Thailand: Day Four

Sawatdee kaa, all!

For our last day in Bangkok we didn’t have much time to go do much sightseeing before the airport. However, after breakfast we made a trip to my mother’s favorite bead store in Bangkok, and where my dad is obligated to go on each Thailand visit.

We took a taxi to the bead shop, and the driver waited for us to come back, which I thought was strange. But again, the way taxis work in Bangkok is completely different from what I’m used to. The driver also agreed to drive me to the airport later to catch my flight.

The man that worked at the bead shop was very nice, and since he’s familiar with my mother’s tastes in crystals he brought out some of his finest for us to sift through. I also convinced Dad that we needed to send back something besides just crystals, like he does each time, so I picked out some beautifully-colored stone beads in different shapes to send back as well.

The shop owner even let me pick out a necklace as a gift from him, since my parents are such good customers of his shop!

On the way back to the hotel, the taxi driver tried to convince Dad to go to the airport earlier than planned to avoid the traffic from the riots of the Red Shirt political protests. Dad kept refusing, saying that his flight was much later than mine and he didn’t want to hang around the airport for so long. The driver was insistent, saying that the riots were getting worse that day.

When we got back, I wanted to stop at the end of Soi 11, the street our hotel was on, to buy souvenirs from the street vendors. However, we were very surprised to find that all the street vendors were gone. Dad said that it was a little spooky that they were all gone, and I think that’s when he decided to go to the airport early with me that afternoon.

After checking out of the hotel our former driver was already waiting for us outside. On the way to the airport his son called asking him to come home to avoid the riots. I started to wonder if things were getting bad that day, and figured it was probably a good thing that I was leaving when I was.

I found this out after I got back to Macau, but while Dad was waiting for his flight he got an e-mail from the US government warning all its overseas employees to not travel to Bangkok. I can’t help but be amused at the irony of it.

We stopped at the Starbucks in the airport to get some drinks before I had to get going for my flight. Since I couldn’t get a souvenir for my sister, I bought a Starbucks Bangkok-themed mug for her.


I was sad to have to say goodbye to Daddy and have to leave him, but I was looking forward to getting back to Macau and settled again. Unfortunately, I had a mountain of schoolwork waiting for me when I got back.

I think sometimes I forget that I’m in Asia to study, not travel. Oops!

That’s it for my Thailand blogs! I had a great time, despite the political situation affecting our plans throughout the weekend. I was just happy that I got to fulfill my long-time dream of visiting Thailand. I’m sure I will be back one day, and hopefully things will be much better when I do. Besides, I still have to see Phuket and the Phi Phi islands! ; )

Love,
Kati

P.S. Keep a lookout for my blogs from my recent 10-day trip to Malaysia and Singapore! Coming soon!