I'm here! After 34 hours door (Lakeville) to door (Bangkok) I have arrived!

Not a bad flight . I did discover why China Airlines is so cheap. No movies (to speak of) and indescribable food are two good reasons. The movie consisted of an overhead tv screen every so many rows that showed an unending loop of Strauss and Grieg music videos (MTV for the geriatric crowd), some little Asian guy in flowing white pants doing interpretive dance (?), and a silly Japanese movie centered around 3 giggly girls in 70’s miniskirts and go-go boots. I kept waking up to see the same scenes over again like a bad dream.

The food was pretty much inedible even for me, and you know I’ll eat anything. The rolls were ok and the Little Debby cheesecake and seaweed flavored sponge cake held me over until the next attempt at feeding the masses.

And how hard would it be to update the security videos? They showed a huge wireless phone ala Seinfeld and a portable cd player with a circle / slash through it. Who would even admit to owning them, no less leaving them on during take-off?

The good news is that there were scads of extra seats - Gee, I wonder why - and I was able to stretch out and sleep fairly well . This is the first time I have arrived overseas without the requisite enormous "cankles", although I do have a permanent imprint of a China Airlines armrest in my back.

I found a public taxi to downtown (½ hour) for $12. Maybe could have negotiated cheaper but wasn’t in the mood. Hotel at Ibis Nana for splurge rate of $38 but I knew it was close to airport plus Nana Skytrain stop so I took it.   Took the Skytrain to MBK (huge shopping center - I think 6 stories high) and bought a cheap phone. The entire 4th floor is dedicated to cell phones.  They will even pimp them out for you with bling, customized ringtones, or airbrushing.

 As is usual , they were unable to switch sim cards and activate my home phone - I never have any luck with this! Maybe they’re lying to me - so I had to buy a new phone again. I could set up a museum of international cell phones at home.

I arranged a driver (well, actually 3) to take me to Ban Phe tomorrow. The instant you get in a taxi and start a conversation, they started feeling you out. “What are you doing tomorrow?”  “Oh, I’m going to Ban Phe.”  “What time I pick you up?”  They are so hungry for a fare around here. The first taxi driver was to meet me at 12 for $65 for 2 ½  hour ride to Ban Phe. (And remember, most people don’t tip here.) The second one I said I would call tomorrow ( he wrote his number on a Wrigley Spearmint gum wrapper, complete with 'XXOO'.) The third insisted that he could do it for 200 baht cheaper (about $58 US) so I arranged for him to pick me up at 11.

I love the taxi drivers here. They are so friendly and helpful and I always get them to give me a free Thai lesson.   Word of caution though - their English is minimal but they want to please so badly that they said yes to EVERYTHING.   “Is this my hotel?”  I ask, as the driver pays a hotel parking lot attendant 70 baht to take a short cut through his lot.   “Yes, yes, yes!”  he says and proceeds to drive another 4 blocks.

Well, time to get some real sleep. Wake me at noon you working stiffs.