Home Part 2

Still trying to hold to my new tranquil NOW self, well home much is the room... (I have paid #120 for the room at Sleep Inn 2)...with tax $108.  So with the cab $228 to sleep....  I am reminded that it was $320 a month for room and scooter in my little warm sunny bungalow...    I also need to ask for some tissues since I am starting to sneeze.   Usually I only get a cold when I am very depressed about something, but it could have been 450 hacking Chinese folk on a sealed plane for 13 hrs that send something my way.  So I am now whipping my nose while gathering my duffle and backpack and waiting for the town car the desk person has called.  He tried a metered cab, but alas...I will have a “this is what you owe me person”.   The SUV arrived in about 15 min.  The two gents trying to get money from the internet walk out to get something to eat.. I did not see anything that looked like open..but that is their thing

I thought we were driving to Newark since I was in the car about 15 minutes.  The Sleep Inn 2 was listed as an airport motel, but it must have been on the other side.  We managed to experience about 20 red lights...so after I paid $30...chachink chachink... I was standing at the bottom of some stairs facing the elevator inside the sub-lobby of Sleep Inn 2.  In addition to money going out...time was ticking by. 

I saw two people talking to the desk woman so I tried the elevator...nothing...   tried the door and it opened and I dragged the duffle, backpack, tissues, and what is left of Bonny up the stair.   The couple at the desk are travelling light... as in no luggage....  but they finally got settled and it was my turn.

Sorry about the limo but we have one for you to go back...good   You need to leave at 7 for the 9:30 flight... ok... breakfast at 6...vending machines on 2 and basement when the breakfast is ..... credit card for “incidentals” what ....the limo is free..the breakfast is free.... there is nothing to eat now...but ok here it is... and I am in 408....   you need the room key to operate the elevator in sub floor...which makes sense since you arrive with luggage.  Maybe this is a test that you are healthy enough to stay and Sleep Inn.

Up to 408.....  blow nose.. they have tissues...mmm bathroom....mmmm and I start to put the stuff that can fly into the duffle and take the winter stuff out into the backpack... well...what is the weather like.... where is the remote.   I looked in the drawers, under the bed, in the bathroom, around the tv... and finally...phone to the desk.... did I get the only $120 room with the cheaper TV that is only for decoration. (ok...i slipped into my usual smart response...but I am tired... with cold and it is now 2am Tuesday and I left the bed in Bangkok at 6pm Sunday  butting it into one time zone....)  I’ll come right up... she brings a remote, which doesn't work... goes back and brings another.  Unplugged the TV and when it starts up again the remote works.    Could you get me up at 6 I said as I set my vibrating alarm, watch, tablet, and cellphone.

I got ready for bed thinking...I will shower in the am..I am sure the breakfast will not take long. And at about 2:45....TV off and zzzzz

At 6:15, something woke me but it wasn't anything I had set since they were all 12 hrs off.  I asked about the wake up call and she said...oh I set your clock..now that was scary...what else can she do remotely.  By the time I got organized and my sleepers stowed... I rationalizing that travelling without a shower was better than no coffee.   So I trudged down to the lobby with my gear, grabbed a coffee and a sticky bun (ugh) and waited in the lobby.  

I was the only passenger to the airport...so after hearing my story the driver said I can drop you off at station 5.... and then got off at 4 and had to get a ticket and out and around the on to 5.

I had checked in so I just had to drop the bag off and get into the priority immigration line and off I was sitting in the waiting area for the plane and the last leg home...to a waiting Joe with a happy to see you face.

Home Part 1

Getting into NYC was as it always is..returning to a third world country.  While I started out seated in mid plane, I ended up immediately in front of the toilet.  I can tell you the swish noise made by airbus toilets travelling 500+ at high altitudes is very loud and with everyone drinking during the 13hr flight..wosh wosh went the sound of the plane.  I watched the movies and ate the Indian Vegetarian and slept a couple of hours but when the plane landed at 10:30PM...to start the deboarding and reentry, I was not in great shape. 

The Chinese plane was primarily Asian but the majority was either green cards or US citizens.  So the massive group slowly snaked along until we were shown which row to get in to go through customs.  Of course there are three inspectors, 2 line em uppers, and several that are walking about just in case.

Since I was the one of the first to board the first plane, my duffle was one of the last to snake down the ramp.  Happily Jeannine’s safety pin held up the far end of the zipper and down it came in tack.  My backpack was fairly close to the 47 pound duffle.  So off I went for the overnight stay.  Unlike any other country with major cities, there are no planes from NYC to Rochester; the third largest city in the empire state, after 10:30 PM, so overnight was not an option.

I put on my coat, picked up the backbreaker and got the duffle rolling out of the airport, across the parking area, and up the elevator to the sky train.  I took the train to Federal Circle and then down the elevator to the walk out to the airport to motel shuttles.

I had retrieved the paper with the prepaid numbers for the Sleep Inn which after a 15 min wait decided to retrieve the paper and call the motel.  It was now 11:45.  I am starting to be weary of travel and want to try to get some shut eye before I have to return to the airport for the morning flight.

The friendly woman on the other end of the phone says, “There are no pickup after 11, you’ll have to get a cab”.  Since I am in my new Zen mode, I didn't levitate and say...nothing on this paper says that or I would not have taken all this time to get to Federal Circle to wait for the bus..  “Thank you...see you soon” my better self said.

Get the backbreaker back on the back, turn the duffle around and start back to the elevator.  The transit person was at the stop and suggested I get off at terminal 4 since that would have the best shot at a cab.  On the trail....Off at #4....walk a long way....escalator down... and as I am walking toward the cab area a driver says I’ll take for $45 dollars.  I kept walking and got in the cue and boarded a yellow cab with a meter.  I gave him my paper and said Sleep Inn and here is the address.  He looked at the paper and off we were...   I am tired....but there it was Sleep Inn and I am ready to sleep.  He left me off at the fence since turning in would have been a chore and I gave him the $12 for the cab and $5 because I needed to work off some Karma for thinking about levitating...

I entered the lobby which was not much and there were 4 men in the lobby, two trying to get a credit card to work so they could stay and two that worked at the Sleep Inn.....   I remembered that it was a woman that answered the phone when I called, but I still said... I made it and gave him the paper.  He said... you are at the wrong Sleep Inn.. They are a different owner and I can’t just switch the room......  (to be continued)

end of the road.

I put the picture on Facebook but wanted to speak more about it

Most of the folks were a long way off.  I was sitting two rows in and it was lunch time. I don't think too many saw the camera. Some were by themselves like the young man at the top right.
Hats are big this year.  I wear my CH baseball cap when the son is cooking.
There are still colored hair and extensions.
The three on the right are working Thais. Their days are often 10 hrs and six days.
I have noticed that most don't tip.
Earlier I ended up at a local Wat there was much going on. In this picture two males are having relatives cut their hair and eventually the heads were shaved. They are about to be monks

I

In the same temple, a couple where making a commitment. Boy, they look young

These were the monks chanting at the commitment.

I'll end on 2 notes...thank you Rod for my grounding

Thanks to the Chung beer folks

And enough reflecting for one year.