Mind Wanderings and Various Other Bull

Hi all!

I'm writing this email from the VIP lounge (thanks Rich for having status on Star Alliance) before we
board the plane to Chiang Mai.

Its been quite an experience getting to Thailand. First our flight was cancelled out of Eugene, putting
us a minimum of one day behind schedule--more if it got cancelled again.  We flew out Sunday afternoon and
camped in San Francisco overnight.  Yay for In-n-Out Burgers!  We got on our flight to Tokyo and lucked
out--a free row of four seats-this never happens!  Our flight was late into Norita, so we barely had time to
jog at leisurely pace through the airport to get on the plane to Bangkok.  Once again luck.  We had a row
of three seats to ourselves, so we could stretch abit.

We landed in Bangkok at 11:35 pm on Tuesday night! Somehow I seem to have lost Sunday-Tuesday, but that's
okay.  We got to the lovely Bangkok Holiday Inn at 1am and slept until about 5am, when my body woke up and
said, "Feed Me"!  That's where jetlag hurts the most.

We only had yesterday in Bangkok before departing today.  So we took a river boat cruise to all the
major sites.  We were both super impressed with the Royal houses and Jade Buddha.  Incredible!  However,
the heat was overwhelming and was a wilted flower. Its about 95 degrees and super humid.  I couldn't
drink enough water.  With dehydration and jetlag we both crashed at the hotel around 4pm.

Before that however, we asked a local for a good restaurant.  She told us about a place next to "the
wall".  We found it.  It was literally a hole in the wall.  We ordered off the menu and had one of the best
meals ever!  We both ordered different beef salads. One was way too spicy for me, but Rich loved it.
Tsing Hao beer is excellent.

Last night after resting, we went to the rooftop pool and cooled off.  Then we had a fabulous Indian dinner.
It was unbelievable.

We were asleep by 8:30pm.  Gotta love jetlag.

Bangkok is a cacophony of noises, smells, and sights. There is color everywhere.  You can get food
anywehere.  I've been daring and eating the fruit off the street.  So far so good.  There are motorcycles
driving at impossible speeds through the street making it impossible to cross with any hope of safety.  Rich
and I were stuck in the middle of the road yesterday for what seemed like an eternity as traffic drove
past.  But the local man seemed unperturbed by it all, so we just waited until he decided to walk!

We are off today to Chiang Mai.  We'll be back for more Bangkok adventures next week.  I hope Chiang Mai
is quieter so that we can get used to things before heading back to the big city.  I really like what I've
seen of Bangkok so far.  It is not a dull city!

Hope you all are well,
Aimee