Down And Out In The Big Mango

As a traveller, my worst worry has constantly been that I'd locate myself on a few lee shore, a ways from home, useless broke, without a money, no visitor's checks and useless credit cards. And to pinnacle it all no air price tag domestic or buddies to lean on. It's a nightmare that doesn't undergo considering. It's in no way befell, but I dread it and to cowl such a catastrophe I usually tour with an emergency fund of ultimate motel inside the shape of 3 gold cash, Canadian Maple Leafs, stashed in my belt.

As a author, I've usually been inquisitive about coming across absolutely everyone who had experienced such an occasion. I've met most effective one. He turned into sitting on a store front step a few fifty meters from the Nana Skytrain Station on Bangkok's busy Sukhumvit Road: common for a farang in that infamous part of metropolis and he barely registered as I descended the stairs to the road. But as I handed by him, my eye caught the crude cardboard sign mentioning:

DESTITUTE NEED MONEY FOR FOOD PLEASE HELP

A tin cup stood through the sign. I paused in my stride. I positioned him around fifty five. Dressed in a khaki shirt, shorts and a wide rimmed bush hat, he reminded me of a picture I'd seen of the movie director, Francis Ford Coppola on location for the movie, Apocalypse Now. He again my gaze with a sheepish smile. It turned into two in the afternoon and 39 levels within the colour. Now, a farang, pan-dealing with the streets of Bangkok is losing his time. As Thais firmly agree with that farang are rich, all farang, he should anticipate little pity tons much less money from the amused throng passing him via. Of direction, the sign, being in English, was aimed toward overseas expatriates and travelers and the Nana area does teem with them. Even so, I positioned his possibilities of achievement as a bit much less than an ice cube in hell on a completely warm day. I picked up the can: it contained a fifty baht notice and some coins. I tossed in another hundred. "Would you want a beer?" I asked him. He smiled widely, grabbed his p.C. And got here to his ft. We shook hands. His name turned into Alain and he become from France. I discovered a bar nearby, took a desk and ordered a tumbler of Chang beer. It become a quiet, properly air-conditioned region and we had been the only purchasers. A pretty carrier lady brought the pitcher and stuffed the glasses. Alain tired his in  long pulls. "Nectar," he said, with a grin. "Thank you."

"So, what the hell passed off to you?" I requested, refilling his glass. "It is an extended story," he said, wiping his face with a napkin.

I suspected a girl was concerned someplace in the mess he'd found himself in and I become keen to pay attention approximately it. "We have time," I stated. "Tell me."

He took a long draught of beer, settled back in his chair and closed his eyes; he appeared very weary. I noticed the heavy beard stubble, the disheveled hair and he smelled hard. I determined to watch for my tale. "Are you hungry?" I requested.

"I am," he spoke back. "Very."

From the bar menu I ordered for him khao phat gai, fried rice with fowl, nothing for myself; I settled for the beer. Normally, I never drink earlier than sundown, however I turned into inside the mood and this Chang become happening like bloodless, fresh cream. Alain ate like a Frenchman, with measured gusto. His plate wiped clean he went again to his beer. "When did you sleep closing? In a mattress?" I queried.

He shook his head. "I cannot remember." He looked nicely and certainly bushed, and I sensed a bit disorientated.

"You're tired, Alain," I stated. "You want a few sleep. I'm going to get you a room." I ordered another pitcher.

"You are genuinely very type," he stated. "You do not know me in any respect."

"True," I said. "But I've usually dreaded ending up like I located you. I virtually couldn't go away you there. But the price is you inform me your story. We can do that the next day, after you've rested. Is that a deal?"

"That's excellent," he said, smiling. "It's a deal."

Back on Sukhumvit, I bought for him a shirt and a few shorts and underwear from a market stall. Then, I booked him in the Bangkok Inn Guesthouse and arranged to meet in the foyer at noon the next day. I went again to my resort feeling accurate approximately myself. I'd played the Good Samaritan and finished the decent thing. I'd made advantage and pursued good karma. I showered and changed and set out to take care of unfinished business after which meet a lovely Thai lady, my future spouse, for supper.

Normally up in the beginning mild, I slept within the following morning and was overdue for our rendezvous. Alain was waiting in the lobby reading the Bangkok Post. A distinctive man, he'd bathed and shaved, his thick auburn hair turned into washed and brushed lower back and he was sporting the garments I'd bought for him. He smelt clean and of quality cologne. "Paco Rabane," he grinned after I commented. "I actually have a bit left. But, it's nearly long gone."

