Today I got out and did a little exploring. First off, there is an exhibit of Rembrandt sketches in town and price is a whopping free! This is always a good deal for a traveler on a budget and time to kill.

I figured it would be in some art gallery in town, or a museum, so I asked the 'concierge' at the hotel where the place was. When she showed me it was only one rail stop away from us, I almost passed out. This town is HUGE, and to have the exhibit this close was truly a bonus. Imagine my surprise when I got off the rail line and found myself at the entrance to a massive shopping mall. I figured I would have to go through the mall to get to the exhibit, but nooooooooo. Seems there is an exhibit hall on the third floor of the mall, right next to the ladies lingerie department. It was almost surreal. Seeing dozens of priceless works of art inside a department store. They had beefed up security, but I mean come on, it's still just a department store. I was shocked that the museum in Amsterdam would allow the display in this kind of environment.

Anyway, the exhibit was wonderful. It was mostly pencil sketches and some prints. None of his color work and most were very small sketches. The largest one was no bigger than 12 x 14. I've seen much of his work on display in Amsterdam and it's great. Even his pencil sketches are incredible in their detail. He had a few night time sketches which are beautiful.

After this I went by the Fed Ex office to see if my package from home had arrived yet. Our Visa cards expire at the end of the month and I am awaiting the arrival of our new ones. I am going to time my departure from Bangkok as soon after they arrive as possible since Val and I will be back here in about 2-1/2 weeks anyway. Package hasn't shown up yet, so I'll find some other sights to see tomorrow. This city is so big, I could do this for weeks and still not run out of things to see.

I also thought I should give my take on the Hotel Atlanta. It's a hoot! I don't know who Dr. Herr is/was, but the guy is/was a character. They have coasters that they use in the restaurant that have quotes of his from his time here. Now all the signs around the place are beginning to make sense. Signs such as: "No Complaints. At these prices you have no right to complain. If you're not happy, go somewhere else and spend a lot more money for this level of quality". Or, "No Sex Customers and we are not going to be polite in telling you about it again." While eating breakfast, I noticed an old black and while photograph hanging on the wall. I immediately recognized two faces in it as Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong (yes, I guess I am getting old), but there was another player in the picture I didn't recognize as well as someone sittining in the background watching them play. As I got closer I could read the description and found out the other horn player was none other than the King of Siam (Thailand). Pretty impressive group! As I looked closer, the stupid goofy looking person in the background became familiar to me. Suddenly I regognized the face as none other than the former President of our country, the senior George Bush. Why they let him sit with them I have no idea, but the look on his face was like a kid who had snuck into a candy store and had gotten caught with his hand in the jar.

The street the hotel is on is a whole little strange world unto itself. When you first turn down the street (which is a good 3/8 mile from the hotel) there are a series of high end hotels with armed security searching every car, dogs behind locked gates and other impressive measures. There are also about a thousand Taxis that honk at you when you go by. That's their way of letting you know they are there and at your service should you need them. The only thing I need them to do is be quiet and leave me alone after my first run in with one here. I pity the next cab I get into! Anyway, as you move down the block, you go past a bunch of parked cars and people that have set up little kitchens on the sidewalk. They serve breakfast and lunch. This seems to be fairly common in town. Moving past the row of Thai 'fast food' places, there is a series of 'beer bars' and 'pool bars' on a little side alleyway. These are clearly places for the 'Sex Tourists' to engage in whatever activity they desire. I was out a little later today than yesterday and it must have been bordering on time for work to begin because I was getting a lot of looks as I walked back to the hotel from young Thai women heading down the alley. Not quite like Karon, but I haven't ventured out at night yet. I'm sure it gets pretty blatant after dark.

Finally, as you approach the hotel, the street becomes a very quiet dead end, except for yesterday afternoon when church let out. Who knew there were so many Baptists in Thailand? I thought this was a Buddhist country!

Not sure which direction I'll head out in tomorrow. I've finished reading all the books I have with me so I want to try and find a used book store to trade them in and pick up something fresh to read. I would like to check out their public library if I get a chance.

Also, I am pretty sure my plan to surprise Val is dead. We have been using Skype to talk to each other and they have 50's big band music playing in the lobby of the hotel. I have a feeling she may have figured this out when we spoke yesterday. I tried to muffle the sound as best I could, but I'm pretty sure she heard it. I'll feel her out a little tomorrow. If I think she knows, I'll go ahead and spill it. I am probably going to have to skip Vientiane and meet her in Phnom Penh anyway since I need to be here for an extra few days. Oh well, even the best laid plans...!

Until next time,

Eric