Saturday Night In Bangkok

It was just another typical Saturday night in Bangkok. After a few phone calls back and forth, my factory friends and I decided to go out dancing and drinking at a downtown nightclub. Honestly, while I wouldn't call myself a true PARTY GIRL, I've always enjoy going out with friends.

Anyhow, unknown to me at the time, on this particular night, my life was about to change forever.

As I mentioned before on an earlier page, a true Prince Charming falling in love with a factory girl only happens in the movies. Indeed, after another long day at work, I never expected this July night (2004) would be any different than any other Saturday night...

If you've been to a nightclub in Bangkok, then you already known about how Thai people like to party. Basically, a group of friends get a large table, order some drinks and food and then dance standing by our chairs. Depending on the nightclub, Thai friends might listen to three or four different bands in one night.

Despite the attempts of countless Thai men to penetrate our circle of friends, we usually stayed together as a team for an entire evening. Inviting a man to sit at our table was one thing...but...actually ending up in a particular man's Hotel room was a completely different matter. It's something most normal Thai girls just don't do.

While I don't remember the exact moment Peter walked up to our table, I still remember all the events which followed...

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Small Talk

For most of the evening, Peter talked with all my factory friends sitting around the table. The whole scene proved quite fun. He didn't speak much Thai and no one's English was great. Beer, whiskey, food, dancing and loud music helped bridge the language barrier. Honestly, I'm not sure why we allowed him to sit with us in the first place.

Perhaps it was because he was an American.

Besides, at the end of the night, it proved to be quite lucky for all of us. As the band played its last song, he offered to pay the 3,000 baht for all the drinks and food. At the time, no one really felt bad about him covering the club tab. Why should we? If some foreigner wanted to cover the check, as far as everyone was concerned, let him!


Right as everyone was leaving the club, he invited the group back to the Marriott for drinks. Kay, one of my best friends, grabbed my arm and together we jumped into the taxi with him...

As Peter talked to us from the front seat, Kay and I sat in the back trying to understand his words...

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Room #802

Back at the Marriott, we drank a few more bottles of beer, watched some MTV and tried to communicate with one another in English. Peter didn't speak much Thai. While he had traveled to Thailand several times before on business, he hadn't learned much of the language.

Fortunately, Kay spoke enough English to keep the conversations somewhat interesting...

She has a dream to one day travel the world. She's already taken several French and English language classes.

Anyhow, from the large window of Room #802, the evening skyline of downtown Bangkok seemed to go on forever...

It was the first time I had actually looked out upon the city at night.

I remember thinking to myself, if I ever get married, I want to spend my first romantic honeymoon night in a room like #802.

While we were still having fun, after about two hours, Kay and I decided it was time to go home. It had been a very long week at work. Peter offered us to stay the rest of the night. Indeed, the bed was big enough for all of us to sleep. After a short debate between ourselves in the bathroom, we decided to call it a night.

Before leaving, he gave us his business card and 2,000 baht for the taxi ride home. Considering it was only 500 baht to get back to our apartments, once again, luck had shined upon us.


After giving Kay a brief hug, it was my turn to say goodbye. Throughout the evening, Kay and Peter did most of the talking together. At times, I felt like an outsider.


However, in that short moment, the way he held me in his arms seemed different. Looking down into my eyes, he gently kissed my forehead, my chin and then each cheek.

While our lips never touched, my whole body became warm inside...

If Kay wasn't there, I'm sure I would have stayed until morning. But then again, if she hadn't grabbed my arm, I never would have gotten into the taxi in the first place...

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Strange Announcement

It was shortly after lunch when an announcement came over the factory's public address system...




"Is there a woman named Oun working?"

"If so...there's some people here to see you."

At first, the announcement sounded somewhat strange...

"Is a woman named Oun working today?"

Several of my fellow workers immediately looked over at me...

"Are you expecting a visitor?

"Who wants to see you?"

"Is your mother O.K.?"

You see, while all my close friends and family know me as Oun, at the factory I used only my family name...

"Will Oun please report to the front office?"

When I entered the room, an older British man and a young Thai woman were standing together...

"Is your name Oun?"

"Do you know an American man named Peter?"

"We've been looking for you everywhere..."

[Note: Evidently, several Private Detectives work in Bangkok following Thai women who have farrung boyfriends. I guess some western men just don't trust their girlfriends to stay faithful. Peter found and hired a detective over the internet to find me again.]


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