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This will be a short entry just detailing how the end of my jaunt through Asia went. The bus from Chiang Mai to Bangkok itself was not too bad - as far as overnight buses go it was perfectly reasonable. The only problem was that it dropped us off by Khao San road at 5:00 am. Half asleep, we were all forced to track down accomodation. I had tried to reserve a room at the guesthouse where my suitcase was being stored but was told that they, like most of the guesthouses in that area, do not take reservations. And at 5:00 am during the high season, most of the guesthouses were full. I finally found a room and dropped my stuff and took a much-needed nap. Then I went back to my first guesthouse to pick up my suitcase and arrange transport to the airport the next night. I took the suitcase back and repacked, adding everything I had accumulated in Laos and Chiang Mai. Then I spent my day walking along the river, taking a trolley tour through downtown Bangkok, and admiring Wat Pho and the Grand Palace (all the touristy stuff I had not done my first time in Bangkok). The next day I treated myself to as much pad thai and fresh young coconuts as I wanted and relaxed at a day spa to prepare for the long journey home.
My van arrived and I loaded my luggage (all 70 kilos of it) into the back. Then it was off to the airport. There was no traffic so we arrived at Suvarnahbumi Airport with plenty of time to spare. I had to wait about an hour to check in for my flight, and then wandered around the terminal until my flight left at 1:20 am. I slept until we arrived in Beijing just as the sun was rising. Then I wandered around the Beijing airport and napped until my flight to New York at 12:30. Turns out I shouldn't have napped in Beijing because I could not sleep more than 30 minutes on the 13 1/2 hour flight to JFK. It was so boring! After an eternity we finally arrived at JFK. I was seated near the front of the plane so I was one of the first off. I flew through immigration and then had to wait 45 minutes for my bags - and after how quickly de-boarding and immigration went I though I was going to be out in no time! Then I made the mistake of declaring that I was carrying fruit so I was forced to wait another 30 minutes at customs. Finally I got through everything and my lovely brother, Chris, was waiting to drive me home! Other than one little problem with the parking lot ticket we got home with no problems, leaving me free to plan my next trip to Egypt!
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