I was quite surprised at how quick customs was -- we picked up our luggage, before that they checked our passports/visa entry stamped us in and our luggage was re-x-rayed and carry-ons re-scanned and the checked luggage went off. No hand search of anything or comparing to anything. That seems really odd. Maybe those super-xray things check for all sorts of stuff. Maybe they have drug-sniffing dogs? Maybe they don't care about smuggling any more. I wasn't going to say any of this out loud there, but I am quite surprised.
We got home safely. Arrived in Tampa about 12:30am. Justin got a cab back to his apartment and the shuttle van picked me up and I was home by 0230. My throat started getting sore in Dulles, and I ended up sick for two weeks with a head cold. Very bad.
The end.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Dec 28 plane 3
6:45pm EST I think we have been traveling a full 24 hours now. I think we landed by 2:30pm and went through customs. That consisted of getting our bags from the belt and going through another security where they took the bags and re-checked them for Tampa. They looked at our passports, and stamped re-entry. Nothing else.
We tried to get on (standby) a flight that left for Tampa at 5:45 but that was full and there were probably 15 people waiting standby same as us. Obviously we didn't get on that flight. Justin is sacked out across a bench. I am groggy and disoriented and not thinking real well. Not everyone in the terminal looks as disoriented as I feel, but people look tired. This last leg is feeling brutal. I got a Starbucks when we first landed and just now cinnamon pretzels and a strawberry lemonade. I took a picture of Justin laying across the benches. The snooze revived him a bit -- he is reading a book.
We tried to get on (standby) a flight that left for Tampa at 5:45 but that was full and there were probably 15 people waiting standby same as us. Obviously we didn't get on that flight. Justin is sacked out across a bench. I am groggy and disoriented and not thinking real well. Not everyone in the terminal looks as disoriented as I feel, but people look tired. This last leg is feeling brutal. I got a Starbucks when we first landed and just now cinnamon pretzels and a strawberry lemonade. I took a picture of Justin laying across the benches. The snooze revived him a bit -- he is reading a book.
Dec 28 plane 2
It's about 1:30, arriving at Dulles in about half an hour -- the customs declaration form instructions are in the duty-free magazine catalog. It asks you to list everything you are bringing back and the value of those things. We didn't have anything of much value (just a couple of fabric things). I wonder what the actual customs line will be like?
Trivia: my hands are *really* dry and cracked from being on the airplane.
Trivia: my hands are *really* dry and cracked from being on the airplane.
Dec 28 plane
Flying west to east is faster -- the leg from Tokyo to Bangkok took nearly 9 hours going out and it taking 5 or so going this way. We've been flying 100 mph faster. Knowing what to expect helps a bit too. And there is a bit more room (fewer passengers) in the cabin as well. They gave us a box "lunch" with a sandwich of misc. meat & cheese and an orange. We have a long layover in Washington DC ... the lady in our tour group who had been a United flight attendant said we should try for an earlier flight on standby -- I'm not sure what that will do to my ride though. I think we have 2 hours in Tokyo. I don't know how long Micah has.
Well, we are on the Tokyo-Dulles leg now. 2pm my time as I said, back on the plane. This one is less crowded, and so I moved from next to Justin to another row with my aisle seat and two empty between me and the couple on the other end. The space should make this long stretch easier. Justin has a seat on either side open now too, so he should be more comfy. There was a cute little 4-5 year old girl in the terminal singing her abc's who is now across the aisle from me. I offered her mom to take the center row later if/when she wants, so the girl can stretch out. Oh yeah, 2 girls got on for my seat, so I'm another row back with only one guy at the other end of my 5-seat row. I really will be able to lean over if I want to snooze.
Well, it is 5 til 0500 my time (whatever time that is now....) and they fed us a meal -- same chicken curry menu from the flight 2 weeks ago (the alternative was beef & potatoes) but that was okay -- had a salad and carrot cake. I'm going to try to sleep. Some turbulence earlier with the whole plane shaking from sided to side. Per the map we are past Siberia, heading for the international date line and Alaska with about 10 hours to go (!) I have watched a really corny movie about a guy given "gifts" -- Ultimate Gift, and I just finished watching Hairspray, that was really pretty good.
Almost 0830 and I've totally lost track of am/pm. I think it is pm but I did sleep for a while. Still west of the North American Continent but headed for it looks like Seattle. Watched the map thing and I think it is pm by elapsed time, but we crossed the dateline so it rolled back to am Eastern Standard time. It's a long trip no matter how one measures it. Just got the the box of noodle soup/ramen snack with an OJ, a banana and an almond cookie. People on the plane are up and about again, with some lights on etc. The little map thingy says we still have 5 hours before we arrive in Washington DC - we still aren't over land yet but still we won't go over northern Canada at all. I don't know why we took a more southern route unless it was to get out of that turbulence. I took a pix of the map then.
Okay, now it is about 1230 an I was sleeping across the seas -- woke up and we are flying over Iowa. I know this is gibberish now because I am very disoriented. It is light out but the plane has been mostly sleeping. I don't know if it is easier this direction or not.
