But nothing happens. By looking between your fingers you can see that the road is free. Ok!, Ok!, no more dangers anymore. These will come later. Only a little bit confusing. But you are warned.

Now, after you have taken a shower and had some refreshments, you might explore the outside world beyond the safe walls of the Hotel. This is a serious decision with quite some implications. It is however not necessary to test the terrain by moving ONLY the head out of the door and looking to each direction, left and right. Thailand is a relatively secure country and if you are not walking with all of your money spilling out of your pockets and this additionally late in the night, nothing should happen.

Almost! You have forgotten your height. By looking at outdoor events you might have forgotten the door sill and made the first noisy contact (the noise comes from you, by bouncing your head and crying some unprintable words) . C'on, you may say (besides the fact that you can feel your head shaking), we are not all that tall and not all the doors are that small. And after all, still, nothing might be have had happened until now.

Maybe, I admit. But you may only be steps away from the next disaster. You may tell me that you allways watch the ceilings. This may be right. But are you watching your steps? Not the one 5 meters or so in advance. I mean the one directly under you ( or in the best case one step ahead)! There might be a hole, a leftover from world war two or just an uneven floor. But enough to hurt you. And don't tell me there must be signs somewhere pointing to this dangerous place.

What? No sign? Maybe there was been one once upon a time, but now? I know what are you thinking! You want to go back directly to the Hotel, straight to the manager, and complain about this dangerous area. But will this help? Remember, the hole is almost in front of the door of YOUR hotel, and, confirmed by a fast observation, not from today and not from yesterday, a half century ago. The dinosaur has greeted you.

This may not stop you. You have to talk to someone with responsibility to help avoid any future accidents . And luckily, you find your man. You explain everything to him, from you experience as a passenger through bumping your head in the small door, to the hole that you almost (but only almost) stepped in.

The Thai, a real gentlemen, responds with a smile once you have finished but does not say anything. This angers you. How is it possible that this man SMILES only? Can't he say at least one word? You feel frustrated and it's time for you now to cry...

Of course, all that's written above is only a dream by the very tired visitor. But if you could watch him you would see how carefully he passes ALL doors and how his eyes gace constantly to his feet. It's a somewhat strange behavior. But a smile decorates his mouth. Our visitor understands that this is the best tactic in the Land Of Smiles.

The first lessons seem to be learned! ##

By Rainer F. Otto

© Copyright 1998-2008 by Rainer F. Otto