A very long flight to Bangkok, when you add in sitting on the plane for the mechanical 1 1/2 hour delay. The flight was about 10 hours. Kenya Airlines has the newest Boeing 787, called the Dreamliner. It has a few new features that are pretty nice. The restrooms are bigger and everything works by a wave of your hand motion. The windows are very large...other jets I've always had to crunch down to see out. The windows also darken themselves with a gauged button to determine how much shade or light you want. Since Im in business class, the entertainment system is very nice with personal screens that are larger and seem to have better clarity when viewing or listening to music. There is not as much cabin noise from the engines. This isn't Boeing's fault but the service and the food were pretty marginal. I was able to get about four hours sleep, the seats lay completely flat, which is unusual for me when flying.
We arrive into Bangkok's new International Airport, very nice. When we arrive, plus we are coming from Africa, even though Kenya is not one of the eboli concerned countries, we are required to go through a health inspection kiosk. They look at our eyes and do a quick check of our temperature. "You have been to Brazil and Kenya, do you have yellow fever card?" You bet I do, helps to investigate about immunizations before traveling. I was given a quick lane pass from the flight attendant before I left the plane which got me through customs and immigration quickly. My luggage was already waiting for me. All toll it took me 15 minutes to get from the plane, through all the checkpoints to the cab queue.
The taxi queue also was very fast and efficient. Once in line you walk up to a self serve stand, where you tap the screen and it gives you a number, mine was 23. You simply walk to that lane where a cab is parked, you are off and running. Our cab driver and I had a bit of a communication problem, he didn't speak English, but he was really trying to understand the word Hilton. I got out my copy of the Hilton reservation and showed me the address and thats all it took to get him in the right direction. Another thing before I left making copies of all my reservations and ticket numbers.
The last time I was in Bangkok in the 80's, I remember the horrendous traffic problems, even worse than I experienced in Nairobi. Everything back then was slow, dirty and seemed very backward. Things have changed, Bangkok now has several superhighways leading in and out of the city. They also just recently finished several" Sky Trains" and above rail monorail system. They also have the start of a "subway system", mostly above ground, that already has several lines working. Then add to that a light rail system that has just two stops from the airport to Bangkok Central Station. I do find out later the Chinese helped build and finance with bond backing over the past 20 years in Bangkok's infrastructure to include transportation, sewage systems and roads. This is interesting because I remember reading in the Nairobi english version newspaper that the Chinese were starting to help and plan infrastructure support in Nairobi. I wonder where the US fits in with third world infrastructure financial support. Oh yeah we are busy financing the world's police force.
We make it to the hotel that seems fairly new. It is a beautiful laid out lobby to include the traditional welcome of the Thai people. This welcome is a gesture with hands together as if you were to prayer and a slight bend at the waste. I must have had at least a dozen of these gestures from employees by the time I got to my 18th floor room. It is about 4PM and I'm pretty wasted, I think this time jet lag has really hit me. But, my objective is to try and stay awake until at least 10PM. I find there is an executive suite for Hilton Honors that I qualify and proceed there to investigate the layout. I have to say this is one of the best executive suites I've been in over the years with Hilton. Sushi of all types, cheeses, meats, breads, dessert bar and my favorite the open bar. I literally got filled and decided diner wasn't needed. There is a small hallway of stores attached to the hotel so I take about an hour and stroll and window shop. There are some really nice art and sculptures but I remember that my special souvenir suitcase is already full.
Its is 9PM so I go back to my room to watch a little TV. Just so happens the original Indiana Jones movie is playing. I lasted about 10 minutes and I was out. I wake up bright eyed and ready for the day around 1AM.
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