Bangkok

Biologists have determined, according to DNA studies, that we as a species have descended from less than a dozen individuals. I had to keep reminding myself of this while in China last week, that those people are really, distantly, my brothers and sisters; for they as a people seem to be the most concertedly difficult and mean-spirited people I have ever encountered. So imagine my delight upon coming to Thailand and discovering the anti-China, a land filled with bowing respectful helpful and pleasant people. I have never encountered in all my travels so many gracious individuals: the professor who stopped me on the corner and introduced himself and asked if he could help me (he could and did), the economist with the UN who was accosted be my rickshaw driver (his machine broken down mid-trip) to speak to me in English and informing me the rickshaw would be repaired promptly and keeping me company and talking while it was; the fellow who saw me looking at my map, good and lost, and took me to lunch so he couple practice his English while mapping out my afternoon adventure; or the guy who hired me a taxis and told the driver where to take me and negotiate a 50 baht rate (about 90 cents, which I tripled); or Mr Tia this morning who took me in his boat up the river and into the canals (Bangkok was once called the Venice of the east, being built on and around water) to the floating market, taking me the long way because he wanted me to see his city. This has been a brief but wonderful experience, a lesson in compassion and hospitality.