The one thing I was going to do on that last day in Shanghai got interrupted by Obama following me around! First Japan, then Shanghai. I went to go to the Science and Tech Museum and found it was all blocked off. Turns out Obama was actually doing his town hall at the Museum! Here's the street blocked off nearby:
ANYWAY, I took that and the weather as a cue to sit and do nothing for the afternoon, which was lovely. I watched a couple of movies and relaxed for a bit until Fabiane and Itamar came home, and then we had a nice pasta dinner. I left quite early from Shanghai on Tuesday morning to get to the airport and said goodbye to China.
You might think that I just made my way to Australia, as was my plan, but you'd be wrong! Itamar and Fabiane pointed out that if I had a 11-hour layover in Bagnkok, I really should at least leave the airport to see the Grand Palace because it's rather easy to get there and back. The more I thought about it, the more that sounded like the thing to do. Who wants to sit in an airport for 11 hours? I also am completely blessed to have a cousin living in Bangkok (one of the Aussies, and the father of my hosts in Brisbane), so I emailed him the day before to say, "Hey, any recommendations of the best way to go about this?" Oh how I love family! He volunteered his staff to come pick me up at the airport, be a bit of a tour guide, then bring me back to the apartment where I'd get food and a shower. How could I pass that up?!!
So, I arrived in Bangkok just after lunch, and Jaya, who works for Peter (my cousin) met me at the airport. He swept me off to Peter's office, where I got to say a quick hello over coffee with Peter, who was in the midst of big business meetings all day. I wasn't sure I'd even see him for dinner at that point, so I got a quick shot of us:
And then Peter's house staff guy, Dai, proceeded to take me around the sights. Dai is super sweet and although not confident in his English, was incredibly thoughtful and helpful in taking me around. We went over to the Grand Palace first, and it was absolutely astounding. The amount of exhuberant decoration is just mind-blowing. Needless to say, I took SO MANY PICTURES in the few hours I was in Bangkok! (The day's photos are on flickr)
Here's just a few:
The palace on approach
Demon and a gold tower
Dai (in the hat) lights incense to pray
Me by some of the stairs
Some of the amazing decoration on the buildings
After the palace, we wandered around behind the grounds to see Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha. Holy moly, that's one big buddha! And it's amazing to see the whole length of the body, and then you get to the bottom and the feet soles are the best part!
Head:
The whole length:
Feet:
We also went to one more sight and a museum for a short while, but I was getting tired at this point. Also realizing how nice the shower would be after tromping around in 90+ heat with long sleeves and long pants (a must to get into the temples). So Dai grabbed a Taxi and we drove back. Or tried to. We got stuck in the famous Bangkok traffic and were on a highway off ramp for about 45 minutes or so. And the driver was trying his English on me, which wasn't going so well. I could get a few of the words, and when he was reading the letters off of license plates, I got that part, but it doesn't make for good conversation!
But we returned home and Peter and Jaya were there, as were the two dogs. Sophia is a pug that looks like Magnus! And Frodo is a chihuahua that's white with brown spots. Both adorable. We had drinks and Dai and Pang cooked an amazing Thai dinner for us (so good! but I forgot to take photos!). And then I was able to take a shower and show some of my pictures before leaving for the airport. I have to say, hanging out in a place like this is better than being in an airport seat:
So I get into the taxi to head back, and I had a harrowing experience where I was sure I was going to DIE. He was speeding so fast on the highway, even once we got close to the airport. Speed limit 80km and he was steadily at 120+, no matter the other cars on the road. I have to say, after Shanghai and Bangkok taxis, I will try to remember not to complain about NYC and Boston! Sheesh! But what was really funny is just as we approached the airport, the song he put on was Meatloaf's "I Would Do Anything for Love". It was finishing up just as we arrived back at the terminal. Such a very funny moment to be in Thailand for a day and end with that song.
I felt so lucky to have the opportunity to have such an amazing few hours that I hadn't even thought I was going to have a mere day before. By far the best layover ever. Plus, it means 5 countries on my trip, not 4! My new passport is officially very well broken in.
Then it was back through immigration, to the gate, and onto a long red-eye. Leave at midnight, arrive at noon, don't get much sleep, yadda-yadda. But Michelle picked me up, and then we had a lovely chat. I did manage to get a quick nap before Mark came home, and Pam (Mark's mum, Peter's wife) joined us for an amazing dinner that Michelle put together.
And then I slept forever. I actually woke up to the sound of very loud birds at the 4:30 sunrise, but managed to go back to sleep for another 4 hours. I sorely needed that as I seem to have acquired a head cold. Don't think it's flu as I'm not achy, just some sinus issues and sore throat. But the sleep and sitting around the deck and pool will surely help all that!
I am very sorry to report that Flat Stanley got stuck in a bag not with me for the Bangkok visit. I did get a few shots with him in the airport of some Thai sculpture/architecture, but he mainly missed out. But today he's off with Mark at work. Mark is a police officer, so I shall be very interested to see what kind of adventures Flat Stanley has at the office!
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