Krungthep Ratree

First blog since the trip started but I have been adding to the others posts. First of all I would like to thank CG Komkrich and TASC for giving me this awesome opportunity. It started for me SFO Virgin America to LAX…. In LAX the rest of the team was waiting for me so we could all go to the gate together. We all met and I could tell we were all gonna get along great! The flight here I would like to thank Thai Airways be cause like their motto.. It was “smooth as silk”. What’s gets to me is usually Thais are really picky but no matter what was thrown at them out cabin crew was totally polite and gracefully Thai, and all done while wearing chut Thai (Thai Costume) for the entire duration of the flight!!!! We drank, we ate, we slept, we drank, we ate, we slept and then we slept, drank and are some more. The food on Thai was pretty decent chicken cordon blu and grilled salmon pad Thai the lemon grass vinaigrette was my favorite. We had a lot of time to connect and discuss and plan our work throughout the duration of the flight……

So which brings us to Suwannaphum Airport Bae has his bag misplaced by another passenger so that kinda bummed us.. But thanks to Vicky’s parents we didn’t have to wait through the passport line which sped up the process. Vicky was well prepared, she baked cookies, her parents picked up up at the gate and they brought us fruit… Worthy of her new nickname “MVP”. After that long baggage ordeal with Bae’s bag (which finally they found and delivered to the hotel 8 hours later) we met up with P’Linda our tour guide.. She’s awesome!! Which also leads to Bae’s new Nickname “Pra Ake”. Sue’s always carrying stuff so she is now known as “hulkess” the incredible Hulks counterpart. As for Elnie I have deemed her “khun Ying”. S that 4 out of 6 me and Supattra have yet to earn ours yet but I’m sure it will come soon. Overall we are all bonding very well and having fun.

Today’s plans were maahboonkrong for our phone ‘s, lunch under the Pinklao bridge, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha( which all of us have gone so many times.. Except for Vicky) Vimanmek Palace and ending with an arts exhibit at the Ananthasamakhom parliament building. We are currently having our first showers in bangkok and getting ready for dinner.. Stay tuned for more in out journeys in BKK.

Signed Somchan (Matt)

Sent from my iPad