After making repeated trips to the U.S. Consulate that never made it
beyond the security guard, getting misinformed by the “United States
Consulate Travel Consultants” as to the status of my visa, at $2.50 a
minute on a 1-900 number, it finally turns out that my visa was
approved and they were just waiting to wring another fifty or so
dollars from me via the 1-900 service instead of calling/e-mailing
and letting me know, as they dutifully promised many moons ago.
Anyway, that was all last week, and as of Sunday I am in the crazy
city of Bangkok. Its an interesting city, with a lot more than the
“massage parlours” and cheap electronics that have made it notorious
in the west. Its crowded and busy, and a curious mix of modern
skyscrapers and megamalls juxtaposed against the traditional. Since I
am in the middle of the celebrations surrounding the 60th anniversary
of the King’s reign, I’m greeted by a sea of yellow wherever I go,
with almost every Thai person wearing a yellow shirt.
I miss my time in Australia. The people were warm and friendly, and I
really had a wonderful time at my cousins’ place (see my note
“Civilized in Suburbia”), and I miss being with them, and their
children. Families do have ties, and you don’t realize it until you
experience it.
Plan is to be in Bangkok for another day and then make my way to Siam
Reap in Cambodia- from thereon, I have to figure it out.