First day in Bangkok - January 9th

When I arrived at my apartment I immediately tested my iNet connection and long distance phone capability. Something was wrong with my AT&T calling card. So I had to get on the iNet, contact (Sametime) my administrative assistant back in KC to see if she could get my calling card working. That whole process took a couple of hours. So I didn't get much of anything done except a little unpacking. And what was I to expect to accomplish having been in route for over 25 hours?

I slept a little, waking up around noon. Got on the BTS (Sky Train) and headed out to Big-C Department store to purchase a fan (I like the white noise when I sleep) and Rice Cooker. I also needed some hangers. The rice cooker, fan and hangers cost me all of $18 (US Dollars).

Later I went to the grocery store and picked up all the staples I'll need for a few weeks. Rice, Soy Sauce, Chicken (2 lb) fresh veggies (Basil, Kwang Kuan, Green Onions, Thai Chilies, Snow Peas etc.) 12 pack of Diet Coke. Cost? $20.

I'm keeping a tight budget. I'm also keeping track so I can verify what I think all this would cost me in the US. Oyster Sauce for example, same brand, same size I purchase in KC, is 1/3 the cost here in Bangkok. Of course I can't live on Oyster Sauce alone, and it's not even Kosher, but the price was better than wholesale.

I'll add photos of the apartment in the next few posts.

Departure Day - Tokyo to Bangkok

Because I couldn't get an upgrade to 1st Class from Tokyo to Bangkok, I rested in the Business Lounge. It is quite nice, but usually crowded. I wanted also to take a few pics of the huge Sumo wrestlers they have hanging around in the "men's room", but there were too many people and I didn't feel comfortable taking a Cannon into the boy's room. But I did get a pic of this rather large "Traveling Buddha" On my return I should be able to rest in the 1st Class lounge and will see what would be good and safe to capture with a camera.

The trip to Bangkok took over 6 hrs due to some fairly strong headwinds. I fell asleep for a few minutes, then checked the GPS that each passenger has access too. We were very close to Vietnam, but the "time to arrival" showed another 3 hrs to Bangkok. That would have made the trip 8 hrs long. For a moment my behind and back both became really depressed. Then I realized the GPS was malfunctioning. Fortunately my instincts were correct. I recalled from previous trips that from the coastline of Vietnam to Bangkok is only 1hr 15 min.

A young man in the seat next to me was making his first trip to Bangkok for his new job with Chevron Oil. He was Canadian and was also exhausted from his long flight. I noticed he look at his GPS and then he said to me "I don't believe, it can be another 3 hours." "Strong headwind" I replied, then added "Trust me, we'll be on the ground in 1/2 that time." When the wheels hit the ground exactly 1hr 15min later I could feel him look at me and thinking "Wow, this old man is smarter than a United Airlines GPS System."

Departure Day - Chicago to Japan

Made it to Japan. Upgraded to 1st Class too. It was "ok". Actually the new Business Class seats offer the same, except they have the wide screen TV's built into the backs of the seat in front and there is no protection from the person wanting to watch their TV while you want to sleep. At least in 1st Class we had our own TVs and they were angled such that the other person's viewings didn't bother that much.

Here's a couple of shots of Alaska and the Bearing Strait at 12-Noon. Sun was on the horizon. Not that great a pic, but I always enjoy seeing this leg of the flight. And it was 12 hours this time. Just when you think you can't stand it any more, you look at your watch as realize only 10 minutes have passed. I'm all for 1st Class offering "suspended animation" for an extra fee.




Alaska mountains close to Juneau - looking north





Over the Bearing Straight - 12 Noon local time. Looking south. Sun looked like it was setting in the south.

A 2 hour layover and then off to Bangkok

Departure Day - KC to Chicago

Everything went well, until June called me at the KC Airport asking if I had forgotten the hose to my CPAP. Well, I did. My attempt to make the morning easy for her by calling a Taxi didn't work. She had to come and deliver the tube to me at the airport. The TSA attendees said to me "We noticed you didn't have any tubes with your CPAP - in carry-on." Glad having a CPAP with no hose doesn't constitute a threat to National Security or else I'd never be here in Chicago typing on a shared computer in the Business Center. KC has free WiFi, but not Chicago. Go figure.

These Business Centers sound nice, but they are really nothing more than "Public Technical UniSex Restroom." You can hear every one's business. And there are no towels to wipe down the 'public keyboards'. Makes me nervous. But it's better than sitting doing nothing.

I depart for Tokyo in a couple of hours. Hopefully my request for upgrade to 1st class will be honored. Not that business class isn't that great - it is. But 1st Class has better food and I love Japanese food!

Am I getting a toothache or is this slight discomfort simply a reaction to the cabin pressure on the way here?

I should be able to get on-line in Japan and write more. Meanwhile I made it to Chicago.





Note to self: Never sit in the lounge and watch the mechanics work
on your plane.