It was 37 degrees F when we landed in Amman, Jordan. That didn't bother me since I would only be inside the terminal waiting for my next flight.

There are more people here wearing turbines and robes . The restrooms in the airport are very small compared to what I am used to, but clean. I am here for several hours lay-over, so I wait until they are not busy to go in to get a clean shave and brush my teeth. I know in Thailand I need to brush my teeth with bottled water. Even washing fruit in the tap water in Thailand or brushing teeth, etc. is a no no. I put toothpaste on my brush and then rinse my mouth with the water from the sink. Then I remember about the water. I don't know if it's the same in Jordan but I can't take the chance. I quickly spit the water out and wipe my mouth with a paper towel. I didn't swallow any.

I see men walking around holding arms. It is a sign of friendship, I learn. The men and boys in the region can also be seen walking down the streets holding hands. It's all a sign of friendship and not a dating thing like in the U.S. I remember one time on the U.S. news they showed George W Bush, when he was president, walking out to a news conference (in Jordan I think) with the head of the country he was in, and they were holding hands . I know Bush was uncomfortable but it was local custom.

It's so funny how different parts of the world develop customs that seem so strange to other people around the world. Really, so much of what we practice was just somebody's idea of what to do and our culture developed that way. Unfortunately, we then think our way is the only way.

I also noticed men and boys wearing jeans and the first one I saw looked like he had been sitting in paint or some sort of white dust. But, then I noticed others wearing the same type. It looks like a paint brush was rolled along the pants legs. Style, I guess, at least here in Jordan. I will have to ask the nephews back in the U.S. if this is a current style there.

I had been unable to get a wi-fi connection on my iPad. I asked the guy working in Starbucks and he advised me where in the terminal to go to get wi-fi. Then we talk awhile . He has tried to get a visa to visit the U.S. five times. He has been turned down every time. He is probably in his late 20's. I have heard others say the U.S. makes getting a visa so difficult, they just end up vacationing in other places around the world. All the countries I am going to have national tourist agencies to promote tourism. Think of the billions of tourist dollars the U.S. loses with this attitude. People around the world are just like we are, they want to see the world and enjoy life.

The plane, Airbus 330, like the last one I was on, taxied down the runway at 2:59 a.m. Jordan time. The plane was de-iced before take-off, then we were on our way.

Earphones were passed out and I chose an Eastwood movie to watch. We will be in the air for 7 hours 21 minutes and fly a distance of 4,355 miles.

Soon after lift-off, we are served a filling breakfast with orange juice and a bottle of water, followed by a round of hot tea, a little later came the coffee and then one last serving of water . The lights were turned off around 5 a.m. in the cabin and I was able to drift off for a couple hours sleep for the first time on my journey. I didn't sleep long, though, and was soon watching movies again.

All the shades on the plane have to be down or up at the same time. Now that I think about it, it is because that way the lighting is controlled inside the aircraft. When they turned the lights back on in the cabin it was 2:15 p.m. in Bangkok on Friday, but it seemed like it was early morning. Many people kept sleeping. It had been daylight outside the aircraft for hours but with the shades all down, it still seemed like night time. The attendants tell us when to shut or raise the window shades. I guess it helps us all adjust to the time change.

We have 558 miles (1 hour and 17 minutes flying) left before landing in Bangkok. Our flight path has been almost a straight line from Jordan over India into Thailand. Flying at 40,000 ft and the temperature outside is 75 degrees, NO WAIT, it is MINUS 75 degrees. And, yes, that is Fahrenheit. All I can think of is, "Don't Stop the Plane".

All this info was on the real-time flight map we were watching.

I am at the Suvarnabhumi airport (can you say that real fast?).

Touchdown in Bangkok, Thailand was 3:25 p.m. Friday. There was a time change from Jordan. We gained 5 hours. Really, the time of day and even the day it is, is unreal right now to me.

I have flown over 11,000 miles since leaving Arkansas two days ago.

I am in Thailand, called "The Land of Smiles", or LOS for short.