No night in Bangkok and a new passport

Sometimes it is difficult to make a decision. Going to Bangkok for a book presentation at the embassy or not. And, if I were to go, stay overnight or not. The latter because going back and forth by public transport is tiring for an elderly man or perhaps because the old man is not completely free of lust. Who's to say? Not me in any case.

Passport

Because I was also in Bangkok exactly a week ago to apply for a new passport and that new passport was said to take three weeks to arrive, I now make the bold decision to go back and forth in one day and to collect my the travel document to stay overnight. Without any worries I let myself be taken to the North Pattaya Road. A phone call on the way. From the embassy. Glad I wasn't on the bus yet, I thought of two options. The presentation is canceled due to impending demonstrations in Bangkok or the presentation is canceled because the embassy is closed. After all, we have our own terrorists in the south here in Thailand.

Embassy

Neither of these two possibilities is true. Your passport is ready, I hear. That's convenient, I say, this afternoon I'm at the embassy for a book presentation, so I can take it with me right away. The woman I spoke to thinks this is a logical thought. Only the consular section is closed in the afternoon. Nevertheless, she will try to arrange with her colleagues that I can come by. Now I state that I walk somewhat with difficulty and that the distances on the embassy grounds are beyond my mobile capabilities. Every disadvantage has its advantage, said the most famous Dutch philosopher. Taking advantage of my handicap. Maybe someone from the consular section can come to the residence, I try. Very kindly I hear that she will try this.

Wife of the Ambassador

When I enter the residence I shake hands and by asking I get in touch with someone who works there. I explain my problem and ask if he can inquire if someone can bring my new passport. I'm asking the wrong person. He doesn't work in the consular section and doesn't know anyone there. It is clear that he thinks I should solve my own problems. No problem, I'll look for another solution. I joked to the friendly woman in the morning that she should give the passport to the ambassador. I don't want to go that far. I need someone who knows everyone and has authority and also friendly. That, of course, is the ambassador's wife. I tell her the same story and she says she will take care of this. After five minutes I hear someone coming. And that happens. Someone comes with the new passport and she goes back with the old and the new to invalidate the old one. Half an hour later, after two herrings with onions and two beers, I have a perfect passport for five years again.

Thanks to the fast way of working of the embassy and its staff, my night in Bangkok is cancelled. This saves me a lot of money, so I decide to treat myself to a taxi to Pattaya. And so I come home.

Lesson: if you need a new passport, apply for it on Wednesday morning. A week later it's done.