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May 26, 2004
24/5 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Note - Trains not included in set)
(Listening to: The Hilltop Hoods)
Well, this is the first opportunity I've had since arriving in Thailand to sit down and recover my thoughts. Its been quite an action packed 36 hours - quite unexpected on my part - I thought it would all be a bit slower and smoother.
The flight over was mostly smooth - well, no it wasn’t actually, we went through some 'light to moderate turbulence', followed by a 'jet stream'. The meal was good - I had the beef on pasta, with an Italian tomato-based sauce - very tender. I sat next to this softly spoken pommie called Kat, who had been working in IT in Sydney for three years. I had a reasonably good conversation with her during the first few hours, and I think that this helped me stabilise my emotions during the flight (the emotion of leaving family and friends really did hit me, albeit as I was physically leaving).
I watched all 3 movies - Along came Polly (Ben Stiller flick, very funny), Lord of the Rings 3 and Barbershop 2 (Ice Cub, etc - probably would have been funnier had I seen number 1).
Interesting to note were the two times I got emotional during Lord of the Rings, both times at the very end, and both quite different angles. After Frodo returned from completing his mission, he awakens to a slow-mo of all his adventure-bound friends joining and expressing their happiness in seeing him alive. The final figure who enters is Sam, Frodo's best friend, skulking through the doorway - seemingly uncertain as to how Frodo will accept him. I saw Sam as Nick and Tim, my boys - upon my return, what will our relationships be like? How will we have changed?
The second time was when Frodo realises that he doesn't fit into his original home or community, he has moved beyond it all. I thought that this is likely to happen to me upon the return of my Journey, and the effect of this really hit me hard. I am guaranteed to be a different person upon return. To what degree I do not know, nor will I know my 'fittability' back into Sydney and the 'old' Dan-related community of people and places. However, I have good friends and family to return to, which means there is something to go back to (unlike Frodo).
Anyhow, I got to Bangkok alright, I stayed up the whole time, so I was tired. Customs and exit was smooth. However, when I went to get money from the ATM, it gave me errors….. Grrrrr. So I had to resort to using the USD I had to get the taxi to the hotel. I'm STILL having the same problems, but somehow I managed to get money out using a 'quickcash' function (I think it ended up being a cash advance from my VISA, but at least it worked).
I got to the hotel, went up the four flights of stairs (no lift), had a well-required shower, made my first audio-journal entry, and went to sleep.
Posted by Dan at May 26, 2004 10:49 AM
Comments
Sounds like the Westpact savings account is not linked to teh VISA network like the ST George savings account which is.
Is your Visa in credit? If not do you wish us to pay it down so that you can draw cash from the credit system once it is in credit. This is what Kelly did.
What will you do in Cambodia? Need to review this ASAP.
Do you have cash in savings account?
Do you have funds in ING account?
Posted by: Dad at May 26, 2004 12:06 PM
Interesting how your subconscious chose those two moments in LOTR for your emotions to resurface. Mind you, I have a sneaking suspicion that Sam's feelings towards Frodo weren't entirely platonic! (Not that this is a comment towards The Bro or Nicko...! I think I've dug myself in deeper. I'll shut up now.)
Awesome to hear you're safe and sound. And entirely relieving.
Posted by: taffles at May 26, 2004 10:47 PM