Thailand--first impressions

Beloved --
Three hours on Air India across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea to Thailand. As we start our descent over Myanmar, I'm taken by how beautiful the former Burma appears. From 30,000 feet I guess the details are washed out, huh? Coming into Bangkok everything looks so orderly--patches of neighborhoods of look alike houses with red tiled roofs and white walls. So tidy and organized after Chennai!
The Bangkok airport is wonderfully new and well run. I pass through customs and immigration in a snap. Helpful people everywhere! I'm greeted by a beautiful young Thai women holding up a sign with my name--she's the transfer driver to the Thai House (see their website!) in a new Camray with a/c. I don't hear one horn during the 45 minute drive to the guest house.
The proprietress of the Thai House is named "Pip." She has three daughters, the youngest of whom is Pang who serves as hostess for her mom. Pang works in Bangkok--22 km to the SE of the Thai House--helping ex-pats relocate to Thailand. She helps me with bus routes into the city which cost 15 baht each way as opposed to a way more expensive and less interesting taxi ride.
I spent Wednesday afternoon (January 21st) on a boat trip through the local canal system--the major transportation network here, like Venice. Temples everywhere, homes along the canals with red mail boxes nailed to pilings in the water, boats carrying propane tanks, boats carrying entire 7-Eleven speedy mart contents, boats with mailmen, boats with students, boats with workers returning from Bangkok.
Bangkok is busy, but less chaotic than Chennai. Tuk-tuk drivers are less agressive, shop keepers are not so much in your face. I walk the Royal Palace grounds with overwhelmed tourists from Russia, France, Sweden, etc. What a tour! The Emerald Buddha, a scale model of Angkor Wat, saffron robed monks, chanting visiting Buddhists from Japan and Korea. Best 35o baht I've spent so far.
Then on to the temple of the Reclining Buddha. The statue itself must be 40 meters long. The faithful buy pots of 1 baht coins to drop into pots as they walk around the Buddha. The sound of the coins dropping into the pots is like a flock of merry birds.
I walk along the riverfront market to catch the #516 bus back to the Thai House and another wonderful home cooked meal.
Tired and happy (and well fed) I drop of to sleep surrounded by teak and satin.
I love you and miss you all,
Jim