In the heat of the midday sun, the concrete pavement was being pounded by hordes of people walking towards the weekend market. From the BTS station to Chatuchak it was at least a 10min. walk and I was thinking to myself how we had better get there soon or I was going to melt in the heat. Along the way though, sitting on the pavement was a tiny little girl with a plastic cup in front of her with a few baht in change. That really upset me and I wanted to slow down and just think for a moment but I couldn't...I was walking with 7 of my friends and a throng of people walking in the same direction so I let myself pick up my steps and followed. Not farther than 50ft. away from that little girl was the gnarled body of a boy sprawled on the street convulsing and my heart just died inside as I watched that.
I didn't know what to do. Apparently, this is an everyday scene in the streets of Bangkok and I, as a Filipino shouldn't be acting this surprised since I know we have thousands of streetchildren as well, but this was different. This was, for the lack of a better word, really pathetic because people walking with me didn't even miss a step. We just kept walking.
I expressed my sentiments to several friends on the way home that day and I was brought back to reality when I was told that there are syndicates running this deal. It's a show they put up to elicit pity (therefore money) from tourists like me who are not insensitive and still get touched by this utter horror.
I really don't know what I'm trying to say here...I don't even know if this is supposed to be a Warning or Danger tip but I felt, that as much beauty and as much fun as we had in Bangkok, there is this part of me that felt a little too disturbed by what I saw and I had to share it with you.
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on Feb 26, 2003
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