Soi Cowboy is a red light district in Bangkok where the pervy dreams of old white men come true.

Sean and I found the an open, “safe looking” bar with outdoor seating so we could have a few drinks and watch as men wandered down the alley, being summoned by groups of younger women (or men, I can’t tell) wearing tight dresses and sometimes only a long collared shirt.

We were curious about what waited beyond the closed doors of the sketchy clubs but not brave enough to find out. Watching the happy old men receive back massages at the outdoor tables was enough entertainment for us.

Halfway into our second beer it began to pour. The random thunderstorms in Thailand are magnificent, invigorating, and unlike any weather spectacle I’ve seen in California. Within minutes the streets were cleared of all food carts and the tourists strolling the streets were ducked under the closest awnings. We sat under the covered deck in awe of the lightning, thunder, and heavy downpour. By the time the storm ended (about 45 minutes later), we had a good buzz going and were ready to head home for the night.