The first few days here at Penny and Dans have been such an oasis; one we did not fully understand until heading out into Bangkok today.

















Sheltered in the comfortable air condition, with English TV and starburst, I lazed around in what I thought was heat, trying to get over mild jet lag. Little did I know!!

Penny and Dan live outside the prefecture, closer to the water and the breeze in a luxurious ( even by Americans standards) gated community. This morning we got up early ( 7am) to "tour the city without the heat" Penny smiles :-) **They have been amazing hosts so far cooking, cleaning, guiding, and even making us some coffee....We really lucked out.**

The best word to describe this city during the summer ( even to Thai's this is the hot season) is hot as f*%$ or pardon my french, very warm. :-) Bangkok has all the action and bustle of any major metropolis with another 30+ degrees Farenheit of heat, an army of motorcyle taxi's and minibuses ( which are actually a small pickup truck with 15 people standing in the back) swerving into oncoming traffic, delicious smelling pad thai frying in streetside pans, and strolling orange-robed monks. You cannot be blase about anything your first time in Bangkok...of that i am certain. The air is hot and thick, with it the scents of sesame, curry, and oil.

Even in the most intense heat ( Troy and I never stopped pouring sweat; you just have to give up and realize that how its going to be) the city is gorgeous. Each and every second is so foreign it is impossible to forget, even for a single second, that you are not anywhere remotely familiar. We passed shops that sold dried squid and wooden carvings, dank humid restaurants with sputtering fans ( an attempt to ease the sweltering heat) sidewalks converted into fleamarkets selling second hand shoes and exhaust masks, mens with books of silk or paper umbrellas trailing after "farangs", old men squatted over bowls filled with noodles, recordings of buddist hymns blaring, tuk-tuks, motorbikes, cars and buses all coughing out thick pollution.....This is BANGKOK!!!

Hard to believe. This is the city and the country I have dreamed about visiting for a very long time. When we dreamed this trip up, Troy insisted on Europe, and I insisted about Asia. Both of us couldn't be more excited to further explore the entire country from north to south; Chaing Mai, to Krabi.

Dan and Penny's neighbor, Us, is a 24 year old Thai girl who is very "Narack", which means cute.( wink wink, segoy kakoy to Makisan) She has taken it upon herself to show us around Bangkok, and practice her English. If she scores high enough on her English exam, she can become a flight attendant for Thai Airways, where one of her friends has opened an "inside track" for a position. After complaining about some difficulties of Americans learning Thai ( for instance the word "ya" can mean bird, lizard or forbidden depending on your intonation; there are 5 words for "ba" and so on) she repeated Micheal Jackson to improve her pronunciation. Its extremely entertaining and endearing to listen to her chanting "Miker Jackshan" with determination to get it right :-)

Penny and Us told us that many Thais have difficulty learning correct grammar and pronunciation, as many who teach English are Thai. We noticed many signs ( even ones printed by the Government) had incorrect grammar or spelling. If we can find a school near the beach :-), I can see myself settling in here to teach English. Surprisingly, the highest educated Thais are paid the same as "Farang" English teachers, which is about 1000 US per month.

Tomorrow we have to get up early to go to the Rose Garden, which boasts traditional Thai dancing ( a la King and I; which on a side note was banned here in Thailand??) Muay Thai boxing, and huge garden of flowers.

The pictures are at the Grand Palace and the famous reclining Buddha. In the Wat, you can hear little metallic clinking noises echoing up 100 feet to the ceiling...Its quite a beautiful but strange sound. When you walk around the back of the Buddha, you can see a hundred small black jars lined in a row. You exchange 20 baht ( or around 60 cents US) for a small cup of 1/2 baht coins. You walk along the cups dropping each coin into a jar while making a wish. With people in front, people in back, and you, the sound is really amazing.

Hopefully the camera holds up in the high heat and humidity...
Geisha girl-I LOVE YOU :-) When is Japan, my dear?

Mom, ( Barb + Debbie) Dad ( Don + Wayne), and everyone, we love you too....These are the most exciting moments of our life!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxox