well almost the last night

It is now about 8:15pm on Tuesday night. After I blogged, I hurried back to the room remembering I left my ipod charging. Something is wrong with the key card and the power stays on when the key comes out.. so I am one happy person to walk into a cool room. I think since the room is on the other side, it might miss the disc...but I want the ipod just in case. My stuff is packed and I have my bus ticket for 8pm. Figured I might as well get there and change and check in and the walk for an hour. I have mastered getting around the city during the day.. you pay 13 bt and take the water taxi to Center and then walk a few feet to the sky train.. get a 5 point ticket for 30 bt... change at Siam and you can get half way to someplace in record time. It is amazing how fast you can travel when you are not on land. So after my beer and spicy rice wtih veggies which has come to be my staple meal...I did the water air travel toward the gem store. I had a general idea where it was.. R IV and in what section.. so I got off and started to walk. I came to a university where there was a display about a bird that is almost distinct.. I had asked at the post in front what the address was of the university and they pushed me from pillar to post until I was in a classroom with Peter..a kiwi and the Director of Services.. who is looking desperately for an English teacher. I asked where the gem place was.. and she went off to call leaving Peter and I alone. In seconds I found that he had been here for 5 years earlier and then tried to have a travel business with another woman.. and then he got out of that and now he is "with" the Director.. her family is not fond of the arrangement and the men don't treat the women well.. and and ... well I have all of her info and where to get the paperwork started etc. They are hoping to leave BKK soon and I can think of a million places I would rather be.. but it was fun and flattering. I got a lesson in mindful attention.. when I left the school and was walking down the street..I fell... and scrapped my left elbow and got sand all over me.. I am now in my corn hill shirt from the Nick/Ira poster year.. and my strings and my spit upon tied shaman deal .. dusting me off as I walk into the Gen place.. I estimated I had walked about 3-4 miles in the blistering 92 degree after noon heat.. I was dry and dirty and hit the water table at the front as if I had staggered across the desert. Folks did notice me....I was not in a long skirt with my hair back.. nor did I arrive with a group . or in a cab.... They did not give me too much trouble about the back of the earing.. and then I asked about GP's Saphire.. first I thought she was going to laugh but she stayed battened up. She took me to the cut gems that are not in a setting.. a saphire of the size I was looking for does not come without a setting in this store.. they have small one like the one in my earring.. but the substantial would be set. So my long hard day and fall were for a back.. I bought a cheap bracelet and she insisted on cabbing me to someplace.. so I took the Siam plaza.. so I could be reminded that all of Thailand is not poor.. I was going to wear a sign.. my Prada is home.... I had a nice thai/italian dinner.. and then went to get a cab... I know they give cabs to everyone before the road.. so.. I just asked the tuktuk driver..and we agreed up 150. I have finally found a tuktuk with road rage. it was a beyond wild ride with me bracing at every turn... we missed an accident by inches and finally got pulled over. The driver got a lecture and when I could see the junk art store.. I said.. let me out here.. and almost kissed the ground. Well been her a long long time..home tomorrow