Post-Coup Update

Well, it seems as though the excitement of the coup has couped out. Bangkok is back to “normal”... I am still figuring out what exactly that means... As I was busy with school Thursday and Friday, I hadn’t been out around town since pre-coup… until this weekend. While I kept my distance from the non-violent overthrow, I did check out many photos of the action online. Captions like one I read titled, "armed but not dangerous" explained the situation well. Here are a few:

Buddhist Monks awaiting alms.

Tanks retreating with a banner of the His Majesty the King in the background

I had a great weekend. I had some friends over for dinner Friday evening, and I spent yesterday with Sherry.

I met up with Sherry at the Sky Train in the morning, and we headed to ChatuChak Weekend Market. After a few stops on the Sky Train, we transferred to the Subway. Public transportation in Bangkok is so plentiful and convenient; this was my first time on the Subway… until now I have experimented with the water-taxis, motor-taxis, tuk-tuks, taxis, busses, and the Sky Train. The Subway is amazing! It is one of the cleanest areas of Bangkok, a bit confusing, but I plan to utilize it more often, and catch on. After a few hours in the maze of the market, we had lunch and made it back towards our end of town. We both live near the Thong Lor Station, on opposite sides of Sukhumvit. There we stopped at a local massage parlor where we had 60-minute foot massages, which as always, were incredible.

We decided to keep it up, and after dropping a few things off, headed down the road to check out Al Gore’s film; An Inconvenient Truth. If you have not seen this movie yet, I urge you to go as soon as you can. The movie is staggering with information about Global Warming. I believe that Gore has scientifically established all of the information he presents through years of interest and concern on the subject. It really is shocking to learn how fast things are changing on our earth, and how we have the power and knowledge to work on altering things for the better… We really need to educate ourselves, and be conscious of our choices… please check out the movie, no matter how you stand politically!!

Okay, enough of a lecture…

I headed out this morning to run some errands around town. I saw my first evidence of the coup while walking down Sukhumvit. A hummer full of men in uniform drove by, while at the same time I walked by another man in uniform sitting on a lawn chair at a busy intersection, holding a very large rifle, while sipping a soda and talking on the phone… It wasn’t too alarming!

After a few more hours around town, I went to my first yoga class. (Yes, I know I mentioned this a few weeks back, but a few spells of bad luck got in the way… Along with the rains we have been having daily, a black cloud hung out above my head for a few weeks, needless to say it has moved on, and I have as well.)

So, I was able to finally start yoga today… Bikram Yoga is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury. The 90-minute class consisted of a sequence of 26 yoga postures and two breathing exercises. Bikram yoga is done in a room heated to 105°F…. Yes, 105 degrees!!! It was pretty intense and challenging, but extremely fun.

I have been pleased with my attention to the small affects the rainy season has had on the heat. I now feel that it is relatively cool when it is in the mid-80’s, compared to the pretty constant 93°F, which I am adapting to. Therefore, working out in 105° was demanding, but I can’t wait to go back!

I am looking forward to the week as my good friend Gina is heading to Bangkok this Wednesday. It’s a good thing that the coup cleared up because I have been extremely excited for her visit. She will stay for a long weekend, and I can’t wait to see her and show her around town!

So, now it is Sunday evening, and I am keeping my eye on the clock as in about 25 minutes my mom will start running a half-marathon!!! SHE IS AMAZING, and in my thoughts!!! Enjoy the week, and thanks to all for keeping in touch… it means a lot, and keeps me sane in this couped out city!