Sit or Squat

On the way to Bangkok, this is what I encountered.

We had a 9 hour lay over in Beijing and since I refuse to use the bathrooms in planes (after all, I am my father's daughter), the first thing I did upon entry to the immaculate Beijing airport, was scope out the closest ladies room.  We spotted one.  My sister and I ran in, but stopped abruptly in our tracks when my sister caught a glimpse of the inside of the stall.   Her hand was still holding the door handle when she turned to look at me.  I saw the most horrified expression on her face; it was unlike any other I had seen on her.  It was gnarled into some nasty, twisted form and I heard, "Oh my god, we have to squat?" She merely whispered it so no one else could hear the voices of shocked naivety on two ignorant foreigners.  Yet, I swear she yelled it because of how she emphasized the words with the movements of her eyes and mouth.  When I heard the word squat, my heart started beating a little faster, and I think a few trickles of sweat broke out on my upper lip.  I knew this was coming, but I was not yet mentally prepared.  These things take a little self-coaching for me, I'm not a natural of the unknown.  And being caught by surprise,  my innate instinct is to freeze.  What the hell do you see down there?  Not that I was going to look.  Do you plug your nose?  I mean, rationally speaking, I think you would have to wear a skirt to use such inventions.  After already being on the plane for 10 hours, what's 10 more?   It was no big deal.  At least not compared to the challenge that I was facing here in front of me.

The panic subsided when I realized "to squat" was an option.  One may choose their preference of sitting or squatting.  And would I like to sit or place my rear on the black hole to abyss?

Sit, thank you. 

Three Countries in 26 Days - Thailand, Burma & Pakistan

My family of four will be traveling together for 26 days.  We could either learn new and enlightening things about each other or we may simply re-establish what we have always known about each other -  that we are each so different from the other.  As we fill our eyes and minds with the sights of a country that neither one of us has seen before and re-visit places and memories that were created over 30 years ago, connections of common values, outlooks on life and core values may be formed between the four of us.  Or they may not. Of the two scenarios, the differences have already spoken loud and clear.  And so the adventure started like so.

We headed to the airport on January 10 at 10:30 pm after continuous coaxing and prodding to my obsessive-compulsive father that it was okay if he didn't iron his pyjamas before putting them into his suitcase.  He had already spent the entire day ironing.  But alas, we were ready and on the way to the airport, so let's rejoice in that.  All was good.  Nope, all was not good.  I wish I had a premonition of what was to come, a sign, a feeling, but no, nothing.  I was definitely not prepared for this one.  Our family of four was heartbreakingly reduced to a family of two when the check-in lady at the check-in counter of Air China decided to put a spoke in our happy little family trip.  It turned out that my Dad's passport expired on June 20, 2011 which meant that it was not valid for six months for entry into Thailand.  As she was spitting out those words, my head was already in fast forward.  How can I fix this? Walking from counter to counter, discussing option after option, the final resort was that we split up.  My sister and I will go on as planned, while my parents stay back to correct the unforgivable lack in travel preparation.  Air China was relentless and they were not going to be liable for allowing someone to fly to Thailand without the appropriate validity of their passport.  I looked at my family.  My dad was standing, head down, speechless and uttering the words, "you guys just go without me".  My mom was quiet, eyes welling with tears, as she was watching me talk, discuss, and solve.  And my sister?  Well, she was watching the luggage.  This was not going to happen.  We will still enjoy this trip, together.  And although my sister and I said our good-byes and proceeded to our gate, all was not lost.  We had a plan.  I downloaded the steps to my mom and emailed our travel agent the same steps.  Now, my mom just had to execute.  I knew she would.   As different as we are, she gets things done.  I can count on her for that.  However, a portion of our solution was out of our hands  - would the passport office issue a 24 hour emergency rush passport to my Dad?  Was there an available flight for the next day to get my parents to Bangkok?  The answer is yes and yes.

We are all reunited in Bangkok as of 3 am this morning.  And we had the most exciting day today riding in Tuk Tuks and visiting the Grand Palace.

After breathing far too much fire and frustration, there are nothing but butterflies swirling in my belly now.