Back log

Sorry for the delay, over the past few weeks we have been too busy to update the travel log, so here is some updates after the fact.

2 October - Departure from home

First there was some confusion with the flights (seems our e-tickets and itinerary had different departure times), but after waiting in the airport for a while with Amir’s parents (who were great and drove us all to the airport in 2 cars) we waited at the gate for almost 2 hours for the flight.

3 October – Landed in Bangkok

We arrived in Bangkok. Immigration (passport control) and Customs went fine with the anticipated question “why are you all traveling together,” seems that a group of 5 people with 4 last names leaves a little to most people’s imagination – so we explained (through out the trip this reoccurs each time we go to an airport. A van service had been pre-arranged to take us from the airport to the hotel.

When they tell you that traffic in Bangkok is bad, believe them. It took longer to get to the hotel than anticipated (by almost 45 min.) so we got in after 7 pm. After the long flight we got organized and then had dinner in the hotel and walked to the Suan-Lum Night Bazaar .

The bazaar had many shops selling all of what you would come to expect from such a place: Tourist trinkets and T-shirts,

Silks,

interesting bags,

giant squid, wood works, and at least 1 Thai massage shop per block . Unfortunately, the customs rules of Australia meant that we could not buy anything (but there is always the trip home ;) ).

4 October – Bangkok

“A muddy old river or reclining Buddha” – One Night in Bangkok by M. Head

Today we took a ride on the river. First we walked to the sky train, and then took a ride on the oldest river service on the river. We took a ride up the river past the palace, temple, and other sites (taking pictures all the way). Then we stopped for lunch. Other than the location right on the river the meal was nothing to write about. On the way back we stopped at the temple to see the 3 different Buddha: Reclining, Sitting, and standing . We even got to watch a game of football (soccer) played on the grounds by students. We did not have time for the Palace (and the last of the famous Buddha statues – the Emerald Buddha (actually made from jade – apparently named for the color not the stone) but we did have time for several bowls of street Pad Thai. This was wonderful and made right in front of us at a street cart. We then took the Ferry back to the hotel and packed.

5 October – On the road again

Got up at an unspeakable hour to go to the airport for our flight to Melbourne. Details about what happened after our arrival in Melbourne will be in the next entry.