Tuesday, December 1, 2009
NO matter how you slice it, 24 hours in a plane is a long time. We finally arrived in Phuket, Thailand, on Tuesday afternoon. The Thai people are some of the most gracious and friendly people on earth, I am constantly charmed by the quaint "sawasdee", accompanied by the traditional wai movement (hands gently together as in prayer, slight head bow). You can almost hear the gong go off in the background.
Hong Kong airport is like visiting an expensive, upscale shopping mall. Every designer is represented. There is a food court. The terminals are wide, spacious, and about a half-mile long.
Bangkok airport (Suvarnabhumi - Thai words are hard for westerners), is, well, brand new, well organized and signed, but really looks like soemthing Cirque du Soleil would put up in a parking lot -- a "big top" as it were. Walking around is more like being inside a giant cocoon. Its not my taste, but it does make a statement. Thailand is challenging China for leadership in the Indochinese region.
We haven't really been here in the daylight yet, so I can't report much about Phuket. I can tell you that driving here is not for the faint of heart -- your typical developing country chaos When we arrived, a major storm came sweeping through,, so last night was dinner and bed. The rooms here at the Sea Patong hotel are beautifully done, minimalist, modern Asian design. It will be hot and humid here today. There is some tropical bird outside on the balcony, making sure I don't fall back asleep... Today I will pull out the cameras and try and capture some visuals...
Sawasdee!
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