The People in my Neigborhood

It's amazing who you meet in the corridors.

Today we met Walter, the Belgian French-speaking pianist who lives one floor below, and he was a great talker. Philippe just chatted him up en Francaise, so they conversed in French, naturellement. I joined the elevator, so being polite, chirped 'Bon soire'. Walter was pleased, Elle parle francaise? To which my beloved said, in perfect English, "Just a bit". Ah, bon, said our new friend.

We live in a 9-storey condominium unit, low key, in a cul-de-sac street. Not really high profile, but according to this gentleman, houses great personalities. Walter relayed the story of one of the first tenants here, who's been living at the 9th floor for the last 20 years: he was the counselor of the counselor of the King of Thailand. There was also Monsieur Lieutenant General, the first Thai who graduated from the London School of Aviation (yes, Khun Lieutenant was a pilot). 

Then there was Marco, the Chef in Bangkok's premiere Italian Restaurant L'Opera, who lives at the 9th. There was the Italian dude at the fifth, who was the go-to guy for anything Italian. We were promptly given a small pint of Italian traditional cheese to sample that Signore's produce.

Walter says that Bangkok is full of surprising personalities. My favorite story was how Walter, a piano teacher by profession, knew the Dalai Lama's personal adviser--also a pianist himself. "This man," Walter said, "is Spielman's son's best friend." That promptly gave me goosebumps; The Pianist's (from the Polanski film) son was three degrees from me just by speaking to my neighbor one floor down.

There are other stories, like the Yakuza who opens the door in his briefs; about the crazy lady from the 7th floor; and the former owner of L'Opera who sold his resto to a German for 60 million big ones.

Walter promptly invited us to have Happy Hour at the Italian Restaurant across the street one day, where we can dine on cheese and fresh bread avec Sangiovese, all for less than THB300. And then, in a gesture of hospitality, gifted us with a packet of authentic Japanese green tea and a box of Ceylon apple infusion, which he had in abundance as supplied by his piano students.

It was a good evening meeting the neighbors. I think I'm liking them already.