Saturday February 20, 2010

Left Miami to Dallas, headed for Bangkok. Girls and Ryan took us to the airport. I already miss him.

Flying is going to be great because we’re upgraded the whole way. Flight from Dallas to Tokyo long, especially since sleeping pills didn’t kick in, so we barely slept. Meal service was wonderful and the seats that extend into beds were great. It would have been nice to sleep, but…Saw The Blind Side and The Boys are Back, both great movies, plus watched a lot of mindless TV. Started reading Snow Flower to get in the mood for Chica. Great book, horrible accounts of the foot bindings.



Sunday February 21, 2010

Landed Tokyo and enjoyed the wonderful baths at Admirals Club. The airport is sparkling clean, but it is so hot! They have the heater on a little too warm.

Arrived Bangkok right on schedule, the flight from Tokyo seemed longer than the first leg of our flight, I guess since we're so tired. We ordered the Japanese meal service on the Japan Airlines flight, and I couldn't eat most of it: little eyes kept staring at me.

The airport in Bangkok a steel and glass modern magnificence, very clean and high tech.

When Sam, our white suited chauffeur from the Mandarin arrived in his black BMW 7 Series, I knew this was going to be one amazing vacation. Arriving at the Oriental, getting our first prayer-hand bows from the valet staff, made the jetlag disappear. At registration we were given flowers, what looked like a bracelet-size circle of jasmine with purple orchids hanging down. More bows, more low voice, excellent and personal service.

I know I"m going to run in to Humphrey Bogart in the reception area one day. Hanging lanterns, breathtaking flower arrangements, orchids everywhere, comfortable and inviting rattan and wood furniture, plush sofas, an air of elegance.

The room is lovely, with a view of the river (pronounced liver) and the city. More orchids in the room, yellow on the desk, purple in the bathroom, white on the bureau. A plate of fruit that will be changed every day. In the bathroom, amenities galore.

We each took 3 melatonins and a sleeping pill, and we slept until 7am.



Monday, February 22

The buffet breakfast was spectacular, different stations with everything from ham and bacon and eggs, to fried rice, dumplings, and fish, to pancakes and omlettes, etc. The fruit in Bangkok is so delicious and fresh and in season. Breakfast is served on the open-air terrace of the Mandarin, right on the river, so you can watch the boats and klongs, and area businessmen doing what they know best.

The staff at the valet and in the restaurants (the lower-end staff) dress in their traditional outfits, like the sons of the King of Siam. After I meet Humphrey Bogart, I'll look for Yule Brenner and dance. I want to be Anna, but without the hoops. Actually the hoops would help hide a multitude of hips.

After breakfast we took a klong to the BTS, the Skyway, like the Miami metrorail, but cleaner. We went to Jim Thompson's house, the Thai home of an American that revived the silk industry here, and was also responsible for the silks used in The King and I. A beautiful home, made of several different pagodas, all made of teak, open air, beautiful.

Then we walked to MBK shopping center, seven stories of Chinatown meets International Mall under air conditioning, a haven and heaven for Ana Rasco. On the suggestion of Art, we walked around and then ate in the food court, some good Thai food. Then we couldn't wait to book it out of there, having bought nothing.

Took the BTC back to near our hotel and walked around the back neighborhoods. Walked through the grounds of a Thai elementary school, complete with its own temples inside the school, and we could hear the happy chanting of children memorizing...something. We saw them walking the halls in their socks.

Then we walked through Assumption College, a high school for boys and girls. Everywhere in the mall we had seen the Thai school girls in their blue skirts and white shirts, doing what teenage girls do: buy smoothies and walk around the mall. The Assumption girls had the same blue pleated skirts, but more teal-blue, worn with white shirts and blue ties, white socks and black Mary Janes. The boys wore the same color shorts, white short sleeved shirts and white mid-high socks with pointed black tie shoes. Wierd, the boys' uniform.

Now, Steve is enjoying his first of many Thai massages while I rest in the room, overlooking the river, and the sights of this fantastic, but oh so hot, city.