Bangkok

I do have a special relationship to Bangkok!
while pregnant with the idea of changing to long-haul flying at Lauda Air some 18 years ago i took the opportunity to jumpseat with a friend in the cockpit to both directions, east and west, to get a grip on how it would feel to actually do this kind of job.
my choice fell on Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for westbound and short after to Bangkok to check eastbound. while Punta Cana was a nice beach layover feeling like a vacation, i was completly overwhelmed by Bangkok!

getting out of the aircondioned aircraft (B767) and the as well airconditioned terminal to the busterminal for all crew-busses i remeber beeing hit by the heat and humidity and the thick air, like never experienced before. just looking at the weather data doesn't tell you the full story, you have to get there for the feel of it.
after a first short shock i fell in deep love to this special city, despite the quite brown and polluted air at the time (1998). the friendly and open people, the supply of fresh and tasty food at every street corner, the view of the chaotic traffic with cars, tuk-tuk's and hughe flocks of mopeds, the overview of the city from the observation platform of the baiyoke-tower during a tropical rainstorm is breathtaking. let alone all the crazy markets where you just can buy anything.
the whole crew took the funride of showing to me all aspects of the nightlife, as they did later with my wife, it was an unwritten company rule to take firsttimers everywhere.

in a way this city became my favorit city in asia and also an archtype of how i think an asian city should look like, a little bit dirty, a little bit chaotic, fun to be with good nightlife and shopping, excellent food and it should be warm! if i get into an aircraft for 8 hours or longer i don't want to have the same weather like home!

while the sensation of crazy shows wears of quickly my love for the thai food was in to stay and i love coming back to thailand and to head out for all styles of their quisine, starting from simple streetkitchens, via skybars to full grown dinners at more luxurious food temples.
already weeks in advance i start dreaming of the local dishes when i find Bankok on my roster!
cu - nuck


pictures:
- path-pong night market is best enjoyed sitting with a beer watching the hectic.
- food and fresh fruits everywhere.
- also called the asian Venice Bangkok is full of little canals and a boating network
- typical street market like seen on major crossings
- tuk-tuk - if you try to stay too cheap they will take you through advertisement tours like gold-shops,
                 well payed they can be the fastest form of transport despite not the safest...

Today i invite to to Japan...

in particular to the smaller town of Kanazawa.
it shares the airport with Komatsu and we take our layovers in the City Center of Kanazawa.
besides the look of funny aircraft paintjobs i prefer the quiet and relaxing habitat of one of the old samurai houses, which were setup to protect the river flowing through the old town.

the special mix of high quality wood- and stonework together with the clean and airy look and feel of the inside stands in contrast to the garden which is completly overflowing of green, together with the usual gimmics you would finde in a japanese garden, a pond with stones and a bridge to cross it, some little hammer that claps to the waterflow and alike.
the whole set gives a quiet atmosphere with wind rushing throug the leaves and the sound of dripping water, extremly calming and comforting.

despite all earthquakes in the area and weather like in austria with warm summers and cold and humid winters all the wooden doors still work with minimal gaps and everything looks solid as to last forever.
the tea-ceremony room is in first floor overlooking the garden from a higher perspective, but i prefer the living room that is open to the garden, clean and airy.
if wondering, houses of the epoche have a nice heating system with smoke-exhaust from the kitchen running below the floor to create foor-heating; it still looks a little freshening for the winter though...

i visit the house regularly to relax and get a grip to earth again in the otherwise loud and hasty country...
cu - nuck

it looks like this: