Bangkok had already been part of my "trip list" since last year, but I've never really seriously planned it. That is, until I read of Rain's World Tour schedule there in a blog site of a Rain-fan friend, Charlie, just two weeks before the actual show dates. Right there and then I made the decision to go and immediately started working on my bookings. I was so excited and passionate about it. I've been watching Rain's World Tour Premiere Concert (the showcase in Korea in October 2006) every morning for the last four months (not to mention watching "Full House" every night and feeding my Rain-addiction with diligent visits to Rain sites on the net everyday). This was my chance to see the real thing, live, in person. I just had to go. There was no stopping me...
I was travelling alone, on my first time in Bangkok and I knew no one in the city at all. But that's just the start of the whole "adventure".
I left Manila on a Cebu Pacific late evening flight on May 31, Thursday. I arrived in Bangkok at 1:00 AM of June 1. By that time, I already made a few Filipino friends from the departure waiting area and even bonded with my plane seatmate, Tita Tessa Jalandoni. I already knew people in Bangkok. They gave me their numbers because they were concerned about me travelling alone in a new place. (Seemingly, they all thought I was so much younger than my actual age. Kekeke... ) From the airport, we were shuttled to our hotel, the Bangkok Palace. I was able to get a few hours sleep, woke up, got breakfast and off to a half-day city tour I went with five other Filipinas I also met from the flight to Bangkok.
After the half day city and temple tour (which was probably my only "cultural and educational experience" in this trip... Kekeke), our group went for lunch at the MBK Center (a huge mall in downtown Bangkok) and then went our separate ways.
That's when I met my first foreign friend in Bangkok, Serene. I was buying Tita Nonie (the officemate who introduced me to Rain and is responsible for my addiction now... Haha) a DVD of "I'm A Cyborg, But That's OK' (Rain's first movie) and when I reached the counter, this lady was buying the exact same thing. As it turned out, Serene, a Singaporean, was also in town, also alone, just for the concert. We hit it off easily.
After a quick stop at a Buddhist temple, Serene and I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon at the Pathuman Princess (the hotel where Rain was staying). I never planned or even thought of doing that. But since I was alone and had no definite plans or schedule in Bangkok, I figured, what the heck. So there we were at the hotel lobby with a whole bunch of other people (mostly from other Asian countries) we just met, acting like real, true-blue, die-hard fans, just waiting for Rain to show up. (So that's how it feels to be a "stalker"? Haha...) But you can really feel the excitement and enthusiasm and joy in the air. It's like we're in an international convention. Everyone was so friendly (and very hyper at that) even if communication can sometimes be difficult (not everyone speaks English). I guess it's because we share a common passion, and should I say, "craziness" for Rain.
Oh, another interesting thing that happened at the PP... I got interviewed (together with Serene) on Thai local TV. This pretty girl (the reporter) approached us and asked if she can interview us for a late night English news. Of course we said "yes" and without much ado, the impromptu interview began right there at the lobby. We were asked our names, where we're from, how we met. The interviewer was quite surprised to know that Serene and I just met a few hours before, that she commented, "So, Rain brought the two of you together?" She also asked why we like Rain so much and I answered that it's not just his good looks or the sexy body, or even his music, it's the whole package, especially his inspiring character and values. (That may sound like a "practised answer" but it's not... Keke) But the best question: "If you were to come face to face with Rain, what is that one question you would ask him?" To which I gave my best answer in the entire interview, "Will you marry me?" Haha. Of course I didn't mean it. I was just trying to be witty. But looking back now, I can't believe I "proposed" to Rain on Thai TV. Talk about an interesting experience. Hahaha...
At around 6 PM, the lobby started buzzing. Rain is about to come down to join his dancers for rehearsals at the concert venue. We all juggled for the best positions near the escalators. I went up to the mezzanine because I knew Rain would be passing there too and it won't be as crowded up there. Again, I never really planned nor even thought of doing this - acting like some crazed fan. But then again what the heck! I was already there and the experience was something new but totally exciting and interesting for me. All the fans waiting and the guards roaming around were adding up to the anticipation. After another half an hour later, people from one side of the mezzanine started screaming. Rain's there, on his way down, about to pass us (we were all cordoned on one side, by the way). I already saw him from afar. It was my first time to see him in person and I was mesmerized for a while. He had a certain aura about him that really commands attention. Or was it just his height or his built or even his good skin? Whatever it is, it sort of stopped me on dead track for a few seconds as he passed by that I forgot I was supposed to take a picture. By the time I clicked my cam, this bodyguard already blocked my shot. So, this is all I got of him - half the face (good thing I got that recognizable cap and sweet smile) and his hands. Well, at least I can now say I saw Rain up close... (One more check on my to-do-list before dying! Haha...)
Oh, but I at least got pictures with his dancers. That's the closest I could get to Rain himself. Keke.
After that, we met a few more people at the hotel's lobby from Rain-Thailand and two more Singapore nationals (who are now my friends, Karen and Grace). Rain-Thailand invited us to dinner at the Siam Center. And they helped us shop for noodles and yogurt drinks. Yup, you read that right. Well, only Rain-crazy fans like us would buy Mama cup noodles and Dutch Mill drinks (by the dozens, mind you, and in all sizes, flavors, and designs) just because Rain's pictures are on them. After getting back to the hotel, we had a "drinking session" of Dutch Mill in Grace and Karen's room, while talking about our main man of course. It was crazy but so much fun.
At around 11 PM, Serene and I said goodbye with the hope of getting back to our hotel (Serene invited me to sleep over with her at the Novotel which was nearer to PP) in time to catch the late night news and our interview. But as soon as we got down to the mezzanine level, we saw that fans were again gathered around (some were already in their PJs), waiting for Rain. Apparently, he and his dancers are on their way back from rehearsals. But alas, we only got to see the dancers as Rain took a different route to his hotel room. We met a few more fans at the lobby though. By the time we got to Novotel, it was already past 1 AM of June 2.
That ended my first day in Bangkok... And what a first day it was...
