I rose at 540am Bangkok time this morning.
Was it an early hour?
Yes, but it didn't matter.
I had barely slept.
The mood was still sour but my friend cared enough to add a one-time credit to the Cloudtalk app, and even whilst I was mostly (still) filled with a sense of regret, resentment and disappointment, there was also a bit of relief.
It wasn't the kind of relief that everything was ok, but the kind of relief that came as a result of knowing at least one issue had been settled, and it was now up to me to deal with the rest of whatever I had to face whilst still here.
I am thankful for the fighter with me.
I am thankful for the fighter who always wants to be with me.
Because this is the type of person who will- despite his (or her) loss, despite his (or her) displeasure towards the situation- will still be on your side and help you and comfort you and hold you close when you're helpless and frightened.
It is for this reason that even though on the previous night I had (in desperation) seriously thought of booking a flight home, it was an option I knew I didn't want, it was an option I knew I had to fight against.
Moods are still moods though, I guess, and so I don't have as many pictures as I ought to have, for today.
Breakfast this morning was pumpkin toast and organic eggs both perfectly fried in the pan. I can't remember whether I helped myself to the frozen strawberries. I might have, I might not.
Comforting it was, though, to have my flask of hot coffee.
A bit of work got done, then out it was for lunch to one of our go-to BKK lunch spots in town- OKONOMI at Central Embassy.
Bright and sunny the place is, always a delight, and this afternoon we had our usual favorites where I ordered the Salmon & Cheese Mazemen- a bowl of cured shio koji salmon, camembert cream, sweet soy, okaka and lemon zest- and my friend ordered the Salmon Poke of edamame, negi, and sweet soy sauce on multi-grain rice.
So familiar have we become with the menu that we don't usually need to look.
Although, honestly, I don't know what okaka is.
Or how it looks like.
In fact I don't even know if it was in this bowl that I ate.
Lunch over, we took a Grab for a head and hair spa at this place called SARLLIVE HAIR SPA.
Google Maps tells me it's located between Wang Thonglang and Phlabphla.
Which, I have to say, I have no idea where exactly in the sprawling metropolitan capital of Bangkok these two districts are.
The best I can say is that they're above Watthana, near Huai Khwang, not too far from Lat Phrao, and that Lat Phrao Road runs through Wang Thonglang.
The actual salon sits on this road called Srivara Road, not too far from the Chalong Rat Expressway, and whilst located slightly further out of the main areas of town, was charming and accessible all the same.
SARLLIVE Hair Spa specializes in one thing: Head Massages.
Meaning it is THE place to go to when you want a good head massage.
That's not to say they don't do other massages.
It's just included in the treatment, and so a package might have something like a Vietnamese style head massage, a facial massage with rice milk and black sesame products, a neck and shoulder massage, and a head massage water ring spa.
Mine this afternoon was 90 minutes long.
The treatment began with a pleasant, fragrant foot wash, after which they brought us upstairs to a lovely, quiet room lit with soft lighting where we were told to lie down face up, hair hanging inside the sink.
I don't really remember how the entire treatment went.
All I remember is that there was a hair wash, there was a very thorough scalp massage, afterwards there was a facial massage- where even my ears were rubbed- there was another scalp and head massage, there was the water ring spa where tiny continuous streams of cool, clean water soothed the vital points at the crown of my head, creating a gentle lull that comforted my already half-asleep self.
As much as I enjoy head massages, it is in fact the facial massage that I enjoy the most.
Something about it relaxes the jawbone and upper cheeks, and when combined with a slow thorough head massage that stimulates and soothes the nerves all at the same time, is so comfortable that I fall right asleep.
When we finished, we made a quick drop into the MAKRO next door (for fun's sake and to look at small ziploc bags) and then took a Grab to One Bangkok.
This was a mall that had been growing in popularity, and which we had been wanting to visit for some time.
One thing unique about One Bangkok is her presence.
It's contrasting, yet complementary, in the sense that whilst she's located in the heart of the city on Wireless Road in Lumphini, Pathum Wan, she feels quieter, slightly off beat, a little corporate-like, wearing an atmosphere suited for the discerning business traveler or the digital nomad in a start-up needing a white-noise type of place to work.
One Bangkok is not a business-type of mall however, and there're a good number of brand-drive n retail stores that cater to the fast fashion crowd.
Flagship stores include Skechers, Swatch and Club 21, but there's also a MUJI and (surprise of surprise) a NITORI.
Getting there isn't too difficult, so it seems, the mall's near the Sala Daeng station and a short walk away.
We did a bit of retail shopping, and because in the midst of all our exploring found a Tonkotsu Wako up on the 5th floor, decided we'd have dinner there.
I was so glad, I tell you.
I had missed their breaded cutlets.
I had also missed their soft, fluffy, warm, perfectly cooked rice.
You know, for a long time I had thought that Tonkotsu Wako was popular mostly with expats and tourists and the millennial working adults.
Apparently it's just as popular with the Gen Z working adults too.
The outlet here at One Bangkok was little bit quieter than that at Central World, nevertheless, it too had a sizeable crowd.
Near our table were people in groups of threes and fours.
Further behind, five whole tables had been joined together for a huge group that looked like Gen Z office workers enjoying an out-of-office dinner party.
I can't recall exactly what it was we ordered this evening, but I know we had our favorite order of tonkotsu (with cheese) where, like always, we made it a set with a nice wooden pot of soft, fluffy, warm rice, soup, and shredded cabbage free flow.
Then we had a second piece ala carte of the tonkotsu- plain, just pork inside- and, because the pictures looked so good, an additional order of ebi prawn.
They were so generous with the breadcrumb batter.
They were also so generous with the thick, creamy mayonnaise.
When dinner finished, we hung around the area a short while (I had the call) then decided we'd walk back to Urbana, taking the route down Witthayu Road, turning left onto Sarasin Road, and finally, the other end of Lang Suan Road.
Along the way on Witthayu Road we passed by one side of Lumphini Park- the lights in the park were on but I didn't dare go in for fear of losing my sense of direction and getting lost.
After turning left onto Sarasin Road, we passed another side of the park that on this side housed the Badminton Association of Thailand, after which, after we crossed to the opposite side, there was the Royal Bangkok Symphony Music School, both of which, I was surprised to know, were literally opposite each other.