Bag Troubles

In Bangkok we hit our first hurdles.

After an uneventful transit in Beijing, Janella encounters paperwork issues in Thailand. It turns out, all African and South American passport holders need a health control document certifying she's had all the required vaccinations. This fact isn’t communicated until we’re going through immigration, and Janella has to leave the area in search of the health office, which isn’t far, but thanks to the dour and unhelpful Thai airport workers, is sort of hard to find. We’re both tired, and this isn’t fun. Janella’s trying to contain her frustration, and locates the office on her second try. Luckily, this part goes smoothly, she quickly gets her documentation, and we head to get our luggage.

I find my bag right away. But Janella’s backpack is  missing. 

Major bummer. 

A Thai Air employee -- a kind, helpful one, this time -- makes a few phone calls, takes down Janella’s information and says that, when found, the backpack will be sent to Nepal. Her competence is small comfort, though, when all we want is our stuff, and sleep. The reality is, right now, no one knows where the bag is. It could be in Beijing. Or still in San Francisco, maybe even in Denver. None of us mentions what worries Janella the most: that this very nice, ingeniously packed bag has been stolen.

Somewhat deflated, we leave the airport, and walk into the steamy Bangkok night. A van takes us to our hotel. I loan Janella a T-shirt to sleep in, and we go to bed. It’s 2 am. We have 4 ½ hours before we need to return to the airport.