Sleeping late, neither he nor I had taken breakfast, so I advised a very good lunch become in order. We dined on the Food Center on Sukhumvit. Then, we repaired to a resto-bar on Soi 7 I frequently frequent that serves respectable wine. We took an out of doors desk in shade and comfortable in seats of properly cushioned wicker below a fan. I ordered a bottle of Italian white on ice. I put Alain secure via telling him of myself, my work, my home in Canada and the guesthouse I changed into constructing near Chiang Mai. He spoke amazing English in a cautious, circumspect manner with a robust accessory. He was from Bretagne and 59 years vintage. He'd taken early retirement following a profession in civil engineering that had taken him world extensive, operating freelance, with high remuneration and paying little taxes. He'd labored 5 long years in Saudi Arabia, hated it (no, wine, no girls!!), but made large, tax free, cash.

"I cannot whinge approximately the money," he laughed. "But I couldn't stand the place. Every few months I'd take an exit visa and get again to France to hold my sanity."

Though an engineer, he had many pursuits and through the years had taken college publications on such numerous disciplines as history, political technological know-how, philosophy and social anthropology; he changed into smart and quite nicely study. I felt that Alain had contemplated regularly at the meaning of lifestyles and why men are born. We had a good deal in not unusual. And the wine had the desired effect and we both have become increasingly more expansive. We mentioned many stuff, but specially we said journey, South East Asia and Thailand. We talked of women, Oriental women and particularly Thai ladies and the hypnotic, Siren like, allurement they've held for Western men because sixteenth century European sailors and adventurers lower back home with testimonies of their fascinating beauty. He became additionally privy to the risks of involvement; like me, he knew the memories and we shared a few.

Alain first came to Thailand after the dying of his spouse. She'd died of ovarian most cancers leaving him with a daughter, Lisa, who had graduated from university with honors as a clinical medical doctor some months after her mom's demise. Grief troubled, and on Lisa's recommendation, Alain determined on a yr of tour and Thailand became on the itinerary. He came for three weeks and stayed 3 months. He again once more the following 12 months for 4 months. He favored Pattaya and commenced spending the European summers there. Then, Lisa got here throughout images of her father with young Thai women which caused a bust up.

"She known as me a intercourse traveler and hasn't spoken a phrase to me for the reason that," Alain chuckled. He took a photo from his pocket and slipped it throughout the desk. I picked it up. It was a professional studio portrait of a Thai girl, a totally lovely girl, with a tremendous smile. "Kab," he said. "She may be very lovely," I said.

"Yes," he smiled. "She was." He fished out greater snaps of her. Some have been with Alain, others with a small infant, a girl, and others with Alain and the kid. They regarded a glad own family. But this became the girl, I became certain of it.

"Where did you meet her?"

"In a Jomtien bar, a terrific bar." he said. "I'd commenced to want Jomtien, the metropolis south of Pattaya as it became quieter, much less raucous. I had a sweet condominium there close to the seashore and quite cheaper. The bar changed into on a nearby road. I'd dropped in for a few beers and to observe some soccer," he smiled. "Chelsea and Liverpool. She was operating there. She became the manager and mamasan. It become a quiet night with few clients and he or she became going to close whilst the game ended. She spoke correct English and regarded so lovable in her back commercial enterprise suit with blouse and tie. Her figure become excellent. I offered her a drink. She invited me to pick a lady. But they have been a stupid bunch of bargirls, non appealing. But she was."

"So, you hit on her," I stated.

"Yes. She appeared shocked. 'I'm thirty six,' she stated. 'I'm old.' I advised her she became lovable. Yes, I bar-fined her. She positioned the money inside the coins box, despatched the girls home, closed the bar and got here lower back to my place." He smiled. "And I in no way saw the ending of the football sport."

"And that changed into the beginning?" "Yes. I saw her again the following night and again bar-fined her. Within per week she'd quit the bar and changed into dwelling with me. I determined to upgrade and signed a hire on a furnished residence with 3 bedrooms, a home gymnasium, a pool and lovely garden. I paid for everything, of route, and gave Kab 8,000 baht a month to spend as she wanted. I additionally set her up with a marketplace stand selling garments and shoes; it made a touch money on top of her allowance and gave her an interest." I smiled.

