Bangkok

I LOVE Bangkok.  Maybe one day I'll live there!  It is a bit like my favorite city - Hong Kong - but much cheaper.

We had breakfast on the beach for Linda's birthday and an amazing fish dinner that evening in Bangkok.  She picked out the fish she wanted and they cooked it for us.  Seriously, this was the best fish I've ever had. 

On our last day we spent a few hours shopping at the Paragon and MBK.  You must visit these places if you go to Bangkok.  The Paragon is basically a fancy mall with lots of international shops.  We went there to visit H&M and UNIQLO.  Then we walked to MBK.  This is where you want to go for gifts.  It's huge and has everything - DVDs, iPad/phone/pod covers, electronics, candles, clothes, bags, candy, home decor, journals, spices, etc.  We bought LOTS and then went back to the hostel to pack.

It was impossible not to compare Thailand and China.  Thailand is definitely more civilized than China.  It's cleaner, people speak English, and it just feels more like the western way we're used to (maybe I had been in China too long?).  There are so many places to see and cities / islands to travel to.

There are more western toilets than in China but we came across a very nice squat toilet at the bus station.  They even had sandals to change into. They're so clean in Thailand!

I left Bangkok at night and flew 5 hours to Tokyo. I had 4 hours to spend in the airport and I was off on an 11 hour flight to Chicago.  The journey home felt like it was over so quickly.  I didn't have to sit next to anyone on either flight.  Then after 21 months abroad I was HOME!