Mar. 15, 1978 - Thailand

Bryan spent a sick night so I went to meet Chesno in the morning to say we couldn’t go with him.  He accepted and asked if he could do anything for us and I thanked him.  What a gracious representative of the Burmese people; we were fortunate to meet him.

We decided that with travel so restricted in the country and with Bryan sick we would go on to Bangkok.  Bryan stayed in bed while I went out to change our reservations.  I was able to get a flight on Burma Airways with no problem for 3:00 in the afternoon.  We walked around until 1:00, looking at the shopping center – a big covered market.  They make delicate wickerwork baskets and lights.  We noticed the women and children had a fine yellow-beige powder spread on their cheeks and forehead which we were told was sandalwood to protect from sun and insects.

We found the people of Rangoon to be open, friendly and polite and exit procedures at the airport were much less complicated than arriving.  When we entered the country, we had made a list of all jewelry, radio, camera and money which was a real hassle, even wedding rings.  Going out I had to show it all again, but they took our word on the money.  We found out the black market was 25 kat to $1, not the 12 offered by our enthusiastic taxi friend.  The higher exchange rate would have made life and souvenir buying very cheap but we didn’t want to risk it.

On a scale of 10/10, Thailand’s airport rates a 10 for helpfulness and efficiency; all services were there and open – hotel booked, money changed and whisked the 25 km into town in a prepaid taxi to the hotel door.

Our excellent hotel, The Opera, ($9 for one bed) was recommended by a friend as a Peace Corps hotel.  There is a swimming pool, air conditioning and a 24 hour restaurant and bar.  After a needed shower we went down to the restaurant and looked at the menu, looked at each other, smiled, and ordered simultaneously: grilled cheese sandwich, fries and a chocolate milk shake – real comfort food.  Bangkok is great!  Neon lights, shopping and comfort food.  The hotel even has music piped into the room by the bed.  There is a knob you can turn which some joker had neatly labeled “roudness.”  FM rock music lulled us to sleep.