First Days

---

So, I've arrived. Given that I saved packing, and finishing endless IRS documents for FOF, until the last day, I didn't sleep before leaving. On the plus side, I got lots of sleep on the 3 flights. On the downside, the 14 hour trip from LA to Taiwan had 5 movies I wanted to see, but I was only awake long enough to watch 2/3s of one (and I have no idea how it was going to end!)

Turns out, my bag does not hold a lot! I had to pack it 4 times before getting everything to fit, with me wearing three layers on the way over. In the end, it weighed about 36 pounds, but felt a lot heavier (before hiking with it, I'm planning to wash my hair 10 times a day to reduce the weight of the shampoo - every ounce counts😊 For those of you who have bought the Osprey travel bag for packs, I would recommend using it only at the airport- its not convenient for carrying (at least I found it really uncomfortable, and thought the bag was heavier that way).

The place I'm staying now is fine, but not great. I think the website picture of the place was photo-shopped, my "garden terrace" is actually about a 3 sq. ft. area that overlooks a driveway. But the bed is comfortable and there is non-ice water in the shower, so I'm happy. (There is also a fridge where I can store all the food I buy at 7-11 - really a foriegn experience😊 My first day here, I wasn't up for much, all I did was take a walk that lasted just under an hour. It was so hot - I don't think my face has ever been that red before! Much as I don't miss shoveling, I could use some snow right now.

Today, I did my first day of sightseeing - several museums/palaces in Bangkok plus a visit to a huge outdoor market - its a little like the Brimfield antique fair, there are stalls for many blocks. I was lucky to get out to the market, as its kind of far out, but I met a very nice man from Canada on one of the museum tours who had a guide for the day and invited me to come along. At one of the museums, women were required to wear skirt and, because most were wearing pants, the museum sells sorongs that you can use and keep. I, of course, chose one in purple. While its good to have in case I run into similar requirements, I'm going to have to find room in the damn bag! My attempts at using the public transportation system so far have met with unmitigated failure and I ended up taking cabs in and out of the city, but the taxis are very cheap, not just by American standards but even as compares to the cost of other things in Thailand. I'm going to take another run at the buses tomorrow before heading to Cambodia on Monday.

---

Comments

[Tito]

Welcome!
Hi Aladdine, i have accidentaly ran into your blog. Welcome to our lovely country and enjoy your stay. We are very friendly people and like foreigners (even Americans) Tito

[Hanh]

Yay!!! Very glad to hear your trip is officially started and you have arrived safely. Don't worry about missing out on those movies you really wanted to see--Frodo drops the ring in the volcano in one, and in the others, Hugh Grant learns not to be such a tool bag and then finds that the love of his life was really right there in front of him. And please, no more descriptions of your trip that start with "I met a very nice man from Canada...."