Dot matrix printers

Airline gate agents may be the only people left still using dot matrix printers when they print passenger manifests. Where do they get printer ribbon? Do they still make that?

Spray

Thai Airways from Bangkok to Hong Kong. "In order to comply with the regulations of Hong Kong this flight will be sprayed. This spray is approved by the world health organization." What is the spray for? Aerosol spray down the aisle. Weird.

Delay

The first delay of the trip is my last flight. Hong Kong to Chicago Ohare. The plane is sitting 200m away but due to airport traffic they can't wheel it over to our gate. You can see the plane just across the taxi way out the window. Waiting for us. 

The announcement that my 1140am flight is rescheduled to 1200pm isn't all that bad, but the serious tone of the announcer keeps me thinking shes going to say "I'm sorry to tell you that flight 869 to Chicago has been... cancelled." 

I will take the 20 minute delay and sit in the thai airways Orchid club overlooking the gate drinking iced tea.

 

Still water

This other passenger board Thai Airways business class. He looks like a shorter, fatter Herald Ramis. They ask would he like champagne or orange juice. He says "still water, room temperature. Two slices of lemon." As he shuffles his papers and gets settled into his seat. He looks up "with lemon" he emphasizes. I've never seen anyone order water quite so specifically. 

Amazing Bangkok

It's pretty amazing. I hit so many things on my list while in Bangkok. Took the sky train to a water taxi, rode to the Grand Palace. Saw the emerald buddha and the massive reclining buddha at Wat Pho. Ate Thai food. Shopped in a huge mall. Toured Jim Thompson's house. Ate more Thai food, with an emphasis on river prawns. 

Drank coffee and Singha beer. Had a fancy mixed drink at a bar called Vesper where each drink is named after a classic painting and mixed with flair by a talented bartender. Shopped at Chatachuck market for souvenirs. Walked by bar girls and lady boys. Ate Fois Gras sushi. 

Amazing what you can do in 60 hours in Bangkok. 

A very Thai Burger King

I didn't eat here but I wonder how different a Thai Burger King is from one in the USA. I like the architecture better here. 

Spirit House

In Bangkok and apparently the rest of Thailand and Laos, they built these spirit houses on a corner of a new building to house all the bad spirits that otherwise would occupy the new building. Depending on how many bad spirits you think there might be, you might build a bigger spirit house.

I read that one building built on an old burial site has a huge spirit house. Walking down the street each building in Silom, the business district, has a spirit house with offerings to ensure that the spirits have food and other necessities.

This spirit house is from a building down the street from our hotel. You can see it is quite large on the corner of the lot where the skyscraper stands.

Something about the idea is appealing; giving something into the universe. A place to stay or a meal. For who knows who.