Thailand 2

26 May 2006 Friday… the wee hours.

We've arrived safely in Thailand. I am happily spread out on my own bed in my own ensuite room in Jiraporn's house. She has made me feel most welcome.

We had adventures at the Sydney airport. Merri packed a lot of stuff into two heavy suitcases and a carry-on. It appears the US has, yet again, different status than the rest of the world. In the US, each person is allowed two bags at 30k each. The rest of the world allows a total of 30k for each person. Poor Merri was so far over the weight limit, they charged her heavily. AU$20 for each kilo over the limit. Yikes.

It is currently 1am here, which means it is 4am in Sydney. I'm tired.

Thailand 2.5

26 May 2006 Friday

Merri and I had a relaxing morning at Jiraporn's lovely house while she was at work. When she returned, she took us to the local prison where we ate a hearty feast. The food was marvelous, though a couple of the dishes nearly breached my chili tolerance level. I shall either become a stronger person or I’ll have third degree burns the length of my colon. We shall see.

Afterward, we picked durian, mango, mangosteen and banana from a fruit stand and gorged much of the afternoon away. We bought the makings for Tom Yum Gung and Jiraporn made us supper. I took careful notes, so I may have a nice Thai dish to share when I return.

Interesting notes:
-There are little food stands everywhere and they stay open 24hours/day.
-Many houses have cute little miniature houses that look like elaborate temple birdfeeders on posts outside their front doors. These are called "Spirit Houses." It's where the protective ghosts reside.
-There is no poverty line. Rich houses are right next door to tin roof shanties, condemned tenements (with people still living in them) and average, modest single family homes.
-Dogs own Bangkok. Every yard has a dog and strays roam the streets freely. The people are so Buddhist that they can’t bring themselves to kill them. Instead, they have instituted a program at the local veterinary university where students take strays and give them physicals, practice heath procedures, neuter them and release them back on the streets w/ collars.