Phavorite Photos

Good buddy Python Pete wrote to me with a suggestion a few weeks ago.  His comment and idea was that I probably had thousands of photos (which I do) and I probably had a few favorites (which I do).  His suggestion was to share those here on the ExNotes blog. I thought that was a sterling idea.

I shot the photo you see above on a sultry night in Bangkok’s Arab district (every night is sultry in Bangkok).  The street is unofficially called Soi Arab; officially it’s Sukhumvit Soi 3/1.  That road (and sidestreets off it) are lined with Middle Eastern restaurants, a cuisine I love.

Bangkok’s Arab district attracts many folks from the Middle East partly due to its proximity to those countries, partly due to a vibrant nightlife, and partly due to a world class hospital that treats people from that part of the world.  Me?  I was in town to teach a couple of engineering courses and enjoy Bangkok. It’s one of the world’s great cities.  Take it from me:  Never say no to an opportunity to visit Bangkok.

So as I liked to do, I walked to Soi Arab and sat down at a sidewalk cafe and  ordered a plate of hummus and chips.  While I was enjoying my dinner a group of several Middle Eastern types entered and sat at a nearby table.  All but one were burly guys dressed in dark business suits.  The exception was an elegant older gentleman dressed in traditional Arab garb.  Distinguished would be an appropriate but not quite adequate adjective.   Majestic would be more on the mark.

I kept stealing glances at this fellow, thinking it would be great to grab a picture.  I guess I was a little too obvious.  I noticed a couple of the dark suiters with him (obvious security types) were looking directly me.  One of them stood up and walked over to me.

“Uh oh,” I thought.

“Is there a problem?” the man asked.

“Uh, well, no,” I said with mixed emotions.  I wanted to get what I knew would be a great photo, but I also wanted to continue breathing.  “It’s like this,” I said, “I’m an amateur photographer and your principal would make for a very dramatic image.  I don’t wish to offend or insult, but I’m wondering if there’s any way I could take a picture of your distinguished protectee.”  As I said it I realized how stupid that sounded.  Anyone who travels with bodyguards doesn’t want to be photographed.  But the words were out there.  The words “rendition” and “beheading” crossed my mind.

The security guy looked at me.  He didn’t know what to think (I’m told I sometimes have that effect on people).  He walked back to his table and leaned over to whisper to the man you see above.  The flowing headdress turned my way, I saw a smile and he motioned me over to his table.  I had my Nikon and I got the photo you see above in a single shot.  I have no idea who he is, why he was in town, or exactly where he was from, but that photo is one of my all time favorites.