Dear A,
It was after 11:00 pm when I stepped off the plane from Tokyo. A 10 hour flight. Somehow, the adventure of that long haul doesn’t match up to the time we attempted to sleep in the airport transit lounge in Singapore, before flying on to Bangkok at 6:00 am. Oh, the good times we had! The Bangkok airport seems rather new and shiny now, with flights arriving around the clock.
I later found out that it’s a new airport just for International travel. All new, all shiny, totally different from our last visit. And completely bustling for the late hour. No wonder it seemed so much more modern! Check out the cool doors...
You know how I usually do such good research on currency exchange? Well, I didn’t. I was standing at the ATM staring at the different amounts... 1,000 Baht or 2,000 Baht or 5,000 Baht or... And I had no idea how much money that was. If I wasn’t so sleep deprived after 24 hours of travel, I probably would have been alarmed! As it was, I settled for bemused and 2,000 Baht, thank you.
My hotel car service was waiting (1,200 Baht) and speedily zipped me off for the 40 minute drive into central Bangkok. I composed epic notes to you on the drive... nearly all of which I’ve forgotten. I didn’t remember that they drive on the Left in Bangkok. Did we ever know that? And the billboards – they’re HUGE. Some of them are easily 180 feet long. Really. I don’t remember that either! I wanted to take photos of the freeway overpasses – they included charming covered walkways with traditional Thai roof designs. But I was too tired to do more than have a passing thought of getting the camera out.
Once in Bangkok, I was surprised to see street food markets still busy and bustling at 12:30 am. Still grilling little sausages and fish on sticks. I’m going to pass on the street food this time though. The clocks at street lights surprised me – 120 seconds until the light turns?? And then zip zip zip! off we go again. Zoom zoom!
The color of the taxis was something else I don’t remember. Bright hot pink was predominant. But you’d also see neon yellow, flashy orange. peacock blue, and lime green. Bright bright bright! Regular cars were the regular sedate colors. So the taxis stuck out a mile. 
Late night traffic was mostly cars, but the next day there was the added mix of tuk-tuks and cyclists. Need a ride to the train station? Grab a tuk-tuk... just 60, or maybe 100 Baht. SkyTrain to National Stadium (and the Jim Thompson House!)... 20 Baht.
I did finally look up the exchange rate. About 30 Baht to 1 USD. Good to know.
Bangkok feels different from our last trip. More modern and sophisticated. I don’t know if it’s the city that’s changed or just my vantage point. Seeing as how I’m here on business this time around, and not a tourist. I’m going to an office building instead of the Grand Palace. Riding in motor cars, instead of a water taxis. ATMs are every hundred feet as you walk through the city. And the SkyTrain is as sleek and sophisticated as the newest London Tube station. And the trains are well air conditioned too.
How did we miss the Night Markets when we were here? Streets lined with pop-up booths of all shapes and sizes. Do you need googley-eye contact lenses? I’m sure we can get them cheap. Clothes, compact disks, nail polish and cosmetics... the list goes on and on. One booth caught my eye and I stopped. But just one. 
I totally passed on the contact lenses though. I know. Missed opportunity. LOL
Looking forward to a Saturday to visit the local Post Office and the Jim Thompson House... wishing YOU were here to share it all again.
Love,
C
