Bangkok is a major transit point for travelers so it wasn�t surprising we to hear a BootsnAll member was in town.

Amy Scott ( who we�d met at the BootsnAll gathering in San Francisco in November ) was here with her friend Juan.

We met them at the Atlanta Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 2 just around the corner from where we are staying. On the way stopping at a satay stand. We all bought a stick of something the owner said was chicken...turned out to be chicken liver.

The Atlanta is a funny place with an eccentric owner who puts his thoughts on coasters, signs and paperwork strongly saying he doesn�t give a damn about pleasing customers, �take it or leave it�. One of his pet peeves is sex tourism and this was the front side of my beer coaster.

We took a look through the Atlanta�s menu that is complete with the owner�s comments and info on the origins of spices and ingredients. I ordered a �chili and onions� dish and chose squid as the protein item. Chris and Sean had curry that they both enjoyed.

Amy and Juan shared a couple of dishes that included a stir-fry. After a few local Singha beers we decided to head down the street to the Nana Plaza building which Rolf Potts had recommended as a good place to see a �Bangkok show�.

The plaza is down a small street off of Soi 4 and its amazing as we have walked past this place a dozen times but did not realize it. The building has 3 levels that contain bars and go-go places. At 8pm the ladies were still in the process of getting fed and their outfits adjusted. On the walkways many local merchants had set up food stalls and lines of hair dressers were there busily readying hairdos. This is a little local industry and all the participants seem to be well rehearsed it how it works.

I snapped a few shots of Chris and Sean and the 3 of us strolling around. I talked to a few people and they were very friendly, although others did not like having their photo taken.

Entering one bar the 5 of us sat at a circular cocktail table and sipped a Singha. On one carousel 6 ladies danced in �economy mode�, obviously conserving energy for a long night. Sean commented that they really are into making eye-contact and I said one can imagine how a couple of guys would be after drinking a few beers. I mean when people are friendly you want to talk. Anyway we were just there for a drink and there wasn�t anything going on in this bar.

I asked a couple of the ladies where was the �best show�. They told me that although Nana Plaza has a reputation nothing really goes on here anymore. They suggested one place on Soi Cowboy and said if we wanted the real deal we should head for Patpong in the south of the city (we�re in the east ). I asked the girls if they liked working at their bar and they said they did as it was big and the customers were nice.

Sean, Chris, Amy, Juan and I jumped into a taxi and headed down to Patpong. The ride was about 60 baht. Arriving at one place the doorman told us �Sorry, you too late, all shows finish at 9pm.� That�s the new rule I guess, shows go from 5pm-9pm, a sexy matinee kind of. Amazing that here in Bangkok you can�t see a nude body even if you�re looking for it!

We dropped Amy and Juan back at the Atlanta and drove around the corner to our place at the Woraburi.

This morning I went to the Indonesian embassy to have another crack at getting my paper work filed without having a return air ticket. My immigration consultants in Bali tell me on the phone I don�t need an onward ticket, the embassy here tell me I do.

The walk to the embassy took about 35 minutes and I hussled my way through the crowds of people selling food and hurrying to work. Bangkok traffic isn�t fun and I am grateful for overpasses that allow me to walk over a busy street.

This flower seller had neat bundles ready for sale.

Chris will be flying out today so we are wrapping things up by taking care of stuff online and watching a little Premiership football.