Well, we are on the Tokyo-Dulles leg now. 2pm my time as I said, back on the plane. This one is less crowded, and so I moved from next to Justin to another row with my aisle seat and two empty between me and the couple on the other end. The space should make this long stretch easier. Justin has a seat on either side open now too, so he should be more comfy. There was a cute little 4-5 year old girl in the terminal singing her abc's who is now across the aisle from me. I offered her mom to take the center row later if/when she wants, so the girl can stretch out. Oh yeah, 2 girls got on for my seat, so I'm another row back with only one guy at the other end of my 5-seat row. I really will be able to lean over if I want to snooze.Well, it is 5 til 0500 my time (whatever time that is now....) and they fed us a meal -- same chicken curry menu from the flight 2 weeks ago (the alternative was beef & potatoes) but that was okay -- had a salad and carrot cake. I'm going to try to sleep. Some turbulence earlier with the whole plane shaking from sided to side. Per the map we are past Siberia, heading for the international date line and Alaska with about 10 hours to go (!) I have watched a really corny movie about a guy given "gifts" -- Ultimate Gift, and I just finished watching Hairspray, that was really pretty good.
Almost 0830 and I've totally lost track of am/pm. I think it is pm but I did sleep for a while. Still west of the North American Continent but headed for it looks like Seattle. Watched the map thing and I think it is pm by elapsed time, but we crossed the dateline so it rolled back to am Eastern Standard time. It's a long trip no matter how one measures it. Just got the the box of noodle soup/ramen snack with an OJ, a banana and an almond cookie. People on the plane are up and about again, with some lights on etc. The little map thingy says we still have 5 hours before we arrive in Washington DC - we still aren't over land yet but still we won't go over northern Canada at all. I don't know why we took a more southern route unless it was to get out of that turbulence. I took a pix of the map then.Okay, now it is about 1230 an I was sleeping across the seas -- woke up and we are flying over Iowa. I know this is gibberish now because I am very disoriented. It is light out but the plane has been mostly sleeping. I don't know if it is easier this direction or not.
Dec 28 Bkk
We are up at 2:30 am (I woke up at 2:10) and all packed and ready to go. One thing occurs to me. I know how to live in Thailand, but this group has taught me to be a gracious and graceful tourist. I didn't come with expectations of learning from the people in my tour group. But I have. Each has taught a slightly different thing -- all were open, inquisitive, learning, friendly in their own way. One couple was blindingly generous and trusted me. I don't know if I would have been as trusting.We go to breakfast in 15 mins and start the traveling alternate dimension for the next 22 hours. That's the time you get to bring your brain to be where you body has been conveyed by the airplane.
0720 my time (?) whatever that is or will be. It is am for now, I guess.
Anyway, a little more room on the plane this time as there are 3 people in the 4-across row. Justin has the aisle seat and I have an empty on my right. Micah is a few rows in front of us -- we are nearly at the back of the economy section, by the galley. That's not too bad though. We get breakfast now. Justin said he was hungry again -- he's snoozing though. I find that if I read, I get sleepy. I think I'll have coffee now and try to stay up for a while.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Dec 27 Bkk 11
The farewell supper was lovely on the boat.
I tried to get some night pictures of the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, but it was hard to get clear ones from the boat. One of our traveling companions did though - here it is:
They served sticky rice and mango for dessert!! I didn't expect that at all -- mangos aren't in season until June.
The "hairy" things on the right are Ngok -- they are supposed to be a deeper red. It was cool to get to eat one, but those weren't all that great an example.
It has been a good time on this trip. Very worthwhile.
I tried to get some night pictures of the Grand Palace and Wat Arun, but it was hard to get clear ones from the boat. One of our traveling companions did though - here it is:
They served sticky rice and mango for dessert!! I didn't expect that at all -- mangos aren't in season until June.
The "hairy" things on the right are Ngok -- they are supposed to be a deeper red. It was cool to get to eat one, but those weren't all that great an example.It has been a good time on this trip. Very worthwhile.
Dec 27 Bkk 10
A couple random thoughts:
It won't be another thirty years until I return again. Maybe I will plan/budget for at least every 4 years, like furlough. I was surprised to meet people in our group who travel practically continuously all year round. What an interesting retirement.
It might be interesting to come another time and not let on at all that I spoke Thai and see what it is like just understanding what people say without trying to speak.
The north was hazy -- I always thought from hill tribe people burning off the fields and forest. Bangkok was/is clearer than I expected, but I've heard that they have had clean-air programs. It still is somewhat hazy anyway.
It won't be another thirty years until I return again. Maybe I will plan/budget for at least every 4 years, like furlough. I was surprised to meet people in our group who travel practically continuously all year round. What an interesting retirement.
It might be interesting to come another time and not let on at all that I spoke Thai and see what it is like just understanding what people say without trying to speak.
The north was hazy -- I always thought from hill tribe people burning off the fields and forest. Bangkok was/is clearer than I expected, but I've heard that they have had clean-air programs. It still is somewhat hazy anyway.
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