Day 10. A Fond Farewell.

Fortunately I had packed all my bags the night before knowing my lift to the airport was 9.15am and have having had a midnight feast I knew how tired I would feel in the morning. My cunning plan was to sleep on the j journey to the Airport and sleep on the 9 hour flight to Bangkok. I set my alarm for 7.30am. Final check. Tickets check. Handbag check. Reading glasses check Thai currency check . Passport. Pasport. Passport. ??? PASSPORT. DONT PANIC i told myself. It will be exactly where it should be… i unpacked my two suitcases completely. Shook out my handbag. Nothing. Then Sharm looked again. And again, nothing. Jai lightened the conversation slightly by asking me if i wanted him to take a look. By now i had missed my bus to the airport and had visions of misssing all subsequent flights so home13 days early. I could feel defeat decending. I sat on the sofa and told myseft there will be logical explanation. I only ever put it in one place. It wasnt there. I rememnered i had had it out of its pouch two days ago as i needed to email someone my passport numbers but there was no signal. So i left it on the kitchen table…. i remember thinking i will send the email later so possibly put it in my hand bag.but it wasnt there. Sharm and i emptied my bags and cases one last time. NOTHING.. n o t h i n g. part of me knew there was a simple explanation. Part of me was preparing myself to contact The British Embassy, miss my flights to Thailand and cut short my adventure…then REVELATION…. when i had travelled home in Simon’s car the night before…and stopped for Fish and chips…i put my bag on the floor of his car and it tipped over. When i arrived back at David’s house it was dark and i felt blindly around on the floor of the car for any contents that had fallen out of my bag. I wasn’t feeling for anything in particular but found my pen and my purse. Could i have missed my passport? Had it fallen out of my bag?? I didnt have Simon’s number so FB messaged him. I rang David who had gone to inform the airport bus that i would not be in time to board (I’d booked and paid the night before). David rang Simon and left him a message…then we sat and waited. BINGO! Simon found it on the floor of his car. Did I have time to catch my flight to Bangkok? Oscar to the rescue! He had just arrived back from a three hour round trip to the airport dropping the lovely Lina there on her way home to Kuala Lumpur. He offered to do it all again. He even offered to drive me the pretty route! What a hero. What a gentleman. What a genuinely nice guy. Airport here I come! Bangkok you don’t avoid me so easily! I’m on my way. On time. On schedule. This is when I discover the ENORMOUS diference between Emirates Business class and Jetstar airways Economy! I believe there is always positive in any situation and the positive in this,10 hour uncomfortable flight came in the form of an Australian lady called Charmae. Charmae was on the same flight and was seated on the other side of the aisle. Her meal arrived and i found myself asking her if she would like to join me in a glass of wine. I’ve never done this before.. and not sure why I did. But turned out to be a great decision. We got chatting. Charmae lives between the Gold coast of Australia and Chang Mai in Thailand. When i told her i was about to spend 3 days in Bangkok she gave me some REALLY useful tips. 1. Never ask for a Thai massage unless you want to find your toes behind your ears! Ask for an oil massage. 2. “Bow bow” means gently gently (may be useful for enthusiastic masseur) 3. Wat Po is the best place for massage. Its where they train the best.. Charmae trained there and said how ruthless they are with trainees if they don’t do it properly! 4. MBK is,a 7 floor shopping market. Each floor designated to different products. Worth a visit but don’t expect to find your way out as its HUGE! 5. If you like a market Chutujuck market is 10 acres of stalls. ! 6. A river cruise is well worth doing. 7. I was arriving on the first day of a month of mourning for their King who died a year ago so wearing bright colours may not be appropriate. Charmae told me how disciplined and strict the Thai people are in some situations. Situations like when her grandson was learning a martial art and did it wrong. Oh my!! No child protection here. I took heed of all she had told me and carried the note she wrote everywhere. It was relevant on several occasions. Charmae and I hooked up as FB friends and she has invited me to her homes on the Gold Coast of Australia and in Chang Mai in Thailand. She says she owes me a glass of wine! I have a feeling I may take her up on her invitations. We exchange FB banter. I had no idea when i offered a stranger to join me in a glass of wine that it could lead to more adventure. So 3 days in Bangkok are you ready?