Thailand

Thai means free. Historically accurate, as the country has never been subjugated by foreign occupation, the name "The Land of the Free" also seems to fit the attitude of the people. At the Bangkok airport, without so much as a kopkhun (thank you), travelers are found behind, beside and in front of ticket counters. A pretty Thai face on TV calls flights in English and Thai. Baggage disappears with alarming rapidity and your reporter and spouse despaired of ever being reunited with it. But at the entrance, all the parts came together and there was even a limousine from our hotel, The Oriental. Driving downtown English style, we noted that there were four lanes of traffic occupying the space we would allow for three lanes. Motorcycles and enclosed three-wheel motorcycle taxis were much in evidence, but the occasional water buffalo held up the slow lane. In the city, men wore European-type slacks and shirts but the women were colorful in traditional ankle-length wraparound skirts.