Slept in and enjoyed a late breakfast on the beach at our hotel, Waterfront Bhoput. Then the rain started. No matter, we had an afternoon flight to Bangkok, and then on to Hanoi. Just when we thought we were home free, T.M.I. Michael insisted on giving us aride to the airport.
The following is why Bangkok Airways, a low cost carrier, kicks Delta/NWA/Continental's ass with its hands tied behind its back. We arrive at Koh Samui airport an check in. Unfortunately, our flight is delayed, says the agent. But there is an earlier flight boarding now for Bangkok. Would you like to be rebooked? How much, we ask skeptically. For free. SOLD. She then apologizes that there might not be enough food for us...on this 45 minute flight. Not a problem.
We touch down in Bangkok and set about killing a few hours before our connection to Hanoi. May I say, the BKK airport is just beautiful. Lots of cool statues and very ornate decor. After an attempt at some really awful dim sum, we found some delicious fruit smoothies and checked out the duty-free shopping. Wisam educated Arianne regarding the "vacation fallacy": whatever shiny bauble you think you must buy immediately, be assured that you will see it again before the end of your trip.
Apparently it takes at least two Harvard MBAs (almost) to find Terminal F. Maybe it was lingering jetlag; maybe we're just retarded. You take your pick. But find it we did, and once I distracted Wisam with some CNBC at the gate, everything seemed to fall into place.
The flight to Hanoi was uneventful (just the way we like it), but upon arriving at immigration, we noted the health screening area (!). Silly us, we thought Vietnam wouldn't bother with such trivialities. Au contraire. The communists keep it mad real. Arianne's heart was racing because she still had the sniffles and they sat her down to take her temperature. Amazingly, we once again narrowly escaped quarantine. There's not enough Kindle time in the world to make that palatable in Vietnam.
A car was waiting for us to take us to Hanoi Elegance 2 (don't ask me where 1 is) in the Old Quarter. Again it had been a long day and we passed out promptly.
Click here for complete Thailand pics
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