Thursday 5 April 2007

DJ Bunny


I climbed into my condo lift last night with a largish Thai guy wearing bunny ears.

He had been out for the night, and come back wearing clip-on bunny ears over his head. It is nothing unusual for a Thai to do strange things in public. Most Thais couldn't care less if you walked down the street wearing a funny costume, as they are wrapped up in their own affairs.

Maybe he forgot they were there, or maybe he wanted to show off to any passing foreigners, who, unlike Thais, are easily impressed by such things.

I was stuck in the lift with the guy, so - foolishly - I asked.

'Why are you wearing rabbit ears?'

The guy was aged in his 20s, and carrying an enormous soft travel bag, slung over one shoulder.

'I'm a DJ, and he's my buddy for the night,' he said, in English.

'Your what?'

'My buddy.'

I looked at his bag. If he's a DJ, then maybe he packed his record player in there, and his record collection as well. Do DJs still play vinyl records, or is that a thing of the past?

I didn't ask. The conversation with DJ Bunny was heading nowhere.

Most foreigners and Thais can't communicate at anything more than a basic level, because neither makes the effort. In noisy bars, when the booze is flowing, the quality of social interaction gets even worse. I don't know who embarrasses himself more.

Our brief exchange in the lift was a sad reflection, I suspect, of the kinds of nightclub conversations which he has with foreigners everywhere. Devoid of substance, meaningless, and showy, but they influence his interactions with foreigners in general. We all must be like that, right?

'You mean your bunny,' I corrected him.

'Oh, yes, yes...my bunny.'

'So what animal will you be tomorrow night?' I asked.

'Oh, no....' he said, stumbling. DJ Bunny was lost for words.

I stood in silence for the last minute of our journey. It's a slow lift, groans, and rattles a lot, but finally it arrived at my floor.

'See you around some time!' he said, and gave me a wave.

I wonder where he learnt that trick. I ignored his cheery bunny goodbye, and left the lift.

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