Thailand

So... Thailand. Interesting place. Meagan, CJ (two of my really good friends in Shanghai) and some other people from South Africa all came together. We stayed together for several days before we went our own way.

Sept. 27th We were supposed to leave late at night on the 27th. It got postponed till 740 the next morning.  Good and bad. 740 is too early for public transportation.  So The South Africans were just going to go sleep at the airport. For me vacation is not sleeping at the airport.  I checked into a cheap hotel by the airport. The airline gave them a hotel room. I was jealous at first.  They did not get it till after midnight and had to wake up and catch the shuttle at 4. I got mine slept and slept till after 5. Then I took my time and had no rush. Cost of the room was less than a cab would have been in the morning and I had a decent rest. A win in my books.

Sept. 28. We landed and then went to check in at our hotel. Phuket is much bigger than I was led to believe. The first night we stayed in Patong beach. We checked in and got some food.  Then we changed and walked around a little. Then we went to the beach. Waves and deep water. Heaven.  Unlike Korea and China, they are not afraid of the water here. So my friends sat on the beach and some occasionally went in. I went in and rarely came out. I was in until dark. We explored the main street.  Unlike anything I have ever experienced. Real hard to describe. It's almost Mardi Gras, spring break, university bars, Hongdae, Itaewon, and Jing’an all rolled into one. We did not go clubbing or bar hopping or see a ping pong show (not the sport). All of which we planned on doing. We walked, drank, and gawked... we also sat on the beach for a bit. That part was relaxing.

Sept. 29. Next morning we went out got breakfast. Bacon. Actual bacon. Bacon in China is not bacon. Its salted ham. Bacon here is bacon. Went back to the hotel and took a minibus to the ferry. Phi Phi Island, here we come. The ferry took 2 hours. Fine by me because I like boats. Get to Phi Phi and get to our hotel. Check in. Get changed. Head out. Get dinner.

Now I thought Phi Phi was going to be relaxing at night. Nope. We went to the beach, and it is beach club after beach club. First night I was down to party. I did. They sell regular drinks and buckets if booze like whisky coke.  The clubs have fire shows where performers do tricks with fire.  So we watched those. Then there were contest like fire limbo which I tried and failed at... but just trying gets you a shot. Then there was a giant jump rope.  So I did that many times (each try was a free shot... the winners would get a free bucket of alcohol).  Well CJ and I did it. And we did well. Really well.  After the jump rope contests were over I saw they did not announce the winner. So I took CJ to the bar and told them that we had the most jumps. Confidence does a lot and we got a free bucket. Then we went to another place and another place all night. I got a lion painted on my chest. Danced on stage and just had fun.

Sept. 30 Next day we got up early and had breakfast. Then we went on a boat tour. It was a longtail boat (traditional junk type of boat that uses a car engine as an outboard connected directly to a shaft to a propeller). So we went to Bamboo Island to swim. Mosquito Island to snorkel, a reef to snorkel, and to Maya Island where the made some famous movie. All in all beautiful and amazing. All of us were tuckered out. We decided to be low key that night. We walked around and explored the island. Though my right foot was in bad shape. My flip flops and sandals rubbed my foot raw and I got several blisters that popped.  Got some band aids and an antiseptic to put on them. We sat on the beach for a little. It’s just so loud. I left them behind because they wanted to check out a club. Our hotel had a balcony so I sat and had a beer. You could still hear the music but it wasn’t deafening. They came back shortly after me because they were actually not in a club mood either)

Oct. 1 Next day after breakfast we went to the beach to sit and swim... well I swam... no sitting. I swam with my shirt on because I got a major sunburn on my back (thanks snorkeling). Well after a while I wanted to do something else. I wanted to kayak. Nobody else did. Oh well. So I did it. I kayaked to monkey beach and got to see monkeys and got to touch one. Then I went snorkeling again... cause I love being in the water and it was amazing to see the fish. So I had fun. That night we ate dinner on the beach. Some wanted to party, and they did. I stayed out for a bit. But I still wanted to relax. So I went back to the hotel and sat on the balcony for a while. I went to bed. It may seem anti social but loud deafening music can be just as anti social... and the main thing I wanted from vacation is relaxing.

