Where is Tony Soprano?

I survived the commute from My Tho to HCMC unscathed and actually had a very pleasant stay in the HCMC Airport before departing for Bangkok.

Traffic in BKK was its ordinary ugly at 7pm upon my arrival but returned to a familiar and modest hotel that I stayed in before. Great news is that it was ¾ of the way to my destination the next morning so I figure, I’ve made the right decision. They added Wi-Fi in the room and I had a bonus bathtub-what more can a girl ask for?

Up early and armed to go to the Bus Station to take me to the “Tiger Temple” for a private shot. The bus is to cost me 99 BHT, about $3.00 USD. The 2 taxi drivers outside my hotel refused to make the commute to the bus station- they wanted to drive me all the way for 3,000 BHT, about $100 USD (a very common target price for many services in BKK).

I know the drill and pretty forceful now, especially after Vietnan. I go to the corner and successfully hail a cab. Once I get him to turn into my street (of course using a lot of mime) to fetch my luggage waiting at the hotel, he has a conversation with the corner thugs who tell him to not take me. They “owe this street” or something like that.

I am not dissuaded. Another very nice Taxi Driver passes buy, I get his full attention and he agrees to take me. My fare + a very large tip=$5.00 USD. We are both thrilled.

On a 1st class (that is a relative term) direct bus to my destination writing this note. Happy girl. Dodged another con artist in SE Asia. For all those I have lost too, take 1 for the team.

Epilogue- I wrote the aforementioned too soon. My bus just stopped for no apparent reason. We wait a few minutes a are transferred to a different bus. Looks like a 2nd class bus. Maybe too few of us to justify the trip. Hope this is still the 2hr. commute not the 3hr. alternative.

More to come soon,
Carpe Diem,
Lorrie
www.LorrieDallekPhotography.com