MJ Klein, The NH Bushman in Thailand.

My good friend, MJ the NH Bushman and his wife Hui-chen made their way to Ubon Ratchathani from Khon Kaen. MJ is here doing a little business but found time out to come and meet in person which was really gracious of him; I am just a guy who sits and writes what my life is like in Isaan Thailand.

MJ and Hui-chen had to endure, what I call a cattle cart bus. These buses are really stressful; it isn’t because the bus is falling apart but the stops it makes continually. I can tell you from experience one horrible slow bus ride where this bus would just stop anywhere, I mean anywhere! A person just had to stand on the side of the road and wave their hand for us to stop and pick them up, this would happen at times in 600 metre intervals. So the bus would get a little speed and then stop again. I think MJ and Hui-chen had a trip very much like this.

I picked them up from the bus station and as MJ had said, “we don’t blend” after I had asked him what bus company he was travelling with. Sure enough he was easy to spot. MJ is big, as in tall and broad so was very easy to spot. His lovely wife Hui-chen was tired and hungry after a trip that was an hour and fifteen minutes longer than they expected.

First stop was their hotel or mansion, this place is clean and the rooms tidy and for a great price of 400 Thai Baht per night. I can truthfully say that after being in the rooms of some of Ubon’s fancier hotels these were as good as but under half the price.

So we dropped off their gear and headed for something to eat. We went to the food court in Tesco, ate and then shopped for some goods needed that evening. We then headed to my place to talk and enjoy a cool drink. I picked up an Aussie expat and he joined us for the evening.

At last, here are some pictures.

This is MJ on my couch enjoying a drink. This Amaretto was smooth and tasted good. We sat about for a few hours talking, I was amazed listening to MJ and Barry talk about music, radio and artists I had long forgotten about, music before I was born.

The funny thing was MJ arrived in Ubon and it started to rain; and it didn’t stop all the night.

We made our way to a little outdoor place called The Terrace Bar. It is a restaurant and bar that always has live music. What was humourous was we looked at the English menu for a while decided what to eat and then was told that, “the chef who cooks the foreign food wasn’t working tonight." So it was back to the menu again.

Luckily for MJ we had something else to ties us over while we waited for the food. MJ sang the Rod Stewart classic, ‘Have I Told You Lately that I Love You’ as he admired this Thai Sangsom Rum.

MJ is the master mixer of Sangsom rum and I had never tried this spirit before, MJ poured three glasses and I have to say it really is a good drop. Mixed with some soda, lemonade and freshly squeezed lime juice this Sangsom rum goes done easy, really easy.

The live duo was singing a good mixture of English and Thai songs, they were really good.

The rum was quickly depleting and MJ tipped his glass and then it was show time. I had heard MJ sing and play guitar from videos he has posted, but I was really looking forward to hearing him in person, live.

MJ dwarfs the Thai singer, he asked MJ “Can you play the guitar ?” I laughed as I knew the answer to this question.

MJ sat down and the very attentive waiter brought MJ’s drink to him and “BAM”. MJ struck some cords on the guitar, he had turned the volume up on the guitar and it blared out of the speakers. The Thai guy nearly fell off his stool and volume adjustments were made.

Now, what was funny was MJ playing Thai songs, the guy was a little bemused to why this big foreigner was playing popular Thai songs and could also sing parts of them as well.

MJ launched into a small solo in the song. Mate! I have to tell you all, MJ can play a guitar, he can make it talk. I was open mouthed with appreciation.

There were only six or seven other people at the Terrace Bar, they were really happy though and enjoying the show. The guy in the purple shirt we actually walked into his business the next day, by accident. It was just such a coincidence. Ubon isn’t a small place and to run into this guy was pretty funny when he said “you play guitar and sing, very good”

The other part of the Thai duo then had his turn with MJ. To see the happy face on this guy looking at MJ turn out another popular Thai tune is priceless.

The small crowd watching on all had huge grins, except Barry who was filling his. All the staff from the restaurant were sitting down or standing enjoying MJ play.

MJ then went solo, he belted out three songs and I was just so in awe of how good he sounded live, in person. I had heard and seen video of him play and sing but this was just fantastic.

We left in the early hours of the morning and I eventually dropped MJ and Hui-chen off at 2am to their room. It was a great first evening with an awesome couple and I was looking forward to the next day.

Brunty