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This trip was my high school graduation present to Amy. It was our first time to Thailand -- her first time out of the US and only my second time out of North America.

We were on a 12-day packaged tour with Pacific Delight when we first arrived, followed by 5 days on our own.

Well, before I can begin to relate our trip, I have to include what happened before our departure. Too much "excitement"!

7/23/04 - My dad had decided to attempt a very long bike ride leaving at 9 am. After being gone all day and not answering his cell phone (we later found out that he couldn't make or receive calls because his cell phone had no service), my mom had worked herself into a "tizzy" with worry. We were all supposed to have dinner at my sister's at 5 pm, so when my dad still had not returned by then (we later found out that my dad had "bitten off more than he could chew" and was having a hard time on the return trip of his LONG ride), my mom was frantic. My dad finally called my sister at about 5:50 pm to say that he was almost home and that, obviously, he wouldn't be back in time for dinner. After my sister called my mom to let her know, my mom collapsed (we're assuming from relief) and was confused and disoriented. My brother was already with her and called my sister and me and said that we should come over also. My mom continued to be dazed and confused, so we finally called 911. The paramedics came and checked her vital signs saying that they were fine, but they recommended that she go to the hospital to be checked out. She refused until I told her that I was leaving the next day and that I really wanted to know that she was okay before I left. We then had to convinced her to go in the ambulance so that she'd have "priority" rather than sitting in the waiting room waiting to be seen. Then, she didn't want to go on "that thing" (gurney), but the paramedics told her that she had to because it was the safest place for her to sit. She relented, but said that she didn't want them to bring it in the house and they said that she could walk out to the ambulance. At the hospital, the paramedics told the nurse that mom was "feisty" when she refused to take her shoes off because she "wasn't staying", so she laid on the bed with her shoes still on. After quite awhile, the hospital finally decided to keep her overnight for observation, but she was already beginning to sound better -- more like herself again.

Saturday, 7/24/04

Since I had not seen my son the night before at my sister's for dinner, we decided to go and have breakfast. Those plans then changed to going to see my mom at the hospital when they decided to keep her overnight. Amy, Bryan and I went to see her and it was reassuring to see that she was completely back to herself again. We dropped Bryan off and went to pick up Craig who was driving us to the airport -- we're on our way!!!

            Depart LAX                                         United #891                 12:55 pm          Boeing 747-400

Amy waiting in line at LAX

   
Already breaking into all the snacks at LAX.

We took off at 1:12 pm and, in flight, had:
    Snack:        Pretzels and Drink
    Meal:         Choice of chicken w/fried rice or beef stew
                        Green salad, fruit w/lox, wheat roll, chocolate fudge cake
    Snack:       Toblerone chocolate, lemon cookie, Ruffles chips
    Meal:         Choice of chicken curry or pasta
                         Fruit, OJ, Knott's Raspberry shortbread cookies (2)
    Movies:      The Miracle, Under the Tuscan Sun, The Whole Ten Yards, The Mexican

            Arrive Tokyo, change planes                                                     3:30 pm

Even after eating all those snacks and meals, Amy HAD to have a bowl of udon IN Japan. After eating, she was finally wiped out and fell asleep on the seats waiting for our next flight.

 

       Depart Tokyo                  United #837                 6:50 pm            Boeing 747-400

Our flight from Japan to BKK was very light, so people were able to spread out. Amy slept almost the entire way and I slept about half the way.

    Meal:          Chinese Chicken w/noodles or pasta
                         Salad, roll, fruit, cake
    Movie:        Along Came Polly 

 Sunday, 7/25
 
           Arrive Bangkok                                                                        10:24 pm

Amy and I deplaned, retrieved our luggage and began to look for someone holding a sign with either our name or the tour company name. We didn't see anyone, but someone came up to us and asked us for which tour we were looking. He told us to wait and soon came back with our tour guide, Wat. Apparently there was some confusion because I had told the tour company that we would make our own arrangements TO the airport since we would be staying past the tour end date, but they had us listed as providing our own transportation FROM the airport as well. Luckily, we were "found" and were able to take the bus to the hotel with the other tour members. That evening we met 7 of the 13 members of our tour:
        Amy & Tim (Cincinnatti, OH)
        David & Mary Ann (Michigan)
        Jan (San Francisco area)
        Ryan (Jan's son - teaching English in China)
        Pat (Jan's friend - Montana)

We checked in, unpacked and went to bed at 2 am.
 

CENTURY PARK HOTEL (Bangkok)
        9 Ratchaprarop Rd, BKK, 10400
           (011) 662-246-7800, Fax: (011) 662-246-4583

  . . . . 7/26/04