Craptina

Phuket

Well here it is, my last day in Thailand. I'm going to spend my last hours roaming the streets of Phuket- my guidebook says there's a french movie house here that show movies with english subtitles..... So it turns out that I was unable to connect with Jamie, my Thai Airways mate that i met on the ride over. Her cell wasn't working properly and we couldn't connect with her teaching schedule, so I just spent the day hopping from one scooter taxi to the next, checking the sights. I got so sunburned on Phi Phi I had enough of the beach!

(ps- I got to Phuket in a normal, ferry boat fashion, not hitching a ride form sailors or anything....)

First I found an orchid garden that was HUGE! I was the only one there, but it was really nice to wander through

Next I went to a butterfly and insect museum. There are places like this in the city, like in the Natural history museum, but being how warm it is down here, it was just a net over the area, and the butterflies float around. It was really nice.

Next I found a temple to roam around and relax in. It was smaller than others that I had visited, but the cool thing was that you could sit inside the giant bhudda on the roof. Just remember to take your shoes off.

None of the monks spoke engligh but they were really friendly. I have a white sting tied on each wrist from a blessing by a monk earlier in the trip so I think it offered solidarity.

My flight leaves tonight at 7 and then I connect to another at 12:30AM. I'll be in NYC tomorrow morning. I'm really excited to be coming home. I'm sick of noodles and curry, I miss consistent plumbing, black tea, regular white milk, and tall people. Thailand is a total blast- totally worth all the sacrifices previously listed.

Highlights? riding elephants- total zen. happiest moment: singing jingle bells with the hilltribe people after they fed us too much rice whiskey. This is truly the land of smiles.

hello paradise!

Landed on Ko Phi Phi today after a brief change in plans. Shortly after my last post, I went to dinner and ended up meeting two American sailors who were sailing around the world on their boat. One had been on the ship for 2 years, the only only a few months. In short, I ended up getting a ride to another island (Ko Lanta) and then got a ferry to Phi Phi.  I got a nasty sunburn on the sailboat , but I made it to paradise....

This is from the viewpiont at the top of Phi Phi.

Down South

Well I've made it to the south of Thailand and am now all on my lonesome. I think i'm going to meet up the the American girl I met ont eh plane ride over, but not for a few days. The internet cafe at this city (krabi)  isn't allowing a USB, so no pictures :( I'll be moving to Ao Nang tomorrow where the real beach is and then boat over to the little island where The Beach was filmed, Ko Phi Phi- be wanred, this is pronounced "pee pee." Bring on the bad jokes. I'm ready.

Oh, before i forget, and I'd LOVE to post the pictures I got, but the last night with the tour group we went to a cabaret show that featured lady-boys! You know, cross dressers, trannies, etc.... They were really hilarious and came off stage to attack a few in my group. An then this moring while buming around Bangklok before my flight I decided to get a manicure, and there's another one working in the salon, make-up and all. She did a lovely job on my nails....

Will post more pictures soon!

from the hills

Back in civilizaton!!! Unfortunately my camera batteries died shorty after beginning the trek, so I only have a few picutes from borrowed batteries. My tour mates have offered to e-mai.l or make a CD when we get back to Bangjkok so we can all share pictures, so here is a preview.

The first day we had two more people joing us, a couple form Ireland. Did I mention that everyone in the group is 20-23? I'm the oldest next to Cheryl, how is mothering everyone, but can hold her liquor. Martin and Joanna missed the greak shopping, but they were lovely to have along.

So first we drove for 2-3 hours out of the city into the north west to the hills, where the jungle was serious! It was about 85 degres and humid as can be. We were split 6 between two trucks that had a canopy and lots of wind for AC.

That's Claire behind me, one of the medical students from London. So after our long drive, we had lunch and then hikes for about 2 hours. It wasn't too hard, but we were warned that it was the "easy" day. We arrived at the Lupi village, the first hilltribe on our stop. It was really shocking to be in the center of it. I guess I didn't expect it. This is the hut that we slept in- 12 in one room!

