I'm writing from an internet cafe in the middle of the noisiest, most chaotic video game arcade I've ever seen. We are at Mah Bon Krang, the most popular shopping center in Bangkok. The sensory overload is a little overwhelming, especially combined with jet lag, but it's a fun and interesting experience. I was here once before in 1994, but I don't remember much, and Ying says the mall has changed. By the way, it's harder to find internet connectivity than I had hoped, so updates to this blog may be a little infrequent.

Nicholas is starting to speak a little Thai with people he meets. I've been surprised at how quickly he has adapted -I hope it continues. I'm trying my best to join in the Thai conversations to maximize the "Thai to English ratio".

We are having dinner with friends this evening, and tomorrow Nicholas will go swimming with some Thai friends his own age. While he "practices Thai" with his mom and his friends, I plan to take a day trip to Ayutaya, the old capital of Thailand.