My BANGKOK courier adventure.  
Come join me!

I became an air courier. What fun! After coming back from many trips I wrote a whole Travel Bargains Insiders Secrets book detailing every question you might have and best insiders secrets to get the lowest prices and best adventures. Read on and see if this is something you would like to do. If it sounds good check out the book's amazing table of contents in this websites first page. Enjoy! 

Here’s how it really happens. Ready? I phoned Jupiter Air Courier Company to see if they had any interesting flights going out where they needed someone. The dispatcher said "yes, we had an openings to Bangkok leaving in a week, are you interested?" They sent me an application, and courier instructions. I rushed it back with $147 + one time $35 initiation fee + $100 refundable deposit = total $282.00. 

On the appointed day I arrived at the San Francisco Airport at 8 am. Wiggly with joyful apprehension. I always get this way before a big trip. I went to the United International counter number one as requested. After some wait I was met by the Jupiter representative who gave me my ticket to Narita, Japan which was on the way to Bangkok. He said he had nothing to go, no pouch, so check with the folk in Narita. I was disappointed, being the mighty, all important international courier deluxe now with no incredible world saving duties.  Left for Japan on United Airlines 11:30am.

Imagine leaving SF 11:30 am and traveling for 10 hours and it’s still light out. Left on Friday 11:30, next day was Sunday. Lost Saturday. Never saw it, it was just gone. Sunny overcast sky. Feel a little weary. Need to exercise?

Arrived in Narita, Japan 2:40 pm (9:45 pm Fresno time). 

It’s a thrill! I’m in Japan! Easy communications & signs. No problem. I want to interact and see what’s here.

At airport I asked "Can you help?"  They said "oh, just one minute" and they never came back. oh well...

Narita, is close to Tokyo. Hilly terrain. Bamboo and pine woody areas. Drive on left side of the street. Many cherry trees in bloom.

It’s weird to be flying all day and have it still be daylight. I went to the United luggage pickup and asked where the Jupiter courier are to meet. They will tell you. If they just say "ooh!" That Japanese. It means they haven’t a clue what you just said. Just point at the Jupiter logo sticker you have pasted on your shoulder. They point to an area and you wait 30 minutes. 
A casually dressed person comes up, gives you hotel and meal vouchers for the very nice Narita Nikko Hotel which is a $160+ a night room paid for by Jupiter. I took the free Nikko hotel bus to the hotel about 15 minutes away, told them who I was with, and got my room key. I went upstairs, took a shower, rested for an hour, then went down for dinner. 

Waiter in restaurant in black coat and bow tie. Polite, quick and available. Courier gets a choice of 6 "special dinners" provided at no charge by the courier company tried curry chicken.($15.50 value) Other items on your own like: (Wine $20 for ½ a bottle, pie and coffee $8.50, cantaloupe $15.00, papaya $9.00, Chicken dinner $17.00 - $28.00) All food seems to be 3 to 4 x Fresno price.

6 pm not busy. Attentive staff. (1am in Fresno) My body is confused. Dinner arrives with salad in 5 minutes. They forgot the tea.

I gave them voucher number one for a nice chicken curry dinner over rice ($13.00 value). The waiters wore formal black jackets, bow ties and were very proper. The food and atmosphere were delightful. Japanese food is attractive and distinct. I tried many unusual and tasty things and wish I could have eaten more.

Narita Nikko Hotel, Efficient, clean, modern, clean, equipped for comfort, robe, shaver, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrush, second phone in bathroom, drinkable water sign, slippers, door peep hole, free tea in room, hot water in electric water pot, tub-rubber ball on chain stopper. By bed: flashlight, handy light switches, music, message light, good reading light. Electric 110vt US. TV in English CNN ch. 2

I went for a walk after dinner to stretch my legs which is a healthy thing to do after so much sitting. I went up to the 11th floor to the cocktail lounge to see the lights of the city at night. A good place to talk to fellow travelers. I met and talked with a most interesting gentleman from Germany who told me about running his business, religion, the people, the future of his country, and great places to visit. Great view of the city lights. Bathroom has twin sinks with a open view in front of large glass overlooking the town. Spectacular. 

 At 9 pm I was almost embarrassed to say I was bushed and excused myself to go to sleep. I slept soundly, got up early, and was waiting in front of the hotel for the 7:55 am free bus to Narita City. It takes about 35 minutes to get there where I met some cheerful young people from Taiwan that had come to see the cherry trees in bloom. Most of them, including the girls were engineers.

