travel day -- on to Bangkok (May 14)

Since we went to bed quite early, we arose early too.  We showered, packed, and had breakfast before  our car came to take us to the Hong Kong airport.

Rather uneventful as a day in the life of Julie/Harold, to be sure.

Once in Bangkok, a driver from OAT picked us up at the airport and took us to our hotel.  The most overwhelming thing we noticed was the traffic -- immense traffic jam (rush hour), and it took us 1.5 hours to get to our hotel from the airport.  Second most noticeable thing was the degree of smog.  Third most noticeable thing was the number of motorcycles on the road, zipping between cars/trucks/vans and heading to the front of the line at the stop lines where there would often be 50 motorcycles stopped ready to kick it when the light turned green. Happily, 98% of them had on helmets, and the only non-helmet wearers were riders, probably just hitching a ride for a short stint.

The hotel -- called the Laurel Evergreen Hotel -- is beautiful.  The employees are dressed in traditional Siamese clothing, a delight to see.  We are getting used to the bowing with praying hands motion used as a greeting here: slight head bow for someone younger, lower head bow for a teacher, even lower for an older person, very low for a monk, and if you are the king -- well, as low as you go.

Had a quick dinner in the lounge which had live music -- a country western musician/singer/guitar player -- all American songs, sung by a Thai cowboy complete with a cowboy hat, boots and fancy belt.  Hmmm.  He was good though.

We went to bed and are excited to begin the official OAT tour in the morning.