I left for the SFO airport at around 7pm on Tuesday, January 6th. I took a flight from SFO-LAX, arriving in LAX around midnight. Since I was on a domestic flight, I figured I would have to switch over to the International terminal. I went outside, caught a bus (after standing in the cold) and rode the whole look, until the last stop, number 7, for United international flights. However, the woman driving was preoccupied on the radio and skipped it, so I had to sit through the entire loop again. When she got to it again, I had to stand up and yell stop, or she would have skipped it again...
Funny enough I was dropped of exactly where I picked up the bus... as United flights in LAX are both domestic and international. Wonderful. I was too late to get into the gated areas, and they told me they would open around 5 am. This was wonderful, as it was about 1 am at the time. There was only the ticketing areas (which were being cleaned) so very few people were already crashing on the even smaller numbers of chairs. I eventually settled on a series of 3 carpeted metal crates, happily situated next to a door, which, contrary to common sense, opened and closed all night, for no apparent reason. This was wonderful, because without a blanket, and in shorts and sandals, I was horribly cold for the "sleep" i got. At 4 am, I finally gave up and went to stand in line with the rest of the zombie-like passengers.
I was finally allowed in to the gated areas around 430 and immediately found a bench, and passed out till 7, when it was time to wake up, try to find internet, and eat some food. I spent the morning in the airport, watching it get crowded and then empty for a flight. My flight was at 11 am, so when I finally got on I was ecstatic to find myself alone in a row of 3 seats. Until the last moment... when a Japanese exchange student came on holding two bags too big for her to carry, and people helping her. She then tossed on bag on the floor in the middle of the isle and started re-sorting (we were trying to takeoff) and pulled out books, dvd's a computer, make up, hair straightener, stuffed animals, a jacket, etc etc etc... She also would turn and excitedly talk to you, even when I was reading and/or listening to music... To top it off, the TV on our side of the plane didnt work, so for the 11+ hours, I could only see the top third of the TV screen way ahead of me, which made watching any of the movies pointless.
When I finally arrived in Japan, I had a 3 hour layover before a 6.5 hour flight to BKK. The flight was better, and I was able to pass out a decent amount of it, trying not to get sucked into the conversation of the old golf pro and girl coming out to visit an old friend. They eventually got me, and I found out the girl was coming to visit the older sister of a girl I know in Chiang Mai.
Upon the glorious arrival in Bangkok, I went to try to see the reservation I made for a ticket the following morning (we arrived at midnight). There was no reservation so I went to ticketing and bought the first available ticket to Chiang Mai, which was at 630 in the morning, from the domestic airport, and business class. I took it, wanting to just be in Chiang Mai. I got a taxi to the other airport, and proceeded to find a corner to "sleep" in for the 3-4 hours of sitting there I had to do. Even though it was beautifully warm at night, the airport was frigid. Thankfully I had stolen a blanket from United. I attempted some not so restful hours of sleep, and finally boarded my BUSINESS CLASS ticket to Chiang Mai. Let's just say, if you can afford it, business class is the way to go. Big comfortable seats, juice and water upon arrival, a full breakfast with napkin tablecloths, real cutlery, newspapers... the best hour I had in the past 30+ of traveling. So I left for SFO around 7 pm Tuesday night, and ended up (with the time change) arriving home to Chiang Mai at 745 am Friday morning...
That afternoon a friend of mine was flying home, so I went to her house and moved into her old room. It was perfect timing. So now I live in the city, with my friend Dave, who teaches at my school. We have a two bedroom, nice comfy living room (he has an amazing couch) and even have an oven. It's pretty nice, but I dont cook. The room is normal, nothing special, and its loud at night, but thats what I wanted, so no complaints. I spent Friday getting my stuff moved in and sort of hung out, going to bed early, as I was exhausted.
Saturday was a hang out and clean up day and Saturday night was a shitshow with free tequila shots at my friend's bar... Sunday was spend entirely in bed. Now it's monday, and I'm at school. I had two classes this morning, and one canceled this afternoon. I'm trying to fulfill the full day (for the first time in months...) since it's almost the end of the year.
It is an odd feeling coming home to Chiang Mai, where I oddly feel more comfortable then I do in San Jose. Probably because I have a job/friends here.
As you all know it was great to see everyone over Christmas, and the cruise was a blast (except Guatemala... which I protested going to)
Hope the New Year's Resolutions are going good. I'm giving up eggs and rice. If you knew what I eat here, you would find that immensely funny.
Actually, I plan on returning to the gym today (fearful of how fat they all will tell me I got) and start working off the pizza and burgers from the cruise and Adelita's burritos.
Love you all...
the new living room/best couch in the world...
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