Travel from Bangkok to Hua Hin 11 January 2012

The Maryknoll community gathered in Bangkok today, with many arriving on morning flights. Then at 1:30 PM, a bus and a van took the group to the Salesian Retreat Center in Hua Hin, Thailand, in the southern part of the country. These pictures are from Bangkok and from the trip on the bus.

Still in Bangkok

	In the morning Charlie Dittmeier went to BNH Hospital for a test on his leg and took the bus from the Maryknoll office into town. It's a matter of three or four miles but it took 45 minutes to fight the notorious Bangkok traffic along the way.
	Bangkok—and much of Thailand—suffered greatly from flooding in October and November. The water has mostly receded in areas we passed through today but at BNH Hospital were several large posters about health implications of the floods. This one spoke about the increase in acne because of contact with the flood waters.

	At the Bangkok Christian Guest House, Ed Doughterty, the superior general of the Maryknoll Priests and Brothers, and Tom O'Brien, the regional superior of Maryknoll Asia South, checked out at the front desk to prepare to go meet the bus.
	At the Maryknoll office, more Maryknollers gathered there. With Sakhorn (seated), the Bangkok office manager were Sr. Mary Little, Charlie Dittmeier, and Rodrigo Ulloa.

On the Way

	Then it was time to load Sakhorn's truck with all of the equipment and supplies for the whole group. We were to meet the bus in a hotel parking lot near the office, and Sakhorn volunteered to drive the supplies to the rendezvous point.
	Some people had seen each other at the Bangkok Christian Guest House but for many meeting at the bus rendezvous point was the first time they had seen each other in a year or two.
	Finally it was time to load the bus. We had about 58 people to travel and the bus only held 52 so a van was hired also to transport the rest of the group.
	The trip isn't unbearable--less than three hours--and the roads are quite good now so the bus ride was rather enjoyable and gave people a chance to talk and catch up.
	We made a rest stop a little over halfway from Bangkok to Hua Hin and people bought drinks and snacks.
	Finally we arrived at the Salesian Retreat Center, located on a huge school compound where several thousand students attend classes. People retrieved their luggage and then hurried to check out the rooms of the center which has been closed the past year for renovations.

At the Center

	Shortly before supper everyone gathered in the breezeway between the two wings of the retreat center for a social hour. This was the first night together so there were still lots of introductions because we have so many new people this year.
	The meals are always good at the retreat center, nothing special but enough choice and well prepared. At dinner tonight Joe Thaler asked us to toast some former colleagues at these events who couldn't come but sent a donation to defray some of the costs.
	After mass a crew worked to set up the chapel to our liking. The center chapel is set up with traditional pews, etc., but we rearrange it for a more inclusive setting.
	After helping in the chapel, Lisa Pirie and Jim Kofski stayed to chat for a minute.
	And then there was the inevitable meeting. Claudette Laverdiere, Luise Ahrens, Tom O'Brien, and Bill Galvin discussed tomorrow's program which centers on Maryknoll's history.

Go to Hua Hin Trip main page
Go to On the Road main page
Go to Charlie Dittmeier's home page