9:27 pm, Bangkok time.

Where do I even begin?

Wed at work I was pretty debilitated by over-training but I just thought “if I can still move, I can still do something….” so I worked out at a lower intensity.

Ran around like crazy to get everything ready for the trip.

Woke up around 6am Thursday morning and frantically packed all my last min stuff. My mom always becomes a frantic mess right before we leave on a trip… Thank God she’s back to normal.

Left for SFO around 6am with my folks. Flew from SFO directly to Nerita. (My Dad decided last min not to fly through LAX) We couldn’t have been luckier with the flights…. first class all the way! And this was the nicest first class I’ve ever been in (and I travel a lot). New planes. The seats recline into full beds and you get your own entertainment system with video games, movie, shows, etc… 5 course meals, fine chocolates, endless champagne.. the works!

Watched “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. Liked the emphasis on impermanence. The fact that everything material in this life is transitory.

The Japanese gov doesn’t want to take any chances with swine flu. All the officials were wearing masks along with some of the passengers. They had us fill out a questionnaire that asked questions like “Have you been around anyone who had flu like symptoms in the past week?” and if you answer yes they can quarantine you for up to a week!

After 10 hrs arrived in Nerita for a 4 hr layover. My entire experience of Japan was limited to that time which I invested sleeping on some chairs in a waiting area. I was exhausted!

First class again for the 6 hr flight from Nerita to Bangkok.

The Bangkok airport was chaotic but we survived. We got to the hotel around 1am Bangkok time. All together, 26 hrs since I left my home in San Mateo.

Our Hotel, the ‘Majestic Grande’ is very swanky! Super nice. Comparable to the Four Seasons. I’m sharing a room with my folks. Kinda cramped but it’s so nice to spend time with them.

We woke up bright and early around 630 this morn. After breakfast we roamed the Bangkok streets for a while. The street vendors remind me of the ones in Mexico… with bowls of fresh vegetables and meats and fruits ready to be cooked and served. Everything is super cheap. We had a great lunch for less then 1$ each!

Next we hopped in a cab for the old Royal Palace. In most government and religious establishments bare arms or legs are not permitted. (Pretty ironic in a country famous for prostitution) and you are asked to take off your shoes before entering. The Palace was a work of art! every inch was decorated in rubies or gold.

We went into a temple and I meditated. The feeling I had was beyond words. Its was like I could feel the energy of the millions of others who had been there before me.

Buddhism is a huge part of the culture here. There are Buddhist symbols everywhere and Monks in bright orange. Men here decorate there cars and homes with spiritual icons rather then pin-ups. There are quite a few Muslims as well. I’ve seen a lot of women wearing head scarfs and some in head to toe black with only eyes exposed.

We went to some Museums and visited the giant Buddha.

Next we went to the lake (forgot the name) and got on the river boat which is basically a bus-boat. At the bus/boat dock there were people selling everything. There were buckets of live eels, tiny turtles, little birds, weird fish… all kinds of stuff. The boat ride (which costed about 30 cents) was gorgeous. Big cities always seem to be the home of extremes… There rows of slummy houses (like in the movie Slum Dog Millionaire) next to five star resorts. Families and babies living in slums next to mansions. Whore houses along side temples. Heaven and hell in one place.

We got off in a flea market type of area. By that time (around 5pm) I was all sweaty and covered in dirt. It was about 90 degrees today and VERY humid. It rained a little.

My parents are so cute. I am so blessed to have them. Maybe someday I’ll have a relationship like theirs. Maybe.

I decided to part ways with my folks and explore Bangkok alone for a while. Must admit I did get a little scared. Anything can happen and it is scary being that vulnerable, even for me. My thirst for adventure makes it worth it.

I went out to dinner with my parents around 830. My mom and I were laughing at all the older white men out with these young, beautiful Thai women. Kind of sad. Were watched carefully as the women approached the men. They dress very provocatively and laugh too much at anything the man says. The are really touchy-feely too.

This has been amazing day. I wish I could find the words to express the magic I experienced today, but i know that no attempt to recraete it will truely capture the magic.

Anyway, I’ve been in this internet cafe too long.

I’ll keep you posted.

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