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The Weekend Market...and departure Bangkok

Well, today marks one month down...how time is flying!

Bangkok news announced today that their policemen with waists over 100cm (50% of their force) were being placed on slimming plans.

I planned to being the day with the Weekend Market (Chaturuck?) located at the end of the Sukhumvit Skyrail line (Mo Chit). I took the ferry to Sathorn and then caught the Shilom line to the Sukhumvit line.

What an affair! Mom had written that they had everything imaginable there, and boy was she correct! I entered in the section that looked a bit like the goodwill at home - hand-me-down clothing, vintage jeans, and the like. Next I entered the art and clthing section, then on to things for the home, then to bath linens, and on to animals - rabbits for 80bht ($2), mice, guinea pigs, snakes, geckos, dogs, and cats - and even more! There was one lady trying to sell three dogs and a snake (without a booth) - just sitting there with the snake wrapped around her hand and the dogs sitting at her feet. I had to wonder at the price of rabbits if they were more for eating than for pets -maybe I don't want to know the answer - they just didn't seem very highly valued. I got a few things on my list - batteries for the upcoming long flight, chopsticks for me, something for mom, and something for my grandparents. Also, one plastic bag for holding the ever increasing items not originally in my backpack. I figure it can hold things when I go on my tour in Istanbul and Africa, and to leave things at Christian's parent's house when we go to Berne and Zurich for the concerts.

After the market I went to the Siam Square area - the major shopping area - again not having eaten, I was in search of the Starbuck's I'd seen with the guys. I went into Boots (the pharmacyout of the UK) to pick up a few things (baby wipes, kleenex) - which reminds me that I've been meaning to mention perscription drugs, which can all be bought over the counter here - almost anything (save Accutane which I asked about..). I keep wondering if I should stock up on something I might need one day - clyndamycin, retin-a, zoloft, lamasil, you name it, they got it.

I also used an internet cafe to send a message to the guesthouse in Istanbul where I hopt to stay the first night I arrive. Got a Starbuck's, and shame on me, two Auntie Anne pretzels (which happened to be just next door).

Around 4, I headed back to my hotel picking up some water and crackers for the trip, then took a shower, packed my bag (anticipating I'd need to check it at some point on the trip), and checked out. I headed up the road to the pizza place I'd seen for dinner (figured I should go with a full stomach considering I'd have about 4 hours to wait at the airport). After dinner didn't want to deal with negotiating with a cab, so walked in the side door of the Sheraton (using their nice bathroom on the way in) and then walked out the front door where the doorman helped me with calling and instructing the cab driver - ooh, I am learning the system.

My airport drive was quiet, and I felt really sad to be leaving. I love how different Asia is - and going to Istanbul, I knew it was going to be much more familiar. This felt both embracing and disappointing at the same time. Flying so much closer to home reminded me not only how far I had come already, but how much of my journey was already over. The lights from Bangkok were beautiful and the cool air made for a pleasant good-bye.

At the airport my flight was not ready to check-in, so I used the internet to update old journals and then checked in and waited for my flight.

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