Thailand here we come

2nd February

Here we go… 5am and we are up as the flight to Bangkok is waiting 😊 Dropped car to the rental car park, took a bus back to the airport and check in with luggage since I need to go to Qatar airways office to confirm my card as they do not like if people use other cards than credit cards and my prepaid card is strange for them, whatever…. All done eventually, check in, bag dropped now time for cappuccino and croissant at airport coffee kiosk to feed grumpy monster. I will follow Italian as she selected the kiosk with fresh pastry and good coffee, so now the grumpy monster to lovely Rosa and I thought that it is only me who is grumpy when hungry. Now we are on the way to boarding with fuel in the belly and rushing in to gate as Rosa said that we have to be there early 😊 so we are lying on the chairs for quite a while, looking on the immigration personal checking anyone who had dark skin and look a bit Arabic. As per the Murphy’s law, nature called as the boarding call was announced, typical but all good and on time for boarding and heading off to Doha. Here at Doha we realized that there is direct flight to Krabi from here, so we thought about changing flights but that is costing extra money, therefore we walked around as we needed to stretch legs after such long flight. Even after stretching the legs we sat down for falafel and salad, some coke to keep us awake and then walk all around the terminals from D to A watching the tram inside the airport shuffling travelers from one terminal to another, plus taking photos at some sort of giant mickey mouse who run out of the dope. Just as we were coming back from terminal D, boarding was announced and we were herded to glass ZOO area what I call the waiting room, where everyone can see you but cannot feed you or pat you. Since we had connection to internet almighty we checked the emails, news and all the most important stuff home sapiens now does with its huge brain and smart phone. Boarded last as we did not have much luggage we sat down to our window and middle seat, meaning I had window seat but sat in middle. After some neck stiffing and leg stretching moments later “what were funny as the guy in front row had our asses in his face” we arrived to Bangkok woo hoo, holy crap how hot and sticky is here. Immigration process was like queuing at Disney land for tickets, just at the end was serious looking guy instead of goofy or other way round…. ? Long story and que short we received our stamp with 30 days exemption and went for the bus to DMK airport as to type whole name is no use since the calling sign is sufficient. Obviously as you do after long flight, coffee refill was in need so we stopped at this American chain which name I could not remember now for coffee and doughnut, what were average in  best opinion. Then finally out of the terminal and slap what a sticky hot is outside, thankfully the coach is airconditioned so happy for it as we were sweating our asses of. Transfer bus is some sort of sightseeing bus as we passed through various motorways, toll bridges, saw a lot of commercial, some poor and some rich or middle class areas what one can see in such huge megacity where shanty towns are on the other side of the fence to some nice house. At DMK airport, refill water bottle, search for the departure gate and check in time so we could drop off the luggage, which was not ready so luggage storage instead for 300 THB and we were off to get hammered by heat of megacity. Just across local road three lanes each way officially “four sometimes five realistically” was a temple glistening in the sun with its golden roof tops and colorful decorations. Walked through  overpass to it, where we took a few photos, walked around the temple grounds were monks were giving their blessing to people who made offering, people celebrating something in large open tent like structure where food was served and eaten at classic white plastic chairs and tables. Eventually we went up to the temple after we saw people emerging from it, which means that prayer time is over and found this beautifully decorated inside walls of temple what were full of colors like they were painted just today, amazing sight. Lots of people around in formal clothing, European and Thai style and monk at the front in his lotus position taking photos with people. Rosa wanted to take photo with him but as we discussed this lady turned to us, welcomed us and informed us that this is family celebration of son becoming monk and that the people taking photos were his parents and relatives since this is big thing in Thai family lives, when son become monk for few months as show of respect for his parents for raising him up. We have received so warm welcome even if we crashed this family ceremony as uninvited guests with plenty of explanations. Since we saw all what it was possible to see and we got a bit hungry we go on the road and went for some food and as we were crossing the street the massage place came to our attention and since were stiff from the flight and in Thailand we went for Thai massage and what a great idea that was ! Fabulous massage and sleep i.e snooze for me. We changed to massage dress what is huge oversized pants and shirt and then the “torture” started. I’ve received guy as the lady was probably scared of me and also he was more able to get this white whale slap and stretch. After one hour I felt like dough, well kneed and ready to rest and sleep. However we had to get out and that was soooo hard for me as I was out of my body and it took me good hour to get back as we walked through streets, soaking up the atmosphere without stink from the canal / river nearby. WE found a local market where we went in search of the food, since we both were craving fruit and fresh pineapple is so delicious yummy. Then entered semi covered marked with roof from corrugated iron and stools selling everything, fruit, veg, sea food, meat, flowers, spices, amazing sight, nothing like western boring style of shelving units and freezers with packed food without scent or smell. Here all the meat and fish scents mixed together to non-pleasant odor for nose of a lady until we reached the flowers stool and that was the refreshing and nice before we exited the market. Walked back to the airport as we were tired and the hot sticky weather was not the best for someone who spent nearly 24 hours on the plane / road. I ate my lychee as we were approaching airport since Rosa did not want one, careful one 😊 I do not like air condition usually but in this instance the air condition was a god sent gift and we enjoyed just sitting at airport in nice cool environment. Checked baggage on fecking fourth time as it was overweight, than not correct boarding pass, than her bag was not checked in so we “I mean me 😊 “ need to buy a checked luggage, swear to God if I had to go one more to luggage drop I would throw it away. At the end the Air Asia is good airline and all people are so polite, that I could not say anything other that it was our own stupidity or Love that we not paid careful attention to the booking. Our airport visit marathon finished after 34 hours and five airports later at Krabi airport. Thank God for female intuition as Rosa organized pick up for us instead of using the public transport what I and she usually use abroad but after so many hours travelling I really appreciated that someone just took my luggage, even the “ small suitcase” with sight and opened door for me into nice huge airconditioned jeep and we were of to our first hotel http://www.arawankrabi.com/ which was really really good choice for first nigt as it was in cull de sac under the hill with lots of green around, fantastic food, infinity pool with view of the ocean and sunset as well as great non squeaky concrete made bed. We finally rested and had nice swim in the pool, fantastic food and some sleep too. Well first day in Thailand was amazing and I cannot wait to continue this dream trip.