I forgot to tell you about the motorcycle ride we took last night around the base of the mountain that you’ve seen in many of my photos. I’ve spent little time on motorcycles and never at night but the temperature was perfect for taking the long way home, balmy and smooth like butter, and with no light pollution the sky was peppered with stars. Surreal and peaceful

This morning we found a lovely outdoor cafe on the walking street to enjoy a breakfast of rice soup followed by a motorcycle jaunt through the countryside, passing orchards of pink and white blossoming trees, networks of rice paddies with their sunken floors partitioned by berms that keep the water in and provide walking paths, new resorts, coconut and fruit trees, temples, small outdoor markets in the old town, and people going about their day.

After my second Thai massage this week (I loved that the practitioner gave Buddha a bow and silent prayer before beginning), we found lunch then headed to the tiny airport in Loei for my return to Bangkok on @AirAsia. Saying goodbye was bittersweet: this family has been incredibly generous in sharing their time, space, knowledge, circle of friends and family, and patience with me this week as they translated and fielded my relentless questions about this beautiful place, made sure we had fun, kept me fed, and laughed. How blessed are we for the gift of our friendship?

Bangkok has two major airports: BKK is the main one, and Don Mueang DMK is the other. I flew into DMK from Loei. The place is huge and the taxi queue is next level. With Bangkok as the major hub for the region and a stopover for many flights, this place has an almost New York thrum. With 70 people in the taxi “queue room”ahead of me, I prepared to wait awhile. But the system is efficient and moves along quickly and soon enough we were on our way.

Note, as is typical most places, do not accept rides from taxi drivers anywhere except the official taxi stand, particularly at airports. The official drivers have usually been vetted and do not want to risk losing a coveted spot for business. The others will rip you off.

Bangkok is so expansive that we drove an hour on the freeway and remained in city limits! After some “lost in translation“ moments I arrived at my hotel around 8pm then walked to an eatery down the street for some delish pad Thai.

There are no words to adequately (and briefly because clearly I’ve written a lot of words already this week!) describe how sweet, robust, authentic, and unique this week has been and how grateful and blessed I am for the opportunity.

But wait! There’s more! Tomorrow begins the next leg of the adventure and I hope you’ll join me there as well. Details to come when I arrive.

Thanks again for being here. I so appreciate you choosing to spend your time with me.

Love, Wen