The 1971-72 Global
Semester, Day by Day
Thursday, November 25, 1971 (Thanksgiving Day)
The plane is very nice, a DC-9, and very clean. No sooner
had we lifted off the ground than the stewardesses began
passing out fruit juices and wines and some little
rolled-up things like krumkakes. Then they set before our
amazed eyes – we noticed this right away – a tray with the
usual excellent cheese, Danish butter (unsalted – yuk!),
crackers, roll, deviled egg salad, and pumpkin pie. Then
they came with the turkey, potatoes, peas, carrots, and our
choice of beverage. We had some good red wine. It was the
best meal I’ve had since Claridge’s as far as quality and
taste but the best meal since we left home as far as actual
emotional satisfaction. We never expected to get
Thanksgiving dinner on a Thai plane. We saw our pilot a
little while before landing when he came back and talked to
someone. He was a big middle-aged Swede, very distinguished
looking, with 4 stripes on his shoulders.
Our baggage was already at the YMCA when we got there. It’s
new and modern. They served us sandwiches down in the
restaurant: ham, beef, or cheese thinly sliced on toast
with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and lettuce. They even
gave us seconds and thirds and we could have any drink we
wanted that cost 3 baht (15 cents): Coke, Fanta, or
chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry milk. Foremost milk! And
Foremost ice cream.
They had the odd number of rooms problem again so Don and I
got split up but we’re right next door to each other. I’m
with Denise and he’s with Paul Chmelik.
Friday, November 26, 1971
Today we had an air-conditioned bus for our
tour. We had a different guide than last night. He was a
young guy whose English was not very good. He says
“rivlary” for library and “levorution” for revolution. The
Grand Palace was impressive. We also went to the Temple of
the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.
Saturday, November 27, 1971
This morning we had to get up early because our tour
started at 7:00 AM. We got off the bus and took a 45 minute
ride in a motor boat (12 in each boat) down the River Chao
Phraya and through the canals to the floating market.
Wouldn’t you know but right in the middle of everything was
a big souvenir shop. They had traffic cops standing on the
boats directing traffic. After that we went back to the
river and got off for a visit to the Temple of Dawn.
The food here is very good
although the breakfasts are skimpy: 2 boiled eggs, 2 pieces
of toast, and one cup of tea. Supper last night was
delicious Thai food: rice and some stew which looked like
Indian stuff but wasn’t, an omelet type of thing, greens
with shrimp, fish balls, and pineapple and papaya for
dessert.
It looks as if they’re going to have a dance out on the
basketball court tonight.
Sunday, November 28, 1971
We walked around a little today. We went up to the 21st
floor (or 23rd?) of the
Dusit Thani hotel to get a view of Bangkok. It was really
hot and humid, like Minnesota in the summer, so we headed
back to the YMCA.
We’ve been stuffing ourselves with ice cream here. Don really needs the calories to gain some weight back.