THAILAND HERE I COME!

Dressed in my 'warm' garb for the Medford to Portland segment of my journey to the Far East I took off on schedule from the recently remodeled Medford Airport for the short hop North to Portland, Oregon.

Mike picked me and my bags up and we swung by Carl's Jr. to pick up hamburgers for dinner at the house. As Caleb dug into his hamburger he cheerfully encouraged me to enjoy my last taste of anything other than fish and rice for the next three weeks. BOY WAS HE WRONG!

The flight from Portland to Seattle was short, sweet and uneventful. I've learned all the things you can not carry and what shoes not to wear when you will be going through airport security so I went right on through every check point without a hicup.

By pure chance I had selected seat 39B on the big transcontinental Korean Air jet. What a great seat! The flight attendant seemed concerned that I might not want to be by the bathroom but the trade off was only having one person sitting beside me during the 10.5 hour flight into Seoul, Korea. The ride was bumpy but I still managed to sleep awhile and the rest of the time was taken up with movies and eating. They do feed you on the international flights - and feed you well. My concerns about being offered only Korean food were completely unfounded.

I did get what I thought was yogurt on my breakfast tray - but it wasn't. I watched others and they put a soy sauce looking dressing in it and seemed to enjoy it. I tried but the taste didn't appeal. That was my experimental food for the day. I am determined to give atleast one new thing per day a try!

Seoul to Bangkok flight seemed to be really short and I was in Bangkok, through customs and imigration in no time. Then I was lost.

The Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand is new, extremely functional and traveler friendly until you get on the other side of Customs. Then you are facing a blank white wall with no obvious exits. Watching others I noticed people went to the far end of the wall on either end and disappeared around the edge. Left or Right? I went left because it was closer.

On the other side of the wall was a short maze like hall with a couple of switchbacks and then you were in a huge open area filled with people moving along with purpose. In front of me was a set of revolving doors that obviously lead to the outdoors and waiting taxis but I really wanted to be with Brett and Maya before I left the securty of the airport so I looked over every sign in sight (none of which were in English) for a hint of where to go from this point. Over head there was one small sign with an arrow indicating that down the corridor to my right was the Meeting Area. Since it was the only English option I went down the corridor while scanning the crowd for Brett or Maya.

After what seemed like a very long walk and no sight of a 'Meeting Area' I was beginning to consider returning to my starting point and looking for other options when I heard "SHAREN". Not to be egotistical or anything but I figured that must mean me so I immediately stopped and looked around. On the far right side of the corridor, on the other side of a red ribboned off area I caught sight of Maya's lovely face and Brett's wonderful grin! Awww, they did come for me!

There had been some concern on my part about what day I was actually arriving in Thailand - the international date line came into play somewhere around Japanese air space which threw me 15 hours ahead in time. So although I left on Tuesday I was arriving in Thailand after 11 pm on Wednesday night. Or so Brett assured me and he was right. I was in Tuesday but Wednesday in Bangkok was over before we got to their place.

Brett and Maya were both rather impressed with my economy of luggage. Because I didn't have to pick up baggage I guess I ended up not going out the exit they were watching for me from and I was on the other side of the red tape! We worked our way down until we came to an area where I could 'cross over' and I got big hugs from Brett and Maya before we went in search of a taxi.

Bangkok at night is like driving through Los Angeles except I could not read any of the street signs! Highrises, four lane freeway full of fast moving cars, stores open and lots of people out and about on the sidewalks even though it was after Midnight and it was a Wednesday night.

Victory Monument is a tall Washington Monument looking tower - well-lit and impressive in the middle of a large round about. Brett pointed out that if I got lost if I could get to Victory Monument I'd be able to find the house. As if I was going ANYWHERE with out them, ha! Within minutes of being in Bangkok I was sufficiently aware I was totally out of my element.

Brett and Maya had made arrangements for me to stay in one of their landlords two guesthouse rooms. It was spacious and a charming blend of new and old. I loved it immediately. The landlady's dog, though, did not take to me at all! Something that didn't change in the following four days. I don't think I smelled 'right' to him!

So after what seemed like a long day to me but was actually two days I said good night to the young ones and went to quickly to sleep in my princess suite!