Carrie's here!

Recycled Christmas decor in Bangkok (it's coke cans). They also had one made out of old CDs.

Bangkok Art and Culture Center (new) in Siam Center area is Bangkok's attempt at art and culture, though at the moment only the 7th and 8th floors contain any exhibits.

The fertility park where I put down an offering of one baht each for Shanta, Carrie and me. (It was all I had on me in coins.)

Standing buddha. Carrie and I only got scammed about sixty-eight times on our way there. Uggh. He looks more calm than we were.

Here she is, Miss America! :) Well she could be, if she wanted to. This is inside the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which was a little bit overstimulating for both of us (about 10,000 vendors total selling everything imaginable). Even the coffee rest couldn't remedy the situation.

My third entry into Thailand

It's good to be back in Thailand. It's more colorful in sights, smells, and people than Taiwan was- a little more like India without all the messes that that country entails.

I arrived a little after ten last night, semi-drunk from red wine and bailey's on the plane (not in the same glass!) and bumbled through immigration without the blink of an eyelash from the officer. After emerging into the airport in my altered state, I was having trouble reading the guidebook and finding the airport express bus to my guest house. Damn Rough Guides!

Finally exasperated, I asked an airport policeman, who promptly escorted me to the correct place, not without first trying to buy me a coffee and see if I wanted to go for a drink, "Tonight or tomorrow" night. I declined, but was furnished with not one, but TWO business cards. Gee, they sure mean it when they say, "Thailand is the land of smiles."

I slumped onto the bus and showed the driver where I was going. He said, "Why are you staying there? I really recommend you stay right off Kho San Road. It's where everything is. I'm serious!" He smiled largely, then walked back to his post.

I ended up talking to a German man across the aisle, Leo. He'd been to Thailand countless times and confirmed what the driver said. After talking a while, Leo offered to help me find a place (he was in the same boat). We were dropped off in Bangkok, along with an Aussie girl who also rode the bus with us and checked into P.S. Guesthouse just after midnight. I slept like a rock on my rock-hard bed.

Rioting Protesters close Bangkok Airport

Not kidding! (I linked the article above on the title.)

"International flights to and from Thailand's main airport were halted last night after rampaging anti-government protesters surged through police cordons and stormed the sprawling terminal."

I am fine. I'm sitting in an internet cafe in Bangkok without any shoes on; ate fried rice and coffee for breakfast. All the flights incoming after mine were diverted or cancelled. I took a taximeter to the hostel and everything was good.

I'm planning to head south towards the beaches and out of Bangkok in a couple days, as Carrie wants to see the city when she arrives.