Bangkok, Thailand
It is Thursday 3/31 at 2:29 p.m. in Bangkok, Thailand and I am in the China Airlines Dynasty Club in stealth mode. I didn't have a pre-printed boarding pass for Colombo because even though the tickets were bought through China Airlines I'm flying Sri Lankan today and in so many broken English words, the downstairs desk said no Dynasty Club for you. But, at this stage I feel like I've earned a notch or two so I try my luck at the actual club doors. I show them the Club card I have and at least the last name matches mine. I explain I don't have a boarding pass because Sri Lankan Air doesn't open it's transfer desk until 2 hours before boarding and the club will be closed at that point. "No problem." The lovely Thai woman at the desk says as she writes my name, or my father's name down (sorry 'bout that dad) and my flight and puts it in a drawer. Sweet! I'm in like Flynn with internet access, food, drink and I'll be in Colombo soon anyway. Boy, are these clubs convenient. (Dad, if you're in Bangkok any time soon I'd suggest a pseudonym.)
Last time I wrote I was complaining about my road grime. Well, after I sat at the computer terminal for 2 hours in my funky smelling shirt at the Taipei Dynasty Club this morning, I asked if they might have a place I could clean up. Before I knew it, I had a basket with toiletries and 2 clean towels. I was led to a large private bathroom with shower, hair dryer and the works! No, I don't need a hair dryer but as you'll see it came in handy.
I was so grateful to get the stink off me I because I knew I had another 2 flights coming up with no chance of showering. But, then I spied my shirt hanging across the marble bathroom and still reeking. Hmmm. Shirt is CoolMax 100% polyester and I see a hair dryer. Into the shower the shirt goes. I soap and scrub it along with the rest of me. I have about 30 minutes to board a plane to Bangkok so I'm keeping an eye out on the clock and an ear on the overhead speaker. Every minute or so I have to stop the hair dryer because a pleasant "Ding, dong, ding" chimes and an announcement about some flight to some distant land is announced in 2 languages so each pause lasts as long as I can dry. Let's just say it was an interesting study in multi-tasking. "Ding, dong, ding. Now boarding flight 423 to Kuala Lumpur gate A-8." Nope not me. I continue to get dressed quickly and drying my now clean shirt. It dries pretty good but it's still damp. And white. Fun. I throw on the damp shirt and cover myself with my fleece. Down to A-4 to catch my flight and it's business class again! Fortunately, my body heat dried the poly shirt in about 45 minutes as it's designed to do. I bought these shirts for hiking and working on this project because I knew cotton wouldn't cut it in Sri Lanka. Anyway, bone dry and smelling like a rose the flight was fantastic. I felt so rested after that shower I had my wits about me a little better and may have enjoyed this flight as much as the SF-Taipei leg.
I forgot business class was for this flight as well but let's just say it was the same excellent service as out of S.F. Smoked salmon, sushi, fresh fruit, shrimp, you know, the usual lunch. Plus, the video screens had a channel which let you watch the ground in front of the plane or directly under from under-mounted cameras. No joke. As we are landing I get to watch Bangkok, Thailand grow closer underneath us from my private 10" color monitor while sipping Jasmine tea. Was I talking smack about consumerism a few days ago? Everything in moderation. That's what I meant.
On the flight over here I was reading my Sri Lanka guide book and came upon a very interesting note. Actually, I think it's more than interesting. I was writing of happy accidents a few days ago in relation to missing the earthquake on my way to Sri Lanka. It seems early Arab traders called Sri Lanka "Serendib" through the English word serendipity. Serendipity is defined as, "The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident" also a synonym for "the making of happy accidents by chance." I feel something bigger than me at work here.
Anyway, I'm in 90+ degree Bangkok and you can feel the humidity wetly throbbing through the plate glass windows. I just finished a 30 minute foot, leg, head, neck, back, arm, and hand massage by 2 Thai women in a kiosk for 600 bhat. About $15.70. Good deal I thought. It's pretty surreal to be in 3 airports and 2 continents in less than 24 hours and contemplating all this as you watch the blades of a bamboo ceiling fan circle overhead while you get a deep oil massage in Bangkok. I'm feeling limber and ready to get to work.
I'll be in Colombo tonight before midnight as I drop one more hour and then it's on to Galle in the morning. Did I tell you I completely skipped Wednesday? I left Tuesday midnight and arrived Thursday morning. Hello? I'm 2 days older than I was yesterday. But, I'll get it back when I return. What if you just kept flying in the other direction? Would you get continually younger? My friend Jim popped that one on me when I explained my schedule. Hmmm. I'll have to ponder that during my next massage in 2 weeks on the way back.
I've never had the experience of knowing nobody is talking to me because I can't understand a word around me most of the time. It's kind of pleasant. Like a fly on a wall. Now I know exactly how those strangers in a strange land feel when I see them on my shores. I'll remember to extend a kind nod of the head or quick smile next time that happens. It means a lot I can tell you. As you walk the terminals of whatever airport your eyes inevitibly lock onto other westerners eyes. It's a bit of a brotherhood out here. It seems very natural and almost welcomed to ask a complete stranger something as if you know them, because compared to everyone else around, you do.
