The Best Part of Space A Travel

As we traveled home, we spent two nights in Singapore, another two in Yokota, and finally another two at Hickam AF Base, Honolulu. Two days, two nights, and there were no flights in sight for at least another couple of days. We redeemed our Delta miles and flew from Honolulu to Charleston with two three-hour layovers in Salt Lake City and Atlanta, respectively.

We really did enjoy all the great conversations we had with the many people we met, but we were just tired of waiting, tired of sitting, tired of not knowing what would happen next. We were ready to be home.

The best part of Space A Travel? I've said it before, and I will say it again …is that it feels so good when you stop.

Our Azaleas were all in bloom – as well as those all around our neighborhood. Bradford Pear trees were also popping with popcorn flowers. It was a good homecoming!

Our house - we missed this time of year in 2011 - Three different colors of Azaleas bloomed to greet us.

Our street - showing Spring beginning to Pop

goldenbear70's honey
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
North Charleston, SC

Missed It By ONE Seat! - Another Night in Paradise

The flight to Warner Robins was not canceled, but there was only one seat left when the roll was called at 18:55. Perhaps it is for the best, since one woman got on with her seven children!

There are, however, many wonderful things I can report about today:

1. Hawaii is beautiful even on a cloudy, rainy day with the palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze and the mild temperatures. It's just too bad we cannot really enjoy it, because we are trapped in the terminal all day waiting for the flights to post. No Luau, no pineapple, no leis, no beach, and no Hula dancers.

2. We had a very comfortable place to wait for our flight - with Internet access and a TV

3. We were able to become further acquainted with the fellow-travelers we met yesterday.

We have met a dentist and his wife from Michigan just beginning their retirement and using Space A to have a three-month Asian adventure. Two gentlemen are traveling solo with their wives at home - one from Knoxville (retired Air Force Chaplain) and the other on his way home to Guam (retired Master Chief/Steward). Another couple, a Judge and his wife, are on their way home to Williamsburg. We have had conversations about politics, family relationships, travel and more travel. Everyone has great stories to tell, helpful tips to share, and in general a wonderful outlook on life that is infectious.

4. We were able to get a room on base - the Alaka 'I Inn - AND the nice couple from Williamsburg went out of their way to give us a lift there in their rental car.

We have two days left of our Rx meds, and I have two squeezes of toothpaste left in my travel-size tube. Our patience is wearing thin - especially because of the need for medicine, so we are contemplating using our nearly-good-for-nothing Delta miles to get home.

goldenbear70's honey
Alaka 'I Inn, Hickam AFB, HI
10 March, 2314

The Looongest Day

After spending two nights in Yokota Air Base at Kanto Lodge, on Friday morning at 0900 we started our day, and waited at the DV Lounge at the air terminal. Many hours and several delayed departures later, we finally boarded our flight (C-17) headed for Hickam at 2145.

I was so tired that I lay down on the metal floor of the aircraft and slept, using my fleece jacket for a pillow. Some pax bring air mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows. I awakened to the awareness that the cold was penetrating into my bones about four or five hours later. Fortunately, due to tail winds, the flight lasted only a little over seven hours, so I slept sitting up for most of the rest of the trip. I also dozed while we waiting nearly two hours to be allowed to disembark. There was a thunder storm of nearly Biblical proportions, so they did not dare to roll the metal stairs up to the plane and allow passengers onto the tarmac. The entire flight bg70 was reading his book - never letting himself lose consciousness lest he might miss something.

Once we entered the air terminal at Hickam, we continued to doze in between conversations with fellow-travelers and checks at the counter about future flights. Convinced there were no flights departing to any destinations useful to us, we reserved a room at one of the Pearl Harbor billeting facilities, Lockwood Hall. We took a bus, then transferred to another bus, and the driver informed us his route did not go onto the Pearl Harbor base. He let us off about 1/2 mile from Makalapa Gate.

At this point I realized I was functioning nearly as a zombie. I tried to calculate how many hours it had been since I had awakened at 0900 Friday morning. It certainly seemed longer than the eight hours the calendar indicated, since it was only 1700 on Friday evening. Friday was a VERY LOOOONG day for us; in fact, Friday happened to us twice. As we plodded along, dragging our rolling bags, we must have acquired a mean, hard look about us, because a driver pulled his car over and offered us a ride.

We jumped into the car not even considering (or caring) if they were drug dealers or not - just so happy to sit and be driven. They took us to Lockwood where we checked in; because Lockwood was built in WWII, there are no elevators, so we schlepped our luggage up the stairs, entered our room, and shortly thereafter, passed out for the night.

Gb70 could not sleep past 0130, so he arose and set about doing laundry, reading the news and writing letters home. Being the sensible one with real talent for sleeping anywhere and for long periods, I did not get up until 0630 in time to slip into my freshly laundered jeans.

Presently (1345 hours) we are sitting in the DV Lounge at Hickam AFB awaiting an opportunity to depart for the continental US (CONUS). Already today we have anticipated getting a flight to North Island, CA (flight delayed) - then McGuire AFB, NJ (not enough seats for us) - now possibly Langley, VA, North Island (again) with a ~20-hour layover there and on to Norfolk, or the most likely option, based on seats available, to go to Warner Robins AFB, GA. That flight is currently scheduled to depart at 2115.

goldenbear70's honey
Hickam AFB, Hikalulu
Saturday 1345

Tokyo (Yokota)

We arrived at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo last night after a very pleasant 7 hour AMC flight from Singapore. ATI has the contract for the "channel" flight, using a DC-8 (yes, the 1960's vintage aircraft) that is configured as a "combi" plane. The front 2/3 of the plane is used for cargo, leaving room for 32 seats in the rear of the aircraft. There were 11 pax on the plane, so there was enough room for everyone to have their own row. The food was tasty and plentiful, and they showed 3 movies. All in all, this was one of my better flights on any airline.

We checked into the Kanto Lodge on base, which is about a half mile from the AMC terminal. This morning, we strolled through the Exchange, had breakfast, then checked out of the lodge and went to the terminal to await the possibility of a flight to Seattle. Although the 767 holds 250 pax, our chances of getting on this flight are slim, as there are only 6 tentative seats, and as retired members, we are the lowest priority. If we do not make this flight, there's a flight to Hawaii tomorrow, another to Seattle on Saturday, and one to Travis (California) on Sunday, so we don't have a feeling of desperation yet. If we haven't left by Sunday, I'll start to feel antsy and look for alternatives.

