Bangkok
The trip here from PEK went much better than expected, despite the chaos and mayhem in the airports in China. My friends in Second Life (SL) all sent me off with good wishes for a smooth, safe journey, and for my personal well being. When I finally got into the cab to the airport and was on my way, after a short altercation with the driver of the first cab I got into over my insistance on using the meter rather than paying his outrageous fare (he asked for 200, the final sum was 75)… THEN this fierce, fiery JOY that always fills me at the beginning of a new adventure rose up inside me and I grinned for glee. The elven energy given me surrounded me like an irridescent bubble, and carried me through all the noise and frustration of the others in the airports I passed through. When there was a problem, the elven energy bubble expanded to take in the people dealing with the problem, and it cleared up within minutes - as if by magic. There were a few places where things could have gotten disastrous, as when I couldn’t find my flight listed in Shandong, but elven magic found me a girl who took me to the first class waiting lounge, gave me tea and internet access (could not log into either email or SL, alas), checked my bag and got my bording pass, found out the flight was leaving TWO HOURS earlier than scheduled, and got me to the gate in time. In Beijing they were overbooked and if I had come a little later I would not have been able to get a seat, despite having a reservation and being on the list. On board, they ran out of everything but pork for the meal. Surrounded by my elven bubble, and secure in my rights, I told them: I’m vegetarian. I ordered a special meal two months ago. I do NOT eat pork. Then I looked at them and thought: DEAL. And they brought me a nice vegetarian meal from Business Class.
Here in Bangkok, the flat where I’m staying has THE most spectacular view of the city that I have seen anywhere in any city in the world. I hope I can photograph it. There was someone to meet me, who also loaned me money until I could get to the bank, and give me directions to the office. This morning, I bought a jasmine and roses garland for the Buddha and hung it in the office. The TEAM I am working with took me to a fabulous ‘tent’ of street food offerings for lunch: steamed rice, glass noodles with chicken and vegetable curry, small shellfish in chili sauce, and some sort of vegetables in a coconut milk sauce. Batter-fried finger plantains in a homemade paper sack for dessert.
I’m having FUN, people. *grins*