Pet Mahk! Bangkok is hot...sweltering and full of noises and smells. I made it from the airport to the hostel fairly easily after a minor holdup in immigration...I never was good at filling out paperwork.

Traffic doesn't seem as bad as everyone says it is, at least in regards to traffic jams...its the moving part that astounds. Between the tuk-tuks, motorbikes, mazes of unmarked streets and seemingly arbitrary traffic laws I wonder at the incident of accidents. It makes those California drivers seem tame in comparison. Despite the chaos everyone seems as relaxed as if they were haveing a leisurely Sunday drive, I think we could take a lesson there!

I spent my first day wandering and absorbing. The smells more than anything make my being here real. Wood smoke from fires that people cook on, sweet curry and the yeasty smell of cooking rice, the tang of canal water and fresh fish filling the baskets on the street, spoiling vegetables and motorbike exhaust.

The Khao San area is full of 'farang' but as I walked (and subsequently got lost) I could see more of the day to day and less of the frantic selling of anything and everything. The first Wat I stumbled into looked deserted, overgrown grass etc. and I cautiously took a few steps in. It is amazing that this beautiful building of gold and precious artifacts was open to anyone passing by. It was apparently built for a women who took care of the prince when he was a child and petitioned to become a female version of the monk. She was denied several times but then granted some special status.

I stood next to a monk in line at 7-11 the other day.

I asked directions... in Thai... and the man I asked understood...and then I understood his answer in Thai!!! Maybe I will make it here after all.

I have two days in Bangkok and then leave by night train for NongKhai, I am excited to catch my breath in a smaller town and meet the people I will be working with for the next month!

I miss everyone back home, much love to you all!