Bangkok: Thailand Humanoid Robot Soccer Championship

I am in Bangkok.  I arrived on a Sunday afternoon.  Much of the touristy stuff was not open, in some ways a relief.  I was so busy in the lead up to this trip that I didn’t really have time to plan what I would do for the few days between Kim’s departure and my meeting up with the summer abroad program.  I saw that Jetsetter (Gilt) had a deal on a hotel in Bangkok (the Banyan Tree).  Bangkok is only about an hour flight from Saigon.  That became my plan.  My hotel room is on the 55th floor.  I will post some photos once it is light again, the explanation is below.

I have lost a few things along the way.  I left my iPhone in a cab my first night in Saigon.  When I departed for Bangkok, I left my camera battery charging in the fleabag hotel.  I might get it back, but that would leave me without pictures while I am in Bangkok.  So I went on a journey to find a replacement battery.

My concierge sent me to a place so difficult to find and when I finally found it, it was closed.  I then went into the Crown Plaza hotel near the place that was closed and asked their concierge where to go (one of the luxuries of being white in Southeast Asia is that you can walk into any nice hotel and ask for information or use the internet and nobody questions whether you are staying there).  He sent me in a cab to Phan Tip Plaza (not sure of spelling).  

Phan Tip Plaza was electronics madness (picture a small New Jersey mall dedicated to new and used electronics).  It was at least 3 floors and was almost entirely stalls and bigger stores selling all the latest (and not so latest) electronic gadgets and accessories.  (No, Dad, I didn't see the iPhone I left in the cab in Saigon.  And, no, Brad, I didn't see a fake or real version of the iPhone 5).

 

I quickly found the Sony dealer who quickly took me up a flight of stairs to a battery guy and I was back in business.  I also bought a $20 phone and sim card to make an occasional phone call.  

But, here’s the best part, the Thailand Humanoid Robot Soccer Championship was taking place on the main floor of the plaza.  There were mini soccer fields set up and robots were fighting for the title (it didn't look much like soccer).  People were crowded around and watched from the balconies on higher floors.  There was a camera crew at least 8 people deep (and they had serious, photojournalist outfits), a row of what appeared to be judges and an area for robot competitors and their, um, masters.  There was even a half-time show of women dancing.  It was like the robot super bowl.  Pictured on the turf, in poses, are the robot finalists.