His Royal Highness, the King of Thailand was going to be passing through Sukhumvit, where I was waiting to cross the road. It's normal for the roads to be kept open and clear when the king's motorcade passes through, so I waited along with other pedestrians till normal traffic resumed. Then I noticed the Bangkok cop.

He looked like an extra from a Star Wars set, with something very like a light saber in his hands. His tan trousers, folded wide at the bottom to reveal shiny, albeit dusty, boots, were still creased, and his shirt was a perfect fit. His silver-buckled white belt matched smartly with his red-black-and-white helmet. He looked ready to protect royalty.