It is nearing midnight, and I have just arrived in the Bangkok airport. What a trip! It has been a little over 24 hours since I walked into the Fresno Airport to start this trip. What a great God we have! He has already shown his love on this trip. If this is any indication to how great this trip will be, I can hardly wait. Let me explain what has happened. Having a 6'5" frame, as you can imagine, air travel can leave me with my knees in my chest. And for 20 hours in the air- Ug. At any rate, when I checked in at the airport, I asked for an exit row seat, and asked if they could get me exit rows for the two other flights. I got an exit row for the 50min. to San Francisco, but the gate agent said there was nothing available for the other flights. OK, I'll take what I can get. The flight to San Francisco was quick and easy, and we were landing almost before we knew it. After taking 2 different trams to get to the international terminal, I got to the gate for the flight to Tokyo about 10min. before we were to board. I asked the gate agent of there was an exit row available, and was told, yes, so I got a window exit row. Awesome! This is an 11 hour flight. I got on the plane, found my seat, and found that the middle seat was empty! It was great; I had room to stick my feet out, as well as the seat next to me to put stuff, an extra tray table to keep a drink on, ect. An exit row is great. You don't need to bother anyone to get up, or have anyone bother you. The flight went reasonably quick.

When I arrived in Tokyo, I had very little time between flights. By the time we got into the airport, went through security again, and got to the gate, the boarding had nearly started. I waited in line at the gate to see about getting an exit row from Tokyo to Bangkok, a 7 hour flight. As I was waiting, an agent was going through the line to see if they could take care of any questions that didn't require the computer. I told her I was hoping for an exit row seat. She told me that she had checked a few min. before, and they were all full, but to go ahead and wait in line to see if one had opened up. She didn't leave me with much hope, but I figured I'd see what I could get. When I got to the counter, they looked, and sure enough, they had a window exit row seat for me!

This wasn't as comfortable as before (the middle seat was occupied) but I'm not going to complain! This flight was a lot harder to take than the last one, even though it was much shorter. I guess it was a combination of getting tired, and knowing the travel was coming to an end. I slept a little at the beginning of the flight, but not for as long as I would have liked. I woke up rather wide awake with half the flight to go. The last 2 hours took forever!

Once we arrived in Bangkok, I went through Immigration, where they check your passport, entry card, then process you through. I then went down to Baggage claim. Now here is the moment of truth, will by bags arrive OK? My biggest concern was for the Tripod tube, a 6" diameter, 50" long PVC pipe, capped at both ends that held the tripod and other misc. items of video equipment.. As it was round, I could just imagine it rolling off some conveyer belt somewhere in the bowels of the airport, not to be found until the next ice age thaws. But my fears were unfounded and I eventually got both items. I then sat to wait for the rest of the team who were arriving 30-40 min. after me.

I forgot to bring their flight number with me. All I knew was that I was pretty sure they were on Northwest, and coming from Tokyo. I know that with Northwest in Bankruptcy, the chance of a flight delay or cancellation was greater than normal, and there was a small chance that they may not arrive that night, and I would have to make my way to the Hotel myself. I had the directions to the Hotel, so that wouldn't be impossible, but I had to decide what needed to be done.

Well, in baggage claim, they don't have the arrival screens with all the different flights, and flight information. If that had been available, I would have been able to see the flight and flight status. Also, there are no service counters down there. One person I found to ask could call and find out flight status if I had the flight number, but otherwise couldn't help me. I wandered all the way down to the other terminal trying to find a little information, but couldn't find anything. By now, I had been waiting an hour, and there is no sign of another arriving flight. So I sat and waited. And waited. After a while I called home, and as I was on the phone, people started coming down from Immigration. Rick, my former Pastor and team leader, came up behind me as I was on the phone, and grabbed my pocket. I about started swinging, thinking I was being pick pocketed.

Now I wait for the rest of the team to come down from Immigration and to claim their luggage, and we'll be off.

As you can see God is so good! He made it possible for me to get exit row seats, even when it didn't look like that was possible. He cares even about the little things!