Mekong Nomads – Day 1 – 28th November  Sydney to Bangkok.

A $26 Uber picks us up at 7.15. A tip we learned from the front desk of the Quest – don’t book until you’re ready to go, last night to pre book was over $40.

Qantas checkin by machine at the airport still feels like a cluster f… to me, they need more human staff there to guide the clueless people like us through tagging, which side to put the bag etc. But, we get there. 2 x 13kg bags and 2 x 14 kg bags.

Borderforce checks done, time for food. H reacts to her malaria medication, diagnosis was by Drs Robson and Reid. She’s nautious, faint, hot, and GREEN. They sponge her forehead, and try to softly suggest helpful things to a stressed green face. I’m sure it helped.

I made it clear at the start I wasn’t taking them ( malaria tablets ) after they made me really crook a few years ago, and they aren’t really needed as Laos is malaria free.

Its a slow walk to Gate 58, however by then she’s a better colour. The trips still on!

Boarding is orderly by groups. The Finnish airline that code shares this leg for Qantas has tighter seat spacing than other long haul, are Fins short? I didn’t think so!

I read a Slow Horses book and listen to an AI blues playlist, good songs but voices and musicians that are computers. Songs like ” My Mumma Still Owes Gas Money” , ” She Left Me For A Man with Shoes” and ” The Dog Don’t Miss Her Either”, mainly blues and soul genre. Its a very clean sound,  tight rhythym section with a heavy back beat and screaming harmonicas and lead guitars. Eric Clapton, Peter Green and John Mayall eat your hearts out!

Other than a bloke up the back of us who makes 19 trips to the toilet, the flight is uneventful. Even the babies behave. Staff are good, food ok.

We come in over the paddy fields and aquaculture dams on the outskirts of Bangkok. Landing is good. I suppose anytime a plane lands is good.

It took a little while but we found our transfer company and after and hour of mind numbing traffic we’re at the  Sian Champs Elysee hotel in our rooms with an old style club foot bath. Not 100% practical but its water.

A quick freshen up then a guided tour of Khaosan Road, then through the back via Susie Walking Street for dinner, a few drinks, a walk to the Chao Praya river, a few drinks at the Sheep Shank Bar before struggling home for a midnight end to a 22 hour day.

Busy busy but we fitted a bit of stuff  in. The temperature is perfect, dry season , light breeze 27deg C in daytime, 20 at night.

Tomorrow we’re into it again.

Ciao from Bangkok

PAUOLO