Dogster, happy travels!

I'll be looking forward to your postings; there's nothing like the immediacy of on-the-road updates with their blissful innocence of what is yet to come.

Dogster, you'll have to update your profile when you have a minute. This new site is like a scavenger hunt...it will turn up somewhere.

Worry not about you posts disappearing into oblivion... we'll all keep responding to the post which will keep it on page one.

Have a good trip dogster

Aloha!

Marija- Are you a midnight toker?

Dogster: Have a memorable and a pleasant journey.
Looking forward to your wonderful reports which give us an opportunity to indulge in armchair travel sitting at home.
Lots of details make the stories superb. Wish I could write like you, so show your great writing style once more to all of us, We are waiting.....

Well, here I am in BKK at the BAnyan Tree. I've just had two lengthy replies swallowed up and I can't bring myself to write it all again. I'm going out to Siam Paragon to guzzle my way thru the food court. Back later. Hopefully less lagged and, if it's possible, less crazy.

I'm glad to hear you've landed and settled in at the Banyan Tree in Bangkok!

Get some food and some rest and come back and tell us about your journey so far.

Hi Doggie - have a good munch - if you are in the bottom food court make sure you get some pad thai from the man near the big round pillar - I think its about the only one there - they just do pad thai and oyster omelette - its very good (I think its name is Inter). Have a bit of sticky rice and mango for me too please.

Paws on the ground! Can't wait for the barking to begin.Go get 'em Doggie.

Gawd, I'm rooted.

I just thought I'd treat you all to a little taste of our colorful Australian patois.

For reasons I can only guess at, I'm floored by exhaustion. A wise man might call it jet-lag but I am not a wise man. Confusion, irritation, that terrible moment when you're standing in the street and suddenly, profoundly, want to lie down.

I went for a massage today. In my confusion I tipped the lad 600 baht instead of 100 - for a 390 baht massage. I'd like to report that this was definately NOT for services rendered.

In the Biblical sense.

But I did feel better. Still not in the writing zone. I'm off to chow down on evening savories in the Club Lounge. Something verrrry strange has happened to the Banyan Tree. Later, I might treat you to the letter I'm composing to the General Manager.

Soon: Dogster: Live from Kolkata.

Anxiously awaiting the next chapter...

Hi Dogster, feel better soon! Jetlag is the worst.

"Later, I might treat you to the letter I'm composing to the General Manager. " - that's right, leave us hanging! Just like the serial writers. Hope you get some good sleep in.

Dear General Manager:

I am a long-time patron of your fine establishment. I am compelled to bring a few things to your attention.....

Can't wait. This is going to be good.

Dogster- Try laying off coffee/caffeine. On the last trip there I completely avoided any form of it and felt significantly better than the previous trip- where I felt pretty fried much of the time. Being overweight will weigh you down as well (literally!)

Actually Mango, alcohol will also do you in - seems to do more damage as you get older - unfortunately, I know this from experience. Based on previous posts, the esteemed author of this thread is more likely a victim of that than of caffeine.

Clarification: I, Jaya, am the author of this thread. I think Craig is referring to Dogster, the esteemed object of this thread in his above comment!

I stand corrected. My apologies, Jaya.

Poor Jaya!!!! that's really not fair is it.

I think the dog's bowl is seldom empty of either good wine or coffee. He's an Australian dog after all. But as he says himself, he's more of a greyhound type mongrel so at least the weight won't bring him down. A problem with greyhounds is that they are extremely fast but only for about 500mts - then they are cactus. Never mind a day or two and he will be up and running.

Doggie is probably all the excitement of planning and leaving so have another nice drink and you will revive.