ThaiLand - May, 2007

We arrived in Suvanarbhumi Bangkok Intl airport at 11:30am. A black Limosine was waiting for us outside. It started to rain cats and dogs as we got into the car. The street was totally white in rain. I felt a little bit upset as I had planned to have a half day tour to the Grand Palace in the afternoon. We asked the driver to stop by a 7/11 shop to get a SIM card. We checked in Narai - a 3 star Hotel in Silom Road at 1:30pm.

Had a quick lunch with grilled shrimps, carps and vegetable at the nearby market. Then stopped a Tuktuk, bargained for a tour to Grand Palace by ourselves. Because of having agreed with him to spend 10 minutes looking at a Jewelry shop in order that he could get a 2-hour-driving-fuel voucher, we missed the chance to visit Grand Palace. We were not allowed to get inside since it was then 4 p.m sharp. In stead, we took photos with the pigeons at the opposite park. The driver was very patient waiting for us until we came back. Another 30 minute drive to Robinson Supermarket. After 2 hour walking around, what I bought was some stockings for myself and friends in case I could not buy anything for gift in the next day.
Arrived at the Hotel late, had buffet dinner, then Thai foot massage. A very sound sleep we had before an early wake up in the morning of May 10. We woke up, got dressed. A buffet breakfast finished at 8:30 am.

The Compliance Meeting:

Nivat came to pick us up by his own car. On the way, we discussed about the procedure for the Fellowship in Lerdsin Hospital with Dr. Wallop in June, 2007. Thai traffic is very much in order. Every car runs in the own lane. Motorcyclists wear helmets. That’s why we could be at 90km/hr whereas it was only 35km/hr in the city of Hanoi. We arrived at Zimmer office after 7 turnings to 8th floor for parking. The office is on the second floor of a modern 20-storey building. I found that every high building here has at least the first 8 or 10 storeys for parking place. The office is well designed and arranged. Each department has its own area in the office of about 450m2. Desks and cabinets are nicely and conveniently placed. All are in blue and white. The store, which is around 450 m2, is also well organized. There is a 10m2 canteen room with a fridge and a microwave, where the staffs can enjoy their snack or have a drink.
The class started at 9:00am. Sis. P and I were the only two attendees who did not come from Thailand. The whole lecture was recorded. We stopped for a buffet lunch at 12:15pm. It was a simple Thai style. What I could eat was the seaweed soup with cabbage, rice and a bowl of sweetened pumpkin porridge.
The lesson continued at 1:00pm and finished at 3:15pm. We took a taxi back to the Hotel without forgetting to take a photo at the Company entrance.

Feeding the doves with corns

After a quick rest, we continued our career of shopping and discovering Bangkok as much as we could. With the map on her hand, sis. P kept asking for direction. We tried Sky train to MBK Supermarket which took us only 5 minutes from the nearest station to the Hotel. It was a really funny experience of traveling by Sky train to us. It is ashamed to tell you here but I think it's a nice memory which both of us can laugh at ourselves whenever we remember of it. Clothes and accessories are available in every shop in the first 5 storeys here. Cinemas, hairdressings, restaurants are all in the 6th, 7th and 8th floor. We did not forget to try Mc Donald fast food. Sis. P was very clever to tell me to try a little of every kind of food we wanted in order that we could eat much. Then we had Thai style Hotpot. It was very delicious. Then shopping. Then Tuktuk to a very light street which later we knew was Patpong, hihi. We saw many beautiful and sexy girls standing outside waiting for ... Perhaps, all of the most attractive Thai girls gathered here, we thought, since we hardly saw any of those girls in the streets during the last almost 2 days. Then Thai body massage. Relaxed. Sleep.
I woke up very early in the morning of 11. We took a taxi to Lotus Supermarket where we could buy a lot of fruits home. Fruits here are very sweet, fresh and reasonable. We ate a lot. The staffs were very enthusiastic helping us pack everything. Back to Hanoi.