a damn fine fruit smoothie!)? Not exactly, but it did give me the opportunity to vote for a lot of my other favorite restaurants (like the fantastic "Bourbon Street Grill" for Cajun food). And yes, this bribing "American" restaurant was one of my favorites as well. Why else would they greet me like Norm in Cheers?


Quickie Book Review: The Four Feathers by A.E.W. Mason

I really enjoyed this book, written surprisingly back in 1905. Despite a) it's slow beginning and b) it's potential at first to be some boring, 'how glorious men, war, and camaraderie are' book! It does have that whole "honor Honor HONOR!" theme suffocating you throughout, and the romantic aspects in it are a bit idealistic, but in the end, it is still a beautiful book about personal redempetion, zen-like patience in achieving a noble goal, and maybe the most realistic part -- overcoming the anvil-like issues our parents can thrust upon us. I recommend it! I've already acquired a copy of the film, which in the trailer seems fantastically different from the book (sigh), but still am anxious to see it (and still waiting for Pride and Prejudice to arrive too!).