The 30 Hour Travel Day

Made it onto the first plane, a Hainan Dreamliner. The windows had controllable tints so it gave the plane this cool, sleepy vibe. Every once in awhile someone would lighten the tint and a bright beam of sun would shoot through the rows, reminding holy shit it's still daylight. 

3 hours in I'd already watched a movie -Life of Pi, talked to my next doory -a sweet woman from Beijing living in Seattle, when I asked her what she did for work she told me "Uh work!" Good lady, I'd already eaten beef stir fry, pasta salad, a roll and chocolate cake. Drank coffee, juice and water. Gotten a warm towelett, went to the bathroom, looked through a Chinese newspaper, written about my day and read...only 9 more hours to kill...

The stewardesses were stunning, each with perfect dewy skin and dark red lipstick, they seemed other worldly. Also very strict! 

I made it to Beijing at 2:30 pm, now 12:30 am my old time, I was feeling goofy! 

We landed on the Tarmac and all piled onto a shuttle bus. With us all waiting to leave this old man with a beautiful toilet bowl combover starts shouting "Was gohing on here?! Is time to goh!! IS TIME TO GOH!!" 

I had 8 hours in Beijing before my flight to Hong Kong left. I got a tempory stamp on my passport, I was free in China! I sat outside of arrivels watching the sunset through the smog, smoking a cigaret, wondering just how bad the air was I breathing in, on my off inhale... Moron

I made it to Hong Kong and then to Bangkok with only one woman getting arrested, what? Yes, I have no idea what it was for, I don't speaka da language. Maybe it was for disturbing the peace? She was disturbing our blissful airport sleep with shouting at someone who wasn't there. 

Once I made it through customs and got some Bhats in my pocket, I found a cab. We sped down the freeway weaving by moterbikes and other taxis. He starts to cut off an old blue car and then swurs sending the junker onto the shoulder. He tells me this is his friend. He honks and we exchange grins and waves with the man before gassing ahead of him. 

The swarm of gnats and I sat in the backseat, soaked in silence and AC. Undoubtly both questioning the choices that brought our lives here. 

He finally stops at the head of an ally, says We're here. Already bikes and trucks are honking at us, he slips me my change, hands me my backpack and drives off. 

I see a rusty blue sign pointing into the ally reading River View Guest House.

I make my way deeper and deeper, following the signs. The stalls on either side are piled high with greasy car parts of all kinds and men sitting on the road investigating, fixing or regreaseing them. I finally come to a blue sign where the arrow has been ripped off... 

After more twist and turns and encouraging points from old women, I pass by a cat sitting on a motorcycle, with a dirty bowl of fried rice (her food bowl?) as I look past her I see the gleaming (no so much gleaming, but a god sent) sign for River View Guest House! 

I'm checked in, have a four person dorm all to myself. Took a refreshing lukewarm shower, had Laarb Gai for lunch on the roof top cafe, looking out over the city and the busy river. 

Walked around my neighborhood. The grease ally's turn into quiet hidden local markets with vats of frying dumplings, laundry matts and fruit stands. 

I've been here for 3 hours. I'm going to plan my day tomorrow, watch the sunset upstairs and sober up from jet lag. 

This place is so full of life. Life that's so unknown it feels overwhelming, but people look you in the eyes and smile when you walk past them. 

I learned a new word today,

Mettā, means loving-kindness, friendliness, benevolence, amity, friendship, good will, kindness, and active interest in others. Often practiced by Buddhist in meditation.

What a perfect beginning for this, what a perfect word to carry with me on this trip.