Oct. 2 Next morning we went to all you can eat breakfast.  Lots of good food all of which I had a little of... then Bacon. A ton of bacon. A little later we went for massages. I opted for the aloe sunburn massage to relieve my cherry red back. Great. We went for one last drink overlooking the bay on Phi Phi and we had to catch our boat back to Phuket. The person with the tickets thought the boat left at 2:30... When we get there... nope. 2. So we had to pay for a different boat. Meagan and CJ were staying on Phi Phi. We said our goodbyes to them. Anyway I sat out on the deck in the shade. We get to Phuket and split ways. I head to Karon Beach where I will be staying for the next 2 nights. I got to my hotel Baan Sailom. Wonderful. Very close to the beach but not right on the main street by it. So while I did not have a beach view, I also did not have to listen to the noise associated with the street. I got checked in and got changed so I could go to the beach.  I was too concerned with taking pictures while in the water I made what could have become a fatal mistake. I got stuck in a small rip current. I did not know at first cause I was treading water to take pictures... then I looked back and the shore was getting further away.  Luckily I knew what to do and escaped without being sucked too far out. I swam for a little more then the hunger bug bit. Went back to my hotel and showered and changed. I went to the main strip. Much more toned down that Patong beach. If I were in the mood for going out, it was much more my style... but I was in the mood to relax. So I went to my hotel and did just that.

I was in bed early and slept like a baby. I slept late... but it was well deserved and needed.

Oct. 3 I woke up and relaxed and had coffee in my room. Then I decided I wanted to go on an elephant ride, as they are popular.

Now I am not sure what I think about elephant rides. You know, with things such as animal rights and abuse etc. But I did a little research and it says most of the elephants are taken good care of. So I went ahead and did it. The elephants did seem cared for. Elephants are also the symbol and animal of Thailand so they are treated with respect.  Along the tour it was allowed to stop and snack and was not seemed rushed. See there is a trail for them but the elephant seemed to be able to choose its own path to some extent.  The keeper didn't have to yell at or hit the elephant once. So I think the elephants were okay. At the end, I gave my elephant handler a tip... I folded the money into an elephant.  He was happy. I saw him ride the elephant to the other handlers and was yelling in Thai holding it up with a big grin on his face. So the elephants were good... On the other hand the monkeys... they had little monkey houses with monkeys. I’m sure it was not their permanent home... just their display home. But still being chained up like that seems not good. It was interesting. If the monkey behaved it had a long chain and could play around. If the monkey was bad... they shortened the chain to keep it from playing. So... nevertheless it was a great experience.

After I get back I see one of the people that helped me book the elephant ride. He was a tailor. Well I went to his shop... and bought a jacket. One that would be made and tailored for me. I came to China with a light leather jacket but no real jacket for the cold. So I figured I might as well. It would be a useful and cool souvenir from Thailand. So I get back to the hotel and of course it is time for more beach swimming.  As I am walking nearly to the beach I hear someone yelling 'help' and I look out and in the same spot I was in the day before another person was stuck in the rip. Very quickly people that were in the water already were swimming towards him. It was getting late and if that guy had been swimming 30 minutes later he may not have gotten the help he needed. I walked a little further down the beach. I also decided it was not the wisest decision to go far so I stayed waist deep only. Note to anyone reading this... swimming alone anytime in the ocean especially dusk and night is extremely stupid and unsafe. That being said, do as I say and not as I do.

After a nice swim and lying on the beach I decided to go to my hotel and swim in the pool. Mosquitoes (or sand fleas) were biting by the ocean. So I swam awhile there. Then I decided to relax to a different level. I went to the market and bought a small bottle if Thai whisky (definitely was not whisky) and a cigar. It was late and I wanted to listen to the waves. I went back to the ocean. I smoked a cigar and drank this Thai alcohol and listened to the waves. Absolute peace and tranquility. Then since it was late I decided to get some street food. I get back and eat it then go to bed.

Oct. 4 Disaster strikes around 2am. The dreaded food poisoning.  Vomit and diarrhea. I felt miserable. I was also very concerned because I was supposed to fly to Bangkok in the afternoon. Something that I was thinking about between my bouts of bodily fluids. Now I would like to blame the street food... but I only had it between 1 and 2 hours before it struck. It seems like it normally takes between 6 and 12 hours. Anyway around 7 it calms down and I sleep. I wake up the next day around 11 and feel okay other than being a little tired and a little sore. So I am happy about that but also confused.  Normally when I have had food poisoning before I’m ill for at least a day and sometimes 2. Never just a few hours. So I pick up my jacket, check out if the hotel, and head towards the airport.  I check in early. The airport was an experience. Small and crowded with a large area in the middle to wait to board, but no seats by the specific gates. Different than almost every other airport I have been to. I wonder if there is a reason...Well it gets close to boarding time so we start to like up by gate 9. Then it gets changed to gate 66a, we wait there...then 66b line up, then 5 where we stand for a bit, then 9, but only briefly then back to 66a. Finally we board at 66b. (Note there is only gate 1-10, 66a, 66b) but still on different sides of the domestic terminal. Maybe that is why there us no specific seats by the gates. So we board and fly to Bangkok, I sleep pretty much the whole 1.5 hours. One of my biggest pet peeves is people running from the back of the plane trying to weasel their way off. It disrupts the flow. Anyway when it is my turn to retrieve my luggage from the overhead bin an Asian lady and a German guy are pushing their way up so I block them. I allow the people that have been trying to get their bags down to get them down without being pushed. The German does not like this. He confronts me. I tell him it’s not a race and to let the people off in front first... he mumbles something about how I must have been in Asia to long cause I’m acting like these animals and that I'm white so I shouldn't act like that. I don’t get it... but whatever.

