We take a quick walk thru the night market, but it is already closing up. Actually it is more of an afternoon and evening market (4:00PM to 9:00 PM). I notice the night air is very pleasant. Is there a cold front? We then get a taxi, drop T at home, and I go back to the hotel.
Earlier in the day I had spoken with K in Udon Thani, and she had said that the news article about me had appeared in this morning's nationwide Daily News, with which the Khon Kaen paper is affiliated. I went to a few convenience stores looking for today's issue, and when I found it I did not see anything in there about me. But maybe I was looking at the afternoon edition. Hmmm. Maybe K's info was incorrect? Well, I will call her tomorrow and find out.
Then its back to the room, where I work on this journal, and think about all of the things I have to do to get ready for Saturday! Mostly I must go thru my stuff and throw-out as much paper as possible. I have accumulated lots of brochures, flyers, etc. Some of these are worth taking home. Others are not. I must be very critical when I go thru them. If in doubt, throw it out!
I get up and get downstairs by about 9:00 AM. The breakfast here is really poor compared to what I have had the last few days. But I have some rice, a few very spicy veggies, toast and coffee. It'll do. I then go up and get my clothing together to take to the laundry. After calling American Airlines to try to change my flight schedule (no seats available to change the Singapore to London flight), I take my stuff to the laundry. The boss lady is not there, and the worker does not speak any english. She gets a man who speaks some english from the shop next door and he tells her what I want, and I leave the clothes with her. I will get them tomorrow same time.
After wasting some time in the room I head out and walk over to the river boat dock. Soon I am on the boat going downtown. I take it all the way to the end of its route, and then walk over to the World Trade Plaza. I am looking for a few things. My friend N in California has asked me to pick-up for her a charm bracelet; I need another business card holder; and the hands-free attachment for my cellphone is loose. I only have luck with the first item. I do get a charm bracelet for N. I hope she likes it. She says that BK has the best prices on gold stuff.
After a lunch of a small pizza I go to the suitmaker and pick-up my suits and shirts. They fit very nicely, and look pretty good! I have some Indian tea (masala tea) with V and two other customers (an Indian couple who live in Israel). Very tasty and a little spicy! I then head back to the hotel the same way I came--first the SkyTrain to near World Plaza; then walk about 2 blocks to the boat; and then the boat. Total cost is 28B. In a taxi it would be about 220B, still very reasonable by western standards. But the main difference is time. The taxi would be much much slower. The entire trip door to door took me about 60 minutes. In a taxi at this time of day--rush hour--it would be at least 90 minutes, probably more. And, it would not be nearly as interesting!
While on my way back to the hotel T called me and we agreed to meet for dinner at my hotel. So, not too long after I get back she arrives, and we are soon in a taxi to Mall Bangkapi. She has been so kind to me. I take her to her favorite restaurant--Sizzler! Yes, they have a Sizzler here. It serves a lot of chicken and pork (cheaper), but it also serves beef from Australia. I get a small steak and fish combo. It is OK. The steak is just fine, but the fish is a bit firm for my taste. Oh well. T gets a pork steak. We both get the salad bar and a fruit juice drink. Total cost is about 680B, or about $17.50.
After buying some t-shirts at a street vendor (8 for 900B) I get back on the boat for the ride back to the hotel. Soon after getting back I meet T and her cousin, my friend P from Miami, in front of the hotel and P drives us to a nice lakeside restaurant about 5 miles east. P just arrived at midnight last night from Miami. She will be here in Thailand for about 25 days. It is nice to see her. I owe her so much--she put me in touch with T, and she also put me in touch with K in Udon Thani. I never expected to get so much help from her! Thanks P! Interestingly, in April she will transfer to a position with the Thai government in Chicago.
After a very nice dinner P drops me back at the hotel. I then walk across the street to the sister hotel and use the internet for a while. Using the internet computer next to me are two women from Bhutan. Tschering and Sangay are members of the Bhutan taekwondo team, here in BK to compete in the Asia qualifying tournament for the 2004 Olympics. I might actually see them on TV competing in Athens! I hope so!
In my internet searching I find a hotel for Singapore, the YMCA on Orchard Road. It seems to have a great location, and the cost is only about $45US per nite. I call them from my cellphone and the lady says that yes, they have rooms available. Just then my cellphone runs out of time. About 30 minutes later I have recharged my SIM card and call back. Now they are all full! The man tells me to call again tomorrow. I will. So, right now it looks like I will have to do some scrambling to find a hotel when I arrive at the SIN airport.
I spend the remainder of my last night in BK working on this journal. I also call Mom and my office. Everything is OK!
I am really lazy this morning, and I do not get downstairs until about 9:30. I am not very hungry--my stomach has been a little uppity since yesterday's breakfast, and so I only have tea and toast and watermelon. I then walk up the street and pick-up my laundry. Total cost 160B. It was a larger load than previously, and I had several items to be ironed. When I get back to the room I can see that the pants are really pressed well, with a very sharp crease. The ladies at the laundry really know their stuff!
I then spend a few hours going thru all of my stuff and reorganizing my packing. I put all of the winter stuff and other stuff I will not need for a while into the larger suitcase, and I put all of the stuff that I will use for the next couple weeks in the smaller (but still large) suitcase. All of my papers, postcards, maps, and books go into a small carry-on suitcase. Whew! That was a lot of work!
It is my last day in BK, and I want to do more than stay here at the hotel. So I get a ride on the river boat and go back into town. For some reason I am having a taste for western food (pizza and steak yesterday), and it continues today--I go to McDonald's for lunch! I then wander around the Nana and Ploenchit area for a while. This is actually the center of the tourist area, and there are LOTS of street vendors selling all kinds of stuff--food, luggage, watches, clothing, etc. I even stop and have my sandals re-heeled by a street shoe repairman. Cost was only 80B! Eventually I end up at Ploenchit Tower where I go into the office of American Airlines. I ask about changing some of my flights, but I am pretty much stuck with what I have--the flights from Singapore to London are all booked-up (in business class). I could change my travel dates but I would have to sit in coach for the flight from HK to London. Ugh! That long flight is the main reason I spent the extra miles to fly business class.
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