Bangkok again

We actually made it to Bangkok.  Instead of spending a couple of days decompressing, we plunged right in with khao man gai, foot massages and a frenzied walk to Jok Pochana. After delivering the t shirt,  we sat down to enjoy.  I wasn't feeling well, but figured a sip of cold Leo beer would do the trick, and what a trick it was.  Down I went, head between my knees, shaking, nausea rising.  The mama summoned a tuk tuk and Muzzy helped me in, handing me a bag just in time to keep me from throwing up all over the tuk tuk in front of the customers enjoying their meals.  I was too sick to be embarrassed.  Muzzy got me back to the Riverside and up to the room, where after a good long session of purging, we decided to call a doctor.  Dr. Khaosan Clinic dispatched a young man and his assistant, on duty all night and we decided it was dehydration...what a nice man, great English, thank god.  I am fine, a bit worse for wear, but I think that is the theme for this trip, a bit worse for wear.  We are not quite as hearty as in year's past, and still finding our groove.  That is why we have four days of nothing in Bangkok.

Observations:  early January in Thailand is lovely.  The weather is less humid, not so hot, and while there are many tourists, not nearly as many as there will be at the beginning of February.  We had rain  last night.  Today the air is clean and a breeze blows across the open patio at the edge of the Chao Praya.  The long tail boats ply back and forth, hoping for a fare.  The boatmen bob up and down in the choppy river eating breakfast noodles, marking space while the boat turns back and forth.  We watch the river tides turn, tugboats towing giant strings of barges down river, the yellow municipal river cleaning boats scooping up floating platforms of water hyacinth and garbage, the sight seeing yachts, and the restored wooden junk-like boats with decks of teak and privileged tourists lounging in deck chairs.  And I regain my rhythm.

So, Sunday.  The light is pink over the river this morning and Bangkok is in a holiday mood. It's Sunday. After a good day of rest we are ready to resume our adventure.   Chatuchak.  But first, breakfast at Ricky's.  We finally had dinner at. Jok Pochana. The new location is around the corner from the old one on Samsen Soi 2. The soi curves around and there is a whole alley that Jok Pochana has sort of taken over.  Lek's extended family owns a couple of shop houses and now there are two restaurants...Jok Pochana and Jeng's Noodles. It's actually better in some ways.  There is a constant breeze that wafts down the alley that's very. pleasant. We finally had our feast..    As we were leaving,, we ran into two people who stopped us to ask about the Jok Pochana T shirts.  We got to talking and found out we were talking to ourselves!  Crazy!  Very nice people from Northern California who have a store and now a condo in Chiang Mai..  We. May. Try to visit. Near the end of our trip.

So it begins...all the quirks and craziness of travel.  Forgive the erratic punctuation.  Something seems to be wrong with either my little iPad, the keyboard, or the Internet.  It's Asia, after all.  How can you tell.  Suffice it to say, we are back in the groove, laughing a lot, enjoying breakfast at Ricky's...how can it still be the same after all. These years,, and what makes their. Muesli. with fruit and yogurt. Something I pine for when I am home?  How do the mosquitoes get in with the door closed?  Why do they even bother with traffic signals, crosswalks and parking signs?  What's the deal with rolls of toilet paper for napkins, and all. Of life''s other. Imponderables..   With much trepedation. And frustration, I am going to post...I hope.