Journal Update 12

February 4, ~11:00 AM TT

I had to come back to the place I ate yesterday and get another coconut shake (update: got 2). Getting a few probably haha. Definitely going to start making more smoothies once I get back.

I'm actually kind of excited to get back to real life. I had been having a problem focusing on anything and I think this break from life did the trick. It will be nice to see my friends + family + dog. Not looking forward to seeing any of my coworkers though. I really hate each and every one of them with a passion. :-p

Some opera song is playing in an instrumental version and it's beautiful. I know I've heard it before but I don't know the name or what opera it's from... I know I've seen a guy sing it, it goes high to low, something like "ooh-mee-ah ooh-mee-ah oh-maaaaaa." Something like that haha. Good luck remembering what that is supposed to sound like. (Update: I figured out where I heard it- Will Ferrell sings it at the end of Stepbrothers rofl)

I didn't really have a soundtrack for this trip. I should have made one. Music always makes the memories harder, better, faster, stronger. More meaningful.

Had to change seats, the rising sun killed my shade.

Next time I'm going some place tropical that is on the coast, I'm going to make sure I am a certified diver first. That opens up a lot of options for things to do.

Forgot to mention something I saw last night: while out walking around I saw someone sitting on a curb holding a monkey by the hand. The monkey was wearing a t-shirts and some pants. It seemed pretty young based on the way it was behaving, maybe it's just a really tame monkey. Anyway, a little black Chihauha (however you spell that) runs up to the monkey and first pushes it over a few times, then it started chasing it around. Then it started humping the monkey! The owners were laughing, I think both animals were theirs. I was hoping the monkey would slap or kick the dog but it never did. :-(

Talked to a German couple that reccomended that I go to a place called Bamboo Island next time I'm in Phi Phi. Also said the best time to visit the Bavarian Alps is sometime in June-July. The scenes from Band of Brothers that are supposed to take place there were actually shot in Switzerland though. Go figure.

Immediately after lunch I got sick in their bathroom. While I was in the hot, stinky hellhole of the bathroom for 10 minutes, I had to fight off a swarm of mosquitos while I took care of business.

Ok, I gotta move again, some kid has been playing with a toy that plays "London Bridge is falling down" for the last 30 minutes and I'm about to go crazy.

My hands and feet swelled up really bad last night. They are fine today but I have no idea why they did that.

I don't think I'm going to fill the journal (notebook).. still have 30 pages to go. I don't think there is any possible way I'll do enough interesting things in the next ~60 hours to fill 60 sides of a page.

This town stinks like brackish water depending on the breeze. Last night was especially bad. Stinky smell everywhere you walk. Have yet to smell anything stinky enough to gag me. The fish/squid at the weekend market came close.

There are lots of people with tattoos here. Over 50% of the tourists have them I'd wager. Still haven't seen any Americans. Talked to a few more Brits and that German couple.

Benn hanging out in the hotel lobby for an hour. It's an outdoor lobby that has a roof and a fan, as well as a supply of water. Not much more to ask for while I wait. Just doing some people watching. I already put my time in down at the beach. Actually, I should be heading to the dock any minute. Luckily they are taking my luggage for me in a cart.

February 5, 8:42 AM TT

Well, I'm on my last day here. Got up around 7 feeling a little hungober. Was at a bar in Ao Nang until about 9:45 last night. Probably had about 5 beers, but it killed my memory. I hate that. My phone wasn't working in the area I'm staying so I wasn't able to call my hotel for a pickup and had to take a scooter tuk tuk. Taxis here are little scooters attached to a big metal enclosure the passengers get to sit in. So you have this little scooter pulling up to 300 lbs of people + luggage sometimes. I'm sure it gets to be more than that depending on the people riding in it lol.

I have two things that I want to do today. Tiger Cave Temple and Railay Beach. Got to see the beach yesterday on my boat ride and it was stunning. (the rock formations there are kinda phallic). Wanted to watch the sunset there last night but longboat rides stop at 6 so I wouldn't have been able to get back to my hotel. This bungalow is gorgeous. Nice finished wood floor and walls, bautiful tile bathroom, front balcony and back porch.

There are some beautiful cliffs next to the hotel. Probably 5-600 feet tall. Maybe taller. Let's say they are 1,000 feet tall. That sounds cooler. Hotel is going to let me check out at 4 PM. That works out great. Means I can get all hot and sweaty today and still be clean for my traveling.

Ok I gotta head out. Will write in this later.

February 5, 10:31 Am TT

Writing this from Railay beach. Took a mini bus to town then got some tickets for a longtail boat ride over here. Was about a 10 minute ride, costs about $2.50 for a 1-way ticket. Gorgeous views from the boat.

After I got to the beach I took a panoramic then walked to the East end of the beach (Railay West Beach) and found a quiet cove. Climbed the big 10 foot rock in it and am enjoying my own little personal beach. The only people in sight are kayakers and a longtail boat here and there.

