Leaving the Land of Smiles...Smiling

Trip Start Dec 31, 2004

Trip End Apr 22, 2005

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Flag of Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Wednesday, January 12, 2005

It's amazing really how once you're actually free to leave a place you're reminded of why you came in the first place. I've enjoyed my stay here in Bangkok and it was certainly a smooth start to the journey. When I haven't been meandering through the various narrow sois in my neighborhood and running errands I've been eating and reading about the next destination and longing to keep moving. The only concept of time I've had has been sunset equals cocktail time and Wednesday is the day I go to the dentist.

And so I went to see Doctor Bob today for my for crowns and veneers. It was as painless physically as it was emotionally -- the latter being my primary concern. I walked out smiling at everyone and almost tripped when I was smiling at myself in a storefront window as I passed. I couldn't have cared less. I walked all the way back to my hotel and smiled at every shop owner and bid everyone who'd listen a saw wat dee kaa and flashed them my even upper choppers

BananaPancakeMan

. I have a sneaky feeling I'm a little bit like the 300 pound woman who looses 20 pounds and suddenly feels she can wear sleeveless tops. There is a decided improvement however in my case but the smiles may be a bit overzealous if not asinine.

I smiled and beamed all the way to the travel agent and demanded to leave Bangkok at once. I secured a noon flight to Phnom Penh tomorrow afternoon and should arrive in Cambodia's capital a little after one o'clock, which by my estimates means lunch at the Foreign Correspondents Club immediately after check-in at my hotel.

After I'd paid my hotel bill so I'd be free and clear in the morning I sat looking at my onward ticket and was practically wistful. There was no time to dawdle though and get sentimental -- the sun was going down, cocktail hour was creeping up on me.

Onward!
Christina

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