Its the Journey thats fun right???

Nanu...nanu
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So .. getting here is supposed to be the fun right??   RIGHT!!!  Ok so it wasn't that bad.  However leaving home the day I left I was running with my head cut off.  In the span of 8am to noon I

• bought a new camera
• bought travel toiletries
• jammed a 6" sub down my throat
• moved 14 bundles of shingles out of the driveway
• returned my cell phone
• payed the cleaning lady (thanks Becky!)
• Tested the GSM SIM
• photocopied the passport
• Fedexed some documents
• showered twice

calm the nerves
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I can't believe I made the airport sanely!  Thanks to mom and dad I wasn't too stressed getting there.

But, once at the airport and walking up the stairs I hear the pop of a champagne cork it was clear the flight attendants were celebrating my arrival.  As I was the tallest person on the 747-400 by at least 6" it was also apparent we weren't goign anywhere close by :)  The mork from ork space pod chairs in buisness class on the top floor were calling me and I gladly answered.  Settling in with my glass of champagne, I was handed the 4 course dining menu for dinner, desert, in flight snack and breakfast.    My nerves were starting to calm a little but then I kept thinking I'm going 10k miles from home.. I don't speak the language, I've only been planing for a week.. what am I doing!

who'd have though I'd be awake to see that!
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Then.. DOUBLE RAT FARTS!!! .. Spaulding!   Yes, its true, my first discovery of something truly wrong on the trip.. I left ALL of my memory cards for my camera at home.  I will have to get them when I get to Bangkok.

Upon arrival in Bangkok, Mr. Payap from ETC gueshouse and travel agent, met me at the airport with a HUGE smile and a handshake and off we went.  at 33 bhat to the dollar I was getting an airconditioned room, breakfast, ride to the hotel and travel services for about $60USD at the Lumpinee Hotel and Spa (17 Soi Ngam Duphil, Rama IV Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 66 2 2870111-31).  Not a bad deal all said and done.

Maybe I'll learn some calm here...naww!
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DOUBLE RAT FARTS!!!  Again.. I then flip on my cell phone that I researched so long to get a World Travel SIM so that y'all could call me and I could call you... turns out my Treo650 is not 1900MHz compatible and thus will not register on the Thai network here.  So if you've called, I'm not ignoring you.

I'll see if I can upload a few photos here in a second.  Right now I'm arranging for Visa's to Vietnam upon my return from Australia when Gino arrives.. WOP .. look for my email.  Then its off to the department store to find my xD card and then off to the airport again.  Another afternoon and evening of travel should find me in Darwin, Australia tomorrow.

This morning I was up at 6am.. don't laugh all of you who know me .. thats like 8pm your time back home :)  I watched the sun rise over bangkok out my window, went down and had some breakfast..and then went and explored a little of the Lumphine park down the street.  What nice people, everyone smiles, nobody is too pushy.  I'm sure thats just a first impression but better than feeling an outcast.  Tai Chi in the park was fun to watch.

OK, I had best get a move on.  Talk to y'all later

Bill