"She need to have liked that?" "Yes, she did. But quickly sufficient my time changed into nearly up. My visa became expiring and I become because of fly home to France, however I did not want to head. I made a snap selection and allow the price tag expire. I went down to Penang, Malaysia and got some other visa for a 12 months."

On his return they traveled north to Issan where he met her own family in a faraway village. He refurbished her parent's residence and purchased her father a Honda scooter. Kab's daughter, Fon went returned with them to Jomtien for the faculty holidays. Life seemed idyllic and he privately debated whether or not he have to ask Kab to marry him. A month later a debit card changed into declined at an ATM. As he used four, he concept little of it. He'd skilled ATM pc system defects earlier than and that they commonly corrected themselves. But this did no longer. Two weeks later a 2nd card changed into declined. This time he was involved and irritated. He saved note of all withdrawals and turned into properly aware about what the balances ought to be and he knew he changed into properly in the black. He composed handwritten letters to both French banks asking for factors and published them registered mail. Then, in brief succession, his remaining  cards failed, the remaining one while he changed into in Bangkok traveling buddies; he now had critical troubles. Unable to make headway through e-mailing and telephoning the banks, he needed to fly to France. Unfortunately, Alain used simplest debit playing cards and had no credit score cards. But, as a careful guy, he had a reserve of cash that might buy his ticket.

"I can interrogate my bank bills at the internet." I instructed him. Could you not do that?"

"No," he said. "You must repair it along with your financial institution for my part earlier than leaving domestic. I neglected to do it. You cannot set up it from remote places."

Alain headed lower back to Jomtien in which any anger he held for his banks and their gadget soon dissolved into surprise. Kab become no longer home. He phoned her, but her telephone changed into dead. Preparing to shower, he noticed her bathroom articles were long past. And in the bed room a further surprise; her complete wardrobe became cleared out. She'd left him. At his table he observed the locked drawer in which he saved his non-public matters had been forced and the reserve fund, 50,000 baht, turned into long past. He realized now that the debit card problem was no longer a financial institution laptop glitch. Kab become the hassle.

"But I don't know how," he said. I never permit her use the cards. I never disclosed the pin numbers, nor did I ever write them down. The numbers are in my head. Only I realize them."

I couldn't start to imagine how he must have felt. Cleaned out with the aid of a woman he had cherished and relied on. He needed help badly. His French pals in Pattaya have been located trying. "Drinking buddies," he described them bitterly.

"What approximately your daughter, the doctor? She might fly you home, in reality," I said.

He laughed. "She would, absolute confidence. But I might by no means live it down. Could you consider the triumph, the contempt? I'd got what I deserve, the wages of a sex visitor. I'd be underneath her thumb for existence. No, Lisa changed into out. My simplest wish become Sacha, my brother. But Sacha is on a six week lengthy canoeing excursion in northern Canada: he is no longer contactable. And he may not be home until the give up of this month."

"What approximately pals in France?"

"I do have them, but I could not stand the disgrace, the humiliation. They might want to know how I got into this mess. And it would not be long earlier than Lisa might get wind of it. No, Sacha is my lifeline."

With his hire due, Alain moved out, ditched maximum of his matters and moved to Bangkok. His plan became to pan-take care of sufficient cash for meals and if viable lodgings until the time his brother might be back in France. He labored the Khao San Road and the backpackers earlier than moving to Nana. It turned into hard and humiliating, however worked to a few degree as some days he picked up sufficient to get a dormitory room in some hard dwelling. He became doing that after I'd found him.

Two days later, in an act of trust, I placed Alain on an Air France flight to Paris. He promised he would refund me while he were given domestic. And he did. Two weeks after he left a deposit overlaying the price ticket fee arrived in my bank. He accompanied this with a letter thanking me for my assist and believe.

Almost a 12 months surpassed earlier than I heard from him once more. It got here inside the form of an e-mail; he changed into returned in Thailand, in Jomtien and invited me down. I bussed down the subsequent week and we met for lunch on the Pattaya Beer Garden. Alain, immaculate in ivory slacks and a blue tropical shirt and loafers and exuding the familiar Paco Rabane, seemed the photograph of fitness and contentment. He gripped my hand vigorously. "Good to see you. Wine or beer?" he grinned.

"Wine," I responded. "White."

"And pizza?"

"Of route."

He ordered the wine, a great white Wolf Blass from Australia to be followed by a big all dressed pizza. We made small speak and bantered in wellknown on many matters. He had healed the breach along with his daughter and they were again on talking terms. But he'd observed France bloodless and miserable and the humans, in comparison to Thais, as unsightly as the climate. He'd been again in Thailand for three months and glad of it. But, impatient to understand the endgame of the Kab affair, I modified the problem. "What befell approximately your money?"

