The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-10-12
By DOROTHY KILGALLEN


BY DOROTHY KMGALLEN
Copyright, 1885, by International News
Service and New York Evening JOurnaD
BANGKOK, Siam, Oct. IL Il.
N.S0.-Folks, meet Mr.. Mai Luen
Bhonsobsan. the best native avia-
tor in the Far East, who Is pilot
ing me today over the most dan
gerous stretch of all this race
around the world.
He was trained in America, so
he knows how to fly; and he has
lived most of his life in Siam, so
he knows $50 he blandly assured
mel precisely what to do should
we be forced down in the tangled
jungle that lies almost unbroken
between here and Hanoi, French
do-China, the intermediate stop
on the way to Hongkong.
A nest high in a tree Of that
green hell, with pythons and tigers
as neighbors, would be the only
landing spot, I fear-so I was
roofing for the fast flight as
BhonSobSan started the little silver
tWo-Seater northward at $50 this
morning.
Leo Kieran and I parted ways
today, my rival going by way of
Penang, but we shall meet again
in Hongkong in time to take the
President Pierce Of the Dollar
Line for Manila tomorrow after
noon.
Since my reservation was hur-
ried, Imperial Always had to add
a second section to the regular
passenger flight to Hongkong.
Rival Delayed
H. r. EkinS, I understand, is
typhoon-bound in Manila. BY de-
laying the arrival there Of the
first regular tranSpacific passen-
ger plane, the China Clipper, a
day, the typhoon removed un-
certainty as to whether we would
be able to make the maiden east
bound passenger flight.
We must have just caught the
fringe of the storm here, for it
was raining hard as we landed
late yesterday, and the downpour
continued without break today.
Now I know why they called for
mer King Prahadipok the Lord
Of a Thousand Umbrellas" He
needed EN-.
Sees City from Temple
Bangkok proved a pleasant city
in contrast to some Of the discom-
forts suffered in India. From the
uppermost story Of one of the
many-winged Buddhist Temples,
built in tiers like a wedding cake,
had wide view of this Oriental
Naples.
Many thousand Of it's inhab-
itants still live in huts built on
piles over the river that bisectS
the city, and others live in sam
pans and junkS on the stream.
Now there are many modern
streets, however, and in the cen
ter of the city is the handsome
palace that will some day be &C.
cupied by the boy King Amanda,
who has yet, as king, to visit his
homeland.
makes Front" Page
Had little King Prajhadipok
kept his throne I would have paid
him a call, for I covered" his
visit in New York five years ago
when he was there foI an eye
operation.
Shopping was cut short in Bang
kok as had to be up early and
catch the plane. but I found time
to buy a silver bracelet for my
sister from a native. They do ex-
ceptionally beautiful work in silver
here.
For the first time in my life,
saw myself played on the front
pages today-and had to go half
way around the world to see it!
My Siamese fellow-journaliStS were
very flattering.
Pestered BY Insects
But the trip across the vast sub
continent of India, and then
Burma! Almost nightmare, and
my log-book reads something like
this:
"JOdhpur-lizard in my bed
ROOM"
"Calcutta-gnats!"
For at Calcutta was driven
out Of the vast spaces Of my hotel
room, being forced to yield the
place to an army Of insects Of all
sizes and varieties, and of ruth
less ferocity. The demons play9i
no favorites, either, so Leo Kieran
and I sat in hard wooden chairs
on the porch until almost plane
time.
Then we had a wild ride eight
miles to the airport in antique
taxicab behind a Semiblind driver,
who narrowly missed two trucks,
three ox-cartS, an assortment of
early-rising natives, and we were
off over the jungles for Rangoon
and Bangkok.