It was a very relaxed day because we had the whole day to get our departure act together in Bombay. Our flight from Bombay to Siem Reap in Cambodia was to depart at 11.30 pm. However, by 9.00 am, we became seriously worried about a cyclone in the Arabian Sea that was supposed to wreak havoc on India’s northwest coast, including Bombay. We thought we were done with snowstorms and blizzards when we left the US to live in the Tropics.Little did we expect we’d have pre-monsoonal cyclonic weather to worry about as a possible dampener of travel plans. For this reason, as heavy rain was expected to lash Bombay by 3.00 pm, we contemplated leaving for the airport by 2.00 pm as we were worried we would not find local transport. We need not have worried. By carefully following TV weather reports, we kept abreast of the fact that Cyclone Biparjoy had bypassed Bombay and moved into Gujarat and Pakistan. Much relieved, we went about our day, took care of last-minute departure chores and left on schedule at 7.30 pm by auto Rick for the airport where we arrived by 8.45 pm.
Check-in was swift and with an hour to kill before boarding, we could have used the Lounge, but preferred to merely pick up a light snack of samosas at a cafe before we made our way to our gate. Our Thai Airways flight to Bangkok was right on time, we were amazed to get a full dinner on board with full drinks service (a red wine for Llew, a G and T for me) and with lights out, tried to get some shut eye for the next three hours. No such luck! The flight was full, I have lost the ability to curl up in a tiny seat and sleep and I was restless throughout. There was not a single movie on the screen to interest me—so I watched us skim across the Eastern horizon in the dead of night.
Arrival at Bangkok airport means about four more hours to kill. It is a vast and very interesting airport with every possible designer represented in the Main Terminal Departure Lounge for those with deep travel pockets. I almost bought a beautiful silk scarf by Jim Thompson, an American architect who made his house, on stilts in Bangkok, an atelier for Thailand’s artisans. On a long-ago trip to Thailand with my Mum, we had visited his unique home in Bangkok—so I am well-acquainted with his luxury silk creations. But then I stopped myself to wonder if I needed another scarf! The answer is obviously NO! And so I marched off.
In the main concourse in Bangkok, there is a giant tableau that depicts the Hindu legend of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. This has been spectacularly represented with a gigantic statue of Lord Vishnu, a three-headed, huge Naga (serpent) and a number of human minions that assist as Amrut or nectar is produced out of the sea. We took the mandatory photos in front of the depiction and were glad we did as we saw this legend reproduced in stone on the walls of the temples at Angkor in Siem Reap.There was time to eat Breakfast in Bangkok and we made our way to the Food Court to survey the offerings there. Eventually, we settled on a traditional Chinese Rice Congee breakfast—two large bowls, one with Pork Meatballs, the other with Prawns (Shrimp). Both really bland until souped up with a variety of sauces that were on the table. Then, quite good.
Of course, we could not leave Thailand without buying our Bangkok magnet—was not sure if I had bought one all those years ago. With that in the bag, we were ready to Board our flight. We had been on the move throughout the night—so it was already 10.00 am the next morning when we boarded our second flight for the short hop to Siem Reap on Bangkok Airlines.
It had been a lovely little layover in Thailand and it made me feel tempted to consider taking another trip here—this time with Llew.
Until Tomorrow...
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