If you have never been to Bangkok, you will definitely be humbled. As soon as you walk out of the baggage claim area at Suvarnabhumi you will be overwhelmed by the maddening crowd waiting outside the door.

A sea of yellow shirts (in honor of the King) will be blocking your way. Some will have signs with names on them trying to find a wayward traveler. Others will be armed with clipboards touting taxis at ridiculously high prices.

Fighting through this narrow gauntlet is even more difficult with two suitcases and a backpack. The taxi mafia will not take "No" for an answer ? even if you say it ten times in 5 different languages.

They will persist and follow you, block your way, and annoy you so much that you will want to punch them. But, you relax and realize where you are and why you are there.

You are in Bangkok. It is the City of Angels in the Land of Smiles. You know from your research that a smile and a cool heart will go far in this beautiful country. So, you smile and make your way to the escalator and find yourself on the first floor.

You head outside and find the legal taxi line-up and make your way to the makeshift tables and tell the cute girl where your hotel is. The fee for getting a legal taxi is all of 50 Baht ? which is about $1.50 USD.

Your taxi driver will help you with your bags and usually ask you if you want to take the tollway. If you want to get to your hotel in less than one hour, agree. It will only cost you a little extra. Your cabbie may also want to negotiate a fee without using his meter. This is technically illegal, but it is up to you to work out a fair price, or use the meter. If he refuses to use the meter, ask for another driver. You definitely want to establish this before you get in the cab.

If you are arriving from America, you will notice that the steering wheel is on the "other" side of the car and that you are driving on the "wrong" side of the road. Relax, and get used to it. Just be careful when you are a pedestrian and crossing the street. Look both ways about ten times before crossing ? even if you are crossing a one-way street.

You are probably experiencing sensory overload. Seeing all of the billboards along the tollway, the cars speeding in and out in some sort of controlled chaos, and the smells of the city, you may wonder what planet you are on. Every corner of Bangkok has a different aroma ? some pleasing and some putrid.

Arriving at your hotel you check in and then have to decide whether to go out or catch up on the many time zones you have just crossed.

If you do decide to go out and experience the Bangkok nightlife, just remember what Murray Head sang; "One night in Bangkok, and the tough guys tumble! Can't be too careful with your company. I can feel the devil walkin? next to me." Be careful out there.