Next time Arrive Nikko Hotel, take hot bath, walk the grounds, eat dinner, walk, visit in bar on floor 11, go to sleep early.

Up 5:20am. Feel good.

Breakfast 7 am - starting to get busy. (Try 6:15 next time) 7:15 very busy.

Nikko Buffet breakfast $19.00. Very nice! Orange juice, milk, tomato juice, milk, coffee, tea. Scrambled eggs, soft baked fries, ham slices, veggie dishes, sausage. Spaghetti & sauce, rice and soy milk, smoked salmon, 5 kinds of bread, granola and corn flakes, no raisins, miso soup with chives, dried shrimp, fruit cocktail with lichee chunks, watermelon, bananas, pineapple, banana yogurt raisins.

Well stocked. Eat slow and enjoy the atmosphere. I wish I could eat more. Old dishes cleared quick. All helpers in black jacket and bow tie.

It was a cool, overcast day, as I started out to explore the city. A fellow from England ask if he could join me, which was no problem. We walked down the side streets for a hour or so looking at the strange mystery plant or animal items wrapped in plastic packages. Things were expensive, and the locals didn’t speak English much.

Learn to speak some Japanese
Thank you: A leegatoh

I don’t speak Japanese very well: Ne hongo wah oh mako hana sema sing.

I would like a: wa tashi wah hoshe e

Water: mizu

Tea: Koucha

"Oh!" : Means "beats the holey heck out of me what you just said.

7:55 free bus to Norita City from right in front of Nikko Hotel. Drove in bus, met young people (engineers) from Taiwan. Cheapest cameras Tokyo? Arrive 8:35. Went for walk with Miles from England. Wife, 3 kids, travels a lot. Average lunch $5 - $8. Vendors don’t speak English. Strange food packages. Pickled peppers? Eels? Cantaloupes $32, Small watermelon $27. 

Has McDonalds, Subway, KFC. Ran out of time to visit temple. Got a sweet bean pastry - 80c. Back for bus to leave at 10:10. Arrive 10:55am. Checkout. Leave hotel for airport 11 am. Quick to checkout. Just sign receipt, courier company is billed for room and meals.

I got back on the bus and returned to the hotel by 10:55 am, just in time to check out at 11:00 am to go to the airport for the flight to Bangkok leaving at 1:55 pm. I met the courier representative who has me sign a clipboard and I noticed a big pile of orange duffle bags going to Bangkok. He hands me a white 10x12 white envelope and a second plastic envelope. This must be the "pouch" they have been talking about. I’m finally "working"!

I also get the airport departure tax paid sticker from him. They pay that for me. Pretty decent.

Airport. 3 huge perfect apples for $32.

Courier not exactly at top of the scale of importance. Your seat will probably be over the wing every time. The isle seat is best if you have an unsettling stomach. Movies best from aisle of middle section. Violent movies won’t help you sleep.

Norita to Bangkok UA821. Ask if flight is full. An empty seat to use to sleep? Any chance for 1st class? (Be dressed up) What magazines are available to read? Take off contacts lenses. Try and get some sleep.

Cleared customs with customs form. Went to money changer at airport. Go $200 worth of local currency. Make sure you get some small change 20b especially.

I arrive Bangkok at 6:55 pm. It’s just starting to get dark. I go to the designated meeting spot. 7 pm. Checkpoint at orange chairs, sit under clock, have Jupiter label on shoulder. You often get a feeling of what if I am waiting in the wrong spot?  At 7:15 they arrive. I signed the pouch release papers clipboard and immigration paper. He takes the pouch and asks for my passport to photocopy the first page and customs paper and says I’ll be back in 10 minutes. Nervously wondering if I would ever see him again, he show up again with a photocopy of my travel documents. He has me sign them and says "see you later". "Call a day or two before departure". "Bye".

I am free to go through customs and start my own adventures! Time is a little critical here as unbeknownst to me that the last train leaves at 8:10 pm. It’s 7:50 pm. I go to the money exchange and get $200 changed to 5000 bahts less a small service charge. Funny looking money, but it’s spendable.

Clean, nice toilets, only hot air to dry hands, well air conditioned airport. Tired, thirsty, scratchy throat, jet lag, what time is it? Lost another 2 hours from Japan.

