Don's Road Less Traveled: All Good Trips Must Come To An End

Hey All,

My shout out is a Happy 10th Anniversary to my niece Rachael and Mark. I love you guys, even if you wear Seahawks colors.

I also want to thank all of you who read all these post and give me encouragement. Its time consuming and not easy to do, but when I get great feedback it makes it worthwhile. In some ways, I always feel things are boring and lets face it, I am not a writer. Someone sent me an email about my occasional soap box, and I replied back that when you travel alone, you don't have anyone to share all these amazing places with and I guess in my own lame way, its my way of sharing, getting it all out. I thank each and every one of you and the kind words mean so much.

My flight to Bangkok was only 50 minutes and I was entertained by 2 Ladyboys who sat in the row in front of me. OMG, if only I could have recorded that conversation. On arrival I made my way to the public taxi stand for the trip to the hotel. I must say, BKK, as it is known, moves lots of people very efficiently in my book. Kudos to them. That place is a madhouse, even in low season.

OK, one last fact that is bugging me and I promise its the last. Bangkok is just the English name for the capital city, its proper name in Thai is the longest city name anywhere. Per below:

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and the largest city in the country. But it is typically only called Bangkok in English. In Thai, it is often called Krung Thep Maka Nakhon, or just Krung Thep. Its full name is

"Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit."

What it means is “The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (unlike Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.”

When I decided to come to Bangkok (Krung Thep) a day early and meet Tony and Lia, I booked the same hotel they were in to make things easy. Its a good spot, just right out the door is the BTS Sky Train which makes getting around easy. After arrival to the hotel, I had a note at the desk that Lia's mom had gotten really sick overnight and they had to fly back to Kuala Lumpur, Evidently there were at the airport the same time as me heading out. I also had an email explaining more. My prayers go out to your mom and family Lia.

Night Scene outside Hotel

I decided to entertain myself today by going to MBK Mall. I don't think I have ever been there and its supposed to be huge, and best part its right on the Skytrain line.

I have to mention the 2 Bangkok's, the day one and the night one. Last night I did a little walking about and the streets are lined with food stands, row after row of people selling all kinds of stuff So, during the day the sidewalks are wide, while at night its a narrow corridor barely wide enough for 2 people. Its like you are in 2 different cities.

This area of town is a bit older and while walking to the BTS its a minefield for my knees as the sidewalks are in such bad shape, so uneven and loose tiles, I had a couple of wencing moments on the short walk when my leg would turn funny and twist my knee. Its the part of Bangkok I hate. Made it to the MBK mall with a simple switch in the BTS lines and you just follow the map.

MBK Mall

That mall is something else, its about 8 floors of pure entertainment. Food courts, bowling alley, small little shopping booths that just go for ever and easy to get lost (and I did), 2 movie theatres, so many of these gaming centers I lost track, but that make so much noise its deafening, just floor after floor of anything you could possibly want to buy and more. They also have something I have never seen which is an Escape Game where you spend 45 minutes trying to solve clues and figure out how to escape. It seems pretty amazing. Getting in this place was easy, figuring how to get out was an escape game of my own. I managed to find a few nick naks that I needed for people. I always seem to wait to the last day for this. I think I was there a good 3 hours meandering about.

Inside Mall

I did some walking around the mall area, and there are a few other malls close by, but they are the high end type places that are no appeal to me.

Got back to the hotel around 5 and had to cool off as its very hot and muggy as usual for Bangkok. I am going to try to get this last blog entry out tonight as tomorrow starts the long trip home. It will probably be close to midnight Saturday night before I get home.

Had a great trip as usual, wish I could have had more time. I am still very exhausted as this constant heat and humidity really drag me down. I really do love Laos, as its the kind of place I love to go to, not many tourist and off the beaten path. I hope I have to opportunity to return some day as I have unfinished business.

Before I go, just a couple more shoutouts, Deann and Christine, they always read my blogs and are great friends. To my sister Donna and Wally for always letting me know how much they enjoy the trips. To my brother, Scott, Angie and Andie. Lastly to a my nephew Greg, Mindy, Parker and Cooper, who follow my blogs the past few years.

Thanks again everyone and I will send out an email to all when I get home so you know I made it safely.

Happy Travels,

Don