I can't compete :)

o.k. I just read Chris' last entry and I can't seem to be as entertaining as him. I tried to get him to do the rest of the blogging but he just wouldn't say yes. Oh well. You guys have my voice today. Enjoy!

We arrived in Bangkok late just the night before last. We called a few days before to make sure there was a place for us at the Guest House Shia and I used to stay when we were here almost 5 years ago...my how time flies. Anywho, Chris got his first experience of Bangkok just as we stepped out of the airport to get a taxi. (Which the new airport is amazing compared to the old one...yes, instead of remodeling they just built a whole new one.) There were several people asking us if we wanted a taxi...yes we did but not from them. I learned from Shia (thank you) to go to the taxi line and get one from there and then have them set their meter. One taxi said they'd charge us 900baht (33Baht=$1) he'd only charge us 500. I kept saying no and Chris took my lead. Yes, I'm tough!!! Too bad they wouldn't let me take my previously mentioned gun on the plane or I could just use that to get people to know that no means no. So we were able to communicate the neighborhood we wanted to go to and got there for just 290 Baht...not 500 or 900.

Oh, the plane ride. Chris said it was the closest to first class he's ever been. I've managed to get on business class, but that was after a major plane debackle that left Laura and I in Jakarta...another story. We flew Thai airways...which Chris got excited about because he likes their outfits. The plane was half full, so we got a whole row of 4 seats all to ourselves. Chris was able to stretch out his legs instead of bumping them on me or getting them run over in the aisles with his knees wrapped around his ears. As soon as it took off I swear they wanted to get the whole plane drunk. They came around twice witht the cocktail cart...free cocktails with decent booze. Bombay Saphire Gin, Jack Daniels, and other medium to top shelf booze. Of course it was free so we partook...only after carefully studying others transactions to really make sure it was free. Yep, gin and tonic please, Thank you and a Heinekin for Chris. Then more booze with dinner, red or white wine if you'd like. There was older gentleman flight attendant who almost seemed to be pushing the stuff on us, with a big smile on his face. Mind you we did use self control and didn't get wasted, even though it would have been free. Did I mention it was free. 3 fairly crappy movies and a short nap (I was able to lay across 3 seats just fine) and 9 hours later we were there...or here I should say. Whoo hooo we love Thai Airways. You should too.

So the flight did set Chris back a bit in the recovering from his cold area, so we pretty much layed low yesterday but took the water taxi to the backpacker area of Koa San Road...got lost finding it...my memory failed me a bit on that one, and Chris was thankful we are not staying there. Might as well go home and hang at a bar if we want to party with a bunch of westerners. Today I took Chris to the MBK (the big mall here that you can bargain at) (we needed to go to a book store that sold a bus map) and to Jim Thompsons House. A house built in 1959 buy some American that got rich exporting Thai silk. He built the house out of several traditional Thai Houses and had them moved there bit by bit, along with his many ancient and old Asian art pieces. Kind of like another version of Hearst Castle, but not as big. I'll let Chris put his reactions to things in the next blog since this is not all brand new to me, but I think he's really liking it. He's liking Bangkok his first time much more than I did when I first went. Before I just wanted to get out but he seems to like it.

O.K. enough blabbing for now. Talks to ya all lato. I'm out!