Here's a funny thing that happened to me. Last week I went to JJ market to pick up some of those Thai style pillow - mat combo things. I went for the biggest they had and of course got sold on the "hand made" version meaning I paid a premium to keep a dozen more kids in jobs. I noticed they smelled a lot like the cigar tubes my dad would give me as a kid. Of course he'd obviously smoked the cigars first...but I was allowed to take a whiff of the little cedar shake that was inside the tube. Anyway...I didn't think anything of it and began using the pillows. Within a day I started getting killer headaches. I'm thinkin' what did I change in my diet, when was the last time I showered, am I really sitting that close to the TV, etc. Then it comes to me...THE PILLOWS. I've since stuck them in the closet...uh...I mean spare bedroom...with the door closed. Now the headahces have disappeared and I'm left with having to turf two brand new pillows that cost me about 3k baht.

I told this story to my mother who lives her life in a North American bubble and her first response was "take them back...you have the receipt don't you?". I'm thinking have a what? Take them back where? Obviously she's never been to Asia. Then when it clicks with her she starts asking about hygenic and hypoallergenic fillings. I don't think she quite gets it. The pillows I'm sure are stuffed with chinese newspapers and cedar chips. While they are pretty to look at they are not designed with quality control in place. In fact...only 20 minutes of sitting on them and they change their shape permanently.

Anyway...at least my headaches are gone.

3000baht for two pillows? no wonder you had a headache!