I am still very much in love with my plans for a long car trip next summer (I even have my eye on a motorhome…), but now I am being tempted out of the country. My sister just signed an official contract to be the senior statician for the Oxford University flu project in SE Asia, which is based in Bangkok. She’s been there for the last three months on a temporary contract ever since she’s finished up her Ph.D. in London. Her husband was holding down the fort in London (the flat and his job as a medical photographer) until she actually signed the long-term contract – and now it’s happened.
and she sent me pictures of the new apartment …
The view…
The living room with a a wraparound L- shaped balcony.
Look at the size of the hallway! If I come with my kid for a month or so – who would notice?? (she does have a guest room btw)
And finally, the crowning touch in Thai service:Â 
a private tuk-tuk! Well, it’s for the whole building, but still fancy. Tuk-tuks were Bella’s favorite mode of transportation in Thailand (elephants were stinky and on the scary side), but I never got over the kick of a motorcycle taxi. Love those things.
See, three years ago, the FIRST time I thought I would be done with my master’s, I planned a crazy six week trip to asia while my brother was in Bangkok for an internship. I didn’t get the master’s finished, but typical me, I rewarded myself anyway. We got such a great deal on tickets! I got mine for something like $800 and my kid’s for $600 because we were travelling off season. And we stopped in Seoul for a week on the way there and a week in Tokyo on the way back (and stayed with relatives the whole time). I know the summer is the worst possible time to go to Thailand – heat and rain – but still. Well, makes for good thesis break daydreaming anyway. And it takes my mind off that fact that my best connection in London is almost gone (they move in two weeks).
