From Bangkok

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Hi All,

My first try at this since Jack, Sandy's husband, helped me send the first picture. Will write now and try to add picture(s) later. The flight over was a dream, quite literally. I doused myself good with valium and slept for 8 hours. Sandy, that little blow-up neck pillow we got at REI just before my flight was an inspired buy. After 13+ hours to Taipei, 4 hours layover and another 3 1/2 hours, I finally arrived. Getting a bus to Banglamphu incredibly easy. Bangkok has a new airport and it works perfectly. The bus literally let me off in front of the guest house I had reservations at. It was right next door to the place my friend, PJ, and I stayed for most of 2 months 17 years ago.

Banglamphu, for the all you higher class travelers, is backpacker haven. And, since 1990 it has only gotten more so. I am sitting in an internet cafe along a little street that used to be an alley. Now, it has guest houses, restaurants, massage places, shops and even a 7-11 on the corner. Everything you could wish for and my place cost $15 a night. And, this is even more than I expected to pay. Plus, I have a 1 hour fabulous Thai massage every day for $6.

It's great being back in Asia. I have spent hours just soaking up the atmosphere. The Thais are a great people to be around. Always happy, always polite and very service minded. They just make you feel good to be here.

However, I immediately started working with a travel agent to make my onward plans since I knew getting a visa for India would take some time. All was going well until yesterday. Plans were to leave for Katmandu next Monday. Now that flight has been cancelled and I have to wait until the 28th. If you have been following the international news (and it's probably only a small blip on any US newcast), there has been a fall out between a couple of groups in Nepal and the Maoists (who stopped fighting and joined the government recently) have walked out and are promising to disrupt the elections in November. Dang! I am hoping this doesn't change my itinerary. But, it could. However, flexibile is one thing I can be on this journey

In the meantime, I sit in Bangkok. The great part is that I have been here so many times I feel right at home. The not so great part is the very same. I have seen everything there is to see (and there are lots of great tourist attractions). And, I have seen most of these at least once, sometimes twice and even more. So, While I am comfortable, I am eager to get started going other places.

One thing I find interesting is that the news channel in my guest house is Aljazeera. Wow, I wonder who owns my place. To be honest, though, I find it very interesting and am glad that it's there. We naturally tend to think of it as very inflammatory and anti western/US. But, from what I have watched it is reasonable and does tell stories from angles we are not always able to get from watching Western news with our own take on things. If you all get a chance to tune into it on American TV, give it a look-see. You might find it more measured in its reporting than we tend think. Plus, it provides a different
prosective...and that never hurts.

Yesterday, I did, for probably the 4th time, go to the Palace and Wat Phrao Kao (the temples that are part of the palace compound), beyond a doubt the most beautiful Wat (Budhist temple) in Thailand. It is quite simply like being in a fairyland. All the buildings and statues area covered with small inlays of colored glass and tiles. Pictures do not do them justice. Other Wats have them, but this one is the shining gem of Thailand. I am going to try and add a couple of pictures of it and one of my little alley. That vehicle is a tuk-tuk, a modern motorized version of the old rickshaw. As common as street vendors in Thailand and a good way to get around.

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Photos

Banglamphu street scene
this is a tuk-tuk, a modern day moterized version of the old rickshaw. Great transport for small trips. But, a bit scarey out in traffic with the 'big guys'

Wat Phrao Kao
My photos can not begin to do justice to this most beautiful and fanciful Wat in all of thailand. I found myself just standing amid all this and grinning with delight.

Guardian of Wat Phrao Kao
One of many. I think I could sleep peacefully at night, knowing this big guy was watching over me!

Comments

[Michelle Aldrich]

Great Job!
Hi Charlene - you are doing a great job with the pictures - just like a pro! Keep them comming as we are all living vicariously through you. - Michelle