Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani, and surrounds

Sara and her friend Jun picked us up from the BKK airport last night.  Now, we're in Pathum Thani, a little university tri-campus town north of Bangkok.  After checking into the Piyamon hotel ($16/night), Jun took a us a few doors down to a street-side eatery to have some amazing hot pot soup, chicken wings, shrimp and rice, beer, and a variety of other small dishes. Holy cow, delicious! We were eating and drinking for a solid hour. The table's bill: $16 (beer included).

Hot Pot! :)

This morning, Sara took us around her office and lab at AIT. Her water sanitation/water re-use project is moving along nicely. Her coworker/masters students/team members are amazing and so nice.

There's Bob - hard at work

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Sara's research poster

Sara demonstrating her ultraviolet LED virus-zapper

And check out this solar water recycler!

We met Sara's friends, including Lucky from Pakistan who gave us some amazing chai.  After a noodles and egg breakfast at Sara's cafeteria, we headed out to Ayutthaya but quickly changed our minds after sitting in parking lot traffic. (A lot of people were going there for the holiday). So, Jun and his sister Tham took off most of their work day and took around the temples and other sites.  

A bag of iced coke from temple-side shop/stand

"Chonkiow" - or 'crash drink'

Tham took us to Ko Kret Island for more shopping.

She was buying us street market food samples. This fruit was a sweet/sour one - tasted like candy with the sugar, salt, chili mix. 

During the evening, we went a local Loi Krathong event at the university.

Floating flower/candle krathongs Sara and her friends made

Releasing the krathongs at the university's pond

Tons of food stalls including these grilled mushrooms - delicious!