Phetchaburi to BKK and back

Oct 11 2014

We have been in BKK since Thursday, Oct 9. Ron had an informal meeting from a professor at Thammasat University about doing some pro bono work. We came up on a van. I have described this system before: vans park in a certain area in Phetchaburi, in this case, and wait until it is filled or nearly filled then take off for BKK. We paid 100 baht each, about $3.00 each. Two hours later we arrived in BKK. Sometimes the van will stop to pick up other riders or let riders off before BKK. We often use this system when traveling between distances that we relatively short. There is not a lot of leg room for tall farangs (foreigners). We were lucky on Thursday because we were the next to last passengers so we didn’t have to wait long before the van took off.

After Ron’s meeting, we went out to dinner with Leslie, our friend from the Republic of Georgia. Leslie was our neighbor there, working for an NGO. Now she is posted in BKK working for another NGO. She has generously offered for us to stay with her when ever we are in BKK.

On Friday had lunch with Nuun and Nuch. Nuun has an exchange student in Tigard a few years ago and we became friends and have managed to see her every time we come to BKK. Her mom Nuch often gets together with us as well.

Afterwards the four of us went to see Pa Cha An who owns the property where our house is. She fell earlier in the week and broke a bone in her leg. She is 91 so we have been quite concerned about her health. She was in ICU. Her eldest son Nung was at the hospital and offered to take us to see her in ICU. She is an AMAZING woman. She had tubes going in and out of her body and had an oxygen mask on yet she chatted up a storm, laughing and smiling. I thought it was crazy for five of us to be in ICU with her and fortunately shortly after our arrival a nurse came in and said she need to remove some of the tubes and we needed to leave. I agreed. We took a taxi back to the town center and parted company with Nuun and Nuch. Ron and I went to a high end grocery store to get some items we cannot get in Phetchaburi. Then we headed home, rather weary from the day’s errands.

We took Leslie to one of our favorite restaurants, Once Upon a Time, which has a garden setting for the outdoor seating and the inside seating is in an old traditional Thai house. We have always had very good food there.

On Saturday we tried to get a flower arrangement in the flower shop next to Leslie’s but their stock was depleted so we ordered an arrangement for Sunday to take to Pa Cha An. Then we headed into the center of town and I got a manicure while Ron had his hair cut. We had lunch then went on a wild goose chase trying to get some caps for 5 gallon water bottles we use at the house. The company was closed so we decided to try again on Monday. We went back to the neighborhood where we had been for lunch and got a snack before getting a foot massage. Off to Leslie’s afterwards to rest up before going back out for dinner. We went to Cabbages and Condoms for dinner. We try to go here at least once each visit to Thailand. The owner who started the restaurant wanted to have an impact on the spread of HIV/AIDS and to help with family planning, particularly in the rural areas of Thailand. Cabbage is a very common vegetable here. He wanted condoms to be as common as cabbages, hence the name. The place is great fun with mannequins that are decorated in costumes completely made from condoms. See photos. Instead of after dinner mints with your bill, you get condoms.

Oct 12

On Sunday we picked up our flower arrangement and headed to the hospital to see Pa Cha An. Tui, one of her daughters was in her room and said Pa Cha An was being transferred from ICU and was due to arrive shortly. Once she was bought in and got settled Tui told her we were there and had brought flowers for her. I think I mentioned previously she is blind. We had a short visit then Nung and his wife arrived so we left. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and met Leslie for a movie, the Homesman, which was not good but it was great to be inside in the air conditioning. That night we met up with Marilyn and her husband Dan and Ann and Jeff, all of whom we met in the Rep of GA when Ron worked there. Marilyn now works for the embassy in BKK and Ann and Jeff for the embassy in Yangon, Myanmar. It was great fun catching up with everyone. We ate at a fabulous restaurant ‘Best Restaurant for 2014’ in BKK. Not only was the food great but the views of the river and Wat Arun were spectacular.

On Monday we hung out until 4:00 because Ron’s debit card had been cancelled due to the Home Depot hacking and his new one was being FedExed to him at Leslie’s. It arrived in good time. Because I wasn’t feeling well we opted to hire a car and driver to take us to Phetchaburi.

After we got home we went to the grocery store and got a quick bite to eat at a restaurant in the mall where the grocery store is before coming home and going to bed.

On Tuesday we both felt badly so we stayed in bed most of the day sleeping off and on. The only meal we ate was breakfast. We watched a video before going to sleep at night and both of us slept well. By late Wenesday we both were feeling better. We went for lunch and to get a few things at the grocery store.