This is it. We are flying out of Laos this morning, over to Bangkok, where we have a long layover before we head to Rome. But first... breakfast.
I will miss this breakfast view. It seems like every place we have stayed for 20 days has had a lovely breakfast view. Barbie and I have made an effort to fill our walls with artwork that pleases us, but I generally eat breakfast at my computer. Perhaps I will be a nerd and created a slideshow of Southeast Asian landscapes for my breakfasts.
One thing I have learned traveling around the world, it is important to bring what you have seen home with you. This is why we have three collage frames in our living room that contain 21 travel pictures each. (Sure to be updated when we get home from this jaunt.) And there is always the floating display of random travel photos on the Apple TV that entertains our guests during our casual get togethers.
Enough though about home. I am sitting in Laos (silent "s") eating a peanut butter and nutella crepe.
The last breakfast in Southeast Asia. I suspect I will not see dragon fruit, in the bottom left corner, for some time.
The end of a fam is like the end of camp. Eleven people together all day every day for two weeks, and then everyone goes home. The four people in this final ride to Bangkok with us -- Dori, Michael, Matthew & Esther -- are probably the four we became closest to on this trip. We liked everyone, but these four got very close to our hearts. Seeing them in the van for our final ride to the airport was a joy with that slight aftertaste of sadness. We are going to miss them, but we are also going to make a serious effort to stay in touch.
This will be my last candid shot of Lao kids. Maybe I will start shooting pics of American teens when I get home. That would be quite the Waste post.
We fly yet another airline for the first time. Let me think; Thai Air, Lao Airlines, and Bangkok Airways. So far we have not flown an airline this trip that we had flown before. But that is about to change as we soon leave Asia for Europe.
It is funny to consider that Laos to Thailand is an international flight, considering how close the cultures are and how close Laos came to being a part of Thailand. Had the French not demanded the territory at the end of World War II, all this might be Thai. I know the Lao are proud to have their own country, but I also think that they would be living in a democracy had the French not clung to outdated concepts of empire at the end of the war.
This customs/immigration officer was a sweet guy, who came over and goofed around with this little boy. He gave his arm a
boy do you have big muscles squeeze.
Our Bangkok Air plane features a snazzy paintjob.
Bye Bye, Laos.
Hello Thailand.
The front bubble of the 747 makes it both the most distinct and likable aircraft ever made. How can you not love the 747?
On the bus that takes us from our propeller plane to the terminal.
So... for our 7 hour layover, Barbie recognized that we were on the only Air France flight of the day, which meant that we would have to sit and wait for several hours for the desk to open for us to check-in. With that in mind, and after seeing the brand new St. Regis Bangkok Hotel a few weeks ago, she decided we would get a room there and use it for the half day we spend in Bangkok. This also comes with the plus that she gets to see how well the St. Regis might treat her clients.
And since Dori and Michael have a similar layover to ours, they are joining us at the St. Regis. After hugging Esther and Matthew good-bye, camp lasts a few more hours for Michael, Dori, Barbie and myself.
First St. Regis test, the pick up. (For the record, I prefer the French pronunciation
Sann Resh-ee.) The St. Regis is supposed to be waiting for us at the gate to fast track us through customs.
The pick up went perfectly. We were given fast track passes and while all the normal people went toward the normal customs lines...
...we went here. It turns out that we got the same privileges as flight crews, and walked through customs here, several hundred meters closer to the gate, instantly and without waiting in a line.
There are no sweeter words in an airport than
Fast Track.
We felt welcome all right.
Interestingly, this message popped up before any bags were arriving.
And this message popped up just as the first bag arrived.
Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport is easily one of my favorites in the world now. And personally I think that metal and glass never goes out of fashion, because the glass makes it feel open and when is open space out of style?
The St. Regis uses a Mercedes Mini Van, of course.
You know I love advertising. And a white iPhone 4 billboard in Bangkok is something I refuse to not share with you.
We have arrived for a very short yet surely sweet stay.
As always, the first thing I do in a hotel room is look out the window. And then take a picture of what I see.
Our room looks down on the Four Seasons and Bangkok's Sky Train,their super-clean and fast subway two stories above the streets.
Speaking of the Sky Train, we never took it during our four days here. Now that we are spending a quarter of a day here and on our agenda is getting Barbie a Hard Rock Bangkok shot glass. The St. Regis concierge suggests the Sky Train is the best way to get there, and off we go.
This elevated train had been around 12 years, and still looks like new.
Well... was I not going to take a picture of this ad? Ladies, you can now change a pattern attached to your bra to fit your mood!
Barbie was super-impressed at the organized arrows suggesting people allow riders to exit and then board the train on from angles.
Not sure why this Sky Train shot came out turned 90 degrees, but I love the effect. These train cars are sparkling clean and air conditioned like a refrigerator.
It was not easy finding it, but when we did. My recommendation to find anything in Bangkok is to give yourself an extra ten minutes, because they name malls and areas that cover a few blocks and tell you that your destination is in, say, Siam Square, which ends up being four square city blocks.
We wasted no time inside.
Note Barbie's reflection in the Hangover 2 ad. Funny that Hard Rock is pushing the connection, when the kid in the Hard Rock hoodie endures all kinds of abuse in the movie.
She has made it. We should have come here during our first stay in bangkok, but I missed it on the map when we were very nearby. This quick stop makes up for the omission.
Barbie orders, as always, the nachos with pulled pork.
I ordered as always the BBQ Cheeseburger.
After three solid weeks of Thai & Lao food, that burger tasted goooooooooooood.
On the way back to the Sky Train, I could not help but see a hint of Blade Runner in the streets.
This
street meat picture displayed for the pleasure of our Nate.
Sky Train stations are open and airy and basically awesome.
The turnstile takes your ticket on the way out, which means you do not get the litter of used tickets that plagues many subways/trains.
Back at the St. Regis, I work on the Waste while Barbie gets a mani/pedi.
Again, a hotel room succeeds or fails on whether or not one can lay on the bed and watch the TV without turning one's head. The St. Regis Bangkok Hotel is a grand success.
Day turned to night while I sat in that room, and everyone took a wonderful shower.
Soon enough, we had to head back to the airport.
The gang says good bye to the St. Regis. I cannot tell you how many St. Regis employees said, "We hope you stay longer than four hours next time." I cannot tell you, because I cannot count that high.
Suvarnabhumi Airport, a jewel of air travel.
The St. Regis had four valets ready with four carts, since there were four guests in the van. Experience five stars, a real five stars, just once in your life.
I really do like airports, especially when they have style.
Natalie Portman is apparently the face of Dior over here. Or should I say Topless Natalie Portman. This in the country where a man must wear long pants to enter temples.
Our gate is at the end of the line.
Barbie boards our 777 to Paris, wearing her Colossal Waste shirt! Mark your calendar. This date marks the first official appearance of a Colossal Waste shirt on Colossal Waste.
Bye Bye Bangkok. I fell asleep soon after this Air France flight was in the air.
Unti tomorrow....
No comments:
Post a Comment