Welcome to the land of smiles!

---

Well, I made it. Thirty-six hours on a plane, 5 China Airlines meals and 5 movies in a row really drives the point home that I'm actually on the other side of the planet.

I'm on day 2 in Bangkok. This city is insane! Three-wheeled motorcycle taxis (tuk tuks), 38 degree heat and more street meat/noodles/fish/curry/unidentified gastronomic delights than you can imagine. I can't believe people don't die of food poisoning!

My first night was strange. I was looking forward to some fresh air after all that travelling, but that's pretty much impossible in a city of 6-million, in the heat. Looking for something delicious, I went for a walk, and found myself in a panic state in minutes. They drive on the opposite side of the street here, so I was nearly hit by a bus. (I've since had some close calls. They don't stop for you either. You play chicken with busses and cars and tuk tuks. I waited for 20 minutes this morning to cross 4 lanes of traffic.) And then, the smells were enough to make me gag - fumes, putrid garbage, rotting fish, sour milk, I don't know what. People were cooking on the streets, raw chickens were hanging in the sun -- for sale -- as was fish and other forms of seafood. (And people were eating it!) It took every ounce of concentration to not throw up on some poor vendor's shoes. I held my breath and made my way back to the hotel for a granola bar from home supper. Dumb idea, working on two hours of sleep in 2 days.

I rode around in one of those tuk tuks yesterday, breathing in dirt and dust and pollution. I got a tour of the city for 15 cents. Today, I visited the Grand Palace, Wat Pho (temple with reclining Buddha), standing Buddha and the Marble Palace.

I can't wait to get out of BKK -- the heat is insane. However, I snuck into a hotel on the Khao San Road yesterday for a swim in the roof top pool. It was perfect! I have by bathing suit in my pack again today... That's where I'm heading next!

Speaking of the Khao San Road, that's the backpacker area of the city. You can't walk two steps without seeing other foreigners. It's strange and loud and bright and dirty and wares are cheap. You can get clothes for 3-5 bucks here -- the same stuff you'd pay 50 bucks for at the GAP. It's sick.

I had some delightful meals -- green curry with shrimp and rice, and yes, pad thai. Both were huge meals for less than 3 dollars. AMAZING!

Tonight, I meet my tour group. We'll head to Chang Mai (Northern Thailand) tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to the hilltribe trek and riding an elephant!

---