Traveling to Thailand

Okay, let's see how much of this interesting side trip I can still remember.  And this is more about the China part of getting to Thailand that actual Thailand.

Getting up early Tuesday morning it was around 9 Degrees Centigrade outside.  Can not wait to get into the 25+ degree centigrade weather in Pattaya.  Anyway, I of course dressed warm because I had to walk the quarter mile to the bus stop.  I'm way to cheap to pay for a taxi to the bus station.  Besides, I take this walk all the time.  No big deal since I'm all wrapped up nice and toasty.

Nothing extraordinary about the bus ride to the bus station but then it starts to get interesting.  I'm thinking that the bus going to Shanghai's Pu Dong airport will be nice and warm when we get seated.  After all, in America, when you get on a Greyhound Bus it is always already prepped for you.  Gas topped off, bus warmed up, etc. etc.  Not here.  But I didn't know that.

So in the bus terminal I start to take off some of my warmer clothes so when I do get to Thailand I'm not sweating like a stuck pig and a skewer.  Bo bigger so far.  The terminal is a bit cold but not that bad unless you are standing by the doors so I avoid the doors.  Finally the time comes to board the bus and I'm thinking, "Cool, I'll get warm again."  Ha!  What a joke!

First, my seat number is #4 so I'm seating in the front roll right by the door, second, the bus is a chilling 5 degrees.  Yes, 5 degees!  And of course, being one fo the first to get on I had to sit there while everyone proceeds to get on the bus and find their seats.  You'd think the bus was on and engine running, warming up the bus while all this was happening - NOPE!!  Can't waste that gas.  I don't think it got above 10 degrees for 30 minutes.

And another fascinating thing, about 10 minutes out, we stop at a gas station to fill up with gas.  You'd think they would have done that prior.  It was interesting watching the process as I was able to watch the bus as well as several cars fill up.  There are no credit card slots on the gas pumps.  Instead, each driver reaches for an RF reader on the gas pump and scans a tag, probably the vehicles ID, and proceeds to pump the gas.  I can see this happening in the States.  The government will then know exactly where you are, where you go and how often and how much gas you expend.  Yikes!!  Big brother at his best.

In a sense we already do it with credit cards unless you pay with cash, but when cash is no longer an option - GOTCHA!!!

Well, I'm in Thailand now and the flight was uneventful and I need to get out and see what this place is all about.

Till next time..............