Our visit to Singapore brought back pleasant memories of our 1996 three week stay there while I was on Navy TAD at ComLogWestPac. We noticed some significant changes since then: there are "forests" of 18-20 story apartment buildings all over the place, the original subway line has sprouted sister lines going many more places, and the city/state has been deluged with immigrants from less-wealthy SE Asian nations, notably Vietnam and China. The government has also constructed a new freeway to move traffic from the apartment villages to downtown, and glamorous new high rises abound in downtown and the waterfront. Prices were higher than we remebered, and the dollar has fallen from its previous level ($1US=$1.80Sing then to 1.25 today), so we didn't buy much. Food is still a good value, if you stay away from the international chains. Food courts at malls offer a lot of variety, low prices, and good taste.

Debbie, after "alighting" from the feeder car on the way to downtown Singapore via MRT (commuter train).

One particular development on the waterfront, Marina Bay, is really unique. The three tall hotels (about 60 stories each) are joined at the top by a "park" with an infinity edge pool almost 500 feet long and 600 feet above street level. The buildings are built on reclaimed land but must maintain the perfectly level edge; otherwise, the water in the pool would begin to spill out at the lowest point along that edge. The building will settle over time, so the architects embedded a sophisticated set of jacks within the frame of each building so they can adjust the buildings to keep the pool edge absolutely level.

St. Andrews Cathedral - Skyscrapers in Background

While in Singapore, we visited a tailor shop that had made some suits for me in 1996. The owner, George, was there, and when we introduced ourselves he said, "weren't you in the Air Force or Navy?" I thought it remarkable that he could remember that after 16 years, with no interaction between us in the intervening years. If only I could do as well. I am lucky to remember my wife's name sometimes...

OK, on to roll call for the flight! Fingers crossed :-) - Boo! we did not make the flight tonight. Back to Kanto Lodge for the night - we shall try for a flight to Hickam tomorrow evening.

goldenbear70
Yokota Air Base, Japan
Thursday, 8 March 2012 - 1820

Asian Gastronomic Review

Pictured here is our lunch (Seafood Fried Rice) that was served on our AirAsia flight BKK-SIN. I am not used to my food looking back at me, so I tried to think of the nutritional value: Omega-3s and Calcium. These little fish were only about 1/2-inch long, sort of dried, and very salty. Cousin Roger says they remind him of smelt that come from Lake Champlain.

After nearly three weeks in Japan, Singapore and Thailand, we are on our way home - the long way - through Singapore, Yokota and undetermined points East. It will take us a minimum of five days IF we get all the flights we hope to. We left Bangkok on Monday, 5 March, spent two nights in Singapore and flew to Yokota today. I find I am really looking forward to getting back to my own home cooking.

Goldenbear70 is extremely fond of Asian food – especially Thai food, and could literally eat Panang Curry at least five times a week. Me? The further into our stay, the less fond I was of Miso Soup. Dr. Oz said eating Miso Soup helps your body burn belly fat. Now I know how that works – you just lose your appetite.

For my sake, we tried going to a couple of western restaurants. The Caprese Salad had completely tasteless sliced tomatoes with dry, tough “fresh” mozzarella. The Seafood Orzo was so salty, I had to send it back. Maybe it was made with sea water? Then I tried just plain spaghetti with tomato sauce, but the garlic was coarsely chopped – not minced – too much garlic for even a garlic-lover like me. I realize now that Thai people make great Thai food – Italian? -- not so much.

Wanting to avoid fried rice/noodles for breakfast again yesterday I resorted to buying an Egg McMuffin yesterday. By yesterday and today, I did not even want to look at another plate of fried noodles/rice, roast duck/chicken/pork, anything with chilies in it or chili sauce on it, or anything that was served in a pot of hot water or had been cooked on a stick. Those of you who know me well know I am NOT a picky eater, and I usually have a voracious appetite.

Asian desserts, never as sweet as we are accustomed to, are usually made with fruit; tapioca is another popular ingredient. Additionally I have seen a few really interesting examples, such as fungus custard I spotted recently – doesn’t that just sound yummy? (fungus = mushrooms) How does almond sauce or bean sauce sound for dessert? An Asian ice cream sundae could come with kidney beans as the topping, and apparently corn is considered a sweet treat there. Even the candy bars and bakery goods that they sell at the shops are not as sweet as we have come to expect. For me Asia is a great place to give up dessert, which is what I need to do.

We always have fun looking at the different types of foods and packaging in markets. I will post below a few photos we took in Singapore.

Hmmmm? Is it "Export" because it is not good enough for distribution in the States?

Those oranges must really be something - look at the crowd waiting to buy them!

Toy, gb70, and Bee in the Produce Dept. at Paragon Siam Bangkok --if they do not have it at this mall, you really do not need it nor could you imagine it. (Year of the Dragon - I think I beheaded him - oops!)

Ginormous Apples! I think they are grown in Japan.

To get the full effect of the photo of Durian, I need scratch ‘n sniff capability – the peel smells like garbage and sewage and is not allowed in some public places such as elevators, commuter trains, and hotels, but if you can get past that and get a properly ripe one, they are quite tasty.

Could these be "designer" mangos? Tommy Atkins - like Tommy Hilfiger?

Near the end of this trip, mango, our very favorite fruit, was just coming into season in Thailand. We learned there are different types, among them tart mangos. Our friend Toy introduced us to a tart, chewy mango, sliced with dried fish and a chili sauce drizzled on it – she said it was an authentic Thai snack, which I enjoyed trying! (A better blogger would have taken a picture of said authentic Thai snack, but I failed to do so.)

Our favorite treat is sticky rice with mango and coconut, but I limited myself to slowly savoring only one bite every few days. Our last night in Bangkok we shared a slice of mango cheesecake, with a chocolate cookie crust and a garnish of sliced mango. Some calories and sugar are worth the damage – maybe not “to die for,” but close.

goldenbear70's honey
Kanto Lodge, Yokota Air Base, Japan
2056 Wednesday 07 March 2012

"There Are No Accidents in the Church" - Meeting President Smith

Tuesday morning, 20 February, we placed a call to the mission president, President Michael S. Smith, who will preside here until July of this year. He is from Mesa, AZ and served here as a missionary in the early seventies, when Thailand was a very different place. Before coming here, President Smith and his wife served in Hong Kong in a Family History Support assignment there.

