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14/01/94 - HUA MARK INDOOR STADIUM, BANGKOK, THAILAND Diary day 1 by Bryan Adams: I started this diary a week ago, but it got too long so I’ll re-start here. It’s 8:00AM. The long flight from Bahrain is over and the crew on Gulf Airlines all want tickets for tonight’s gig, which we supply. We left last night at 8:00PM and arrived here at smelly ol’ Bangkok at 7:00AM completely shattered. There is a peculiar ritual when you arrive at an Asian hotel (especially if you are performing in their town) where the general manager and other staff members insist on greeting you at the door, strap a lei of smelly flowers or wood shavings around your neck and proceed to hold your room key ransom until you have your picture taken with them (no matter what time it is, what shape you’re in, or how much you want to get in the bath and wash the plane smell off first). I manage to avoid this barrage here in Bangkok (They didn’t recognise me getting out of the car so I slip past them at the door). When I get to the lift…I’m tackled by the front office manager and his cronies for the obilgatory photo opportunity. They insisted on coming all the way up to the room to show me where the mini bar is located. Useful information.(?) I only wish they had told me how to turn off the bloody lights! After they leave, I shut off the sub-Arctic air-conditioning (I’m sure that Bangkok has it’s own private hole in the ozone layer), sleep for a few hours. “Reality” kicks in with the afternoon wake up call. Arrg. It takes 2 hours to drive (about 9 miles) through the traffic in Bangkok to get to the gig. The polution here makes Los Angeles look like a walk in the country. It is so disgusting. In contrast, the people here are extremely sweet. I don’t understand how they could have let this place go wrong. There is no sign of Thai culture anywhere except for the novelties in the shops and the people. Where is the original Thai architecture? They must have moved it into the country. It’s boiling tonight. The heat is rising from the crowd and the lights are scorching the top of my head and shoulders, Keith jumps into the crowd with his guitar. Generally a good show. We played “All For Love” tonight as we just heard before the show that it had taken the Billboard top spot in the U.S. All the journalists from the international press have arrived for the trip to Vietnam. After the gig I have an interview with a guy from Details magazine, who insists on a “life retrospective,” so I try and oblige between mouthfuls and without falling asleep from the questions. Later…we go down to the city to a place called Pat Pong, where every desire can be fulfilled, especially if you are after flesh or counterfeit products. Watches, T-Shirts, videos and CD’s – Jurassic Park for $5.00 anyone? I’m tempted to buy a “boot” of my own recordings…but pass. I’m quite tired so it’s back to the hotel. Vietnam awaits me in my dreams.
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