NGO→BKK 🛫

For a bike/conference trip I wanted to pack light. One bag for my bicycle, 22kg. There was surprisingly a lot of space in there, so I could throw in some extras, including a pannier and rear rack for my ride. The other bag is a small hydration daypack that I use for commuting.

Packing light ultimately involved me standing outside in a short sleeve shirt in the snow, searching for a taxi I reserved but never came. A second bout with snow flurries came at Kanayama Station, where a train delay found me standing on the station platform on the coldest day of the year.

The flight was delayed as the runway was closed. Great blasts of hot glycol and water sprayed against the fuselage while the plows cleared the runway of snow. I’m glad that Yuka convinced me to don a fleece before going out.

Into Bangkok. The taxi driver from Khon Kaen used Google translate to joke with me if what was in my big bike bag was a gift for a girl.

Sukhumavit Soi 11. People from all over the world, mostly Indians, Arabs, Africans, jostling for space on the crowded sidewalk. It’s a circus, it’s loud, but interesting for people watching and seems safe. Surprisingly there is not much hassle, at least when you’re not standing around. Lots of street food, bars, touts, motorcycles, music, languages.

So far, som tam (ส้มตำ sôm dtam, green papaya salad), sticky rice, and fruit.