President Smith invited us to his office in the Pak Kret district - about 20 miles from our hotel. After a way too exciting taxi ride, we arrived safely, in spite of the fact our driver went over twice the speed limit and there were no seat belts in the cab. President Smith explained more to us about what an assignment here would entail, where we might live, that the medical facilities are more than adequate, and about the growth of the church here. He even introduced us to the liaison sister (Thai) with whom we might work very closely if we are called here. It was all very inspiring!

President Smith suggested that we take a walk to Lumpini Park (short walk from our hotel) to see the spot near the clock tower there where in 1966 President (then Elder) Hinckley dedicated the country for the preaching of the gospel. We did take that walk and felt very strongly the love the Lord has for the good people of Thailand. You can read more about that event by going to the url below.

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1995/09/the-gospel-dawning-in-thailand?lang=eng&noLang=true&path=/ensign/1995/09/the-gospel-dawning-in-thailand

In my last post, I borrowed a quote from President Smith that I have always believed. It is that "there are no accidents in the Church." Even before becoming a member, Alan has always felt a love for this country and these uplifting people. Now I have come to share his feelings for this colorful, bustling country. By several miracles we have been able to retire at this time when we still have the energy to serve. We were led to find someone to take better care of our home in our absence than we take care of it ourselves. Whether it is God's will that we serve here or elsewhere, we have had some choice spiritual experiences already that add to our testimonies that He lives and loves us. We know He has called us to serve.

I kept the following quote on our refrigerator when our eldest son, Chris, was serving his mission, and I still find strength when I read it today:

“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations . . . the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (History of the Church 4:540)

goldenbear70's honey
Bangkok, Thailand
24 February 2012

Fellowcitizens with the Saints

Sunday we went to church. The lds.org site indicated the meeting would be at 1:00 pm, at the closest building, Asoke Chapel, where we have worshiped before - and have even run into a friend from one of our former California wards there. It is possible to take the BTS commuter train, but we called a taxi to preserve a fresh Sabbath-day appearance in the heat.

Although we are far away, we found the same church we have at home. There was the usual group gathered in the foyer between meetings, and several people approached us to welcome us, some with the gesture, called the 'y' where they put their hands together as if to pray and pronounce the greeting, "Sawasdee krab/kaa," depending upon their gender. Most men were dressed in white shirts and ties - many wore suits.

We quickly found a sister missionary whose name tag was all in Thai. She is Sister Peterson from Rexburg, ID, and she and her husband are serving in the Employment Resource Service mission here. They also teach English. They had requested going to Central or South America, but they are very happy serving here.

We also quickly found out we were about to attend the Thai Sacrament Meeting. The English-speaking one (mostly for ExPats) had met earlier in the morning. Although it was the church Web site that led us astray, there are no accidents in the Church - this was the right meeting for us to attend. Several Thai members came forward to help us, offering English song books and introducing themselves. One sister shared with me that she had first become interested in the Gospel by hearing a missionary sing a song about Moroni, "An Angel From On High.' She said she felt something stir in her and had to investigate the Church after hearing him sing. I could well believe her story, because music is such a powerful conduit for the Spirit.

A kind Elder offered to translate the meeting for us. He did a wonderful job, and it was interesting to find out that, although he is Thai, he had gone to Utah as an exchange student in high school where he converted and went on to attend University of Utah for a short while before coming here to serve his mission. He is actually on his way to serve in Australia and is awaiting his visa for that country.

Although we did not understand a lot of the words spoken, The Spirit was as strong as it is at home. All the Young Men passing the Sacrament were dressed in white shirts and ties, and we knew the words of the Sacrament prayers were as closely followed as they always are and should be. The speakers gave heartfelt messages. The reverence in the chapel was striking, even though there were many young children present. I have not been is such a quiet chapel since I attended a Singles Ward in Denver with Carson.

The words of Paul's epistle to the Ephesians came to my mind and heart:
"And [Christ Jesus] came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God." Ephesians 2: 17-19

goldenbear70's honey
Bangkok, Thailand
24 February 2012

This Is Not a Vacation - This is a Trip

We keep having to explain to everyone that, since we are retired, we can no longer call our travels 'vacations.' We no longer need a respite from our life - we can now LIVE our life without the need to suspend it. Ok, I suppose we do have a vacation from doing dishes, vacuuming and mowing the lawn, but we do not think of this as a vacation.

For days gb70 has been trying to get my iPhone working here so that if we are ever separated, I can track him down - phone-to-phone. In this effort he have been to over two dozen kiosks and businesses having it unlocked, SIM-carded, updated, restored (oooh, that was a mistake), and still it does not work - not even as a phone, and certainly not as an iPhone. It is not like him to give up, but he has given up. The last 300 baht-worth of minutes he loaded into it depleted without a single use within two hours. This is not the stuff vacations are made of.

Our second day here we went back to see the dentist we saw here last year for our annual check-ups and cleanings. As you may know, gb70 is allergic to pain, so he was relieved to see a dainty young woman dentist this time, in the place of the man we saw last year. Despite her delicate bone structure and being soft-spoken, he discovered to his dismay that she could pack a punch with the dental tools. We had very thorough cleanings and bite-wing x-rays for one-third the cost of a dentist Stateside. This is not the stuff vacations are made of either.

After the dentist, I disappeared into The Best Salon - yes, that is what it is called. Originally I wanted a pedicure, but when I saw all the other clients being pampered with a worker at each hand, another on her feet and a couple working on her hair, I decided I needed a little more work. There were four people tinting and highlighting my hair at once. I know - I should have arranged for a photo. They must not get very many farangs in that salon, because there was also quite an audience of the front office ladies watching as the colorists were concentrating on my blond locks.

It is so efficient for the client to sit in one place to have all those services performed at once! I especially enjoyed the shampoo room, where I climbed up on a padded table and lay down comfortably with my head over the bowl of the shampoo sink. I usually dread the pain of leaning my neck over the edge of those sinks in the US salons. I could easily have gone to sleep as the lady shampooed my hair way more than was necessary. It reminded me of the glorious head massage I got in Taiwan when I was being shampooed. Yes, they even lathered, rinsed, repeated and then massaged in the conditioner. Heaven! The local ladies also received massage on their legs and feet during their shampoo time. I am not sure how I should have asked for that treatment, but I will figure it out before I go again. This is starting to feel a bit more like a vacation.

We are enjoying the local food, the warm hospitality of the executive lounge here at Renaissance Ratchaprasong, and we have been faithfully going to the gym each morning to try to stay healthy. One morning we walked to Lumpini Park - a good brisk walk from our hotel. Once there we found the locals' gym - there are several Muscle Beach-type stations, and there were many groups practicing Yoga, Martial Arts and Tai Chi.

