A long series of flights began on 6/19 from Dallas to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Osaka, and then from Osaka to Bangkok, where we arrived around 11:00 P.M. local time last night. We checked our duffel bags through to Kathmandu in Dallas – we hope to see them later today when we land at Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu.

We checked into the Asian Airport Hotel around 12:30 am after a van ride from the airport last night. We were joined in the van by a couple in their 60’s that are also flying from Bangkok this morning. We had no idea what to do when we arrived at the airport here. But someone at an information desk paged a representative of the hotel, who carried with him a sheet of paper with our names on it as guests of the hotel, and we were escorted to the van without any problems.

My hotel room here is “western” with serviceable amenities like those found in 2- or 3-star hotels in the United States. I have no complaints after a few days of airplane seats and lavatories. We have 2 rooms on the 16th floor overlooking a courtyard in the center of the building’s four connecting wings. The courtyard features a large swimming pool on the level of floor 10.

Last night when we arrived at the hotel, I was surprised to see a pack of 8-10 dogs loitering near the hotel entrance. They appeared to be similar in type, reminding me a bit of the Shar-Pei breed, but with obvious variations on the breed from who-knows what sources. The hotel staff appeared to tolerate their presence, as if it were the norm. And the pack itself seemed to convey some level of purpose, but I can’t imagine what it might be – or at least, I don’t want to imagine what it might be (I wonder if they eat dogs in Thailand, or at least the slow ones…).

We have a wake-up call scheduled for 7:30 am to catch the return ride to the airport at 8:30. I am awake at 6:00 though, sipping Nescafe made from bottled water, and writing in this journal. Light spilling into the room from the balcony promises a sunny morning in Bangkok.

From our limited nighttime view from the hotel van, Bangkok seems to be a mixture of modern elements (like raised superhighways) and small rundown storefronts in aging buildings. We will get a better look today in the light.

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