Porthole

Seventh week of the year 180

7.mai/พ.ค เดือนพฤษภาคม

Slept okay. Saw Ped before she left. Know how to get to Icon Siam. It will work out.

Free boat from Saphan Taksin to Icon Siam. Met up with Pannya and his mother, went to AIM Hotel (which was okay).

Cruise: music, food, a table for 3. Buffet, music too loud for my taste. I went because I was invited and wanted to meet Nupin. However, a costly cruise is not my idea of a good time. It wasn't bad. It's just not "me".

6.mai/พ.ค เดือนพฤษภาคม

Brian from Malaysia took Jessica, Alberto and me out to lunch. Very nice gesture.

I wore orange with a green umbrella today. 🧡 🤍 💚

Image of Jessica and me. Image of Alberto and Jessica singing. Jessica dancing to Abba.

From Bobbie George Ward:

Hold me now -
(as I shall hold)
let rivers chase my name -
that I might seed compassion
on the sea.
Tell them all I went the way
of locust come July -
the way of laurel
stilled by winter frost.
A softer sigh -
as silence waits
to heal the waning moon.
Love shall find
acceptance here -
beyond the threat of loss.

5.mai/พ.ค เดือนพฤษภาคม

"Just a beast on a leash" i.e. those who follow rules out of fear. Describes many Christians as well as dogmatic followers of other faiths.

Above quote found on FB is worthy of a poem or prose piece.

I got to sleep around 11 pm. Up at 7 am. Feeling weak but Coffee is My Companion, giving me strength.

Staying another night at Pinto. 6th and 7th are still not etched in stone. 7th is likely a river cruise. 8th is journey back home to Udon Thani.

No plans for today. I will take out money. I will renew my phone.

Yes, I want to see Pannya, but he said tomorrow.

Gay called me from Udon.

Nice chat with Jessica from Seychelles/Germany. She likes vampires.

4.mai/พ.ค เดือนพฤษภาคม

Safe in Pinto Hostel. Apple was there. Adrian remembered me. Alvin and Harry from Hong Kong.

Good chat with Kenny from RSA in hostel. He's married to a Lao in Pakse.

Brian from Malaysia works in China.

Ate pork satay with nam jim and ajad หมูสะเต๊ะ น้ำจิ้ม อาจาด; Max was very kind to join me.

3.mai

In transit. No major problems with flights. SEA-ICN Fed us twice, plus a snack. Steak was regrettable. Watched movie.

ICN-SEA. Turbulence. Arrived a bit late, forcing me to take taxi for 400 baht instead of Skytrain for 45.

2.mai

Found my key and key card. Hope to get 3 hours rest. Up by 4-ish. Alarm set. Out by 05:30. Airport by 06:00.

My flights are at 07:00 and 14:00 so I may or may not blog.

1.mai

It will be a crazy day. My anxiety has gone down but not disappeared.

Showered instead of bath, but...

A bit shaky. This is normal. Most everything seems to be done. Packing is the biggy. I'm hoping to get to bed early but sometimes I don't sleep at all. The layover in Seattle is a brutal six hours. I'd rather be on the plane.

Updated CHECK LIST:

1. Prepack. Working on... progress. PACK

7. clean and/or unclutter (last time didn't go as planned). Some progress.
8. make decision regarding plants. Moved some to hallway. Some progress.

10. clean out BOTH fridges.
11. boxes. Moved a few; left for Julian
12. Call Asiana! Called. Apparently I have a reserved seat.

13. Bath.
14. Prepare food for layover in Seattle. Hard boiled eggs.
15. 14:20 (or is it 15:20?) check in for Asiana flights. Possibly change seats. Seat 20C is better.
16. Check in for Alaska flight.
17. Put clothes away. Mostly done.
18. Lunch. Use up rest of food at home.

7.221