How to propose to your girlfriend in Bangkok

Out last day in Bangkok was an eventful one.

December 9 was a day of shopping,,,and getting engaged.

After battling our way for xx hours through the famous MBK shopping centre collecting more things than I have ever purchased in one day, our night was supposed to be just to relax in the 5 star hotel we had booked into for the last night for some luxury.

After dinner at a small thai street eatery we decided to investigate the local "German Beer House" in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok. It was that German but we had a nice spot and there was a burning question that i'd only really started thing seriously in the course of the trip. But honestly: how do you pick the right time to ask someone to marry you?

I had had some moments on beaches in the south but things had always been tainted by drunk bystanders, street vendors, fatigue, intoxication, rain, those damn singing birds, the colour of the napkins,,,something.

We were both sitting reflecting on the trip over a beer when I decided to ask:" so Annie, what plans do you have for next year? cause if you're not too busy I was thinking that maybe you'd like to marry me?"

Anne: shocked look, no answer, beaming smile: "um what?"

Mitch: Straitening himself up and placing his beer back on the table, takes Annes hand "I guess I´m saying, Anne Lidzba, my angel, my best friend, the love of my life, will you marry me?"

Anne: big smile, a tear, a happy face ,a big kiss, excitement but no answer
Mitch: blurts out more things about how he would be honoured and how great Anne is...
Anne: speechless, kisses me, "oh my god oh my god oh my.."
Mitch: "well um does that mean yes?"
Anne:" yes yes yes yes yes that means yes"
...the rest is history.

So, due my lack of proper planning our ring for the occasion ended up being a natural shell ring from Ko Lanta beach that fits her finger perfectly. I had kept it for Anne in as a momento, now it takes on a whole new significance.

The irony of everything was that we had avoided the 39208 million dress and suit makers that abound throughout Thailand with a sense of "yes they are reasonable but we would never need that". Now on our last night we both thought,,,geez If I'd proposed earlier those clothes could have come in handy.

So that was our engagement on the 9th of December. I'm now writing this Blog back in Berlin on 27 January as a married man. huh? you ask. How this happened will be the subject of coming blogs.

How to almost miss a train in Chang mai

I know this is not the biggest news from the last few months but It has to be told before going onto the other big events.
So,
As I was writing that last post in Chang mai, killing time before the train trip to Bangkok something had eluded my memory. The fact that all our important documents lay in a locker at out hotel was only noticed as we were at the train station, 20 minutes before departure time.

Normally no problem to get back and pick it up if our hotel hadn't been 20 minutes away. It struck me and Anne as our happy faces, busily chomping on ice creams, turned sour and that look of 'oh shit' hit us both.

Without a word I raced out to find a way back. The funny thing about tuk tuks is that they are a constant presence when you have no need for them. This was different.
Instead I managed to find a pick up truck driver who was willing to emulate those car scenes from James bond and race down side streets at 80km/h beeping his horn to rescue our precious documents.

In the end, mission complete. I made it back to the station with 1 minute to spare with all our passports, cards and whatever other things deemed locker worthy. Close call