I joined one group of elderly people in their Tai Chi routine, which I found quite invigorating. If it were not for the heat, even at a very early hour, I would go back again. It is a good thing we went without money on us, because the food stalls all around the entrance to the park would have quickly helped us to negate any benefit from the exercise: fried tofu, fried bananas, and many other yummy treats!

Maybe this is a vacation, after all.

goldenbear's honey
Friday, 24 February
Renaissance Hotel, Bangkok

The Week in Review

We spent a very pleasant weekend in Seattle last weekend – it is hard to believe today is already another Saturday! The Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle was in an excellent location for us to enjoy several local attractions. Our favorite was Pike Place Market, which we visited first with our friends, Mick and Jinny Tantasirikorn and their two children, Garan and Tichada. We walked back there a couple more times to further partake of the delicious food (both for the eyes and the stomach).

To see more photos of the Seattle weekend, go to:
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjyGjtm2

Since we could not check in for the Patriot Express plane from Seattle to Yokota (Tokyo) until 0130 Tuesday morning, we were pleased that Starwood Properties' new policy permitted Platinum members a very late check-out on Monday - they allowed us to stay until 1800. It was still way too early to head to the airport, so we went to see the movie, "Incredibly Long and Unbearably Slow," or something like that. It is what I call "a feel bad movie." At least it passed the time, and “Yes, I cried at the ending.”
We took The Link train back to SEATAC and checked in on time, but then we had to hang out at the USO until 0400 for roll call to get our seats and check our luggage. It was then another two hours before we boarded, so it took all night to be processed for the flight - almost longer than it took to fly to Yokota. Fortunately, the USO provided us some tasty tuna salad sandwiches and a bunk for a short nap.
The flight itself was good. We each had three seats to ourselves and we were able to sleep for about five hours - about half the flight. It was a surprise when they served us two nice meals and a couple of snacks. We arrived on time in Japan, passed through Customs (where they searched each of our bags). Note to self: do not pack Sudafed when traveling into or through Japan. Customs confiscated our whole package!

Kanto Lodge (AF Inn) was only a short walk from the terminal. We had a suite with a washer/dryer and were able to catch up on laundry and I was able to get a haircut.
An early morning departure from Yokota meant a walk back to the terminal in sub-freezing weather, but we made it OK (my hands were about to fall off from the cold, though--living in Charleston has made us soft, I guess.) We boarded a tanker configured for 45 passengers, but only carried 25 or so, so again we had lots of leg room for the seven hour flight to Singapore. The worst part was the box lunch: they gave us PB&J sandwiches, but just put all the ingredients in for us to make our own sandwiches.
When we got to Singapore, all bundled up in our winter jackets, we were immediately hit with 88-degree temp. Sweat started pouring off us as soon as we hit the tarmac, but it was good to be warm again. The search for lodging along with two dozen other passengers was competitive, difficult, and time-consuming. There was an Air Show in town, and, as a result, most places were booked. Finally we found a place in the Joo Chiat neighborhood, part of the Hotel 81 chain. We would stay at that chain again, but we would look for a newer one – the one where we stayed was clean, quiet and safe, but it was pretty run down.
One of our fellow Space A passengers had shared a car with us from the terminal, and I guess he thought we were on the buddy system, because he called our room at 0500 next morning to ask if we wanted to share a ride to Changi Airport. Our flight was not scheduled to leave until 1500 that afternoon. Even with jet lag, we were able to get back to sleep after the call, fortunately. The taxi ride to Changi later in the morning was only about fifteen minutes and cost $15 SGD.
The flight from Changi to Suvarnabhumi was delayed for take-off by an hour, but we finally arrived in Bangkok. The taxi ride to our hotel took over an hour – Friday afternoon traffic in Bangkok is the worst of the worst. We returned to our old neighborhood from last spring and have settled in at the Renaissance Ratchaprasong. Incidentally, it is the 41st anniversary of the day we first met.
Today we visited Toy at the jewelry store where she works and made plans for what we will do when we get together during her days off next week. I have been trying to get our iPhones set up to use here – found a SIM card deal that will give us unlimited international calls for a low rate.

Sawasdee!
goldenbear70 & his honey
18 February 2012

Friday's Plan Executed Successfully

--shuttle to PHL; flight to SEA via MSP; light rail to The Westin in Downtown Seattle.

As we were going through Security at PHL, we had a chance meeting with Chris' Bishop, Steve Ross, who was with his three sons on the way to Steve's father-in-law's funeral. After checking in with Chris about seeing the Rosses, we connected a few dots to discover Jill's father had been Carson's Mission President for a short time at the end of Carson's mission in the Colorado Denver South Mission in 2004.

The second leg of our flight (MSP-SEA) had been overbooked, and we had volunteered to be bumped in exchange for two $400 travel vouchers. Unfortunately, the airline announced a delay due to mechanical problems, which sent passengers with assigned seats to wander the airport. When the flight was ready to go unexpectedly early, and those passengers were AWOL, and we took their seats, thus missing the bump compensation.

As we walked to the light rail station in the SEA terminal, a man called out to gb70 (who was customarily wearing his "Cal" cap), "Hey! Is you a REAL Cal fan?" Gb70 was just about to ignore him in favor of getting to the station, when he further called, "Number 91, Defensive Lineman!" Gb70 replied, "Deandre Coleman!" The man responded, "Dat's my son!!" The usual "Go Bears!" conversation ensued. That "Cal" cap has brought "Go Bears!" comments before in places as far away as Jerusalem, but this is the first time it has attracted a comment from a player's father.

The light rail ride (on The Link) from SEA to our hotel took about 45 minutes and cost us $5.50. It was clean and uncrowded.

It was raining when we arrived (not such a surprise for Seattle), but we only had to walk one block, and it was past Nordstrom. Living in Charleston, I have had a bit of withdrawal from being near Nordstrom, so I did not mind the walk at all. I did tighten down my waterproof hood on my black parka - makes me look like a seal, but it avoided "lionizing" my hair. That's a term I picked up from my cousin, Courtney, and any girl with naturally curly hair will understand what it means.

We had a nice telephone chat with Pete and Carolyn, and we had planned to drive to visit them in Hood River, OR, but when gb70 told me the drive would be four hours each way, I reneged. I am saving myself for the flight Monday night when we will be traveling sardine class for hours measured in double digits. I am sad to report my epidural injection in my hip has thus far been unable to quiet the nerve pain in my left leg. This cross-Pacific flight will definitely require drugs.