He paused, drank a touch wine. "It turned into devastating," he said. "My financial institution statements confirmed Kab had withdrawn massive quantities of money, a few days the day by day maximum at the cards. I could not accept as true with it. Inside a month she'd almost emptied the bills."

"But how, if she did not have the pin codes?"

He chuckled. "Oh, however she had the pin codes. But I never gave them too her." He refilled the glasses. "It took me a while to determine out how she'd performed it."

Intrigued, I stated nothing, sipped wine and waited.

He gave me a protracted smile. "She used the child," he said.

"Her daughter?"

"Fon. Yes, she used her."

"How?"

"Whenever I went to a financial institution ATM to make a withdrawal, I'd frequently take Fon with me. Afterwards we would perhaps take a walk on the beach and I'd purchase her ice cream. I enjoyed the lady and having her come alongside. And from time to time, on the ATM she'd question me to lift her up and watch me paintings the keypad and out could pop the money. This was magical to her and made her snigger. Sometimes I even permit her push the buttons. You can wager the rest."

"Fon then told her mom the pin codes," I stated. He nodded.

"Christ," I said. "You're advantageous?"

"It's the most effective legitimate clarification. I kept the numbers in my head as we all do. I in no way needed to write them down. But I foolishly gave them to the kid. It changed into a recreation to the kid, however extreme commercial enterprise for Kab. Arriving home, Fon gives her mother the pin number as a part of the sport. And at the first possibility when I'm not round, Kab takes a card and makes a large withdrawal, 10 to fifteen,000 baht: loads of cash. I do agree with she brought Fon all the way down to live with us only for that cause."

I idea I'd heard all of the memories, however this turned into a brand new one, the use of a child in that way; clearly one for the records. Alain never disclosed to me how tons he had misplaced which leads me to trust it become a very heavy quantity, many thousand Euros. Yet, he remained cool approximately it and displayed no bitterness. Seeking Kab and retribution did no longer enter into his mind. He no doubt found out it would be a waste of time. He'd moved on. The pizza got here and was directly wolfed and a brand new bottle ordered. As we drank, he announced that he had a brand new woman. "She's out of your territory, Chiang Mai," he stated. "Her call is Sunisa, nickname Kung. She's a schoolteacher. You will like her."

I met Kung that night time and appreciated her right now. She was forty , divorced with an grownup son and daughter. She had a lovely rental, low rise and spacious. We sat out on a balcony terrace that overlooked the bay and enjoyed a quality meal such as many Thai dishes washed down with copious amounts of wine from France. Kung was small with an athletic, shapely discern and a nice wise face. I enjoyed watching her going about her residence commercial enterprise and fussing over Alain and myself. I located her very appealing, though not even near the surreal splendor of Kab. But then Alain wasn't seeking out that anymore.

I again to Jomtien four months later for Alain and Kung's weddings: there were , a Buddhist ceremony and a Catholic one. And six months after that they came north to Chiang Mai for mine. We hold in contact and meet frequently. We have a real and lasting friendship..

Alain's tale illustrates how a type, first rate, trusting, but silly, man can often be taken gain of, in his case, by using a ruthless female. It also serves as a lesson to tourists specially in South East Asia and in particular male travelers in Thailand. In sultry climates, inside the languid seductive surroundings of the tropics there may be an inclination to drop one's protect. I'm tempted to mention: consider nobody, but that would be unfair and make for an un-fun travel enjoy. But a man have to hold his wits approximately him and take realistic precautions. Lastly it is a story of accept as true with and having religion in a fellow man. I took a hazard, provided a supporting hand and turned into nicely rewarded for it.

Tony McManus is writer who travels. When he isn't journeying he can be found at the log domestic he constructed himself in Quebec, Canada, or inside the guesthouse he built in Chiang Mai. He is an avid canoeist and kayaker. He loves song, classical and jazz and is a consistent reader. He is also a health and health enthusiast, a vegetarian and committed follower of herbal medicinal drug. "DownAnd Out In The Big Mango" is one among a collection of short stories about farang experiences in Thailand to be posted next yr. Tony has currently posted his first novel: "The Iran Deception" on Amazon's Kindle. He is currently working difficult on his 2nd e-book: "A Bangkok Interlude".