Dearest Family, June 9, 1998

Bob and Michael have worked on our computer and they have put “family” in for my messages to you SO if you don't receive this it is their fault - Ha!!!

It is like a little bit of heaven to have them here - I laughed when I read Bob's message to John last night where he said that “Mom was a tourist guide from Hell” so now I will give you my version - Ha!!!

They arrived last Friday night about midnight (June 5th) and meeting them was something I will never forget. I sat by a darling Thai young woman who spoke English and she kept me informed about their flight - she was waiting for her boy friend who was coming from Australia - as it turned out he came in before my family did. It was SO neat - they had to go through customs and get their luggage and everything before they could come “through the gate” to meet me. They all looked WONDERFUL - not a bit bedraggled like I was. I had the taxi bring me home first and then I tried to tell the driver where the Marriott was - Bob said it took him a long time to get there and it is just right around the corner. Trying to explain things to taxi drivers is an experience in itself and they will have to tell you all about it.

I was in bed and asleep shortly after 1 a.m. and I told them to call me when they woke up - I remembered how important it was to get rested. I usually swim from 5 to 6 a.m. each morning but I slept Saturday until about 7 and I went to the pool telling my roommates to come get me if they called. About 7:30 Bob appeared at the gate to our apartment and I was SO excited!!! He doesn't seem to be bothered with jet lag at all. He came in and we visited and visited - he had a taxi bring him here but since then he has found it easier to walk over.

I went back to the Marriott with Bob and I can't tell you how fun it was to be in their lovely rooms - they are “out of this world” - I have a very nice place to live but I have forgotten how nice things can REALLY be. I wanted them to go to the “Weekend Market” because that is such a fun place to go and they are only open on Saturdays and Sundays and I knew we couldn't go on Sunday. SO we got a taxi and went there. It was a real experience because all the way to the market the taxi driver kept trying to divert us to go to a “Gem Export” factory - I finally got upset with him and just shouted “YUT” which means stop.

We LOVED the market but it rained and rained and rained - they will have to tell you about it. They don't have drainage here in Bangkok - the water just fills up everything. Claire had on good suede shoes so she bought some cheap thongs - I am SO afraid of falling when I walk with thongs that I just wore the ones I had on. We saw ALL kinds of varmints (sp.?) and I even screamed at one very long one. We shopped for a long time and the rain finally stopped but the walkways were still flooded and yucky!!!

I talked them into going to the “Food Court” which is close by their hotel - I love their food and it is very cheap. They weren't too impressed with it - the food I chose for Michael was too hot for him. Bob and Claire like the “Sticky Rice” with mangoes so that tour wasn't too bad.

Sunday we went to church at the English speaking ward and that was fun. It was testimony day and a man from Jakarta and a woman who had just adopted a Vietnamese baby took up all the time but that was okay. After church we went to TGI Fridays and that was WONDERFUL - the “loaded potato skins” are still my very favorite food here - Ha!!!

THEN we went to the “Grand Palace” - I have been there before and it was so very hot that they about died so we didn't stay very long. That is a must for tourists - the architecture is purely Thai and that is where the Emerald Buddha is. They are very strict about what you wear and you can't wear shorts so they made Michael put on some long pants they had there for people who come without the proper clothing.

THEN we got a taxi to drive us around the King and Queens' home and land. That is so interesting - there is a canal (moat or khlong) all the way around it and it is heavily guarded. Their land has cattle, a granary, vegetable and fruit gardens, schools and everything to make it completely self sustaining. They won't let people go in (I don't think). I had never been all around it - whenever I have seen it the teachers I am with will say “Oh, that is where the King and Queen live” and then I am almost too far away from it to see it so this was a real treat for me.

Monday morning they were here to go to school with me (I told them to be here by 7:30). I felt SO bad - our driver forgot to come get us and by the time Helen called to make arrangements for him to come it would have been about noon by the time we got there so I said I would spend the day with my family. We got a taxi and went to Moran Borang (the Ancient City) and saw replicas of the ruins from all the dynasties in Thailand. I think it is WONDERFUL but I'm not sure they enjoyed it - maybe we should have had a guide to tell us about it. When we got back to the hotel Bob treated all of us to a delicious Chinese dinner in the hotel - it was HEAVENLY.

Tuesday morning (yesterday) they came at 7:30 again and our driver came on time so they all went to school with me. They were darling when I introduced them and asked them to say a few words to our teachers. Bob told about how important he thought teachers were and how they had helped him - Claire told how much they like Thailand and told how impressed she is with all the people who can sew (the tailors) - Michael just stole their hearts. I had him help me with a numbers teaching technique and he did a SUPER job and they LOVED him and asked him so many questions. I WAS SO PROUD OF THEM!!!

They didn't want to stay at the school all day and I didn't blame them so a man at the school took them to a place where they could get a taxi. They went back to the hotel and I got home from teaching about 4 p.m.

I wanted to take them to China Town - I wanted to go on the bus but they don't like buses so we went in a taxi. All the jewelry stores had their gold locked up so we couldn't shop there - Bob was glad - Ha!!! I thought it was a very special experience but I think they were a little worried.

THEN Bob took us all to the “Dusit Thani Hotel” and we ate Japanese food at “Sho Gun” - I will never forget the “San Francisco Roll”.

I will have to finish this later - our driver is here. I love you SO MUCH. Grandma B

John, June 9, 1998

It wouldn't let us remove any of the Corel stuff. We nuked all the Lotus Smart Suite stuff they don't use and all the help files they don't use and now they have 173 mb of free space in their 500 mb “C” drive. We moved their Eudora to the “D” drive which has 697 mb of free space. Your picture opened up just fine, thanks.

Mom sends back a hug. She is the tour guide from Hell. It is like being dragged around Bangkok by Mrs. McGoo. She is totally oblivious to all the dangers but her little guardian angels seem to be protecting her. We visited one of the schools where she teaches today and it was fun to watch them at work. We are going to Phuket for the next two days to see the beach. It is not quite hot enough for us here in Bangkok. To get an idea of how hot it has been turn your oven to 350, throw in a pan of water and inset your head. I'll give you a report about Phuket.

Take Care,

Bob