Across the way is a hotel information counter. I go there and ask about renting a room for the night. The lady tells suggests a $100 room. I ask for something cheaper. She shows me her list of 50 or so hotels. I pick the Empire Hotel because it’s 400b ($20) + 40 b ($1.60) for her service charge. It's in China town, had A/C, and very close to the train station in Bangkok. 

I pay her, get a receipt with directions and off I go. I should have hustled a little more and have been at this point earlier to make the train less of a rush. Next time I would try and find local magazines at the airport such as "Visitor Look" or "This Week" for the best bargains. I should have looked around a little more for available services. But, I will know for next time. 

Got on, overhead racks for luggage. Had to stand up the first 30 minutes, then people left and I got to sit. No problem with the people. Windows open, cool air was great. While catching wits read Thailand literature from the airport.

Be quick, get to train terminal early for less stress. I am approached by someone wanting to call an airport taxi for me. I told him I am going by train. He says no more trains, too late. I ask about buses and he says too late again.  He gave incorrect info. At another counter someone says there is a last train at 8:10 pm. It’s 8:02 pm. Gasp! Last train actually  leaving in 10 minutes! 

Ask for directions. Write it down. Go to airport hotel exit, 2 floors up, stairs are faster. Go across walk way, down some stairs, make u turn to the left at bottom of the stairs, after 125 feet or so, look for sidewalk to the left, no sign? It's getting fairly dark. 

People point and I run, feeling uncertainty, certain doom and despair. I hit the outside for the first time and notice very quickly it’s very warm, humid and muggy, but no time to worry about comfort. To make things more interesting I’m wearing a long sleeve shirt, and a jacket.

I am a bit lost, not seeing any signs. I ask and people point to some dark bushes. I run that way and there is the entrance to the train station 50 feet away. I rush up to the window and pay them 50 baht about $2.00

He points to the tracks and I run. I ask "is this the train for Bangkok" They point across two double tracks "there" they said. The train is coming in, it’s warm, I’m carrying my luggage. I bolt across the tracks 30 feet ahead of the moving train. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Last week I was safe at home, and this week I’m jumping in front of moving training on the other side of the world. Never the less, I am here! As I try and catch my breath, I get aboard the train. It’s fairly full, no seats left, so I put my luggage in the overhead rack and get to stand for 30 minutes till some people leave. I finally get to sit down and read literature I picked up at the airport.

The train arrives in Bangkok and I get out into the night air. There is quite a mixture of people and smells in the station. I have heard of tuk tuks which are the local mode of inexpensive travel. It’s a cross between a motorcycle, rickshaw and lawn mower. They are open air sided, no seat belts, hang on to side rails as best you can with a low roof blocking view which might be best for your heart. There are many eager drivers waiting to take passengers. One wants 40b to take me to the hotel, I offer 20, we settle on 30b.  Haggle about 30% less than they are asking. The younger drivers speak English the best. Off we go into the evening, as I strain to see the sights

In a few minutes we arrive at the Empire Hotel and I check in. I have already paid for the room at the airport and only pay the 40b service charge now. This seems backwards but that’s their business. 

Went up elevator to 4th floor. Turn left down hallway to room 423. Room clean, very basic, has phone, no TV, electricity retrofitted. View not so hot, but too tired to care. Turn on AC right away so temperature will get better eventually. It is clean, and very basic. I took a shower and wearily went to sleep.

Slept well, felt so much better by morning. Up at 8:30am. Cool, comfortable, not as thirsty as I thought I was going to be. Took photo from the window. Temple in the background, tenements below. Took hot shower. Let me tell you about the shower. The bathroom is actually like a big shower stall 5x7 or so with sink and toilet. No cold water from shower. If you want it cooler, turn down water heater switch above shower.

The room is basic, but it grows on you. Has everything you need. Has a carafes for water, coffee maybe available from the floor desk keeper. The electricity is 220v. Switch your blow dryer.

The place even offers room service! It is the same price as the coffee shop downstairs, so if you want to be decadent with $2.00 order in. Know this in advance so you can call in the order after you get up and have it delivered when you’re done with your shower.

I decided to investigate the coffee shop. Oh my goodness, you down a hallway to a sight of Christmas lights to make it look more glamorous. The AC was on. They employees and their families were watching MTV. The shy young fellow of about 16 was my waiter and didn’t speak English. I pointed to what I wanted on the menu and waited. I was sitting in a booth, with a broken spring, and sunken seat. I moved over closer to the wall and it was OK. A person learned to be tolerant. Sample menu:

Omelets 50 batt = $2.00
Chicken and rice 50 b
Ham burger 80b
Soup 50b
Soda 15

I got Conga rice which turned out to be rice in a soup base, with cilantro, chopped green onions, onions, rice and chicken (?) pieces. It was hot and spicy. They offered 5 different seasons in case you weren’t on fire already.

