Bangkok International Airport. Humidity welcomed me as I walked from the plane to the connection tunnel.

I forgot to pack a pen in my pocket, so one of the local Thai customs agents handed me one. Reluctantly. I didn't blame him for being that way - it was late, and I wasn't fluent in any Thai. As far as he was concerned, I was an outsider.

It was 1 in the morning, so past customs the 'Welcome' area was relatively empty. I couldn't help but smile a little, because I would see them soon.

My cousins. I kept walking with my luggage cart.

Lynn was the first to wave her arm. That's when I started to smile as I walked towards them. Por and Nuay hadn't changed - we'd met maybe five years ago back in California when they came to the states. Still, it was a long time since I was last in Thailand. I hadn't smiled so genuinely in a long time.

When I travel, I always stare out the window of a car to view the city, even if I'm jet lagged. I suppose it had to do with familiarizing myself with the surroundings: I didn't see much of Bangkok at 1 in the morning, but I was in the middle of it and I had ten days to make the most of it.

Rain had slicked the roads a bit. I put my hand against the window and felt warm glass, as I expected. I remember this moment - it was the same experience I had, shy of a decade ago.