lizgeorjon

It is hard to believe that I am here in Southern Thailand right now.  I escaped Hurricane Irene and am told I was on the last flight out of JFK.  Everything feels and seems quite surreal.  As many of you know, (many of whom I have to thank!), LMC Direct is busier than ever and growing.  It’s awesome to witness but really intense at the same time.  A bit tough to keep up with in Thailand while I am literally on reverse time for the biz.  Such is life.

I can’t believe I made it here though, it was stressful and took forever!  13 hours to Tokyo, then another 7 to Bangkok.  Then when I arrived I had to deal with clients and the hurricane.  I started to question my sanity.  I really did.  Then I got some sleep and wandered out into Bangkok.  In just those four hours or so, I knew I was hooked.  Plus, the room service dim sum at Four Seasons was crazy good.

The best way I can describe this is that it is ‘otherworldly’.  The people and the wai (Thai practice of putting hands together with small bow as a respectful greeting, derived from their Buddhist influence), it’s so welcoming and warm.  The people (except my current butler who I will get to) are an absolute delight!  I really liked what little I saw of Bangkok and look forward to going back there tomorrow!  I will stay in a different part of town, close to the river and hopefully visit their most famous Wat.  And the weekend market.  And maybe if one particular friend could forward the name of his beloved tailor?

Currently, I am feeling a little trapped at the ‘just okay’ Ritz Reserve in Phulay Bay, near Krabi.  The food sucks.  And I’m not drinking as much as I used to (or trying!) so I can’t even drink my caloric intake until I leave.  Might be time to rethink that one as I am on night three here!  It’s a shame too.  They’ve done an incredible job with the resort (except my plunge pool is all dingy), but it’s all spread out and there’s not even a pretty beach.  Next week, I’ll be in Phuket and hope to report better news on that front!  The villa is quite extravagant, with an outdoor area, an outdoor bathtub, a room that is a shower, the plunge pool the ‘100 mirrors’.  But did I mention the food sucks?  And this whole butler thing is irritating.  If my little Judi gets on her knees one more time and tells me she’s worried for my health because I work too much, i might lose it.  And no, I don’t want to go on the tour to the stupid little island and have a picnic, especially with this crap you’re trying to pass off as ‘cuisine’.  And no, I don’t need you to pick me up and drive me to the gym.  And no, don’t pick me up in the morning and take me to breakfast.  I want you to leave me the F alone is what I want!   😡   I know, it’s their culture (although this is special: she, being Judi, has write-ups on her annoyance on Trip Advisor)… all I need next is for her to start asking me “how does that make you feel right now”.   😉  But I’m just really busy with work and need to keep up and see this place as a client would.  Which, most likely, none of mine ever will.  Must admit, it’s better for me to find out the hard way than to take a gamble and send one of my discerning clients here.  Remember the episode of Sex and The City, where Samantha dates a guy with a Thai housekeeper?  And she goes mental when it’s just Samantha in his house?  They should have assigned me that butler.

Sorry, I needed to vent.  I’ve been pent up here with my work and end of month reports for too long.  But the end of these days for me is near!  Very exciting news is the reuniting of two hard-working former yearbook editors, who’ve agreed to collaborate once again for the sake and sanity of LMC Direct.  I couldn’t be happier about that.

So back to Bangkok tomorrow, then up to Chiang Mai which I am REALLY looking forward to!  The Mandarin Oriental and with it being labor day perhaps work will CHILL out (except no, BH had to schedule DD meetings!) long enough for me to visit the tigers and elephants.  Because we all know how well I do with animals- especially large ones.  At least I can snap a pic or two from a distance.

I have learned to use the camera finally!  Just WAIT till you see my pictures!!!  I promise no slide show though (or uncomfortable look-over-the-shoulder screen saver show).

I have to go write an intro now for my newest and 9th client, who executed my LOA last night, and who I think are going to be perfect for LMC Direct.  Another productive work trip!

Karma works itself in magical ways.

We’ll just see if I have ‘sex sheets’ at my house when I get home!  I’m so totally kidding Tapper… I’m actually SO happy you’re holding down the fort!  Have a blast, enjoy the upper east side.  (laundry detergent is under the sink!)

Love to all.  xx

I am on the plane home!  Just woke up after sleeping, I think like 6 hours!  (again, thank you my beloved xanax).  Less than 3 hours to go!

I love this picture, by the way!  What I did not love was how long I ended up in it, and the three ‘lines’ it preceded.  What an ordeal!  Okay, so I bought a big a** carpet and some other little gifts, along with my purse and my carry-on FULL of US allowable various liquids.  Their airport people have zero friendliness and seem to try to talk you into being a suspicious person.  That was just line #1.  Weird.

