Postcard from Bangkok: International Viola Congress

Around a hundred violists convened in Thailand for the 48th International Viola Congress (IVC), which took place from 6–10 June 2023. As a board member of the International Viola Society, I had a good excuse for arriving a few days early for our meetings. These were held over generous breakfasts that left a sizeable part of the day free for sightseeing in a part of the world none of us had visited before. As a side effect of going about Bangkok in a tuk-tuk (a kind of motorised rickshaw), I developed an unsuspected ability for bargaining with drivers! A high point – in every sense – was an evening of cocktails while watching the sunset from one of the city’s famous rooftop bars. It being a Buddhist holiday, they only sold non-alcoholic beverages; however, at dinner elsewhere, later that night we were informed that it was perfectly fine to drink alcohol from an opaque glass!…