.....go out in the midday sun, so I thought that I'd best adopt the national stereotype and go out for a walk in the hottest part of the day.
Hmmmm.
But more of that later.
Here I am in the aptly named Perfect Place at Julie & Chris's house. Perfect Place is about 20 miles East of Bangkok, quite close to the airport.
Chris picked me up after a really great flight - I managed to bag Emergency exit seats on both legs of the journey, and the whole trip was excellent - Jet Airways come highly recommended!
Touched down briefly in Mumbai (which I gave a wave to for Ketaki!!), so I can say I've already set foot in India.
Yesterday I spent the morning sleeping - waking at about 2pm. Had a couple of hours just sorting myself out before Orion got home from school at 4, bringing me a purple balloon.
Julie came home at 4.30 bringing Moeti & Hani, and the two of us leapt into each others' arms, much to the amusement of Mo & Hani! Hani had made me a beautiful necklace in her beads & crystals club which I've attached to my shorts.
We all then went for a walk to feed the fish at the lake, then had dinner which Marjorie had made for us - delicious Phillipino food!
After the kids had gone to bed, Julie & I settled down for gossip, wine & chocolate. Chris joined us after he got home from Boarding duty at school.
I can safely say that I've not got jetlag, having gone to bed at 10.30 (3.30pm your time) and slept all the way through til 10.30 this morning....oops!
I decided to go for a bit of an explore at lunchtime (yes, in the midday sun). So I walked out of Perfect Place down to the local Soi market - had a bit of a wander around, and do you know what was fantastic? I got absolutely no hassle at all - no 'lady lady - you buy?' and 'white girl' and all the usual comments. I just got a 'hello hello' from a group of builders, but after all, that's what they teach at Building School isn't it?!
Had my first Phad Thai of the trip from one of the market stalls - I didn't actually eat the prawns, but they were in the dish and I just fished them out (geddit?!). I think that's a pretty good effort for a non fish eater!
Because we're well off the usual tourist routes, no one here speaks any English at all, so I'm having to learn a few Thai words to get by.
Orion's home now, watching Scooby Doo. When the girls get home, I think I'd best complete my Good Aunt duties by taking them for ice-creams. Well, it IS Friday!
I've decided to leave 'doing' Bangkok until I come back through. Tomorrow we're all going out for the day to a place called Chacheongsao which has a 100 year old market, and tonight I'm going out with Julie & Chris to a local restaurant.
Having a great time so far - still hasn't kicked in that I'm actually here!!
