We get no snow all winter...

Then the day before we're to fly out, there's snow. Yikes! But we're doing like good Portland-ers and riding the train to the airport, so there should be no problem getting to our 11:18am flight tomorrow.

We're all packed, critical decisions made about itinerary, clothes, umbrella/no umbrella, and... cameras. I'm reigning in my ego and bowing to a simpler trip by not taking my SLR/Lenses/Batteries/chargers etc, and using our new Canon G12, a mighty fine tricked out point and shoot. I'm sure there will be times that I regret this decision, but, many more times that I'm grateful to be light on my feet, and less of a target for less fortunates. 

I did get myself a dandy new little net book for photo processing/backup and web access. Bumped up the memory, tweaked it here and there. Downloading some movies and books on tape for the long plane rides tomorrow. 

Btw - my Skype handle is redebeccamama if you want to hook up!

Brit is very excited about our arrival, though not as excited it seems as his kindergarten students. They can't quite pronounce his name, so evidently the dialog is going something like this since he told them about us coming - Mr. Bitch! Mr. Bitch! When your mother coming?! Mr. Bitch! Mr. Bitch! Hilarious. I can't wait to meet them - went to the Dollar Store and bought them a bunch of goofy things. Also hit Powell's bookstore where I luckily found a sale on Dr. Seuss - woohoo. Cat in the Hat, Hop on Pop - a plethora of flashbacks to some of our favorites. Also taking some pictures of Mr. Bitch as a little one, I think they'll get a kick out of that...

Early morning tomorrow - good night for now.

Confused daffodils

Driveway

Doubt we'll see any Buddha's over there with snow on them

How it came to be...

I've had Thailand on my list of places to travel for many years - for the exotic-ness, the reputation as a beautiful, friendly place.

Nader, well, not so much...

But my son Brit going there to teach English last June was just the set-up I needed to sweet-talk Nader into a trip to SE Asia. Luckily he is a good sport and agreed! Or maybe it was his need to escape the PNW gloomy cold winter to anyplace warm... Whatever - I'm grateful for it!

Issues to be decided before we go - some people worry about clothes, some about itinerary - we agonize about technology! How many and which cameras to take? Laptop or no laptop? If yes, which one? How to access internet to post blog, do email etc. Crazy non?

We're blessed with lots of great friends who have traveled there, and have been drilling them for ideas on what to see/take/do/not do. So many things to consider! Luckily we'll have plenty of time there - almost a month, and a good friend, Shabbir Bashir there to help us out in addition to Brit.