What is the most practical gift that one can buy their friends & family when they are on vacation? If you answered T-Shirts, you have answered this proverbial question the same way I have. In fact, on my most recent trip to Thailand and Malaysia, this is exactly what I planned to do. Needless to say, it took awhile to find the right T-shirts - I wanted to buy something that was both tasteful in design and of fairly high quality. See T-Shirt story

Then I got to thinking, while I am it, wouldn’t it be nice to buy Alfie, my sister’s precocious toy poodle, a T-Shirt too? After all, I’ve seen small dogs in the United States outfitted with T-shirts during the hot summer months and sweaters in the cold of the winter. What initially started as somewhat as a lark in my mind, the idea of buying Alfie - who I affectionately refer to as my dog nephew - a T-shirt, became a serious quest.

So here I was in Bangkok, Thailand on the final day of my 30-day odyssey trying to fulfill my mission - finding a T-shirt for my dog nephew, Alfie. While working out early morning in the hotel’s fitness center, I asked one of the trainers “Where is the nearest store that I can but a T-shirt for my sister’s toy poodle?” According to him, there was a dedicated pet boutique just around the corner from the hotel, President Park, on Sukhumvit Soi 24. Sounded ideal, as I didn’t relish the idea of running all over town trying to find Alfie’s gift.

After finishing all my other errands, towards the end of the day I stumbled into Boo Blossom, the dedicated pet boutique. Shaking my head in disbelief, I couldn’t believe how close it was to my hotel. After consulting with the young sales clerk, she suggested that I buy a little Thai style outfit for Alfie. I was quickly sold on the idea and let her choose the proper outfit – one with an appropriate Thai motif. Total damage 350 baht (10USD). Mission accomplished as I quickly handed her money, giving her a small tip to boot.

The rest in history – judging by the way Alfie was seen dancing with joy in his new Thai outfit, it was a worthwhile investment, not to mention how this gift made my sister very happy as well. See pictures.

Boo Blossom Pet Boutique - Sukhumvit Soi 24, Bangkok, Thailand
e-mail: blossom_boo@yahoo.com

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The following story is based on events which happened in Negril, Jamaica in summer 1982. The names of people involved have not been changed protect the innocent or naïve. Although this happened over 26 years ago, I remember it as if it was yesterday. Depending on your sensibilities, you may alternately cry, laugh or be shocked by what I have to tell you.

It was a bright Sunday in Montego Bay - Reggae Sunsplash, Jamaica’s international music festival, had just concluded. Most of my tour group were flying home on this day, however about 30 clients would accompany me by bus to Negril, some 50 miles to the west, to recuperate and chill out after the festival. I stayed at Lamar’s, a humble motel on Negril’s West End. I befriended two of clients, Dr. D and his girlfriend, Carol, who were also staying at Lamar’s. Dr. D was an affable chap in his early 30’s, a Grateful Dead aficionado and we hit it off pretty well.

About the 2nd or 3rd day in Negril, Dr. D, Carol and yours truly were enjoying a cold Guinness in Lamar’s outdoor bar—café, when somebody offered us some freshly baked chocolate ganja cake. Now, I usually don’t partake in marijuana, but throwing caution to the wind, I decided to have to eat a large slice of this fragrant smelling cake. Dr. D and Carol followed suit. About 40 minutes later, it was getting dark and the three of us decided to venture out for dinner to nearby Pewee’s, a nice outdoor restaurant on the cliffs. So far, nobody was feeling any effect from the ganja. Dr. D and his ladyfriend ordered a grilled lobster plate and I ordered a vegetarian dish along with some cold Guinness. After awhile dinner was finally served. It seems that the three of us were getting quite giddy - must have been the marijuana kicking in. Dr. D was about to take a bite out of his lobster, when he announced, “Look, the Lobster is crawling on my plate”. Both Carol and I laughed, and I remarked it must be the effect of the ganja cake we ate earlier in the evening. Come to think of it, I distinctively remember it getting hotter and I felt a sensation of smoke in the air. We finished our dinner without further incident, laughing and joking the whole time.

After dinner, we walked up the street to Kaisers, where they were having a live Reggae Show. A group of young Jamaican men congregated at the entrance. We were about to enter the club and pay the cover charge, when Dr. D totally freaked out. He turned around to us and with a very frightened look on his face, he announced that he was afraid someone at the entrance was going to stab him with a knife. Looking at Carol, I told her that the ganja had caused Dr. D to become totally paranoid. Carol understood there was no real danger, only in Dr. D’s mind, but it was decided in the best interests of Dr. D, that she would return with him to Lamar’s and forego the live show.

Bidding Dr. D and Carol adieu, I paid the cover charge and entered the club. After having a rum punch, I surveyed the scene and noticed quite a few very attractive working gals around the club, looking very sexy with their micro miniskirts clinging tightly to their thighs. I was becoming very hot now and I started feeling “the body heat” from the Jamaican ladies. My heart was racing and it was becoming difficult for me to move - it felt like I was paralyzed. Feeling frightened and very vulnerable, it took quite an effort for me to leave Kaiser’s. Once I was out onto the street, I walked safely back to Lamar’s in the darkness of the night.

Morale of the story - Marijuana affects people in different ways. For some people, the herb will bring a sense of euphoria and peacefulness; for other people, it makes them get very giddy. On the other extreme, some people grow very paranoid - their feelings and sensations become overamplified. Be careful when indulging in this potent herb!!!