MontanaRon

After an uneventful flight, including a one-hour stopover in Hong Kong, I arrived at Don Muang Airport at about quarter to four and cleared customs and baggage at 4:30pm. Hmmm, I thought, my train from the airport doesn’t leave until 9:30 tonight, so I’ve got time to run into Bangkok for a few hours. Yup, I can’t resist this city–the sights, the smells, the sounds, the weirdness all assault the senses in fascinating and overwhelming ways. The traffic is as bad as always, the pollution is omnipresent, though the skies aren’t too hazy. It is overcast and ready to rain, which has helped to cool things down. Smoke rises from the street vendors’ bbq pits and the smell of chicken, pork and beef lies heavy on the air. The sidewalks are terribly crowded, even though this is “low season,” but I haven’t spotted any elephants yet. (I’ve only been here for a few minutes.) I love it! I only have a little time before I head north to Laos. I have to buy some mosquito repellent, but I might also have time to grab a quick shrimp curry at one of the locals’ favorite eateries just down Sukhumvit street–I can’t remember the name right off the top of my head, but I always eat there when I’m in town. Then I’ll grab a taxi back to the airport, take the overnight train into Nongkhai, where I’ll arrive at 9:30 in the morning. Nai is supposed to be there to pick me up and then we’ll cross the border into Laos. More later.