When Everything Changed in Minburi

My move from the UK to Thailand was going well. I found somewhere to live in the Bangkok suburb of Minburi, where I settled in easily, and was well on my way to sorting out my long-term visa and ensuring my work pension payments were being sorted from back home. Things were about to advance in my personal life.

Brothers and Sisters, Minburi

Reduction in Pandemic Restrictions 

Minburi, like the rest of Thailand, was gradually winding down its pandemic restrictions, and things were slowly returning to something near normal. However, COVID-19 had taken its toll, with many businesses biting the dust.

In the case of Minburi, the landscape literally changed, with several buildings being demolished since my previous visit a couple of years earlier. This was due to the construction of the elevated MRT monorail, which would eventually open as the new Pink Line.

Sudtong Club, an open-fronted bar and restaurant, was my favourite choice in the past. That had gone, meaning I usually went for a drink in the Pak Soi Night Market, as well as one or two other places that I’d never been to before. 

I’d also tried bars in adjoining districts, while across the other side of the construction works on Sihaburanukit Road, over the road from my condo, was a bar I had been to for late drinks years earlier on my way to my hotel. It had flashing lights on its roof, and I kept meaning to return. I did so to end a farcical day.

The Changing Face of Minburi

From the Ridiculous to the Sublime

As a single man in Bangkok, I decided to enrol on an internet dating website. My eyes were open, and I was aware of what to watch out for, with tales of scammers also advertising themselves as wanting company. I’m glad I was, as otherwise what followed could have been an expensive experience.

In a nutshell, the lady I met was after my cash. We ended up in a restaurant where she said we could go to a party, but she wanted 10,000 to buy the drinks. I'd gone along with it out of curiosity to see where it would lead, but that ended things abruptly. 

I was partly laughing and partly trying to comprehend the previous few hours, deciding I needed a beer and to head to the bar near home. It was to be a life-changing experience.
I think there were a couple of tables of customers attended by a couple of young waitresses.

A Friendship is Born

An older lady came and sat next to me and asked if I lived in Minburi. We chatted along, her wearing a face covering. I felt extremely welcome and said that I would return next time to eat.
That’s what happened. Taew was the owner of the establishment. Many of her customers were policemen, who were friendly towards me. I became a regular customer, trying new food, while I was taught new phrases and generally had fun. 

As the conversations continued, Taew realised that I was different from many farangs that she’d met. She naturally assumed I lived in Minburi as I worked nearby. I explained that I was retired, wanted to stay in Thailand, and integrate, to see and learn as much as possible.

I continued to try to improve my spoken Thai, which was great fun while eating and drinking in good company. Some of Taew’s friends thought we were an item; we were getting on so well, telling us that we should be if not, while we insisted we were friends.

The bar, named Brothers and Sisters in English, was often quiet. I was encouraged to ‘rongping’ meaning karaoke. While not very good, I was keen to enjoy myself. I didn’t realise that one of my tasks by singing was to make passers-by aware that the bar in the area off the main street was open.

Fun on the Chao Phraya River

Because it didn’t open until 4 pm, Taew suggested she take me out in the car to see new places. This was fantastic as I was learning and seeing things I didn’t know existed. More friends were introduced, as I headed over to the bar more often than I originally intended.

 
We had more days and evenings out when she would close the restaurant. It was a night out with a large family of friends on the Chao Phraya River when I realised that while single life was fun, I was becoming increasingly attracted to Taew. And jealous if other male customers tried to grab her attention. 

She looked stunning that night. I needed to do something about it, and while I was fearful that I might be rejected and spoil a perfect friendship, I did just that a few weeks later after we’d both had a lot to drink.

Looking back, asking her out was the best decision I ever made. Within a few months, my life and status would change dramatically, and I’d be living somewhere I never considered. But until then, there was still lots more to see and do while residing in Minburi.

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Thanks for reading.