HALF PAST MIDNIGHT IN BANGKOK

That’s the time I landed in Thailand. Further airport stress and confusion awaited me; the place was bustling with activity along with more long lines and escalators. A flight attendant had announced the correct baggage carousel, however due to her accent, I couldn’t decipher it. (This happened more than once on my journey!) It was chaos! I kept running back & forth among multiple carousels. My shoes pinched on the last flight. It was just another thing adding to my discomfort besides that awful screaming baby next to me.

My bags were among the last off the carousel as usual. As I walked past the exit, numerous men held up signs. I searched for my name. A smiling woman stepped forward. “I know it has to be you, Dianne,” she said. “And you look like a princess!” This was my private guide Ketsara. I was relieved to see her!

Due to the heavy Bangkok traffic, it was an hour ride to my hotel. In Thailand, they drive on the opposite side of the road. Also I was surprised to see the steering wheel situated on the right side of the van instead of the left as automobiles here.

My hotel, The Chatrium was magnificent! It overlooked the Chao Phraya River. I had a spectacular view from my terrace! 

As I removed my socks I was horrified to see I had Ecuador feet! I couldn’t understand why, I had spent most of my time just sitting. Plus I had purchased proper shoes for this trip along with compression stockings to prevent this. Still, my feet and ankles were swollen!

The following morning I woke up early, despite the fact I wasn’t meeting with Ketsara until noon. I didn’t want to miss my free breakfast. And it was well worth it! This hotel had the most impressive and varied Breakfast Bar I’ve ever seen, featuring both Thai & Western food. So many delicious choices before me, I wanted to try as many as possible and I did! My next meal, a special Thai dinner followed by a theatrical performance, would be later in the evening, so I filled up on breakfast.

Ketsara & I had clicked the moment we met and became instant girlfriends! She was one quarter Chinese and three quarters Thai.  At noon, Ketsara met me inside the hotel as scheduled. Together we took off on the city tour. The driver was a nice man named Pako who spoke little English. The 3 of us would be together for most of the trip.

“Thailand is overrun by vacationing Chinese this time of year,” she said. (Apparently Thailand is their Florida.) Also there’s plenty of Japanese buying up property there and raising prices. (The way the North Americans are doing in Ecuador.)

To my surprise, street signs and others are written in English beneath the Thai, thus because so many Australians and British have retired there.

First up, we strolled around the gorgeous Grand Palace! The Royal Family is greatly beloved in Thailand. Anything derogatory said against them can result in a jail sentence.

Then off to the Wat Phra Keo where a large image of Buddha was carved from a single piece of emerald-green jasper. The majority of sightseers were Chinese and they were everywhere, as Ketsara said. 

The heat & humidity was nearly unbearable. Ketsara told me that January was usually cool and comfortable, but had not been so in recent years.

We explored Bangkok street markets; many featured floral arrangements of sheer artistry displaying intricate detail I’d never before seen. I’m an ex-florist and I was truly impressed!

Next we went for a cruise in a long-tailed boat on the Chao Phraya River. Homes sat atop stilts. Interestingly, expensive teak houses were often situated beside bamboo shacks. The boat slowed as floating markets came up to greet us. The people living along this river could have almost anything delivered right to their back door!

I just had time to shower and change clothes before I was picked up for the Thai Dinner & Cultural Show.

The meal was a buffet consisting of Thai cuisine. Dessert was just fruit & watery coconut ice cream. Outside was a re-creation of an ancient Thai Village. Nuts & fruits were offered as samples.  Also there was a basket of silk worms. I nearly picked up a handful and popped it into my mouth until I saw them wiggling!

Outside the theatre was a pre-show with musicians and a bejeweled singer, costumed dancers followed.

Ketsara was not allowed to sit with me during the theatre performance. I sat with a group of Chinese tourists in their 20’s. It was a wonderful seat with a great view! The stage was enormous and the most elaborate I’d ever seen.

An adorned elephant paraded before us followed by bejeweled dancers attired in traditional costumes. Classical tales & legends were performed. Next a simple village scene appeared as goats ran across the stage amidst chickens. In the next act, a man awakened from a bamboo bed. The audience gasped as he dove head first into the floor and disappeared!  As the lights brightened, you could see it was a pond!!!

Next was a scene featuring an Enchanted Forest existing between this world and the next with half- animal, half-human creatures and faeries flying gracefully thru the air. Following was a graphic depiction of Hell and its punishments. And the finale was the splendor and grandeur of Heaven. The sumptuous beauty and imagination of this show left me breathless.

The following morning, Ketsara, Pako, & I visited lesser known temples in Bangkok before beginning our long journey north. Before entering any temple, we had to remove our shoes. Inside, I was ordered by an attendant to remove my hat & sunglasses. Ketsara was a devout Buddhist. She would kneel down and pray. I did likewise; it seemed like the polite thing to do.

Ketsara told me I was something new for her. Usually she escorted a couple or a family. I was her first solo! This was a private tour. I had a van, a driver, and a guide all just for me! Soon the 3 of us began to feel like a little family.