If I were to do this again I would have forgone breakfast at the hotel and tried out the local food vendors. With so many interesting things don’t get stuffed anywhere.

I made it to Bangkok in one piece, contrary to all the advice I got from home. On following nights I stayed at a few different places averaging $10 to a fancy place for $14.00 a night. There can easily be hundreds of guesthouse per street. Finding a place is not difficult. Preview a few before deciding. Remember, take a deep breathe and remember you’re not in Kansas anymore.

What amazed me was the bugs. Almost none, no cockroaches, no mosquitoes, a very few ants or flies. I had several "experts" back home warn me about hoards of bugs. I have learned to not listen to people that give advice but never leave their house.

Thai people are gentle, fun loving, playful, good natured. They never seem to get angry over anything.

Thai blessing: Goodness, beauty and prosperity.

Everyone is very polite, nobody bothers or rarely approaches you first. If any does it’s some trying to get you to visit a place you don’t really need to go.

Safety. If people ask where are you staying, they don’t need to know. If they ask how long have you been in Bangkok, say 3 months, or come there often. If you say "just got here" , they see sucker written on your forehead. When going shopping have three different places for your money, small , medium and larger denominations. When looking for a 30b note don’t be wading through a big pile of cash.

Where to stay
 Hotels $20 on up. Guest houses $3 on up. Check for towels, inside shower, toilets, sink, drinkable water, proximity to purchasable water, AC, bidet, toilet paper, , horizontal places in bathroom to put things, windows, size and comfort of the bed, cleanliness, view, how many flights of steps, how steep are the steps.

I would be curious as to other accommodations that were available and would stop and check out places as I went.

I inspected a Guesthouse. Culture shock. When I asked to see a room, the owner, a man wet wrapped in a towel took me up the most narrow, steep stairs to the 3rd floor. The room was small, and had a shower stall and ceiling fan. Four toilets stalls were around the corner. I think to wash up they has a cement wash trough. I think using the shower might be safer. Price 150 b ($6.00) with free breakfast.

Traffic
Drivers are polite, room for everyone, no selfish panic like NY. 2 to 6 lanes, drivers choice. Few stoplights. Constant traffic, tuktuks, cars, taxis.

Try not to be in traffic 12-1 & 4-6pm. Got on a bus (8bat) going back to the hotel. Got going so fast we started passing a few of the walkers.

Transportation: Bus from hotels and tourism agencies to airport 70 bat. Bus around town 8 bat. Tuk tuks starts about 20-30 bat. Haggle about 30%. Have small bills handy, they may not have change. Open air, if you wear contacts wrap around sunglasses help. They will offer to ride you around cheap if you will go to a jewelry store or tailor they recommend. Don’t buy anything - only tourists get literally taken there.

Hungry?  
Great food:  Many street food vendors - stroll and munch tasty ice cold cut-up while-you-watch fresh papayas in a plastic bag with a pokey stick for 10 b (40c), or papayas, mangos and pineapple cut up. Chicken and pineapple shish kebabs same price. Snack as you go.  You will think that’s quite a deal till a few days later when you look like less of a tourist and offer 5b and it’s your’s everytime. 
Other bargains: shish kebabs on a stick 10b, sodas 7 bat. Chicken, cheese submarine sandwich 50b (enough 2for 2 people), beer 35 bat, sodas 7-10b, bottled water 6-10 b. Rice with sweet & sour chicken 25b. Corn on the cob 50c. Fresh squeezed mandarin orange juice 50c. Rice plate with chicken and vegetables $1.00. Big enough for two sesame roll chicken cheese sandwich for $2.00. Beer $3.00 & up, Sodas 7b, Bottle of water 25c. If you look like a tourist; shorts, camera, loud shirt things will cost more.

Speak Thai
How much "tou rai"
Thank you "Cop Koon
Hello "Sawatoe e

The less you look like a new tourist the cheaper you can get things.

