V is for Visa

Being American of the over 40 type, I remember how being American was like 'living for free' in the rest of the world. We might be envied or resented, but you could go anywhere with an US passport. Well, not so. Interesting that I hit this wall in going to Vietnam. All the way to the airport in my 'blond american bubble' and then, you must get visa, go to embassy tomorrow. I misunderstood when I was told you could get one at the airport. 'Oh', I thought, 'some rubber stamp process, no problemo'. Well 2 days later and a day of going to embassy, airline offices and talking to reservation desks at hotels, now no problem. *sigh*

Meanwhile a bit more time in Bangkok than I planned (or wanted). It's all a bit too much here. Yes, more intense than NYC, maybe a parallel would be Rockefeller Center at Christmas time around 6pm or Times Square at New Years. Hey, what is it like now that it is xmas season?  Anyway, it's kind of busy like that but more 'Blade Runner'-esque. More hot, no rain (humidity this time is bearable) and very very noisy. All those engines:cars, motor bikes, air conditioning units....

Anyway, I have enjoyed doing a little documentation of 'spirit houses', they are everywhere. Almost as prevalent as sex tourists (bad joke). They can simple, elaborate, garish tucked into spaces near a business, in a courtyard of a hotel or home or apartment building. As I understand it, it is not only for the gods, but for the ancestors to give them a home so they won't haunt the houses/businesses of the living. You give them drink and small offerings. What I notice a lot of are bottles of cherry red Fanta opened with a straw.

So in about a half hour, I leave this 'air conditioned nightmare' (well, maybe not that bad), armed with visa for 1 month and a stand by ticket. Wish me luck. Hopefully....Good Morning Vietnam.

BTW- I am trying to figure out publishing more photos to the website. For each image I have about 5, but only the last one publishes. I will also try to link up a flick'r account or something and have a link. I have to pay for wifi use at this hotel. Promised 'complimentary wifi in Vietnam', fingers crossed.

B is for Bangkok

Bangkok is an intense place, like the food, spicy hot, colorful and made quickly. There seem to be more huge modern buildings than when I was here in '05 and a lot more sex tourists? Tis the season? Christmas vacation time? I don't know why I am able to see them from 100 yards, but they seem obvious. Hey some huge guy (by Thai scale) with some Thai girl/woman (normally a big age gap as well as size difference) and they all seem rather shut down, fleshy and predatory. Nice picture, eh?

On the other hand, the food is some of the best I've ever had and I am forever ruined for trying to find it anywhere else. Plus the massages, the silk, the flowers. The traditional places as well as the mega malls, it's all amazing and kind of over stimulating. Well, not kind of, totally overstimulating. It is a carnival. After coming off a 24 hour stint of getting here and it being at least 82 degrees, but not as humid as it was last trip (thank heavens), it's a lot. But, it's a lot of fun too.

I'm going to attempt to post some pictures of the flower market, the food court at this crazy super deluxe mall and some food shots. Hopefully it will work out. Leaving for airport in a short while and flying off to Hanoi Vietnam, where I hear it's a more mellow place. 

Big Switcheroo

Now everything has changed. I would be in India by now, but I am still sitting in NYC, pouring over guidebooks and hunting around the internet for flights from Siem Reap to Bangkok, to Chiang Mai and I haven't even gotten to booking for Vietnam. How did this happen.
A bad case of the flu that happened to my travel mate to India.
We plan to go in February 2010, so it's looking busy with travel over the next quarter.
Anyway, what started out as a bit of a joke, is now how I will spend the next month.
My friend Kiwi Deb (I'm NY Deb, to keep things clear or clearer) said well if your pal doesn't get better come with me when I go to Thailand. So I countered with, " Well would you consider Laos and northern Thailand?" She loved the idea, so we''re off! While she's doing some 'mental floss' at a 10 day meditation retreat, I will be running around Ha Noi, Hué, Hoi An and Angkor Wat. It will be a busy 10 days. Then we meet at the airport in Bangkok and fly off to Chiang Mai, then the grand finale of Luang Prabang, Laos. It's quite an adventure, as well as a dream come true for me. I've wanted to do a trip like this since the first time I went to Thailand in '04.
So now is the preparation and hebeejeebees that goes along with all the stuff I think of before leaving for a long far away trip. I may spare everyone all the sturm und drang of THAT! But I promise there is more adventure to come.