I take a cab to my hotel. Nice place with a bathtub. So I stay in and take a bath. Nice... but I’m still too big to take a nice bath... but a soak was good.

Oct. 5 Slept in the next day. I walk around the neighborhood and lo and behold I am close to the US Embassy.  So I take a picture. 50 steps later security comes up to me from nowhere and asks to see the pic. He makes me delete it. I am shocked.  So I continue walking and head to my hotel. I write an email to the embassy and ask if that is standard practice. That evening I get a reply which pretty much said yes it is. I get it... but then since the Embassy is US territory and governed by US law so I would think that photography would be allowed.  Oh well. I then took a Tuk-tuk to the grand palace. A tuk-tuk is a hybrid motorcycle taxi. There were tuk-tuks in Phuket, but they were more open air minivans. Anyway spent several hours at the grand palace. I did not get to see the emerald Buddha as it was a Buddhist day and it closed early. But the entire grand palace grounds were stunning and beautiful. Amazing colors and architecture. After the grand palace I was walking around and started talking to a random Thai person. Like my mother, I have a knack for talking to random people. And Thai people are super friendly and seem to really like America and Obama. So he talks to me for a while and tells me some stuff to do. He flags down a Tuk-tuk and negotiates a great price. This tuk-tuk will take me to 3 places, and he waits for me at each. First I go to Lucky Buddha. It is only open on special Buddhist days, so while I did not get to see the emerald Buddha, I got to see Lucky Buddha. Then to a fabric market. So, I decided to get some shirts made. They are cheaper than shirts tailored in Shanghai. Then I went to Big Buddha (or standing Buddha).  Then I just wander. I end up by the kings residence.  Since it is late I get stopped before I get to a picture taking point because its dark and I didn't feel like walking only to be able to see nothing.  Then I walk more. I walk to a subway stop. Take the subway to Siam. A main district. I eat an overpriced but delicious early dinner there. Walk around more then walk home (several kilometers away). I chill at home till I am ready for actual dinner. Well I was planning on the Thai restaurant by my hotel. Closed Monday.  So I think about the sushi place in the hotel. Over 300 baht for 1 roll. Nope. Only one other place close by that is open. BBQ. Now it is written in English, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. It turns out to be Korean BBQ. I did want to try it in Thailand so it worked out. It was better than many Chinese KBBQ joints, but nowhere near actual KBBQ. Anyway. Turned out to be a delicious and meaty dinner. I did not get soju as I normally do with KBBQ as it was more than double the price of it in China (China is double the price of it in Korea). Anyway I go next door to the hotel and relax and sleep.

Oct 6 The next day I followed my theme of sleeping late. Got up and decided to go to Chinatown.  Everyone says it’s a must. I went to see the golden Buddha. You may have heard of it. It was covered in gold plaster, and when it was accidentally dropped when moving the plaster chipped and revealed a gold Buddha. Very neat to see. There was also a museum about the Chinese in Thailand.  Then I walked around Chinatown. I talked to another Thai, whom also hailed a tuk-tuk and brought me to sights.  Then the driver took me to a long tail boat ferry terminal.  Normally 6-8 people rent a boat. Well it was just me. I did it anyway.  So I took an evening cruise up the river and got to see the sunset over temples and the city. I get dropped off by a subway station. Went to my hotel and swam in the pool for an hour or so. Then go get changed and head to a night market. On the way I noticed something. My clock was off. I had been an hour off my entire time in Bangkok. I was okay with it because I was not sticking to any schedule. I walked around the market. There is a lady boy show and a muay thai show at night. I figure I would go see one the next day. I head home, and hit the hay.