What does a typical tourist look like? Wears shorts, (Thai people usually don’t wear shorts, or wild colors) loud colors, has camera, is overweight, looks eager to spend money. Locals will judge you by what you wear, what you’re carrying, what you say, where you’re staying, and where you’re going. When asked how long have they been in Thailand they say, just got here. Big mistake. It’s best to say I have been here several times, or I live in Bangkok, by such and such road, not in an expensive part of town. If going to a fancy hotel, say you’re visiting a friend there, not that you can afford it easily.

They only time you will be approached is a friendly man will start talking to you in the most helpful way, and eventually suggest if you really want to save big money go to the jewelry export center, or Manhattan tailor shop, or some such place. A tuktuk will take you there who also gets gas coupons. As soon as you walk in the door you will notice 5 or 6 well dressed sales people of which one claims you immediately. They follow you around bringing out whatever catches you eye or not. Many times they bring you a cold soda. I never got any funny stuff in mine. They say "many people come to Thailand, they see, they buy every time. What do you like?" Look around you. The store only has silly looking obvious tourists like you. No locals ever. Does that make you wonder? They will show you a certificate showing they are certified by the Thai government for being honest. They can get fairly pushy if you don’t buy. Like "what have you been doing wasting our time? Do you want jewelry or not?" Leaving is often more of an escape. If the tuktuk driver when leaving asks "did you buy anything?" That means he would get something for delivering you if you did. If they ask you just say "I cannot say" and smile.

I felt very safe on the street, even more safe than back home in Fresno. The people seem so good natured. They tend to keep to themselves and not approach you first, so some foreigner may take that for being aloof and unfriendly. Life and your adventures depends a lot on your attitudes. If you feel happy and friendly you will meet the same kind of people. If you are tired, and irritated, you will meet the same. What ever you project you will find.

Bangkok shopping (80% cheaper than US) can get pretty exciting. The money is about 25 bahts to the dollar. Each baht is worth about 4c. Make sure you bring a small calculator and even so your mind will go blank figuring simple calculations. It might be the heat or it might be the crazy low prices. Such good deals do it to you. Don’t forget to haggle 30 to 50%. Here are some examples: Pants 100b - $4.00, Colorful T shirts with designs $3.00, genuine imitation watches- cheap, Leather sandals $8.00, Postcards 3 to 5 b, big selection prerecorded cassette tapes $1.60 each, (double Michael Jackson "History" tape for $3.20), film 36 exposure ASA 200 Kodak film $3.40, one hour developing 3x5 prints 133b ($5.32) 4x6 169b ($6.76), stuffed cobras $15.00, handcuffs $10.00, Phone home $1.72 a minute, Fax $5.00 a page going, $1.00 receive, "genuine" student International ID cards $3.00, instant photos for them $3.00. 

Thai people are better copiers than inventors. Japanese better originators.

They are terrible at spelling. Pretty much anything goes. Cornflex,

Thai pay phones. They look completely different but they work. I put in a 5 bat coin, and when the other party answers you press a button, your coin drops, and they can hear you.

Laundry. I go with 4 pairs of socks and 3 of underwear. I brought a little bag of laundry soap to wash clothes every other day. Sometimes they dry, sometimes you can help it along with a blow dryer. Try and bring 2 no wrinkle shirts, one white short sleeve, the other your choice.

Clothing. Thai are modest. The foreigners especially the Scandinavians go braless, in shorts, not appreciated but tolerated by Thai.

Tailors:
Want some custom made clothes? Bring photos of styles, and samples of fabric and colors. Many places advertise top quality, the best, will give you best price regardless of the actual facts.

Silk Kimono full length 2 sided burgundy and black 500b. Buy 20 for $16 each. 20 colors, pants $25 no wrinkle, nice quality from Tejinder Singh Sachdev.

Can get a complete tux for $80 in Bangkok.

Some companies have more than one name for same company. Ambassador Tailors & Fashionway. Same company.

2 suits, 2 vests ($25 ea), 2 pants ($37 ea), 4 shirts, 2 ties $500. Or 1 suit, 1 shirt, 1 tie, 1 pant $200. No wrinkle material. ($145 special is for polyester mix) A waste of time.) Jim at the Ambassador. Offer $145 special to be actually $930. Gimmick ads. The Manhattan has many salespeople and drivers on commission to bring you there. Watch out!

What to say when they just jumped the price 8x from the advertised price: If you can change price when ordering, I can change price when done. Please put your label in the clothing so I can show off your advertised special. You shouldn’t advertise what you’re not proud of it or expert to sell it.

