November 30, 2013
Dear ones... Sawadikah! ("Greetings" in Thai)
Here we are in Bangkok again after a safe, hour-long flight with the Foxes and Rosemary from Chiang Rai. We are very impressed with the ease of travel in Thailand. Everything is so organized, from free luggage carts to fresh boxed lunches sold in the airports, on-time flights, courteous staff and special lines for public taxis. This is also true of bus travel. Steve and I joined our small travel party after we arrived at the Don Mueang (domestic airport in Bangkok) to have a bite to eat before we went our separate ways. The Foxes will travel to Myanmar this afternoon and we will stay one more night in Bangkok before heading there ourselves tomorrow morning on Thai Airways from the International Airport.
We found quite a selection of Asian food at the airport coffee shop. We bought Vietnamese spring rolls with cilantro and lime juice and fresh basil, mango, sticky rice and coconut milk and Thai iced tea (with milk and sugar). It cost only a few dollars and it was all neatly boxed and delicious! Although we had to wait about 20 minutes for a cab, we swiftly passed through the streets of Bangkok, avoiding the daily demonstrations against the Thai prime-minister. We hope that we will get to the airport as easily again tomorrow morning, but only time will tell.
Steve and I feel greatly honored to be taking this trip to Myanmar and are so grateful for this opportunity to learn what is happening in this country that has suffered so much. We have been reading as much as we can and hear that it is changing rapidly and growing into a busy international arena. We will write as soon as we can after our arrival.
On our way, thinking of you all with much love,
Nancy & Steve James
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