Middle-aged flash packers

It’s very interesting how one’s perspective on virtually anything is swayed by both past and recent experiences. Two people could walk down a street, see the same things yet have different feelings and totally different viewpoints regarding their experience.

And so it was with Bangkok. Flashing, neon signs everywhere made it look like something out of Bladerunner, yet I hadn’t even noticed them before we went to Myanmar.

The Land of Smiles seemed decidedly sulky compared to the delight with which we were greeted in Mandalay.

And queues. I don’t recall having to queue for anything in Myanmar yet the new “system” for getting a taxi at Don Mueang airport means taking a ticket and waiting for an hour. This brings me to another point. Is there a direct correlation between the more sophisticated a place is, the more you queue? Inefficiency and so called first world countries seem to go hand in hand.

Anyway, I digress. Our flight was slightly late, I was tired and someone else was getting hangry. Throw in a problem with our hotel room and it wasn’t until 9.15pm that we were able to even think about eating. This is another issue with Bangkokians, they eat very early. Unless you want to go to girliebar territory it’s eat by 8pm or not at all. We could have spent a squillion bhat on room service but I’d rather not. Cue much shilly-shallying and eventually it was double quarter pounder everything in McDonald’s just before it closed. Fresh fish straight off the barbie seemed like a dream from long ago.

A reasonable night’s sleep allowed our brains to rewire and adapt. Mine went into shopping mode which was nice initially as our hotel is connected to a fantastic shopping mall, but eventually quite annoying as Steve was very successful in meeting his requirements (he likes shirtsleeves that aren’t baggy. I know. He’s very particular) and I was not. Still it was fun looking.

Today we fly to Trat and then on to Koh Chang for a last hurrah for beach and sunshine before getting back to the wonderful British weather. ( I saw someone’s photo on Facebook of a wet and foggy day in England and I actually wanted to be there. I slapped myself hard and I’m fine now.)

I think the McDonald’s blowout might have had an adverse effect on my digestive system (my body is a temple and I think the last time I had a MaccyD might have been 5 years ago.) so I’m hoping things will settle down before my next lot of queuing at an airport.