Bangkok - day one

Well I think I have found Los Angeles' equivalent, it's doppelganger city. Ironically, the original name for Bangkok translates to "city of angels." It's busy with business and tourists, the traffic is terrible, most the people who were born here live here their whole lives, a lot of people from satellite cities come here for work, a lot fo commuters, there is a huge disparity in social and economic class that is easily ignored by pretty much everyone because of how secluded each little "burrough" or community is from it's neighbor (think north vs south Pico Blvd in West LA, or the fashion district in downtown). There is everything from high fashion and huge hotels to homeless living in the back streets, a wide variety of culture and cuisine, and a huge tourist industry. The only main difference is the prominence of the river here, and it's use for travel. That, and all the squiggly writing (Arrested Development, anyone?) So far, the sights are enough to keep me interested (Emerald Buddah, Sukumvit, Johnson's house, Wat ARUN!!!).

I will spend the next few days here, until I have a sort of itinerary mapped out. I plan to visit Connie and Mac in the south/east, for a short while, so I can get my bearings (and of course see where Mac's been living and teaching). At that point I hope to have myself in the works for a travel to teach program (or something of the like) set for January-ish, which will allow me to travel for fun for the next month or so. I have a ticket back home that is good for the next 6 months, and can be changed within that time freely. It's currently set for February.

Which leaves me on my own for Thanksgiving (unless I'm with C&M), My 25th birthday, Hanukkah/Christmas (Luke's first!!), and New Year's eve. It will be tough, because this is the time of year we all spend time together, get to see one another and bond over how crazy everyone else is making us... but I assure you I'll be fine. I feel so blessed to be able to take this journey. The elements that equated to this situation were too "once in a lifetime" for me to pass up. And I have such strong connections with the towns I visit, and the people I meet along the way, I know I won't be "alone" for a minute of it.

Plus, you all know how much I like myself, who else would I want to spend this time with?

I'll be keeping you posted...