Saint Pat's Day

Mary and I headed out for a Guinness and pub food on Monday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  We opted for Molly Malone's on Soi Convent in the Silom neighborhood.  It was the first time we've been to this neighborhood in months due to protests nearby.  We were reminded of three years ago when we went out to a different Irish pub in the same area with Mary's Dad when he visited us here over St Paddy's.  I recall that day clearly as it was one of the coolest we've experienced in Bangkok.  If my memory is correct, the high that day was 63 F.  This year was more typical.  It was in the upper 80's in the morning and was still over 100 F at supper time.  Summer has arrived.

Here I am waiting for my beef and guiness pie.  Mary enjoyed fish and chips.

We didn't stay out late as the area around Lumpini Park continues to be a danger zone for protest related violence.  This particular pub is a 10 minute walk from he park and is not in a dangerous spot, but the subway station we go through to get home is right across the street from the park entrance where the main protest stage is still set up.  The political violence here has decreased significantly in the last two weeks since the protests were consolidated to Lumpini Park, but there are still reports of shootings and grenades late at night around the park.  It's still best to avoid the park and adjacent streets, especially after dark.

This coming weekend we are looking forward to spending some time with one of my college room mates who will be in Bangkok for work.  Hard to believe it's been almost 8 years since graduation!