The village was very basic, lots of bamboo huts that were low to the ground. YOu do NOT want to know what the toilet situation was but the shaower was a bin of water and a small buycket. Ans be sure not to get the water in your eyes or mouth....

The children were really excited to see us. They wanted us to take their picture and show it to them afterwards. They kept hugging and hold our hands. The boys could wear what ever they wanted, mostly t-shirts and short,s but the girls had a common dress that the women matched that was a handwoven costume.

We spent the night there and danced witht eh villagers and played drinking games, it was  a total blast. The next day the hike was much more difficult, but it was only for the moring, and then on to elephant riding.

From here I'm out of pictures, but elephant riding was a blast! We rode for almost 2 hours, it was quite an experience. We spent the night in another village and drank rice whisley, home made moonshine from the village. I was quite the singer, I think we sang jingle bells at one point....

The next day (today) we went on bamboo rafts down the river to conclude our journey. I'll get some pictures when I can. So we're oolut for dinner tonight and then back to Bangkok tomorrow. I'm still sorting my plans as to where to go next, but it looks like I'll be taking an over night train wiht the next tour group to the south of Thailand and then I'm on my own to check out the beaches. More to come. Missing you all. I could really go for a hamburger!

picture time

ok folks,

I've got time for a few pics. Let's start with the progress of the jaywalkers ok? Remember, this is Brooklyn handspun yarn!!!

They are making nice progress, slowly but surely.                                                                                                                        

And here are some pictures of the chatuchak market I went to yesterday.

 

And here's me sporting a new hat. I was taking a break from shopping to eaty some coconut ice cream. They top their ice cream with rice, peanuts and fruit!

So last night I met the rest of the group, and they seem like a good bunch. There are 10 of us total and I am the only American. 6 Brits, 2 Germans, one guy from New Zealand and myself. Our guide, AJ is from Chang Mai, where we will travel to tonight. I'm roming with Cheryl, who is the oldest of the group. She's british, and I imagine she's somethere near my mom's age. She's three grown kids and two grandchildren. Divorces after 33 years of marriage, she's taking on her own adventure. I think she just spent 3 weeks in Australia, and is now taking on Thailand.

Must run, am off with the group to tour the Grand Palace of the king. Thank you for all your comments, although I haven't been gone long, I'm missing the states and feeling a world away. Hopefully when the treck gets going it won't seem so far. 

chatuchuk

Thanks for commenting all those who have, it's very comforting to check in and have so many e-mails. This will be a short post because I'm about to go meet up with the tour groug for out first hang. I took lots ofg pics today and I'll try to post later with more. I wanted to say that I ventured out to the big city today and I TOOK THE SUBWAY AND BUS all my by lonesome back to the hotel. Of course it took 1.5 hours, but it was quite the experience. I took pictures on both and will try to post later, I think I can hook up my camera to this computer.

Anyway, I spent the day at Chatuchuk Market, Bangkok's biggest weekend market and got lots of goodies, like clothes, which were desperately needed. I think I spent too much on jewelry....but who's to say what's too much. Must be off to meet the group, will return with pics later.

PS to MOM:

when you post a comment everyone can read it, not just me. Thanks for your warm thoughts, I am safe and my bowels and are ok and not drinking the water.

Sawasdeeka (hi)!

Man it is hot!!!!!
Thai airways totally rocks. I ended up sitting next to an american girl my age who is also travelling through thailand but for three months. She's going to be staying in Phuket first to take a course in teaching english. I can't tell you how comforting it was to have her to talk with on the ride over. The 16.20 hours went by quickly. The flight was an hour early and was so spacious everyone had an empty seat next to them, I hope I'm as lucky on the ride home. I watched The Sound of Music and put a nice dent in my jaywalkers.
The really interesting thing was that we we went over greenland, iceland, russia, kasikstan, and india to get to thailand. It seems indirect, but I totally forgot the world is round and  also that it turns.

There's an internet cafe across the street from the hotel, and 20 mintues of internet is 50 cents!I'll only be here for another day or so, will try to take pictures tomorrow and post again. I'm off to find dinner!!!