Places:
Khao San Road a great meeting place especially for the college age backpackers. Hang out in sidewalk cafes with videos playing all day to attract customers to stay, 100 cheap guest houses, drink, eat, hear music all day, all night long. Nicest place on the street is Khao San Palace at 400b single, 450b double.

Sukhumvit Road. Great for watches, tailoring, shopping. Stay at the Swiss Inn, inexpensive with refrigerator, AC in the room.

China town. Narrow alley store fronts, filled with hundreds of vendors and side streets. Many motorcycles, highly piled dollies piled with goods for sale going down vendor alleys. Stay at Empire Hotel. 400b with AC. Close to train station from airport.

Weird stuff you can buy. Handcuffs 250b, stuffed cobras $15.00

What’s it cost there?: Film 36exp ASA 200 for $3.40 a roll asking price. Develop 3x5 133b, 4x6 169b. Phone home 43b to USA per minute. Postcards 3 to 5 b

Student ID, Press cards, etc. where they typeset in the information with rub on letters. Photo taken 70b, ID 75b.

Wine bottles at the airport $4.50 - $6.50 each. Casual pants $4, T shirts 70b, prerecorded cassette tapes $1.60 each. Michael Jackson's double "History" for $3.20.

Fax to USA $5.00. Receive $1.00

Temperature. In the high 90's, and humid. With so much going on, if you dress light, and stay busy your body perspires and keeps it tolerable. The nights are cool and comfortable.

Stay cool? Bring small spray bottle for water misting.

Fortune teller - Indian guy waiting right outside my hotel entrance. Come with me, down this alley, we sit on the ground. Let me tell you your fortune. OK, how much money you will give me? How about your watch? I said I left with no money to meet a friend who is buying me breakfast.

If I were to do it all again, I would head south for the tropical islands around Phuket first for 5 days then come back to Bangkok and fill my bags with purchases and sight see for the next 4 days.

If you are interesting in exporting check with the embassy, TAT, or tourism information center. They will give you names and addresses. They also have an export product show to visit.

No hassles coming back. Can bring in $400 duty free. If over $1400 you have to list what you bought. Better to say it’s for your own personal use and gifts, especially if you have 10 "Rolex" watches.

I signed up to go on $14 all day 7 am to 5 pm tour. Best seat is in front with driver. I saw a phony coconut sugar factory, (no product coming in, none being finished, want to buy some expensive souvenirs?). Boring tourist trap. a butterfly farm - oops wrong season they tell you only after you get there, the floating market with many boats filled with produce and another chance to buy souvenirs. 20 tourist buses in parking lot. 200b extra for 15 minute ride down floating market.  great cobra show where young boys catch three cobras; one in each hand and one in their teeth. Good exciting show. Looking for a overseas job - here's your chance - high turnover I bet. Next was the Crocodile farm and elephant show, buffet lunch, beautiful park, orchids, ponds and zoo. Saw entertaining magic show and elephant show. Stay and see more or go to see Rose Gardens with cultural show for more $$. I stayed the extra hour and saw the worthwhile parks area. All pretty interesting.

Well, back to the adventure. On the day before departure I called the courier company to confirm I was alive, in Bangkok (not far away on some island hoping to make it back in time), and also reserved and paid for a 7 o’clock van to the airport. (70b)

I happen to be there during the Thai New Year, celebrated by a giant water gun fight that lasted three days and nights. I had to "escape" into the airport van hidden in the back alley. The main street was blocked off and filled with 1,000 enthusiastic, happy people with water machine guns, water balloons, and white talcum powder paint for any faces they can catch and mark. Kamikaze motorcycles with "rear gunners" continually try and make it through, and are soaked. Whew!

I am at the airport drying off to get ready for my 11:25 pm flight. I stuffed myself (shouldn’t have) with 2 fancy desert fold over pancakes filled with cherry and blueberry filling for 80b. Oh, they were really big and looked so good. I can resist anything but temptations. I had a little Thai money left and thought I was helping get rid of it.

Inexpensive Thai wine was available at the airport in large bottles for $4.50 to $6.50 a bottle.

The courier info sheet said flight UA822 was to leave at 11:25 pm. The airport screen and actual time to depart was 11:55 pm. Always double check departure times.

The courier rep gave me ticket the to Narita and said no pouch was going. Darn! I feel so important when I have it. Being I had so much more weight in my baggage returning, I decided to check in my main bag of luggage (of which two 65lb bags were permitted plus carry on’s if needed.) I didn’t realize at the time I was checking it in not to Japan, but to San Francisco. Oops!

