Early One Morning, The Sun was Shining

I’m in Bangkok, just off the night bus from Mae Sot.   The 8-hour ride took me a world away.   I bordered the bus at 9pm, at what could have been 3 am, for how dark and quite it was on Mae Sot’s streets.   I realized, as the bus quickly spread out of the city, it was my first time in an enclosed car since arriving in Mae Sot, and how odd it was to move past all the familiar sights quickly and silently.   Leaving Mae Sot involves going through not one but four legal checkpoints, where Thai officers check for people illegally trying to enter Thailand from Burma.    The first time the officers got on I pulled out my passport, I wasn’t even looked at, let alone my documents.  I watched as others were asked to show multiple ids, and a few brave souls, dressed in traditional Karen clothing were pulled off the bus to be questioned, but later allowed back on.  By the time we made it to the fourth checkpoint I left my headphones on, and watched the same process again.   No one seemed to mind as they were tested on their Thai language, and had all their documents scrutinized.  

            After the 4^th checkpoint it was lights out, and I managed to sleep most of the ride down.  I awoke with a start to more noise and light then I have heard in a month!  We were in Bangkok, in the loud crowded bus station, busy and noisy at 5:30 a.m.!   I had been warned that a trip to Bangkok from Mae Sot is a bit disconcerting, as there are more people, more cars, more buildings, more EVERYTHING.  Its true, and it was a certainly a rude awakening.   At the same time, for this New York girl, there was something comforting about the early morning greeting.   I don’t love Bangkok, I’ve spent a good deal of time here but its always to meet someone, or as a cross point to somewhere else.  It’s the same this time, though there was something comforting as I sped down the highway in a metered cab, observing that the bus stop I arrived in was probably larger than all of Mae Sot.

            I find myself now at a lovely hotel (Thanks Dad!), which feels a universe away from Mae Sot.   I see the sun rising behind Bangkok’s numerous skyscrapers, which is exciting coming from all the rain. I’m impatiently wait the next 12 or so hours till Paul arrives in Thailand and am off to find a much needed Western breakfast