One Night in Bangkok...

Yes, so I'm in Bangkok, and that song has been playing in my head since I landed! :) This city is surpassing my expectations thus far. I'd heard stories about how dirty and crowded it is, but honestly, I'm rather enjoying it!

Getting here, I was supposed to be on a Qatar Airline flight to Doha in the UAE where the airline was going to put me in a hotel for an overnight stay, before continuing on to Bangkok on a morning flight. Interestingly, however, when I went to the Qatar counter in Joberg, they told me the flight was oversold and that they'd rebooked me on a Cathay Pacific flight that connected through Hong Kong instead. I'm not trying to start conspiracy theories, but it seemed odd to me that of all the people in the huge crowd checking in to the Qatar flight, it was the only five white people in the line who had all been rebooked (the rest in the line were Arabs). One by one, we five were asked to step aside, and then we were transferred together to the Cathay check-in counters...and we weren't all going to Bangkok -- everyone had a different final destination. Again, it was probably just an odd coincidence with the race thing, but it makes me wonder... Whatever the case, I have to admit I was somewhat relieved not to have to spend a night alone in the Middle East. Connecting in Hong Kong was just fine with me!

I will begin my real exploration of Bangkok in the morning (it's 7:20pm here right now), but so far the streets are very safe and full of life & color & light. At my guest house they told me the entire city is very safe for single females. They said it has to do with Buddhism and the respect for women that is a part of that religion. Whatever the case, I'm thankful for it, and can't wait to get out & explore the temples & palaces tomorrow!! I'm also looking forward to finding a spot for my first Thai dinner tonight -- the aromas coming from the restaurants, and even the street vendors, on my walk to this Internet Cafe were all quite tempting!

Oh, and I had a big reunion on my way to this Internet Cafe too...That's right folks, for the first time in three months I saw a Starbucks! I actually saw three...I was strong enough to pass by the first two, but the third one pulled me in. One grande iced coffee, and I was in my good old U.S. caffeine buzz circles, sipping away through that familiar green straw - ahhhh! Travel is about doing things I can't do at home, so I don't plan to return, but it was a great "fix" at this stage of my trip. As Frank the Tank says in Old School, "It just feels so good when it hits your lips!" :)

Oh -- another thing I've noticed off the bat is that Thai steps are very shallow - the Thais clearly have smaller feet that the boats that carry me around, and I've already had to grab the bar twice when descending staircases to save myself from taking a tumble down! Yowzers!

Wish you were all here -- if any of you find a cheap air fare, and decide that you can't resist a little Asian adventure, just let me know!

xoxo,
Mere