I get to pay the 200 baht ($8.00) airport departure tax. Going through customs is no problem, even with all my purchases.

The flight was about 8 hours and included a crummy shoot 'em-up movie and a couple of meals. I should have ignored them both and slept.

I arrived in Narita for the second time at 6:55 am. I was tired. Went to pick up luggage and was told remember you checked it in to San Francisco. Oh, yeah... oops! In traveling you learn tolerance and able to make adjustments as you go.

I was lucky in having some basics in my small camera bag. Also the hotel provided many bathroom items. It didn’t include a brush so I had the wildest bad hair days till SF. I think I probably smelled a little ripe too. Such is life.

I took the now familiar hotel bus to the Nikko hotel got my room with a grand view this time and went to sleep. I was feeling a bit ragged, plus I think I ate something earlier I shouldn’t have. I missed the breakfast buffet, which would have bothered me more if I hadn’t been so sleepy or feeling queasy. The room was great, but I had trouble sleeping.

Finally it was time to shower and get ready to go. I still had a coupon for lunch and went down to have a quick bite. What a nice selection of great food. It’s important to note that this hotel layover is a short one. You arrive at the hotel around am and have to leave for the airport by 2:30 pm. It’s mostly time to sleep. Some fun I am.

Arriving at airport I go to the Terminal one, United International counter and wait for the rep. After a 30 minute wait the courier rep shows up, gives me the flight ticket, and says no pouch, have a good time. I have further courier obligations on this trip.

There is no airport departure tax, as I was in Narita less than a day.

Courier instructions say my flight leaves Narita at 5:15 pm. Actual time leaving is 4:15 pm. (Perhaps daylight savings time switch over?) I could have easily missed the flight. Learn to verify the local time and flight times at each airport. Get your stuff done and wait at final loading gates to prevent problems.

To make matter even more interesting there was a possible bomb threat going on so many guards were checking for suspicious acting people and abandoned packages.

I was waiting at the proper takeoff gate when my stomach and other parts starting feeling queazy. Maybe those two late night giant crepes I ate at the Bangkok airport are coming back to do me in. oh oh. I had all my luggage with me. No restrooms. I was getting desperate. I abandoned my luggage and bolted for the hallway and hopefully a restroom. 

This must have looked pretty suspicious as the guards noticed me quick. They started chasing me and yelling things, but I couldn't stop. I had mere seconds to find a restroom at best. They called in reinforcements. Everybody was watching. I saw a restroom and ducked inside quickly finding a stall for relief. The guards poured in, earnestly leaping around looking the "bomber." They had guns! Without going into to much detail they found me and saw what I was doing. I became very good at sign language. They realized I was not a bomber, but a desperate tourist. I'm surprised the smell didn't kill us all. 

Seven guards thinking they were now being compassionate escorted me back to the departure gate thus ensuring that everybody there would think I was some deranged mental fruitcake that misplaced his bomb. Finally we boarded the plane and off we went into the sky. Why can't I have a dull life sometimes?

After a 10 hour flight arrived in SF 8:20 am. Tired, fuzzy, jet lag. Should have ignored the meals and movie. Little sleep. Isle seat made mandatory (ahem!) bathroom runs easier.

Customs was no problem. $400 can be brought in duty free. You don’t even have to itemize purchases unless it over $1400. I wrote I had under $400 and they waved me though without inspection.

In SF I could have taken a bus for sightseeing for $1.75 (if you ask around and avoid the $15.00 tourist rides) I decided to try and sleep waiting for my 6 pm flight to Fresno. This is what you call a long layover.

I arrive in Fresno, get a ride home, and mostly just want to sleep. Everyone else wants to visit. Finally I get to bed. I sleep late for two days and then am as good as new.

It’s time to start sorting out my notes and get on with my now more exciting life. In shopping at the corner grocery store it was fun to see somebody at the international food section and I was able to say, "I just came back from over there and here’s some great cooking ideas".

Yes, travel is grand. I met some wonderful people which I hope to keep in touch with. I’ll send them details on my story, hopefully they’ll send me theirs. If I’m ever in that part of the world maybe I can stay there, with the same offer open to them here.

I called the courier company the following day, thanking them for the trip and letting them know I did my part. She thanked me and said my $100 deposit will be returned immediately. I wonder where I’ll go off to next?