Such a hard life

I didn't get to bed last night until almost 3, what with arriving at 1 am, going thru customs, getting a car to the hotel, and checking in. I actually woke up around 10ish (equivalent to noon Tokyo time) which I suppose is a testament to resting in business class. Usually I sleep forever if I get the chance!

I wandered down for breakfast and they had the standard buffet that 5 star hotels in Bangkok do - there was tons of fruit, bacon and eggs, Japanese food, Thai food and even some Chinese food. So I had bacon for the first time in years (you just can't get "real" bacon in Japan) and it was heaven. The restaurant was on the lower level of the hotel and I got a seat by these two-storey glass windows that overlooked a pond and waterfall. It was beautiful!

After breakfast I took a walk over to the Lasik center (which was relatively close) and basically sweated to death. Man, is Bangkok hot! Hitting 34C weather with 80% humidity takes its toll. I decided this was the first and last time I was walking there. I was completely exhausted by the time I got there. Not to mention drenched in sweat.

I grabbed a cab out front and went to a shopping mall that Erik had been to when he was in Bangkok - Siam Center. I just wandered around looking at stuff and picked up some things from the drug store, like lemon grass lip balm. I also got some raspberry foot lotion so I could pamper myself. I had wanted to get some books on photography while in Thailand, but the bookstores (3 of them) had a very poor English selection.

Since I am not that into shopping, I eventually got a taxi back to the hotel. The scammer. He drove me all over Bangkok. I was directing him where to go. It was actually kind of funny because I got to experience a weird phenomenon that world travellers have noted. Show someone a map and they look at it as if you handed them ancient Egyptian to decypher. I even pointed out major landmarks on the map to this guy and he still turned it around, and around and around trying to make sense out of it. I eventually made it to the hotel and grabbed the conceirge into helping me yell at the guy. I think he was feigning stupidity and drove me everywhere because I forced him to turn the meter on. He was trying to increase the fare on purpose.

I ended up just paying him because even with the hour long detour all over the city, it had only cost about 100 Baht - about US$3. I had been livid about the whole thing until I got myself to take a look at the big picture. Three bucks is not a big deal.

So, despite being over the taxi incompetence, I still had some mild tension and it was off to the hair salon! The conceirge had recommended a place in the building the hotel is connected to. For about 200 Baht, including tip, I had an hour of luxury. The hairdresser washed my hair for 20 minutes! Oh so nice! Then she spent a good 30 minutes drying my hair.. and managed to get it perfectly straight and flat! This is amazing. No one has ever accomplished this! I didn't actually like what it looked like, but the cut was decent and I can style it the way I want tomorrow.

After my haircut I had just enough time to freshen up for my spa appointment. I tell you, relaxing in Thialand is hard work. I had a facial (because I wouldn't be able to get one after my eye surgery) and a body wrap with tumeric and honey. All I can say is, it was awesome! It was so relaxing! I love facials! The body wrap was also great because the treatment specialist basically gave me a massage while putting it on. I came out with glowing cheeks and silky soft skin. It was great!

After the spa it was time to hunt down dinner. Just down the road was the Suan Lum night bazaar so I grabbed a taxi and headed out. I found some sunglasses that I liked, got some omiyage (small souvenirs for people in Japan) and went to restaurant on the outskirts for dinner. The food area in the center of the bazaar was extremely crowded. As I was sweating profusely again, I wasn't up for pushing thru throngs of people. The dinner I had was very good though - albeit more expensive than going the inner stalls I am sure.

I had these pork triangle things as an appetizer, tom yun gai soup (chicken coconut soup - my fav), shrimp red curry and a coconut smoothie. Yum, yum, yum! I hadn't had lunch so this was a big meal. I couldn't finish it all though. I was totally stuffed! All up it only cost about 400 Baht.

Stuffed and sweaty, I hailed a taxi back to the hotel. Tonight's turndown gift was this weird wood post card. I want another turtle! Those were cute! Back in the room I just hung out in the heavenly airconditioning, read the paper and rehydrated. I haven't read a paper in eons so it was nice.

All in all, a busy day. Shopping, eating and going to the spa. It's a hard life I tell you.