Summary of the first week

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I have not been kidnapped! I am in Thailand after an uneventful trip except for a 10-12 year old boy who sat next to me who spoke little english but had two friends further up the plane so every 15 minuted he would poke me to get up so he could go see them. His grandfather who spoke no english finally got the point after about 10 hours of this and got the kid to sleep and then to stay out once he was out, All this becasue I was nice to two young chinese ladies who wanted to sit together and I took one of theirs seats so they could do that!

The second time through something makes it so much easier, in particular getting through Beging airport where there is no english. People are extremely friendly there but very difficult to understand. We still got the hand written boarding passes! By this time I had made "friends" with a young mom from Quebec who was travelling with her toodler on way to meet her husband who teaches at the international school here in Bangkok. I was able to help her get her bearings and to entertain the little guy while she talked with the immigration people.

When I arrived in Bangkok I immediately took a cab down to the south east coast and stayed in the Pattaya Bay area. It is about an hour and a half ride and the fare is less than $40.00. Nice four to six lane highway all the way, but by the time I got in it was midnight. So Jet lag this time due to the kid on the plane and the late arrival time had me wiped for days. I suggest flying this way that one book to arrive mid day, that is what I did last time and I had none of this jet lag.

Weather has been typical wet season weather, lots of cloud, a fair bit of rain. But it has been hot, today is sunny and about 36 degrees! Some of you may know the plan this time is for me to take a month long TESOL Course here, I start Monday! So today I had to go shopping and let me tell you men's clothes in shopping centers are NOT cheap. They are much cheaper in those small mom and pop stores but I have not seen many of them in the area I am staying! Teachers and those in this course must wear dress pants, long sleve shirts and ties!

The area where I stayed last week was on the ocean so it was cooler. I have some pics I will try to add. I was near a place called Jometien Beach, the beach was spectacular and it went for miles. I also went to another floating market although this time you walked on boardwalks over a man made lake, not quite as original! Finally there will be pics of a couple of towers. For those daredeveil in the group, people jump off these towers connected to cables, so it is kind of like but you are actually falling towards the ground and you control how fast you fall! There were also cable cars to the top but even that was a bit scary looking for me.

The area I am staying in now is close to the school but my hotel shares a fence with the slum next door. Let me tell you for the gallants who new the shed on our property in PEI it was a mansion compared to some of these houses people are living in next door. Then on the other fence is the building that houses among other things, the school. They are modern brand new skyscrappers with landscapped grouds and a small park in the middle. A dicotomy!

That is about it for now take care.

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Photos

Resorts/Condos
Along the beach road

Tower
They jump off the top of the big circle

Comments

[Charmaine (SHYM)]

Hi from SHYM :)
Glad to hear that you made it safe! Sound like an interesting time so far. Can\'t wait to see more pics! p.s. Our fence shifted and no longer latches :( Any tips all the way from Thailand? ;)