Transitions

Transitions in life are usually marked by major events, birthdays, graduations, weddings;

But the greater transition often come out of smaller moments, when we stop and look at who we are, because each time we see how far we have come, we also see how far we still have to go.

In order to fully transform, we might need to free overselves of everything we've been holding on to, to send us on our new path, the right one.

But if at the end, you find the person you have become is not the person you want to be. You can always turn around and try again. And may be next time you'll get it right. May be you'll finally find yourself.

Bonne chance!

About to Strangle the Taxi Driver

I really did take this picture myself. It was taken somewhere in Pratunam, near Big C/ISETAN Bangkok.

It was 34°C in Bangkok and i was running late on schedule. The original plan was to check-out at 1pm. However, it was already 1.05pm by the time i finished taking my shower. Very typical of me. Yeah, i know lol

Anyway, no worries. There was still plenty of time. My flight won't depart until 5.05pm (GMT +7) and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport can be reached by the Airport Express Train in just 15 minutes. Check-out at Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel was quick and the porter already got me a taxi by the time i settled my hotel bill.

The nightmare all began with this taxi driver in his late 30s, whom did not speak much English and kept on babbling in Thai. I told him to send me to Makkasan Airport Link Station. He kept asking me why i do not want to take the taxi directly to the airport but i told him i was in a rush and the Airport Express Train is more convenient for me, which i doubt he understands anything i was telling him. Anyway, he looked friendly just like most Thais.

The taxi meter in Bangkok starts at 35Baht, which is around RM3.55. By the time he reached Makkasan Station which he claimed to be the Makkasan Airport Link Station, the meter was only 47Baht, much to my surprise. Makkasan Airport Link Station is near to my hotel but not this near. Instead of Makkasan Airport Link Station, he sent me to a BTS Skytrain station somewhere in Makkasan area and this BTS Skytrain station's name is not even Makkasan. So, i told him again that i wanted to go to Makkasan Airport Link Station in a super nice tone but he insisted that this is it. I asked him where is the big building for town check-in then ? He paused for a second and suddenly decided to make a left-turn. Good. I seriously thought he knew where exactly to go at the time then. But God, was i wrong. He still didn't know the exact location of the station and kept circling around Makkasan area. Finally, he decided to stop near Ramada D'ma Hotel, a hotel i've stayed before during my last two trips to Bangkok (1998 & 2002) and ask a van driver for direction.

So, guess what ? He made a U-turn and drove back to the station which he claimed to be Makkasan Airport Link station earlier. I swear to God that i was going to strangle him already ! I told him again that this is not Makkasan Airport Link station. So, he opened up his car window and asked a tuk-tuk driver for direction. I couldn't understand what they were talking about but i think the tuk-tuk driver pointed him to the right direction. And again, he drove back to area which we made a brief stop just a few minutes ago and finally, we saw the big building and i told him, this is the one.

The nightmare did not stop here. The traffic on the main road is very bad and this taxi driver drove in the wrong direction and was trying to drive into a one-way lane. As soon as he realized his mistake, he just stopped his car there and told me to walk into the station because this is a one-way lane and his car cannot go in. Oh my effing God !!! Seriously dude, it was 34°C out there and i had three luggage with me. The Airport Express station is located on the 3rd floor and there is no lift service. Besides, it's still quite a distance to the station building. I wasn't smiling or talking nicely anymore at this time. Then, a hawker approached our taxi and told him this lane is for cars coming out from the station and he needs to drive a bit further up.

By the time i got into the station, it was already 1.55pm. I was running, hoping i'd get into the 2pm train and yes. I did and i was about to do a moonwalk dance then lol. A one-way ticket from Makkasan Airport Link Station to Suvarnabhumi Airport on the Airport Express Train only cost 150Baht (RM15.22). One can choose to take either the non-stop Airport Express train from Makkasan to Suvarnabhumi or the City Link train which makes multiple stops along the way and cost considerably less.

Anyway, Bangkok was so much fun. This was my sixth time in Thailand, third time in Bangkok. The hotel in Bangkok is so freaking cheap. The hotel i stayed in, which is Pullman Bangkok King Power is operated by the French hotel chain, Accor Group and the room is big and posh. I'm looking forward to coming back here again soon, like real soon.

I've posted more pictures from my Bangkok trip in my facebook. So do check it out.