David's Big Adventure - Part 1

Wow. This is my surreal life.

The whole story behind me sitting here begins many, many years ago in a little house in Halifax.

Wait, I digress too far. In the more recent past I answered a classified ad in the Bangkok Post at the end of our vacation, for a property/Corporate commercial lawyer to practice on a tropical island. On the beach. Now, I don’t believe anyone who tells me that doesn’t sound just a little bit intriguing. To Jacquie and I it sounded a whole bunch intriguing.

So through a (happy?) series of events I find myself sitting here.

Start spreading the news
I’m leaving today
I’m gonna make a brand new start of it
In old New York.

JFK International is sprawling. After arriving in Terminal 8 and clearing passport control and customs it’s TWO train rides to get to Terminal 4 for a four hour wait for my next plane.

Man, the sights in New York – just the airport.

What you gonna do with all that junk
All that junk
Inside your trunk

My first time through what I would say is the most paranoid airport I’ve seen. Sandals off for the barefoot walk through the scanner. I still failed though – forgot about the 32 cents in my pocket

I had pre-selected a bulk head seat, in the middle of a row. The ticket agent giving me my boarding pass offered me a bulkhead aisle seat, I said yes and now sit in the non-bulkhead seat third row back with my foot out in the aisle getting run over by those little carts. It’s nice. Beware ticket agents bearing gifts.

The man behind me leaned forward to tell the mother of the screaming kid beside me not to worry about it – he doesn’t mind !! What a relief it is for me to know that he is alright with it.

So as I said, here I sit. Heading headlong towards a new life. My magical screen in front of me tells me its happening at 898 kilometers per hour. Now, finally, when I stop and think about what I’m doing it terrifies me.

As I sit here, with that backdrop, I can’t help but get just a little sentimental about my life so far.

I’ve so far spent about half of it growing into a man and going to school. I think I did a decent job of that, with the help of my parents and friends and teachers. Half number 2 was spent raising a family and working. The house, the car, the insurance, Do the right thing like I was taught. Do the safe thing. I think I did a decent job of that too, with the help of my wife and kids and co-workers.

Now my time is well past halfway done. So here I sit ready to do the third 1/3 of my life.

What is that saying – the only regrets we will have at the end of our lives will be the chances we didn’t take. I guess I won’t get out alive no matter what I do. Or don’t do.

I was able, after shedding a few tears, to pry myself away from the wonderful people I have worked with for the last 22 years. I think I’m okay with that being over now.

I see on my magical screen that Thailand has a population of 64,265,276, spread out (quite unevenly) over 514,000 square kilometers. But that really doesn’t matter to me right now because the only person on this whole planet I wish was with me is not. She is back in West LaHave, Nova Scotia, Canada with my dog. Getting some things done so she can send my dog to me and come join me herself. This part is hard, but it’s temporary and necessary. No pain, no gain.

Aside: I met a guy in JFK waiting for this flight who has an IT business and flies New York - Bangkok all the time. He says the quality of health care is high, and very accessible. He went to the hospital (Bunhumrung ?) with a fever, got examined by a doctor and got a prescription (the prescription was more than half the cost) for a total of about $15.00 US.

A couple of little naps later and I’m back to the present – back to the not so introspective me. And now in Thai airspace, only one delicious meal (the third) from arriving in Bangkok.

By the time I’m walking through the Bangkok Airport, alone, the steady apprehension has turned to steady fear, even when I don’t stop and think about what I’m doing.

I haven’t felt it much yet in my life – I don’t like it. The grip of fear grows a bit tighter as I stand describing my luggage with almost everything I own in it to the man at the lost luggage counter. Oh well – beyond my control.

Things start to feel a little better when I finally see the man with the large sign:

BELMONT – LIMCHAROEN
WELCOMES
MR. DAVID M. COOPER

He is thrilled to meet me, smiles warmly and leads me by the arm towards his SUV.
“Sorry I do not speak English” – followed by a quiet 4 hour drive in Bangkok traffic to the very nice Majestic Grande Hotel. He ran the A/C and kept the car at a balmy 27 C the whole time – that was nice.

Lots of sleep later, and the dawn of a new day. It might be fair to say the dawn of the first day of the rest of my life. The Tuk Tuk driver outside my hotel asked me if I live in Thailand – I answered yes. Freaky feeling.

Called the lost luggage department first thing - they found my bags. They went to Frankfurt, Germany. They say they’ll have them to my hotel by Sunday night. I hope so – I start work Monday morning and need a suit.

Met one of the partners – Kris Limchareon – and an associate – Humphrey Glennie – for a drink then dinner then a couple of drinks. Very nice guy, young (early thirties) but appears very competent. Humphrey is only 28 and seemed even younger.

Kris’ FAVOURITE Canadian singer ……………………..Anne Murray !!!
Second and third ………………………Bryan Adams and Celine Dion.
Humphrey never even heard of Celine Dion

I need to wear a suit in the Bangkok office, but golf shirts are fine in Samui – SWEET !!!

Sunday was my day off so I spent some time Sunday shopping – Bought Click (Adam Sandler) and Superman Returns. (on DVD)

After a swim and some quiet reading by the pool, a video chat with my dear wife and out for dinner. I skipped the “Pussy Collection”, the “Thigh Bar”, “Super Pussy” and even “Xbox – Bangkok’s Playstation”. Instead I ended up at the ”Noodi Bar” for some spring rolls and Singapore style noodles. Mmm Mmm.

When I arrived back at my hotel my luggage was here waiting for me. Got some wrinkled clothes out to wear tomorrow and now It’s off to bed for a good nights sleep. I guess my new life starts tomorrow. The driver will pick me up at the crack of nine.

I’m not afraid anymore. Now its excitement, and that’s way better than fear.