Ottawa, November 27, 2019

After consultations with my Thai family, concerning the information that I posted two weeks ago, I decided that the proper thing for me to do was to go back and spend time with the family during this difficult period for them. I therefore spent considerable time with my Travel Agent looking for suitable flights back to Bangkok. My first priority was to return via Europe, either London or Amsterdam, then on to Asia. It became apparent that a flight via Europe was out of the question for the time frame I needed. To me, the eastbound flights are the better option, because one departs Canada in the evening, and, after a seven hour night flight, you arrive at the start of a new day, and move onto that 14 hour trip to Bangkok in daylight. When you go west, one departs in the morning, and after 12 to 14 hours, arrive in Asia, then a six hour night flight...to me, much harder on the body.

I will thus be departing my home about ten in the evening of December 28, and take city buses (3) to the Ottawa airport. I would sooner do this than pay the 70 dollars for a taxi. I must be at the airport at 04;00 so will just relax there, and get on my flight at 06;00. I will fly with United Airlines  to Newark, which is just across the Hudson River from New York City. After three hours, I will board another United flight to Tokyo, a 14 hour journey, and arrive at Narita airport at three in the afternoon of December 30. After another three hour layover, its on to Bangkok, for another seven hour flight with All Nippon Airlines, using a code share ticket under United flight 7971. I should arrive in Bangkok at midnight, December 30, after about 32 hours in travel status.

For the information of those not well versed in air travel, I will note two general rules; First, the normal time between arrival and departing flights is set at three hours. This allows for Customs  and Immigration clearance and time to get to the departure gate, which is often in another terminal building. For example, when I arrive in Newark, it will be at Terminal A, but then I take a shuttle train to Terminal C for my flight to Tokyo. Upon return, it will be reversed.

Secondly, most airlines are members of Alliances, which makes for easier travel when making connections with the other carriers in that particular Alliance. For example, my flight from Tokyo as I noted, is with All Nippon , which is a member of the Star Alliance, also including United, Air Canada, and about 30 more. The All Nippon flight will have seats for United passengers, etc, and are therefore also Code Share Flights with their partners. I am on All Nippon with flight code UA7971.

I will do an update before departing Canada.

Ottawa, November 13, 2019

This evening as I write this, it is winter here in Ottawa. With the temperature and the wind factor, it was minus 24 at eight this morning. The beginning of a long cold four months or so.

I must inform my readers that my sister passed away while I was last in Thailand. She passed just two weeks after I departed Canada. I did not wish to relay that information until after I was back home.

Today,I received more shocking news, this time from my Thai family that live in So Phisai, up in North-Eastern Thailand. A number of years ago, I assisted this family to get over some rough times, and back on their feet. I have spent a lot of my time in Thailand there, and take the kids to the water parks, and such. Papa Don always has a good time when there.  One member of the family is an underwater welder, and was not able to fine more work at home. After getting matters straightened out, he was offered and accepted a job in Abu Dhabi, working on under-sea pipelines, and at his profession, making a good salary. As with most workers in that part of the world, he was rotated home every six months or so for vacation time. The family farm is about 200 acres, 60 in rice, 200 oil palm trees, and 800 rubber trees. As with most farms, what is paid at the farm gate is peanuts when compared with the price the public pay. I met these people when they delivered a truckload donation of rice to the Orphanage where I sometimes work. Today, I am informed that my friend has been sent home, is in very serious condition with suspected Leukemia!. Three kids...under 15. I did not have the time to go up there last trip, and visit with the kids.

As for me at this time, I am looking at options for the winter and am not sure what I will be doing, but  probably not sitting idle for long.