A flight LX 180 flew us on March 18 to Bangkok. One wonders how long the airline industry can sustain this situation. Nenad remembered reading an interview with the Chairman of Swiss saying that their budget until July 2021 is not losing more money than 2 million Swiss Franks a day !!! Courtesy of the Swiss tax payer. In Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport an army of staff expected the few passengers. They were all wearing full protective gear with mask, face shield, head cover and full body protective plastic coats inclusive shoe protection. We felt like being in a science fiction movie. In a way funny to observe, but from a safety perspective quite professionally done. Despite all our negative Covid PCR tests we are treated as if carrying the virus. After all checks and document submissions (we had to bring along a stack of documents we had to prepare before our departure form Zurich), we were escorted to our van who was awaiting us with the task to bring us straight to the hotel room in Silom, an area in central Bangkok, which we then will not be allowed to leave at all for 14 days. The drivers sections of
the van was shielded with a plexiglass wall fully sealed. He was dressed as well in full disease gear. To talk to him we had to should considerably to the plexiglass wall. Nenad was very curious if he can talk him into a detour (for a seductive tip of course), so we can get the sticky rice mango dish from our favorite shop in Thonglor, the area where we lived before we left Bangkok last year. This is Thailand and anything is possible! So indeed we ended stopping at the roadside, him jumping out of the car in his full outfit, running across the busy road, buying the stuff for us. Any special wish in principle in Thailand is possible. This mindset Nenad would really wish to find in Switzerland. Well, what an illusion.
The quarantine we had to pass in the Bandara Suites, a four star hotel downtown Bangkok. We had a spacious one bedroom suite with kitchenette etc. The hotel kept its promise and prepared the room as we requested. Gym equipment and additional supplies were all neatly arranged. As we put our stuff into the room, the door shut and we would be confined in
it until day 5 when we are tested again for Covid. If negative we then have a 45 minutes chance to walk (no swimming) around the hotel pool. The room has a beautiful view of the city on the Lumpini Park. So we could observe every day in the morning and late afternoon people doing their jogs and walks, wishing we could be there. For us it is cross trainer, bicycle, weights and yoga (we arranged live sessions with our Yoga studio we were members of), reading, Netflix and of course calling all Thailand folks we knew. We also enjoyed the time we had to just talk and reminiscent on all we have experienced in the last 10 months. It dawned on us that Nui and Nenad were spending the last 10 months literally every minute together. And we are still happy together !!!
Saturday April 3 our prison sentence is over and we can throw ourselves into Bangkoks social life. Curious to see how Covid the the long absence of tourists have changed the city. Meeting friends is on the agenda, starting with Ana, Tomislav and their kids, our Dalmatian friends, who have made our Croatia base camp
In Buriram, Nuis home province, our monk wedding ceremony we belatedly held, to appease the spirits of Isaan, and Nenads mother in law.... This was planned already for last year, but dropped due to Covid, we had to keep our promise to Nuis parents and sisters and do it this time. Before any important event Buddhists will make a merit to call good things into ones life. There are numerous ways to make merit, from the release of a captive animal to donating money to a temple. For a wedding, the family will invite nine (9) monks to bless the bride and groom as well as their home. The monks will chant, as well as offer life lessons, and in return the family will feed them before sending them on their way.
