Am now in Bangkok - will describe the quite fabulous flight from HKG in Thai First Class soon (3 of us in the cabin so my carryon got its own seat 3A complete with seat belt).
Hotter than hell and horrendous traffic - pollution managed a lot better than my last visit 30 years ago and thank God for the Skytrain. Still fun to ride in a tuk tuk and even ventured a motorcycle taxi this morning - after insisting on walking the first day or so (the hotel people were justifiably horrified when I told them on the day I arrived that I was 'going for a walk'), I've learned it's worth the 30 or 40 baht (at about 35 to the US dollar) to take motorized transport. I've now picked my way through enough dusty streets with broken pavement in the heat that seems it's over 100/40 Celsius, but is really 'only' about 93/33.
Today I took a tourist boat on the Chao Praya river to the temple and royal palace complex and took so many pics I can't even begin to name them anything significant - I sprang for a guide at 500 baht and thought it was worth it as he gave me about a 1 1/2 hour tour with lots of history and other info about what I was seeing. I won't try to include any of the photos now but will probably add a couple next time I access this (which will be in CAMBODIA).
In the meantime here's a pic of the orange juice I ordered at the internet cafe. (I know the damn thing is upside down but can't convince the blog site to rotate it!)
(Oh the AC was supposed to refer to the battle I'm having esp at night with air con, which I hate anyway and can't stand the sound of, but in BKK there's NO WAY to live without it)