Oct 7 I wake up at a reasonable time. As I am getting ready, I hear the crash of Thunder and the pitter patter of rain. Yup. A heavy rain storm. Okay, whatever. I drink my coffee and sit in a comfy chair and listen to the rain and relax. Not bad. When the rain finally lets up it’s already the early afternoon. I decide to walk around. I stop at a small beer bar and get a brew. There were no local craft beers there but there were craft beers from different places. I had one with a cheesy name...I think Ryan and the Beaster Bunny, and it was from NYC and it was delicious. I miss good beer. Then I walked around and go to several famous Thai malls. At one, there was some pageant. I end up talking to the Miss USA for awhile. It was weird having a conversation in American English. While I have a few friends in SH that are from the US we don't normally have 'conversations' we just talk. I didn't take a pic with her as so many people do. Just spoke and left. I ate at McDonalds. I know boring.... but I enjoy trying it in different countries as each as their own special menu items. In Thailand they had spinach pie, a samurai pork burger, breadsticks, a deluxe cheese burger and rice dishes. I did not have the rice dishes cause I am not a rice man and they have some of those in China. I then headed to Asiatique (the market I went to the day before). I bought a ticket for Muay Thai live. A show about the history of Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) and then 2 actual bouts. I walked around the market shopping for my co teachers. I wanted to do something other than magnets or knickknacks. I shopped around and found the best deal on Thai handmade soap and also some small incense burners. Then I bought some luggage to put it in. Ended up being a bit more expensive than I planned but now I have extra luggage. C'est la vie. The Muay Thai live show was interesting. I would see it again. But the writing/story was disjointed and odd and hard to follow but the stage combat was fantastic. So if you go see it, go and appreciate the show but don't follow to story in English... just make up your own. The Muay Thai fights did not last as long as I expected. But it was still fun to see. Well I got out in time to go to the Bangkok Calypso Cabaret. A ladyboy show. I went. Meh. The crowd was bad so I’m sure it made the acting difficult for the actors and actresses. I tried to clap and whatnot... but the audience was silent. So I’m sure it would be better with a better audience. I know thespians feed off the crowd, and if the show, like this one is made for the audience to cheer and clap... and nobody does...it makes performing hard.  Also it would have been better not being a guy there alone... finally, I think the sound designer sucked.  Or at least did not set up the show for a not full crowd.  It sounded like everyone and everything was coming from the center speaker. The audio was not balanced beyond putting every track in the center. It bothered me. Especially for a high price and famous show.

So I head back to my hotel and go to sleep pretty soon afterwards.

Oct 8 I wake up but laze around my hotel. There really isn't too much time before I need to head to the airport to head back to Shanghai. I pack up and leave my bags at the desk. I decided that I would just walk back to the mall area and around there.  I am getting pretty hungry at this time. There was a place I almost ate at the day before that I decided to go back to. It was an American BBQ joint that imports wood for it smokers from the USA. Yes... I know it is my last meal in Thailand... but when I walked past the day before the smell was too good to ignore.  The food was superb. The meat literally fell right off the rib. I grabbed a rib bone and lifted.  It pulled right out of the meat and came off clean. The sauce was great. Coleslaw was spot on and the bbq beans had a ton of bacon in it. Absolutely amazing food. Better than a lot of bbq I've had in the states. A great last meal for a great vacation.

I walk back to the hotel and get my bags and catch a cab to the airport. I check in... They weigh my bags (carry on and the suitcase full of soap for my coworkers). Well spring airlines weigh both together and if it is over 15kg you have to pay. Whelp... it was 9kg over 15. I end up having to pay over 3000bhat to check it (more than I paid for incense and soap and suitcase). Oh well... not much I could do. Check in and wait around. As I am wondering around the airport I spot a Dairy Queen. No big deal because they are all over China. But on closer inspection this one had dairy queen food. All of the ones in China (at least that I have seen) only have ice cream. So of course I had to get a Chili Cheese Dog. Delicious.  If the Dairy Queens started selling food in China I would be happy. (Nobody In China believed me when I was telling them that in the US Dairy Queens had food... but then again they did not believe that Dairy Queen was a Company that started in the US).I finally get on the plane. All is good except the lady next to me was ill... needless to say I'm fine when I get back... but about a day after it hits.

What proceeds from then turns into a hellish adventure and so far maybe the

Most painful week/weeks of my life. That’s a different story though...

So in all it was a great vacation. It was not as relaxing as I had planned on it being. Thailand is an exotic and fun place with a ton of stuff to do… but it is not a place where you can just get away and relax… I mean you can, but it was my first time there and I wanted to see a lot. Even so, I always thought of Thailand as a slow relaxing place no matter what part you are in. I knew it was big into Buddhism, so I thought it would be a zen like place. Nope.  But I really enjoyed all parts of it (except for the parts limited by my body). I would like to go back, but I think many parts would be more fun with friends. I had a blast the last half by myself, but I think parts would have been fun with a companion (but not a scheduler… a wanderer like myself).  Also… I have always loved Thai food, and this trip made me love it so much more!

So that was Thailand!

Click here to browse some of my photos. I took a lot more, but cut it down just for the ease of browsing. I also took video clips that I put together into one odd video of different sights and sounds of mytrip.