Today we will meet for lunch with Toy's (our friend in BKK) children and grandchildren, who live in nearby Redmond. We are excited to see them. Gb70 is excited that the monorail (left over from the 1960 World's Fair) is just outside. He has been singing the "Monorail Song" from The Simpsons TV show, much to his honey's chagrin.

goldenbear 70's honey
The Westin Seattle
Saturday, 09:49

This the view from our hotel room.

Plan 'B'

I have said in the past that traveling Space A is the "unplan," and this trip is no exception. Last night we thought we would get up this morning, pick up our rental car, and head for McGuire, where we would get on a flight to McChord. That flight was cancelled.

After much effort on gb70's part researching alternatives, we rented a car and drove to Philadelphia Airport, where we are staying at the Sheraton Suites (like Embassy Suites, including the high-rise atrium lobby), once again benefiting from Carson's (thank you, Carse!) employee discount. Tomorrow we will take a Delta flight to SEATAC using some frequent flyer miles. That move should position us to continue with Plan 'A', which is to take the Patriot Express flight to Yokota late Monday night. Why we are not staying over in this area where we could enjoy our children and grandchildren for the weekend is a mystery to me, but it is not the way gb70 planned it. Since he did all the research, I dare not murmur...well, maybe just a little murmuring...

After such a harried day yesterday and a too-small bed last night, accompanied by inability to turn off the anxiety in our brains, we had a great nap this afternoon, followed by a lovely salad for dinner here in the hotel.

I have to give kudos to Hertz for their outstanding service today! In Dover, they were so accommodating, expressing concern over our frustrated travel plans, and offering us a great rate. When we arrived here at PHL to turn the car in, they offered the service of driving us to our hotel in the car we had rented. How nice not to have to wait for a shuttle and schlepp our bags from trunk to shuttle and off again!

goldenbear70's honey
Sheraton Suites, Philadelphia Airport
2252 on 9 Feb 2012

We Hope They Call Us On a Mission...

...when we have lost a pound or two...

For those of you who do not know yet, gb70 and I (his honey) have made application to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve a mission. For those of you who do not know, the title of this post is to be sung to a Primary song that goes, "I hope they call me on a mission when I have grown a foot or two..." We are trying to shrink rather than grow - so far have each lost just under twenty pounds and still have quite a bit to go.

We have just submitted our application to our Bishop and had our interview with the Stake President last night. Now we wait for our "call," anticipating it will be at least three weeks. If we are called to an overseas mission, we will then have to await a visa.

Chapter One - Charleston AFB to Dover AFB
Never being ones to like to sit around and wait, we decided to take a little trip. At eight o'clock this morning, gb70 awakened me to say there was a flight we could take this afternoon - show time was 1645. At 1030 our friends who are going to house sit for us came by; we discussed arrangements and house maintenance issues; and by noon we scrambled to move out of our bedroom so they could move in. We did not quite get everything cleared out, but they were willing to wait for us to return and make the best of it until we return.

Our sweet friend, Beth, came to help us pack up and provide much-needed hugs from her and our two little adopted grandchildren, Claire and Boston. We will really miss them!

When we boarded the plane, Alan asked the pilot if we could sit in the cockpit, and we were soon strapped in with the five-point harness, sitting on comfy seats with a spectacular view for take-off. First we flew over our neighborhood, and then we flew near our friends, Joni and Gary's house near Myrtle Beach and Mark's friends' house in Wilmington, NC. As we rose above the ground, I saw the full moon rising - it was red-orange as it was on the horizon and quickly rose to light up the night. The ground looked like a piece of black cloth with strings of diamond necklaces scattered around. I was thinking we lived really near miles of nothing when I realized I was seeing the coastline, and the "nothing" was the ocean.

The plane turned west, and soon we were floating above a layer of what looked like wrinkled batting. It was about a ninety-minute flight, and when my ears told me we were descending I witnessed first-hand pilots flying solely by the instruments. For what seemed an interminable amount of time we were flying with no visibility. I gained a new appreciation for Lehi's dream of the mists of darkness that teaches us to hold to the rod to get to our desired destination. (See 1 Nephi 8:23-24)
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng

It was a relief when the clouds parted and we saw a diamond-, ruby- and emerald-lighted arrow pointing to the end of the Dover AFB runway. We had a gentle landing, and now we are settling in to our room at the Air Force Inn.

Tomorrow the plan is to rent a car and drive to McGuire to try to make an 1100 show time for a flight to McChord (near Seattle). Stay tuned.

goldenbear70's honey
Eagles Rest Inn, Dover AFB
2151 2/8/2012

Happy Columbus Day! 12 October 2011

Looking out the window of our cabin, I can truly appreciate Columbus sailing the ocean blue for so many days as he traveled to America. “Water, water everywhere…” One BIG difference is that the Mediterranean is nearly as smooth as glass, and it is sunny and about 75 degrees (F) this afternoon.

I am writing this offline while we are traveling on a Grimaldi Lines “ferry” traveling from Barcelona to Rome. Internet is available but costs ten Euro for one hour. Experience tells me it is probably not a very fast connection, so I thought I would use the spare time to compose a report to post when we arrive in our hotel in Rome. The ship is large and is mostly carrying freight. Although there is a capacity for 1000 passengers to be aboard, I do not think there are more than 100 on this trip, which include the truck drivers for the trucks that are aboard.
We have a cabin called a “Junior Suite” that has a king sized bed as well as fold out bunks, so a family of four could fit comfortably (costs $290 for the ~24-hour trip). There is even a small play area for young children equipped with a slide and other equipment. We have our own ¾ bathroom, a closet, small refrigerator, dressing table and a tiny TV with only one English speaking station, BBC News. The food is very expensive and is served cafeteria style. The reviews advised to bring food on board, but we had so much luggage, we did not want to bring groceries in addition. I was surprised that they offer a pool, gym, beauty spa, casino and nightclub. Overall you could say they provide a budget cruise experience that is clean, safe and gets you from point A to point B. Maybe you will have occasion to travel this way when you tour Europe.
Our Celebrity cruise was a little disappointing. The ship was lovely, and our room was about 30% larger than the Princess and Carnival ships on which we have traveled. The food was too good (too tempting). On the down side: there were mostly elderly people aboard, and as the days passed I found myself feeling like I was in an assisted living facility. Exceptions were occasionally running into an elevator full of young adults and going dancing. Spotting a child on board was truly a rare occurrence. I suppose the most disconcerting part of seeing so many old people was looking into the mirror and facing the fact that I fit right in. Equally troubling was realizing that, while I might look a little younger than some, many of them could outpace me at hiking, walking, dancing and other tour activities.
Contributing to our disappointment was the fact that Alan woke up the first morning with nausea, chills, fever and a severe headache and lower back pain. The worst of the symptoms dissipated after 48 hours, but, due to his illness, we missed a full three days of shore excursions: southern France, Livorno and Civitavecchia (Rome’s port). I got a mini-version of the bug and missed Venice too. The ship’s doctor did some lab tests and determined he “just” had Norovirus, which is commonly known as “stomach flu,” and occurs almost as frequently as the common cold.
Speaking of the “common cold,” within two days of his recovery, Alan fell sick with a full-blown version of that virus. Fortunately we came prepared with all the drugs we needed for symptomatic treatment. Finally (at least I hope this is the last report of illness for this trip) as we waited between cruises yesterday, I became very sick after lunch and had to “pray to the porcelain god” in the ladies’ room at the W Hotel in Barcelona yesterday. That seems to be a one-time occurrence, so far.

