Escati proudly dedicates our ’Walking For Thailand 1998 Story’ to “His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and His Royal Family” And To All The Wonderful People in Thailand, who made us so welcome and gave us their friendship and assistance during the 3,063 kms and the 32 provinces we were ’Walking For Thailand’ in 1998: 

http://www.escati.net/05/2006/12/his-majesty-king-bhumibol-adulyadej-of-thailand-a-model-goodwill-ambassador-of-the-country

Tuesday 26th May, 1998 we went to the airport coffee shop early to make contacts for a visa for me. We bought another ‘Daily News’ newspaper with the internet article and ‘Walking For Thailand’ details. We met the recently retired Boss of Bangkok International Airport, who was having a coffee at the table next to us. I showed him the ‘Daily News’ article and he made a phone call on his portable and told me a senior Thai Immigration official will contact me at the Don Muang Mansion this evening to arrange to meet me tomorrow. He said he was there, having coffee every day, so we will meet him again tomorrow. Good Luck or what? We will see what happens. We treated ourselves to lunch (Baht 280) in the Thai restaurant overlooking the two runways, with the Thai Royal Air Force golf course in between the two runways. Whilst we were eating our lunch the Chief of Police and the Chief of Immigration, with their personal body guards, arrived for lunch. We didn’t disturb them and let them enjoy their meal, in privacy. The staff in the restaurant all knew that we had walked to Don Muang as William had told them all. They were very impressed and said that we should be on TV. Step By Step…

Wednesday 27th May/Friday 29th May 1998. We visited the airport often where William had worked with the ‘Association of Thai Travel Agents’  (ATTA) before he became a Monk in 1986 (2529). He knew a lot of people, who all had great respect for him. On Wednesday we spent the day resting & touring the airport meeting William’s friends and on Thursday we went into town on the bus to the TAT and Thai Immigration. We made no progress for a special visa for me, as these visas are only issued at a Thai Consulate or Embassy outside of Thailand. The TAT Public Relations Department staff were very intrigued and we left them with all the information we had about ‘Walking For Thailand’ and it is up to them what they do with it. On Friday, we were going to go into town on the train, but we decided to have another lazy and easy day instead, sleeping and reading books. Everyone at ‘Don Muang Mansion’ made us feel very welcome and we had a most enjoyable stay there. Our Grateful Thanks to Everyone for Your Friendship and Hospitality to us. Here are the details for Don Muang Mansion:

http://www.wcities.com/en/record/33,293361/185/record.html

Tomorrow, Saturday 30th May, 1998 we leave Don Muang Mansion at 07.00 hrs ‘Walking For Thailand’ to Pathumthani. We get lost on the highway…

The Thai translation of the above will be available here soon.

Yours truly,

Escati.