Heading home via BKK

So, here I sit with a pore pack on my nose, relaxing in our Bangkok hotel writing this update. After arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday we dumped our cumbersome luggage (including camera>PC cable, grrr) at the ‘Left Luggage’ facility and sky trained it into the city.

Apart from the usual swampy areas along the way, there was little excess water to be seen. Looking down, only several low lying roads and house yards were partially submerged a few inches. That’s not to say it will remain that way...but here’s hoping!

Our thoughts are with those who have, are and will be effected by this massive, slow moving tragedy.

And, my biggest frustration (well, one of them) is seeing photos and T.V. footage of people standing chest deep in putrid water washing their clothes, preparing food on floating makeshift tables and of children playing, bobbing along in flotation devices.

STAY OUT OF THE WATER PEOPLE! The murky water can harbour cholera, typhoid, skin infections and hepatitis. One death from, and cases of, leptospirosis was reported in the newspaper just as we left Chiang Mai the other day (the details are in my luggage). The exact wording I can't remember, but 'wear shoes, especially if you have open cuts or wounds on your legs' rings a bell. Perhaps something was lost in the translation? 

Houses and buildings in our hotel area (Ratchathewi) remain high and dry. Some have made serious sandbagging efforts, some half hearted (and to tell the truth are a bit puzzling, strategy wise) but most, have not. Many outer lanes on high-set bridges and overpasses have become car parking lots for residents living in susceptible suburbs, which must make peak hour(s) in Bangkok even more hellish than usual.

Floods aside, today I had good intentions of trawling Chatuchak’s outdoor weekend market, however, after strolling through JJ’s (next door) for couple of hours I decided I’d pushed my baggage weight limit to the max, otherwise I would have bought this little beauty as a keepsake...

Apologies for the mobile phone quality.

...and besides, there’s no air con outside.

Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai

Videos - Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi...sort of. 2009

....still uploading old videos, finished now, I promise! 

On the last leg of our Thailand holiday we went out to Ayutthaya. 'I' could have spent days out there if it weren't for the heat, I love old architecture, especially if its crumbling. We arrived by mini bus at which time our tour guide diligently dispensed round stickers to our shirts...so we knew who we were! Stray offered to afix mine and proceeded to adhere it to my..well, not in an appropriate place. I could have and should have smacked him up side the head, but there were witnesses.

After visiting a Wat (one that was rebuilt after the Burmese burnt it down)...I cant remember the names and feel a little ashamed, but one can get a bit Watted out  after a while, we headed to one of the large ruin sites right next door. Wat Phra Si Sanphet?

To train or not to train? Part II

Previous related post To train or not to train? Part I

Our stay in Chiang Mai (2009) was coming to an end and it was time to head back to Bangkok. There weren’t flights leaving soon enough so we weighed up the cost of a later departure & hotel versus an overnight train. Of course the train won. I made it quite clear that I was willingly doing this under protest...meaning the ball was in my court regarding our mode of transport. So, we went ahead and booked our tickets at the hotel we were staying at.

The first class sleepers, which are cabins, weren’t available on this run, so we opted for 2nd class. You can get the low down at seat61. When making our booking we both chose lower bunks for ease of access, for a little extra baht and paid accordingly. But, as usual, something must have got lost in the translation and we arrived to what would turn out to be an upper and lower. ไม่เป็นไร !...

Shhhhhhhhhhhh...enjoying the quiet!

After the recent turmoil in BKK, it's nice to enjoy the quiet. I hope it's all over...but time will tell. On the upside, some good news City Stands United As 4000 Clean Up :)

On the up, up side, I discovered some really interesting (for me) blogs while looking for local, Thai updates and will add them to the side menu soon.

In the meantime, a dear friend in BKK sent me this link to virtual tours, of Thai Palaces. Of course, nothing can compare to actually being there.

http://www.palaces.thai.net/vt/vtgp/

Unfortunately you can't walk around, but only look up, down, left ,right and round and round.

Did I mention we now have one of these?

Yes...one grandbaby. I debated whether to include her (and family in general) in this blog...after all, she hasn't given me permission to publish her photo. We'll call her PH and she's absolutely gorgeous.

Thailand's Woes!

Just as it seemed (to me) that Thailand was headed for civil war and that the trouble was spreading to other areas of the country, this was just posted on one of the many websites I visit several times a day:

Redshirt leaders turning themselves over to the police, Waaing a Buddha image before being whisked off seperately by the police.

Nattawut, now surrounded by police and reporters has been handed a microphone and is making another address to his supporters urging them to disperse, and cooperate with the authorities in sending them home. Says again that the struggle for democracy will carry on and that his heart is with them. http://www.thailandqa.com/

But on the other hand, this just posted on another website, regarding an area called Ubon Ratchathani...not Bangkok http://memock.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/ubon-red-shirt-protests-turn-violent/

I am sure that 'it ain't over yet'.