I'm in Bangkok.
Dirty, smoggy, loud Bangkok. Three wheeled tuk-tuk drivers, toothy street vendors, and thick diesel fumes. Flew in yesterday, and have avoided jetlag thusfar. People are kind, the food is excellent, and life is quite good. I met up with Peter midday (a good friend who has been here alone for a month), and we spent the evening wandering around the backpackers ghetto of Khao San road, purchasing trinkets and tshirts. He is happy and hardened from his time here. I am glad to see him.
Apparently I arrived on the king's birthday, which is a huge holiday in these parts. Last night in the midst of our wandering, speakers on telephone poles blared an announcers voice in thai, while huge screens were set up on the street with live footage of the king's extravagant birthday celebration a few blocks away. People began lighting little yellow candles, and after a bit, the entire street was shimmering with little pinpricks of candlelight while people sang what I assume to be "happy birthday" in thai. A vendor handed us little candles too, and we held them tightly, strolling through dark backalleys as locals smiled and laughed at our oblivious respect for local custom.
Then things started to explode. People began lighting fireworks, and not sparklers, firecrackers and piccilo petes. I'm talking industrial strength mortars i've only ever seen from a distance on the 4th of july, but in the middle of intersections. Brightly colored fireballs exploding right above us, with flaming debris floating down onto the street, nearly touching our heads. Thai people love thier king.
It was quite an introduction. We may be leaving Bangkok soon, going north or south. We're still not sure. Pete almost got run over last night, which is the only difficulty I've yet experienced. Just letting everyone know that life is good, exciting and explosive. I'm glad to be here finally.