Day One

So we climb into the VIP van, sort of a charter shuttle van but with all the comforts of home. 2000 watts of stereo system, fancy air conditioning, bottled water and of course a professional driver. Who will take us from Bangkok to Korat, but first we have to stop by Dang's brother's condo in Bangkok for a meal that's been prepared for our entourage. (Dang's liittle brother, little sister, and sister in law, plus that dude friend). The condo was quite nice.

Headliner of the van. Pretty fancy.

It's a little confusing to keep track of the familial ties because cousins and in-laws tend to become brothers and sisters in Dang-speak. I don't mind the confusion because nobody is going to know I got the relations wrong over here. Dang seems to be the only family member who speaks English.

Dang and another brother, the one with the Bangkok condo

After a little visit with food and friends, it was off for Korat. I was immediately struck by the dominant color scheme on most trucks and advertising -- red, blue, yellow, and sometimes green or white. This may or may not have something to do with Thai nationalist and royal color branding, but I haven't done any research or asked about it. Must be careful because the two major political parties are branded with yellow or red and Democrats and Republicans could learn a few things from the Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts when it comes to dirty tricks. Dang's team is red, and she likens the yellow to the GOP when it comes to conservative political and financial interests and general hypocrisy.

These trucks have nice paint jobs!

Billboard advertising is a whole degree beyond what we have in the good old USA. These things are HUGE. Put together 4 or 6 or 8 of the standard size highway billboard in Texas and you have an idea of how huge they are. A picture doesn't do them justice because you just don't get the sense of scale from a photo.

 This monstrosity of advertising excess obscures a stunning mountain with a picture of the golf course depicted. Couldn't even fit the whole billboard into the frame of the camera.

Once we arrive in Korat, we check into the resort hotel where Dang's brother has arranged for us to stay. Right on a lake with stunning views. This kind of room would cost hundreds of dollars a day in Austin, but it's less than $50 a night. Breakfast at the restaurant downstairs cost about $5 for both of us. That's a special deal because we're checked into the resort. Otherwise it would have been about $8.

View from the balcony of the Kwanreun Resort Hotel