(goldenbear70 writing now) We are looking forward to seeing Rome with time to spare, as when cruising you only have a half-day to see everything. When the ship pulled into Civitavecchia, guests were still an hour’s train ride from Rome, so sightseeing would have been limited and rushed even if had I felt well enough to get off the ship.
Since the advent of the Internet (for me, since 1994), this is the longest time we have been offline. We feel cutoff and out of touch, and though we did try an Internet café in Kotor, Montenegro, the keyboard was in Serbian and there was a “z” where the “y” should have been, so we had little to no chance to check in with family and friends, let alone find out what was happening in the news and with our favorite teams. It seemed like the international versions of CNN, Sky News, BBC, Fox News, etc., replayed the same stories for three days. We got so tired of hearing about the missing baby in Kansas City and MSNBC advertising for itself and the Democrat Party that we eventually just turned off the TV and read.
By the time we reach our hotel tonight, it will be late, so we may not have an opportunity to post this right away, but we’ll be thinking of you all anyway.

Go Bears—beat the Trojans!
Rome, Italy

Suvarnabumi (Farewell to Thailand for Now)

We have to make this quick. (Mark will be happy.)

Suvarnabumi is pronounced "Suwarnaboom." I just had a complimentary Thai massage while waiting in the Royal Orchid lounge. It is the first time in over a month that my left arm has stopped tingling. I must have a pinched nerve. Anyway, it was a grandly relaxing and pleasant experience. Kup Khun Kha, Thailand. Goodbye to all the orchids, lemon grass, Panang Curry, Pad Thai, and beautiful tropical fruits. We finally tasted Durian this trip (delicious!) and Mangosteen, Rambutan, countless Papayas and Mangos - just fabulous. It is the country of smiles - people are so kind and seem happy. We spent our last day packing and having one last mani-pedi and haircut for goldenbear70 - one or two last delicious meals and a good sleep in our comfy Renaissance bed.

We will fly home via Beijing and Dulles and arrive at home after midnight.

Sawasdee Kha, all.
goldenbear70's Honey
0920 local time

Only Four Days Left in Bangkok

I know I am in one of the most interesting cities in Asia, and we only have four days left here, but I am devoting today to watching The Royal Wedding. That’s right – “The Game Day Show,” pregame, game and post-game. This only happens every thirty years or so, and all those football shows come on once a week for months every year! Alan will not be able to take it, so he will probably go down to the river and watch boats and fish, but I will be glued to BBC.

I see that we have only a few days of vitamins and other personal items left of the six weeks’ worth of supplies we packed. In spite of depleting those items, as well as unloading a suitcase-full of things we brought to family in Australia, we have had to purchase another large piece of luggage to take things home.

Even though it is the hot, dry season here, we have had several days of rain – (aside from the monsoon week we spent in Ao Nang/Krabi). The weather has also been cooler than it usually is at this time of year, but goldenbear70’s passport became permanently warped from spending a day in his sweaty pocket, and my lippy melted during one of our day trips. In spite of the uncomfortable weather, the food is delicious, the people are so gracious and delightful, and the shopping is phenomenal. Anyway, since we live in Charleston now, this weather just gets us acclimated for our summer at home.

Especially for our Asian friends, we have taken photos of our food. I must say that I like the Thai custom of eating with a large tablespoon and fork, better than I like using chop sticks. I am so uncoordinated with the latter, using them would be a great means of cutting calories for me. For rice and noodles, nothing beats a large spoon.

I also have had a few pieces of clothing tailored. Having things made sure beats hours of unfruitful shopping, but it still takes a lot of energy to select styles and fabrics.

We have had a wonderful time touring – especially with our friends, Toy and Bee. Check out our Flickr photos for updates that are worth many thousands of words.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21984041@N08/

Let us know if you have trouble viewing the photos.

Noon, Bangkok Time
Sawasdee Kah/Krup The Honey/goldenbear70

Ubon Day Trip

Almost 40 years ago, I used to fly into Ubon Ratchathani to buy jewelry from B Jewelry, a small store located on the Royal Thai AFB, Ubon. I visited regularly, and purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of jewelry, Thai silk, bronzeware, and souvenirs for the ship's store aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). I didn't realize at the time what a privilege it was to do this, and what good friends I would become with the store manager, Toy Supakorn (nee Tantasirikorn). I decided to pay a short visit to Ubon for old times' sake, so Sunday night I took the train from Bangkok to Ubon for a day's outing.

Well, the night train really was an experience--rocking from side to side, banging and clanking continuously, and (worst of all) suddenly lurching forwards or backwards when the engineer decided to slow down or accelerate. I rode First Class, which meant I shared a sleeper compartment with another person, who decided not to show up for the trip--he must have known what I was in for and skipped the whole affair! We left Bangkok 30 minutes late, were sidetracked at least three times for 30 minutes each, and arrived in Ubon 2 1/2 hours late. With all the noise and rocking, I didn't sleep at all, but I was glad to finally be back in Ubon after 38 years.

That is, I thought I was glad to be back, until I took a ride around town and didn't recognize a single thing, was denied entrance to the Air Force Base (where the B Jewelry store was), it started to rain ("big raining"), and my desire to return to Bangkok ASAP was thwarted by a lack of seats on any of the three airlines serving the Ubon-BKK route. I took some pictures and headed back to the train station so I could be sure to get a ticket in the First Class car. Oops--no such luck--"sorry, sir, all full." OK, so Second Class is sounding better all the time, and I could save 600 Baht--woohoo!