I’ve slept off my annoyance, so I won’t let that experience dictate the tone of my email.  But let’s just say a few of those Israelis got a piece of my mind.  I had to get aggressive back with them, like when they took my computer away or when they unpacked all my things… I’ll just leave it at that.  But most of you can imagine how I can give out when pushed.  I asked questions and we all were laughing in the end and I learned a few things.  Like: you can pay a few shekels for VIP and avoid all that sh*t.  I got to the airport (after my taxi was stopped for passport check by man with machine gun) at 7:45pm, I got through 4th checkpoint about 10:15pm.  Plane left at 10:50pm.  No time for water or bathroom breaks!

My last day in Jerusalem, I felt pretty emotional, moved.  And I think we all know I’m completely non-religious and a bit ambivalent as to why it’s okay Israel occupies Palestine’s land.  BUT anyway I sat outside (78 degrees) at King David, overlooking the old city, where just the day before, I unexpectedly visited ancient history.  I saw the room of the Last Supper, the church Jesus prayed before ‘judgment’ :?:, the actual tomb of David (not expecting that one!), walked the Via Dolorosa: where Jesus carried the cross, then where he got those big nails put in his hands and feet, where he died, was washed up (which let me tell you, it was a trip to see these people bawling and kissing it), and then ultimately Jesus’s tomb.  I don’t know if humbling is the right word, but just ‘wow’ will suffice.  At the Wailing Wall (which I did not go to) and David’s tomb, the men and women have to go separate!  ???  AND the men’s side was always larger, even though there were more women praying, crying or visiting.  What’s up with that!!?

So I had three hotel sites yesterday, and had arrangements for a driver to collect me at 6:45pm (which I’ll get to later).  I sat having lunch after my meetings, with this insane view, doing my end-of-month reports, feeling like I cannot wait until I come back to this amazing place.  Really!  I’ve been offered accommodation at King David again, by my new bff, Benni the GM, if I’m flexible with my dates.

I did NOT go to the Masada, the Dead Sea, Haifa, Elat OR Bethlehem.  Which I know are ‘musts’, and I truly wanted to but was okay with it KNOWING I will come back here.  And soon!  I did what I came to do, I can tell any of my clients about the hotels, security, airports, distances, sites and restaurants. I did not expect to have this reaction to being in this part of the world and will save those other ‘musts’ for my next trip.

Which leads me to my incredible new friend, Hussein.  He is the driver at The American Colony Hotel, and an Israeli Palestinian.  I met him two days ago after my visit and lunch (next to Tony Blair), he drove me back to my hotel. We had a chat about how in 6 days in Israel, I had not yet had one falafel or schwarma or any authentic cuisine.  He was appalled.  As often as I eat it in NY, it’s not the same.  So we made arrangements for him to come pick me up and take me to French Hill, for the ‘best’ falafel, and then to the airport.  King David’s hotel staff’s mouths were watering when they learned where I was going!  🙂

It WAS the best thing ever.  The ‘place’ was like a mix of that Brazilian make-shift food car Nilmar took Jennie and I to in SF  🙂  and a Hale & Hearty where you go down the line and tell him what to put in your salad.  The falafels are little baby ones! I knew from the first bite I will forever crave this.

On the drive to airport, I learned all about Hussein’s family and Muslim religion.  His wife and kids, etc… how it works for their family life.  He has 4 boys, which means that when he approves of whom they marry, he has to give the girl $15k in gold and $5k in clothes.  At least.  And this is for each male child!  His two older children are at university, even the daughter.  When he heard my age (because he originally thought I was maybe 28, ha!) it then became a lecture, “Leez, you must find mans and marry.  Quickly.”  Too funny.  We had such great open conversation!  We spoke of the Palestinian parts of the area too.  I’m excited of course about Bethlehem, but now Ramallah as well! Absolutely fascinating.  A little irritating that Israelis are allowed to enter Palestine, but do not allow them to cross those borders in.  Any of them.

Anyway, needless to say, I had an unexpectedly FABULOUS time.  And in the words of one of my favorite people: “I f***ing LOVE Jerusalem”.  Me too!!!  And good timing being there Monday to Thursday, avoiding shabbat.

The tone of this email is quite zealous, I know.  Not to worry… I’m not running off and joining any groups or anything!  It was just really incredible and think it’s one of the most inspiring places I’ve been.  Me, Ms. Non-Religious.  I think that’s why Jerusalem is so incredible, it’s where they all come and live together, albeit separate, but together.  I learned SO much.

As cranked as I was at the aggressive IDF-type Israeli airport people….. it was all very worth it.