gut angekommen - arrived safely

anne picked me up at the aiport (a hero for driving at nighttime, we only got lost a little bit!).... the weather here is very, very, very hot and humid!!! no rain yet, this is good news.

my first impression: i did not recognize the city anymore - it has grown a lot, and is so more modern than back in 2004. there are so many more cars, they are building like crazy - especially high rise buildings, the prices for everything have gone up a lot, the bike rikshaws have nearly (and sadly) disappeared, there is fewer motodops and more tuk-tuks, and there seems to be a lot more tourists (even if it not even travelling season). all of the streets except the main streets which used to be mud roads are now paved, there's a lot more westernized shops, and guesthouses everywhere.  but a few corners - like the russian market - still seem the same.
today we had a quick first run to the russian market, had a massage @seeing hands, got our nails done and now anne "forces" me to go to pilates class with her - and i was so sure this vacation was going to be sports-free! grrrrrrrrr.

i will post photos once i do overcome my laziness - i might also need a few days to get used to the heat - currently i am looking like i took a bath in my clothes, so i am just lying around on the terrace overlooking lush tropical scenery, and trying not to move.