I waited about 2 hours for the train to come, big raining all this time, so I sampled some of the food vendors' delicacies. The only one I liked was the plain rice. I did have some fried rice at one stall, but it included a mystery meat that I avoided--the flies wouldn't even land on it....

The train arrived about 1 1/2 hours before departure, so I thought I'd get aboard and find my seat. I found it, all right--next to the leaking roof from the big raining. I found the conductor to ask if I could change seats, but he just got a rag, wiped the seat and windowsill, and said, "you OK now--sit!" Of course, it only stayed dry for about a minute. I went back to the conductor, who then stuffed a rag up between the window and the frame and said, "OK."

By this time I noticed the few people in the car were all coughing, and I realized that the car was filled with diesel smoke from the generator which powered the on-board A/C unit, which was located beneath the car. I left the car, and the only place I could find to wait that didn't involve inhaling tons of diesel smoke was out in the rain--the covered areas were containing the smoke from five generators. What a revolting development this was!

I boarded again with a minute to spare before we left the station, and was looking forward to relaxing in the seat and getting a free shower, but the conductor immediately started pulling down the beds and making them up. Since I was assigned an upper bunk, I had to climb up into a coffin-like area and lay down on the pallet, even though it was only 6:30 PM. It was a hard day's night, those 13 hours back to Bangkok, for sure.

Goldenbear's Honey made the right choice in staying at the Renaissance and not accompanying me to Ubon.

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21984041@N08/sets/72157626414033571/

Where You Need Both Hands to Say "Hello/Goodbye"

Just as a PS to our Australia stay, one of the many things our Aussie cousins taught us this trip is that "Entree" on their menus is equivalent to "Appetizer" on our menus. Knowing that can make a big difference when you order your meal. Also, a sidewalk is a "foot path." The expression is not "How are you doing?" or "How is it going?" but "How are YOU GOING?" I could go on and on - both countries speak English, but the accent and the vocabulary differs. Please say "Wau-tuh" rather than "Wah-trr."

Our flight back on Thai Airlines was pleasant - we watched three good movies, ate a delicious meal, and here we are. I especially like watching movies on flights, because they edit out a lot of gore and foul language that I did not want to see or hear in the first place. Here's a clue, Hollywood, the plot, acting, and scenes are just as good without all that stuff - actually, they are better.

So we are - back where we need both hands free to greet people - I have to remember to put my purse on my arm so I can place both hands together in front of my nose and mouth and slightly bow my head ("wai") as I say "Sawadee Kah." It is a very nice custom - showing respect for another as you come and go. I notice the locals also reverence their Buddhist shrines with the same gesture as they pass them on the sidewalks.

In case you missed it - be sure to check our Flickr account for the video we made of our room here in Bangkok this time. We were struggling to suppress our country bumpkin response when the front desk clerk led us to our room which he stated had been upgraded by the manager to a suite. Gomer Pyle's "Go-o-ollee!" sums it up pretty well. The rooftop pool here is equally spectacular, so we will try to get a photo of that posted soon.

We arrived on the second day of Thailand's New Year Holiday - Songkrahn. To celebrate and wish each other well on this three-day holiday, people throw water and white mud on each other. There were otherwise perfectly normal people running around the streets and parks with huge water guns (think Hasbro "Super Soakers") and pails of water and mud. Stands were set up everywhere selling bottles of water and bags of white clay for throwing and face painting @ 10 bht each ($0.33 US). White clay residue was splattered all over cars, buses, taxis and people's clothing. It is a BIG deal hear - reminded us of the sale and use of fire works near Independence Day in the States. Goldenbear70 got doused and gently slapped on the face with clay as he walked a few blocks to get a haircut, manicure and pedicure on our second day here. That's right, you heard me right - mani-pedi for my man.

Traffic was light due to the holiday, but we notice it is also lighter (and there is less air pollution) than nine years ago due to completion and increased use of the Skytrain and Subway, as well as elimination of the 2-cycle motorcycle engine. We notice more people wearing helmets when riding scooters and motorcycles (it's the law here now), but the incidence of serious and fatal accidents involving motorcycles is still startling.

Of course we visited Toy's new jewelry store, Chin. She flew here from Phuket our first day, sent a car for us and entertained us at her store. They sell not only jewelry but many typical souvenir items - and she gives us a 40% discount. It's one-stop shopping that wore us out - and we were just looking. She greeted us with gifts from Phuket, including a beautiful straw handbag, a pashmina, and for goldenbear70 - his favorite Thai pastries - sort of mini-crepes stuffed with coconut, pineapple and mango. Right away, she wanted my rings to have them cleaned - now they sparkle like new. She uses a special sonic cleaning machine, but she said boiling water and a drop of dish soap will work too.

She is back in town today, and we will go back to her store to actually purchase a few items and spend some more time with her. In the meantime we are enjoying the always-delicious Thai food, our gorgeous room, the hotel pool and nearby shopping areas. Sunday we took the train and then a taxi to church - same place where we attended nine years ago. We even ventured to a dentist here where we each had a cleaning, x-rays, and exam and a couple of fillings each. We could actually afford the dental work here without taking out a loan.

My eczema flared up again last summer, and it has been worse since Ao Nang, so Toy made an appointment for me at her doctor. She had a car come for us to take us there, and we were seen about a half hour late, but the facility was very modern and clean. It could not have been more conveniently arranged: you see the doctor in his office, where there is a small exam room curtained off; there is an assistant there who handles the paperwork for prescriptions etc. right in that office; and you walk down the hall to have your prescription filled (cream compounded on-site); followed by walking to the final window where you pay. I think the whole deal including two prescriptions and the exam cost us 1100 bht (~$38). The best part of this story is that I am getting better. I've been to two different dermatologists in the US with no improvement.

Alan fulfilled a burning desire to travel to Ubon Ratchitani, but I will leave it to him to post that story.

Sorry, Mark, I know this has been a long post. We enjoy talking to our family on Skype and occasionally hearing from them via e-mail. We love and miss you all.

goldenbear70's Honey
1040, Renaissance, Bangkok, Thailand
Photos:

Bittersweet

As posted earlier, just prior to our arrival, my Aunt Muriel suffered a serious stroke and was hospitalized, so Lynn was tied up tending to her mother. Her sister Ali was on an international trip, Aunt Val was on a cruise to New Zealand, and sister Christine was wrapping up her affairs on the East Coast preparing for her move back to W.A. Lynn had the whole burden of her mother's situation on her shoulders, including Muriel's 14 year-old deaf (but cute) dog, Ollie.

