Hey Adriene

ALIVE AND WELL IN THAILAND

(Written on February 5th, 2005)

I'm half way through 2 weeks of glorious backpacking through Indo-China and meeting up with my SSEAYP (Ship for SE Asian Youth) family. Here's what I've been up to so far!

THAILAND (29 - 31 Jan 2005)

Flew in to Bangkok last Saturday. My SSEAYP sister Wan picked me up from the airport. Spent the day catching up with SSEAYP family Wan, Cho and Hlek.

We went to the Grand Palace, Miscellaneous Street Market, Wat Po, Chatuchak market, Suan Lum market for a local food fest yum yum, and I had a Thai massage.

While in Bangkok, I homestayed with Wan's family which was wonderful. I love homestays because I get to experience the average local family life. Helps me understand a country better. My host mom (Wan's mom), who I call Koon Meh, is the principal of a primary school. I have two younger host brothers too.

On Sun, first thing in the morning, went to meet the Governor of Bangkok at his office. The governor is Koon Meh's boss. Turns out that he had heard that I would be staying with Koon Meh and had offered to host me for a day, so that his daughter Keat could practice her English with me. Which was a-ok by me!

So off we went, Wan, Keat, and me, accompanied by Toom, our assigned Bangkok Metropolitan Police bodyguard!

We had breakfast at Khao San (the backpacker area). Then took a ferry on the Chao Phraya to Chinatown. Then a tuk-tuk to Pahurat (Little India). And then a cab to Siam Square for lunch.

Later that evening, took an overnight bus to Chiang Kong which is the northern Thai border town with Laos. A 12-hour journey.

Arrived the next morning. Took a 2-minute ferry across the Mekong river and wah-lah, I was at Huay Xai, the Lao border town.