Friday, April 27, 2007

Flight to Bangkok, Thailand

My boyfriend and I debated on whether we should go to Hokkaido or to Bangkok for his birthday and decided on Bangkok because it was mango season and due to the fact that its not that expensive. My present to him would be his hotel accomodations at deluxe hotels and meals during the trip. Its probably the most expensive present Ive ever bought for anoyone in my entire life but hey, I can afford it and I love him and he certainly deserves it.

Today I fly to Bangkok on China Airlines business class and Im looking forward to the flight.
I get up real early for the flight as I have to be at the airport at 7:30am so I leave home at 5:30am to take the train to Shinjuku for my limousing bus at 6:15. I felt so sleep and barely alive as I started nearing the bus station, a good friend of mine was waiting there for me. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised and shocked at the same time. He said that he got up really early and hardly slept because he wanted to see me off. That was so nice of him and I think I fell in love with him that instant.

My bus ride was uneventful. I got to the airport and checked in. Got some last minute stuff at the airport and went to rest in the lounge. It was a very nice and quaint lounge and I had a piece of bread with coffee. I really wish they had some decaf at Japanese airports.

Boarded my flight to find the business class cabin seats really wide and nice looking, but seat pitch very small. However no one was sitting next to me so it was comfortable. Welcome drinks were served(just had water), and then meal service began. The meal was actually quite nice and the main entree was surprisingly high quality and tasty. I had the seafood with XO sauce and the sherbet for dessert, which was a refreshing end to a tasty meal.

Transit in Taipei. One of the ugliest transit areas ever. Absolutely no atmosphere and felt like I was detained in a sort of eerie dungeon.

Boarded our new plane which was really nice. New seats. An overweight woman sat next to me, but was a pleasant person. The meal was again, fabulous especially the salad appetizer. I loved it. Arrived in Bangkok on time and after a quick immigration check, took a taxi to my hotel. I swear my driver did not speak a word of English and we had a really difficult time finding our hotel. Ended up having to call the hotel for directions.

Finally got to the hotel, gave the driver a big tip, and checked in. Lobby was nice and fresh, the room was quite clean and modern in design, but on the small side. But it was more than I expected and I love it here. Carrefour is next door and open until 24:00. A 7 minute walk to the closest BTS station, but I love the local flavor around here and the food stalls that line the sidewalks are a profusion of colors and smells thats exciting and interesting. This is actually what I was hoping to experience on this trip. To experience some local flavor and to feel what its like to not be in the center of things as if I live here. I do not regret this experience.

Took a shower and went to the Emporium to buy some necessities and food. Had a light dinner in my room and went to bed.

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

A kernel of popcorn

The other night I went to see a movie at the theater. Before heading in to get a seat, I had to go to the restroom. As I was peeing, I noticed a kernel of popcorn in front of me just laying there on top of the urinal. Funny thing is that it was the most perfect specimen of popcorn I've seen in ages. Perhaps it's because of the fact that I'm forever on a diet and I don't eat much popcorn even though I love it. That kernel of corn was the perfect size and looked absolutely delicious I might've eaten it if there was no one else around...but maybe not.

Well, as I kept staring at that delicious looking morsel, memories of my past rushed through my head like a hurricane. I remembered the time when my friends and I used to get a huge bucket of popcorn and watch a double feature because we really had nothing better to do. Or the time when I was once happy with my ex and he used to take me to the movies all the time. He never forgot to buy a huge bucket for the both of us even though we never managed to finish it. And there was a time where I used to take my mother to the movies with me. She would tease me for liking popcorn so much but then she would end up eating most of it. Oh, and the movies with my two nephews, me sitting in between them with our bucket of popcorn as Andrew, the older one, would continue to tell me what the movie is all about because he's seen it like a hundred times.

Who would have thought that a single kernel of popcorn would bring back so many memories of my past.