Aunt Muriel rallied for a couple of days - Tuesday we had a great visit with her. She recognized me (said "you look like your father," and "sorry," apologizing for her ill health interfering with our holiday). On Wednesday 6 April, however, she suffered another stroke, and never regained consciousness. She passed away early Sunday morning, 11 April, with her three daughters by her bedside. It was a bittersweet experience for us, as we were there during her last hours and were able to help comfort Lynn and the family, but it was sad to realize she had gone.

Our trip to Perth was not what we had expected when we set out, but we were so glad that we were able to be there to see Aunt Muriel once again before she left us, and to bond even more closely with Lynn, Russell, and the extended family.

We met Elliot (Ali's oldest son); Christine (Lynn and Ali's sister) for the first time, as well as her grandsons (Nathan and Leanne's sons, Lochy and Jack); and Chili and Ruby (Russell's grandchildren) --all for the first time. We also saw Aunt Val, cousins Gary, Sam, Holly, and Tyler (Ali's husband & children), and Aunt Eva (Uncle Stanley's youngest sister).

We enjoyed seeing Ali and Gary's new kitchen and Lynn and Russ's new house and dog, Teddy. We rode the new rapid transit into downtown Perth; toured Mandurah, Freemantle and the coast between there and Perth with Russell; had two fabulous dinners with Dean and Glenda (Russell's daughter) and Russell, and one with Leanne, Nathan, and boys, at their home, and in general just had a wonderful time visiting with the family.

Our visit ended all too soon, but we had an unchangeable ticket, so off we went, back to Bangkok on 13 April.

See Photos at: http://flickr.com/gp/21984041@N08/Rh95K6/

Goldenbear70 & His Honey
Bangkok, Thailand 2219, 04/15/2011

Down Under

Thursday morning we had to get up and out of our room in Phu Pha by 0630 to grab a bite of breakfast from the buffet before our car picked us up. One last large bowl of those luscious fruits, and we said "Goodbye" to Phu Pha at Ao Nang. Most of the flooding had cleared on the roads, but we learned seven people were killed in Krabi from the mud slides. As we drove to the airport, our driver pointed out where a road had been washed out. When we saw the newspapers at the airport we realized many tourists had been evacuated, so our situation, while uncomfortable and boring, was at least not dangerous.

We had a pleasant flight from Krabi to Bangkok, where we arrived about mid-morning. Because there was such a long layover, we had to exit the secure area of the airport and wait six hours to queue up to obtain our boarding passes. Our sweet Thai friend, Toy, called as she had done each day twice a day. She suggested we avail ourselves of the beauty salon and massage services at the airport. I thought that was a splendid idea - had my hair washed and styled dry for $10 - then went next door for a $5 pedicure! I would have signed on for the afternoon of massage if I had been left alone.

The Phu Pha cook, "Rahm," had made goldenbear70 a special treat for the journey, sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves - some just plain and others with pineapple, mango and coconut. We snacked on those at the airport in Bangkok, as well as finding a few delicious menu items at the airport food shops and the duty free food demonstrations.

We even found a lounge full of recliners where we took a little nap while people milled around staring at us (at least it seemed like it). Finally we went to our gate after more than a 12-hour layover we boarded our flight to Perth. We both slept most of the way, and what a treat it was to emerge from the airport into the crisp sunny morning in Perth! The weather here is much cooler than it would have been if we had arrived in February when we first planned to be here.

Our time here has been filled with family just like we had hoped. Russell and Lynn make us feel so welcome, and we have been able to visit Auntie Muriel in the hospital. She had a stroke a few days before we arrived, and it is sad to see her sick, but at least we are able to visit.

Yesterday Holly (Ali's daughter) gave a beautiful "high tea" in honor of Lynn's birthday. There was delicious food, and Ali's family was there (Ali, Gary, Elliot, Holly of course, Sam, Tyler and the dog, Scruff), Auntie Eva came too. Nathan, Leann and their darling two boys (Lochy and Jack - so cute!) came by Lynn's house and brought her flowers. My gift was to blow dry her hair after she washed it and paint her nails, and we all succeeded in making it a very special day for Lynn.

Goldenbear70 has been busy doing projects around the house here - painting, washing and waxing cars - today he even baked a bread pudding. We are having fun just being together. The weather is mild and sunny - love it!

goldenbear70's honey
Perth, Western Australia 1601, local time

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Last night I lay awake listening to the rain pounding outside, and I became so worried I woke up goldenbear70 to say how I was frightened that we would not be able to leave Ao Nang on Thursday as planned. "It will be fine," he replied sleepily.

A little later I was awakened by the silence - the rain had stopped! Hooray! It has rained a little more during the day today - but only light sprinkles. The flooded road we waded down yesterday mid-afternoon has drained dry now, and we walked it after breakfast this morning. Now the sunshine is beginning to creep through the canopy and clouds.

For a little while we have had our fill of Pat Thai noodles, pineapple fried rice, Tom Kha, Tom Yum, Panang and Mussamann curry, Satay and even fresh mango, papaya, pomelo and pineapple. We have befriended the cook here - her name is pronounced "Rahm." I have no idea how to spell it, but it means "umbrella." She is such a kind person. Alan mentioned he missed having rice for breakfast Tuesday, and today she made sticky rice - sweet rice wrapped in a banana leaf with coconut and mango - tastes like rice pudding - only better.

We prefer to eat here at the resort, because Rahm makes such nice meals for us. (And, we really did not enjoy the adventure of wading down that road yesterday.)We have to overlook the four kittens that roam in and out of the kitchen at will, climbing on the counter tops. I am not sure Rahm washes her hands before she prepares our food, but so far we have remained healthy. Thank God for his blessings.

Our dear friend, Toy, calls us twice each day to make sure we are happy and safe. We will get to see her in Bangkok when we return from Perth. Tomorrow, early in the morning we have a confirmed ride to the airport for our flight to Oz.

As I look out our cabin window I am amazed at the beautiful plants that grow here and how clean each leaf is from the great washing they have had this week. Some of the plants with larger leaves bowed down from the pounding of the rain - the same as heavy wet snow weighs down the tree branches in the winter. Speaking of winter: Bangkok's low was only forty-something degrees Farenheit today, and we heard there is a freeze warning in Charleston. El Nina? Global Warming? Climate Change? How about just plain old fluctuating weather patterns?

Our next post will be from Down Under if all goes according to plan, so listen for an Aussie accent.

goldenbear70 & his honey
1343, Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand