I've tried to keep a log in the past. Intentions are good, motivation is present through a supportive readership, and yet there never seems to be enough to keep the log entries coming for longer than two months. This attempt has been no different, so now it's conclusive.

Having decided that we were done traveling for now, we figured we'd just change our return ticket as planned. No go. All the Northwest flights from Narita (Tokyo, Japan) to Seattle, the second leg of our trip, from now until our ticket date of 5/10/2002, were without an available seat for us. We could fly standby, living in the airport until a seat opened up, but the odds of that working were very poor. We did some math relating the price of a ticket (that would be free if we waited to return in another two and a half months) to various living and travel options, adjusted for the "what we really want to do" factor, and decided to bite the bullet.

As, surprisingly, the price out of Bangkok was more than Singapore, we decided to leave from where we were. All along we had planned on returning to Bangkok, letting us collect all the suvoniers we had eyed on our travels in one place for cheap, just before we left. Now we were in Singapore, more Chinese than anything we'd experienced on the majority of our travels, in a modern western city of strong economy that gave little value for our money. So we trimmed our junk (excuse me, sovanier) shopping, and planed to fill the deficit to those we'd visit on our return with a tasty example of our travels.

Our plane left the early morning of the 28th, so we decided to get there the evening before and stay the night. The Singapore airport, like many of its installations, was something to see. You first see the world's largest hanging wall of glass (about five stories), and later a flashback to the design sense of the 70's when visiting the older terminals. The terminals are arranged for uncrowded, comfortable mass service, but we weren't allowed in until the morning, so our sleeping options were none too comfortable. The sixteen hour ride back was pretty easy. Maybe becasue it was two hours shorter on account of the jet stream, probably because I knew what to expect. The recycled, dry cabin air was pretty uncomforable for Jeanie, dispite our diligent hydration schedule the day before. Security was thorough. Seasoned travelers as we are, navigating public transport from the SeaTac airport to my grandparent's house was effortless.

We spent the next three day recovering from jet lag (we left arrived in SeaTac one hour before we left Singapore). We fed on peanut butter, pasturized milk, uncooked vegistables, "normal" pankakes, and "normal" orange juice, and a deli sandwitch, the tastes of home. Caught up on current events, music, and various TV offerings. Who knew the impression our culture had made on us until we'd left and returned.

To find the ingredients we needed for our taste of Thailand dinnered we'd be sharing with family, we went just next door to Jim (Jeanie's brother's) house. When we visited before we left everything was so strange, and felt out of place. Of course our visit this time felt much different, and we had fun reminicing as different items brought back memories. We found almost everything we needed, good enough. Everyone, Jim & Michelle, Aunt Kris and Uncle Andy's families enjoyed our offering of Hot and Sour Prawn Soup, Panang Curry over Rice, Phad Thai (fried noodles), and Milk Tea.

We're now in Houston (Boy, do we get around!), with Tom & Joan, Jeanie's parents. There's still more travel in our near future, but that's the end of SE Asia for now. It was great, but I'm too lazy to document all the reasons why. Some had asked how it had been on my relationship with Jeanie, such conditions can be a real crucible. I'm happy to report we've come through with flying colors. I'm so thankful to have had this experience, it was great!