He looked at me blankly, said nothing and turned around to leave. A few moments later, he returned with another guard he had seemingly waken from a deep slumber, and before we knew it Kati and are were separated and on the back of speeding motorbikes, headed for what we hoped was an inexpensive place to sleep for a few hours.
My bike was in the lead, and I couldn’t see Kati behind me. I began to worry where this man was taking me. Even if he didn’t understand my words, the backpack hanging from my shoulders was a clear sign of what I wanted. I knew it could have been a mistake to get on his bike, but the only other option appeared to be sleeping in the vast ditch separating the four lanes of highway.
When thoughts of the ill intentions this man might possibly have consumed me, the 15-minute ride became an hour. Finally, we arrived. And it appeared that my Thai had come across a little too clear.