Considering where I've been in the last 8 days, when I say this place impresse me, it's starting to have some meaning haha. I can't believe I was considering not coming here earlier this morning when I wasn't feeling great. I think this trip has really reinforced for me that you shouldn't sit around and wait for things to happen- you need to make them happen. If you have dreams and goals, work on them. Never say "Well I'll do it later after I... etc." That's the road to regret.

Going to walk around some more then find some food.

February 5, 1:40 PM TT

Wow, Railay really was amazing. The island is split into two sides, Railay East and Railay West. Each side has beaches, but Railay East's beach is very muddy. Almost lost my sandals twice. First time was while in the water when I sunk in 4 or 5 inches. Second time was a few minutes later while walking away from the water and I sunk in a whole foot. Yikes. Was not fun balancing while holding my camera in one hand and picking my sandals out of a pit of mide with the other hand.

Got to use my first truly "rural Thai toilet" today. You flush it by ladelling water from a nearby bucket into the toilet bowl. I'd have rather just taken a piss outside. Was right before lunch, so I wanted to wash my hands, but they don't use soap out here, heck no! "Let's just rinse our hands off with water that's undrinkable!" lol

Didn't really get hot today. Go figure I finally start to acclimate on my last day, just in time to go back home along with a 70-80 degree temperature drop. I hear IL is getting snow... at least it will be pretty.

Going to take a shower then pack and relax a bit. Adios.

February 5, 7:10 PM TT

Nothing very exciting happened on the way to the airport or while in it. Paid a few bucks for wireless and watched some Seinfeld clips and listened to that one song a few times. (Time to say goodbye) I need to figure out some way to use that song.. I think I am in love with it haha.

I have a 5 hour layover in Bangkok, then a 6 hour flight to Seoul, then a 10 hour layover, then a 15 hour flight to Chicago, then what will probably be at least a 3 hour drive back to Danville. Total travel time: 39+ hours.

I'm going somewhere a little closer next time. Or not. Who knows.

February 5, 9:20 PM TT

Been at the airport for about an hour and a half now. Check in for my flight is not for another 55 minutes.

I accidently walked into some security center and got on one of their elevators and took it to some secure floor. There weren't any signs telling me not to go there! While some guy was escorting me out he accidently hit the wrong button on the elevator and took me to yet another secure floor. He was Thai, but he still said "shit."

Luckily I got a cart to push my luggage around in. The ticketing room is huge. Listening to some Kanye. "All Falls Down." Now "Slow Jamzzzz." Getting kinda sleep, ugh. I think a bunch of teenage asian girls are standing right behind me in a row to get their picture taken with me in it. I want a copy. :-(

35 more minutes. Can you tell I'm writing very slow?

Note to self: never forget "Sprinkle," the overweight Thai vendor on Sukhumvit Rd that you passed on your way to the skytrain station every day.

20 minutes to go. I'm going to miss being around all the Thai people. When you're always surrounded by people that you have no hope of interacting with, your behavior changes somewhat. All conversation you hear is just background noise that is eventually tuned out.

February 6, 12:30 AM TT

Been at Bangkok's airport for 4.5 hours. Ready to sleep. Had sushi for dinner. Yumm. Only sushi I had on trip, but I didn't go to Japan so it's acceptable! I'm ready to crash. Can't wait to sleep. (update: wow I talked about how I wanted to sleep 3 times in like 4 sentences in a row) Need to take my shoes off, also. Brought a change of sucks this time. That will be a delight whenever I decide to switch them.

Work on Monday morning might be interesting. Kinda depends how the next day and a half go.

February 5, 9:19 PM CST

Switching back to central time now. Just went back in time! No plans for Sat / Sun which is good. I need to relax and take it easy so that I'm not dragging on Sunday, er Monday, for work.

Haven't checked my work email once since I left my office at the end of the day on Jan 25. That will be a nightmare to go through.

Only about 7 hours left of the layover here. Can't do the 4 hour tour of the city. They don't start it til noon and I wouldn't get back in time for my flight if customs/security was backed up. Stepped outside the airport pretty much just so I could say I've been in South Korea. Got a few more stamps on my passport too, woohoo.

Need to get a new one (passport). My current one got warped from being soaked in sweat and I look like a starving child in my pohoto. Ahhh, good ol' high school metabolism.

Writing in this made me realize that I like keeping a journal. I don't think my everyday life is interesting enough to blog about though. One idea i have is to start a new blog called "Tom's Poop" where I chronical my daily bowel movements. It's sure to be a hit with the hidden scat fetishists inside us all.

Just ate a hotdog that was in a half loaf of bread like I got in Europe when I was 10. Didn't have ketchup to dip it in though and the bread wasn't quite as good lol.