The King and I

Posted under Southeast Asia 2009

Last evening, on our trek for sustenance, we encountered an unusual event. The streets were awash with policemen, who were clearing the main roadway of all traffic, and preventing foot traffic from crossing the road. As this was the direction we were heading to eat, we chose to stand at the roadside and wait. Much like the rest of the pack of nerds at street level. We assumed that we were about to see someone famous pass by, such as Barbara Streisand or Homer Simpson or another of equal celebrity status. It turned out to be only the King. Not Elvis, the other guy — a local.

 

Began to think that I had fallen asleep and had awoken in Michigan. A veritable plethora of Chevy suburban’s, complete with security windows, zipping down the road at high speed. These were both preceded by and followed with highway patrol cars and flashing lights. A thirty-minute wait and a ten second glimpse, and it was over. Couldn’t identify a soul in any of the vehicles. Maybe it was Homer.

 

While awaiting the travelcade I had occasion to ponder my surroundings, and I came to the conclusion that if Canada were ever to wish to flex its military might, perhaps an invasion of Sweden would not be out of reason. If we were to attack during the month of February, I doubt that there would be enough bodies left in Sweden to muster a reasonable defense. Those who are not playing in the NHL, are blistering in Thailand. If we were to all dash down to the nearest arena and grab a broken hockey stick, we could use them as weapons. Most of these sticks have experience and would not shy away from a little bloodshed.

 

I am a bit uncertain as to what we would do with Sweden once it was ours, as I don’t think that their weather is any more favorable than ours, and we already have enough fish, but it would be somewhat gratifying to know that there was someplace where our military skills could stand out. Of small matter that the place was practically deserted at the time. Just a passing thought, and not likely to ever come about. I don’t think that our navy has sufficient fuel to get us to Sweden.

 

Next on the agenda — Cambodia and Vietnam. Talk to you then.

 

T