d u d e r n e t

A Saturday on the town

I've donned shorts and comfy shoes, and braced myself to be drenched in sweat shortly, because I'm meeting a co-worker friend, Ralf, for a few hours at the Chatuchak Weekend Market.

I suspect I'll have lots more tales to tell once I return tonight, but for now, I'll leave you with the description taken from the Bangkok Insight City Guide:

Reputed to be the world's largest flea market, Chatuchak is a must-see for any visitor; even the least enthusiastic shopper cannot fail to be overawed by the sheer scale and variety of goods available. With an estimated 400,000 visitors weaving through the market's 35-acre maze-like interior every weekend, Chatuchak is a heady assault upon the senses, so an early start is essential to beat the soaring heat and ensuing claustrophobia. Navigating your way around is an adventure in itself. Although loosely partitioned into sections, the fun is in stumbling across hidden pockets of culture or kitsch as you meander the web of narrow alleyways. You will find everything from crafts, home decor and clothing to flowers and even pets.

So, that ought to be quite something. Ralf says I could visit every weekend for the rest of my time in Bangkok and not see everything. (And I think that's more a testament to its size than his prediction for how long I last.)

There it is. Home.

The good news just keeps rolling in, for a change!

I signed the contract today for that sweet-ass aforementioned two-bedroom, two-bath condo, and I couldn't be more excited.

It was a tough decision, because I could (quite easily) have paid much, much less for a perfectly adequate place. But it came down to this: I'll probably never again in my life, in any other city, be able to afford a condo this nice in a building this nice. So, why not live it up, for at least a year?

After meeting the owner to finalize things today, we ventured to the electronics mall to pick out a TV for the wall that he wanted my input on, since I'd be the one watching it. We chose something quite nice, I think. It gets delivered and installed tomorrow; I can move in as early as Saturday.

It's a huge relief to have this housing search (even if it wasn't a "search," as it turned out) out of the way so early. And just think, you all will have one swank pad to crash in whenever you come visit.

Recovering -- and rejoicing!

Wow. Had quite a 24 hours or so since I last posted.

The best news: That's the luggage. In my room. Which is such a relief.

I think with the luggage, it's probably time to get rid of the Thai Beard I've been growing. Although the young lady serving me Heneikens last night seemed to quite like it.

Speaking of beers, I was perhaps overserved last night. And this morning. But let me just say this: What you can watch on "stage," having paid no cover charge and drinking $3 (expensive!) beers, and smoking cigarettes, is really quite something. The heterosexual-male readers among you would be quite jealous. Take my word.

Then there was the sitting at little plastic tables on the street 'til 3 a.m., surrounded by Thai females, drinking even further. From what I heard from the coworkers I was out with, such a thing could go on until it's daylight. More reason to love this place.

Before all of that, though, I went to see that fabulous condo. If it's even possible, it's even more impressive in person. I've now got to decide -- today -- whether to actually take it. Every single person here can't stop talking about how incredibly overpriced it is. And yet I'm still tempted. It would be like, quite literally, living in a resort. It's amazing place, and an amazing building.

Seems the trip to the beach might be back on, after all, now that I've got luggage and potentially a place to live. Even if I don't take the aforementioned condo, I hope to find something tomorrow, when I'm scheduled to go look at a handful more places with an English-speaking guide. Which would make a weekend departure for the blue waters and white sands of Southern Thailand seem in order.

Your daily dose

Still no luggage. Sucks.

But on to better things (or at least different things):

- Kenney sent me a link to this YouTube video of Mikey Cera on the Jimmy Kimmel show. While I was attempting to get it to load on my computer, I started to remember reading something about YouTube and Thailand. Hmm. Quick Google search resulted in the story of how YouTube has been banned in Thailand by the King. Right. Well.

- Had my first adventure on the Skytrain today. And like I do in pretty much every city with any sort of subway-like system, I took it in the wrong direction to start. But that was quickly remedied, and things got back on track. Incredibly clean, brand-new, refrigerator-cold train cars. Puts every other city's to shame. But I didn't ride it during rush hour(s), so I'll reserve the right to retract that statement in the weeks and months to come.

- Went to the giant shopping complex at Siam Square, which consists of three of the most beautiful, upscale, fancy shopping malls I've ever seen in my life. Each one between four and eight (I think) floors; each huge. One featuring an entire floor of eateries, with dozens (literally) of restaurants and fancy food stands, from freshly-made sushi to freshly-made pastries. Side note: When in Thailand, it is not necessary to insist that your pan-fried noodles be "spicy," as you are not ordering from Thai Spice. Everything's spicy. Asking for it will just make you suck down far too many Cokes.

- Got a phone. Was hoping I could get something fancy, something unavailable stateside, so that I'd be able to show off after ditching my dinosaur of a Sprint phone from back home. Alas, ended up with this RAZR, which everyone else probably had a year ago. But it's pretty sweet. And calling the U.S. is only 10 cents a minute! Crazy!

- Didn't take many pictures, alas, as once the phone-shopping was done, I was mostly concerned with finding a taxi back "home" before rush hour began (when you can, quite literally, sit in traffic for hours just to go a few miles). So, you get the picture of the traffic cop above, instead of the handful I snapped of U.S. institutions like Dunkin Donuts, 7/11 and KFC.

A better view

It was a wee bit dark last night when I arrived here, and as I'm not looking out on all the biggest high-rises in Bangkok, nor the busy nightlife areas, the photos didn't look like much.

But now that it's morning, here's a view from out my room's window. Will post more later today once I'm back from a trip out and about.

'Home,' at last.

BANGKOK -- I never thought putting my feet up on what is, essentially, a hotel bed could feel so good.

But here I am, finally, in Bangkok. I got to LAX at 10 p.m. Saturday; the plane finally taxied into Bangkok at 10 p.m. Monday. (Yes, there's that time-difference thing, but I'm too out of it to figure out how many real hours I was actually "traveling." Either way, it's a freaking long time.)

So, to recap:

- Two lost bags. With, oh, every single article of clothing I brought. And all toiletries. Hopefully, they're somewhere in Taipei, and hopefully, they will find their way to me tomorrow.

- Two airlines. Or, well, three, if you consider the fact that it took China Airways to reroute my EVA flight onto KLM. (Perhaps it also took China Airways to make sure my bags didn't follow me.)

- Too many hours in airports. Though I can definitely say: Taipei's airport is probably the best to be stuck in, ever. So, you know, the next time you're planning for an 8-hour layover, make it there.

Phew. Off to bed. Or at least off the computer, as I don't yet have an adapter for the electrical outlets here, and the battery is dying quickly. More tomorrow!

Final step complete

LOS ANGELES -- I just picked up my work visa from the Thai embassy here, and with that, nothing remains for me to do until I get on that plane at 1 a.m. Sunday.

There's a bit of relief that the visa business went off without a hitch, but there's also now a little panic at the thought that, day after tomorrow, I'll be living in a new country.

No turning back now, though! Plus, I'll want to experience the goodness that is EVA Airlines' "Premium Laurel Class" service. I decided to splurge and upgrade the paid-for economy-class ticket to Bangkok.

So, I went to the Barneys New York warehouse sale in Santa Monica (there's nothing like trying on jeans in the middle of an airplane hangar, let me tell you!), will spend some time by the pool here in a bit, and then make myself busy with shopping (not too much, though! luggage is already packed...), eating, and perhaps movie-watching tomorrow afternoon.

Anyhoo, this is likely the last you'll read from me 'til I touch down and get settled in my temporary apartment Monday afternoon (Bangkok time). Wish me well.