I've emailed the GC contacts with my new details since I missed my original flight so I don't really know if I'm being met or not tonight. I have several contact numbers and I know of 2 hotels in Colombo the volunteers stay in so I'm not worried.
Well, here's where the real story starts and the reason your reading what I'm writing. I'm anxious to find out what happened with the volunteers after the 2nd tsunami scare a few days ago. Looking forward to some good sleep tonight in Colombo when I find a home with my name on it. (Or my dad's for that matter:)
-Chris
Last time I wrote I was complaining about my road grime. Well, after I sat at the computer terminal for 2 hours in my funky smelling shirt at the Taipei Dynasty Club this morning, I asked if they might have a place I could clean up. Before I knew it, I had a basket with toiletries and 2 clean towels. I was led to a large private bathroom with shower, hair dryer and the works! No, I don't need a hair dryer but as you'll see it came in handy.
I was so grateful to get the stink off me I because I knew I had another 2 flights coming up with no chance of showering. But, then I spied my shirt hanging across the marble bathroom and still reeking. Hmmm. Shirt is CoolMax 100% polyester and I see a hair dryer. Into the shower the shirt goes. I soap and scrub it along with the rest of me. I have about 30 minutes to board a plane to Bangkok so I'm keeping an eye out on the clock and an ear on the overhead speaker. Every minute or so I have to stop the hair dryer because a pleasant "Ding, dong, ding" chimes and an announcement about some flight to some distant land is announced in 2 languages so each pause lasts as long as I can dry. Let's just say it was an interesting study in multi-tasking. "Ding, dong, ding. Now boarding flight 423 to Kuala Lumpur gate A-8." Nope not me. I continue to get dressed quickly and drying my now clean shirt. It dries pretty good but it's still damp. And white. Fun. I throw on the damp shirt and cover myself with my fleece. Down to A-4 to catch my flight and it's business class again! Fortunately, my body heat dried the poly shirt in about 45 minutes as it's designed to do. I bought these shirts for hiking and working on this project because I knew cotton wouldn't cut it in Sri Lanka. Anyway, bone dry and smelling like a rose the flight was fantastic. I felt so rested after that shower I had my wits about me a little better and may have enjoyed this flight as much as the SF-Taipei leg.
I forgot business class was for this flight as well but let's just say it was the same excellent service as out of S.F. Smoked salmon, sushi, fresh fruit, shrimp, you know, the usual lunch. Plus, the video screens had a channel which let you watch the ground in front of the plane or directly under from under-mounted cameras. No joke. As we are landing I get to watch Bangkok, Thailand grow closer underneath us from my private 10" color monitor while sipping Jasmine tea. Was I talking smack about consumerism a few days ago? Everything in moderation. That's what I meant.
On the flight over here I was reading my Sri Lanka guide book and came upon a very interesting note. Actually, I think it's more than interesting. I was writing of happy accidents a few days ago in relation to missing the earthquake on my way to Sri Lanka. It seems early Arab traders called Sri Lanka "Serendib" through the English word serendipity. Serendipity is defined as, "The faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident" also a synonym for "the making of happy accidents by chance." I feel something bigger than me at work here.
Anyway, I'm in 90+ degree Bangkok and you can feel the humidity wetly throbbing through the plate glass windows. I just finished a 30 minute foot, leg, head, neck, back, arm, and hand massage by 2 Thai women in a kiosk for 600 bhat. About $15.70. Good deal I thought. It's pretty surreal to be in 3 airports and 2 continents in less than 24 hours and contemplating all this as you watch the blades of a bamboo ceiling fan circle overhead while you get a deep oil massage in Bangkok. I'm feeling limber and ready to get to work.
I'll be in Colombo tonight before midnight as I drop one more hour and then it's on to Galle in the morning. Did I tell you I completely skipped Wednesday? I left Tuesday midnight and arrived Thursday morning. Hello? I'm 2 days older than I was yesterday. But, I'll get it back when I return. What if you just kept flying in the other direction? Would you get continually younger? My friend Jim popped that one on me when I explained my schedule. Hmmm. I'll have to ponder that during my next massage in 2 weeks on the way back.
I've never had the experience of knowing nobody is talking to me because I can't understand a word around me most of the time. It's kind of pleasant. Like a fly on a wall. Now I know exactly how those strangers in a strange land feel when I see them on my shores. I'll remember to extend a kind nod of the head or quick smile next time that happens. It means a lot I can tell you. As you walk the terminals of whatever airport your eyes inevitibly lock onto other westerners eyes. It's a bit of a brotherhood out here. It seems very natural and almost welcomed to ask a complete stranger something as if you know them, because compared to everyone else around, you do.
I've emailed the GC contacts with my new details since I missed my original flight so I don't really know if I'm being met or not tonight. I have several contact numbers and I know of 2 hotels in Colombo the volunteers stay in so I'm not worried.
Well, here's where the real story starts and the reason your reading what I'm writing. I'm anxious to find out what happened with the volunteers after the 2nd tsunami scare a few days ago. Looking forward to some good sleep tonight in Colombo when I find a home with my name on it. (Or my dad's for that matter:)
-Chris
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