The departure date has finally rolled around. We lock the front door and say good-bye to Munich and its snow. Our panniers are packed in two large duffle bags with wheels, the Bike Fridays are folded and in their Samsonite suitcases. We're ready to fly, the bikes are ready to fly.
Our airplane isn't ready to fly. It never sounds good when your airplane needs repairs, but they were obviously minor, and after a four hour delay we take off.
The Bike Fridays are in their suitcases, our panniers and handlebar bags are in duffle bags with wheels - all in all, a fairly manageable combination.
Upon arrival, the bags and bikes are soon on the lugage conveyor and we get a taxi to our hotel, booked online. What we didn't know was that the hotel is at the end of a long, narrow alley, too narrow for a car to enter. This is Bangkok. Here we are very glad our bags all have little wheels.
The following days we spend trying to get over our jetlag in this city of sensory overload. We are bomarded by heat, humidity, noise, crowds, sights, smells, foods - stimuli for all the senses - some good, some not so good.
Our program is to take it easy and amuse ourselves in Bangkok for a few days before we take the train to the north. We take boats, buses, the Sky Train, tuk-tuks and we walk and walk. We visit the popular Jim Thompson House, the zoo, the Bangkok Art and Culture Center, giant shopping malls, but not so many temples this time around. And of course never without our cameras.
Lush vegetation in the Jim Thompson House gardens The Jim Thompson House consists of a complex of six traditional Thai-style houses, teak structures that were purchased from several owners and brought to the present location from various parts of Thailand.
We are happy that our time in Bangkok coincides with Bill Weir's (www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/AsianJourney) stay here. We met in Bangkok three years ago and he gave us our first and very valuable tips for cycling in Thailand. I am much in awe of Bill's travels and feel very humble with our tame endeavours.
We met Bill three years ago in Bangkok, this year our paths crossed again. Me, Bill Weir and Janos
