It's Bohemian

The Misadventures of James Watson:

First and Foremost, I need to honor James for traveling with 2 females. That is not an easy endeavor, but he handles it with a chivalrous ease. Especially on the day when Sarah and I went off for pedicures, left him behind accidentally with no key to the bungalow, and no money. He was having some issues with his contacts so his left eye looked like it had a severe case of pink eye, and he also had a heat rash breakout on his body. Not a pretty site. He was walking around like a sad little puppy with a rain cloud over his head all day. Then we finally found him hours later walking down the side of the road aimlessly, picked him up on the scooter, and proceeded to search for a pedicure spot after a good day of shopping. We found a place that we liked so decided to make a U turn and go back. The bike was too heavy for me to turn around with the weight of Sarah and James and myself, so i kinda layed out the bike on its side while skidding to a halt and almost running into a tuk tuk (taxi)…The problem here was that the bike fell on James' leg!…He got all pissy and started limping away, so we left him on the other side of the island because he didn't want to be around us. The girls continued to search for a hot pedicure spot. We finally arrived after a hard day of negative energy from James (for good reason) and we proceeded to get the most horrible pedicure i've ever got in my life…I guess that's karma?…

Today James barely scraped his toe on coral while snorkeling and has been complaining about it every couple of minutes. In his defense- It's a pretty nasty cut. He's been walking with a limp all day, and not in a gangster way. We will walk ahead of him, then have to wait for Grandpa Watson to catch up…So then we make a trip to the store to get him some bandaids for his new boo boo (because we already used up all the bandages we had stocked up in the first-aid kit) and they turned out to be really measly. He continued to wad them up and kept them stuck on the end of his big toe by putting on his smelly socks on over his hiking sandals so we would be able to walk to get mexican food for dinner. Once at Los Amigos he ordered the SPICIEST of all Thai Spicy burritos, and his mouth slowly started to light on fire…I think I saw steam coming out of his ears?!…Sarah and I continued to laugh at him the whole meal as he struggled to get through his burrito with a bright red face and a torn up toe.

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 James often needs nurture and attention.    There was this one time when he got burned jumping a flaming rope with me at the Full Moon Party.  I was jumping the rope, it getting faster and faster the longer I was jumping, when I noticed someone was behind me.  I didn't know it was James until a few days later.  However, I think the realization of there being a person behind me threw my flow off a little and my feet hit the rope.  I tucked and rolled out of the way of the flaming rope, but, unfortunately for James, he did not.  It hit him in the mid-section and burned his flesh.  There was one spot where it burned some skin off, the rest just the surface.  Now, I am prone to getting burns.  Motorcycles, steam, hot oil, scalding water, CHI, heat lamp, fire…these are all things that have burned me and left noticeable scars…so I know the pain my friend was feeling.  I was a little shocked at first because he was making a big deal out of this burn!  Especially for a fire dancer in-training!  We had to run to the closest bar stand and get some ice.  James was asking for 3 cubes of ice and it took a while for the people to figure out what he wanted.  "I got burned by fire" he kept telling them.  After his ice cubes melted as we were making our way to Mushroom Mountain, he would look in every bucket that was tossed aside or half way empty for a piece of ice.  Oh, I must add this other piece of information.  The same scenario happened to Jess and I where my feet hit the rope, I tucked and rolled and she took the rope to her neck.  Did we hear Jess telling us every minute that she got burned or looking in empty whiskey buckets for a piece of half melted ice?? NO she didn't!  I think at some point on the walk we actually told him to be quiet about his burn and toughen up.  Jess and I are not the most consoling people at times.  I don't know at what point in the night he stopped talking about the mass pain he was feeling from this burn.  In the morning, I gave it a look and had to give the guy some credit.  Just a little though, I have definitely had worse, but maybe this was his first time getting a burn?  I still chuckle to this day when he lifts his shirt to show and tell people we just have met about how he got burned by fire.    

He is a brave soul for traveling with two strong-minded females.  James puts up with a lot from us (mainly Jess) and does it very well.  He got the short end of the stick for sleeping arrangements in Koh Lanta.  We had to sleep inside of a mosquito net, with a fan on the opposing wall from where James slept.  After the air blew through the net, past me, then past Jess, the hot, sticky air got to James.  He was not getting any cold air and spent most of the night sweating.  I didn't realize this until one night I noticed Jess was sleeping very close to me.    Every time I woke up she was right there practically on top of me.  She told me the next day that James' area of the bed and his pillow smelled so bad that she couldn't sleep near him.  That same day I noticed a stench as James passed by me.  I later found out that he hadn't been using soap to shower because Jess told him he was using too much and needed to ration better.  He had also been rotating the same two white shirts for I don't even know how many days in a row.  (These were the only breathable shirts he had, and we had run out of laundry detergent.)  Jess heckled him about the stench of the bed and told him he had to sleep outside or do something about the sheets.  So, James lit a mosquito coil and about 5 incense sticks in our tiny bungalow and went to shower.  He came out and got into bed.  "Can you hand me the Prickly Heat?" he asked me.  When I get into bed I see that James has turned into a ghost and doused himself in this powder.  He also put it all over the sheets that he was sleeping atop.  "I am so cold right now…Iv'e never been this cold!"  he says.  So that, and a little fan adjustment seemed to help his sweaty situation on our last night in Koh Lanta.  

Grandpa Watson - always the first to rise, worried about bugs or street food, whistling while he showers, and rubbing his eyes like a baby when he is tired.  I feel like…you just gotta love the guy!  

I don't know if these tales are as funny to yall as it is to us?!…I think the visuals and effects of these stories is what makes us feel like we have to pee our pants every time we think about these instances, but I hope every one who reads this understands the enigmatic character of Jamison Watson. He is tremendously awesome beyond awesome, and this trip definitely wouldn't be as interesting without him!!!...

*To anyone who knows James and would like to contribute to the tales of The Misadventures of James Watson Please feel free to write up a little narritive and we'll put it up for everyone else (including James) to enjoy!!*

Last night I saw phosphorescent algae for the first time.  Little neon blue balls about the size of sprinkles that are all over the sand and in the water.  We did not know what we were looking for at first however.  It started by a recommendation we got from an islander who said we had to go into the water at night with as little light as possible.  That sounded fair enough, so around mid-night we wandered down to a secluded and dark part of the beach.  Of course, as we all know,  it is against the rules to take a mid-night swim in your bathing suit.  So we donned our birthday suits and ran into the pitch black sea.  I felt so free!  I always enjoy a good mid-night swim and this was one that I will never forget.  So after we ran in, we started looking into the water.  I was expecting to see my whole body glowing as if it was in neon paint under a blacklight.  That didn't happen.  I thought I saw some kind of a dull light in the sky and desperate to see this phenomenon I asked "Wait is that it below that cloud?"  Jess laughed and told me it was in the water.  She said wave your hands around and kick your feet.  We did that and I was certain I saw the lights this time.  I was waving my hands back and forth and could see neon bubbles leaving the tips of my fingers and floating up to the top.  Jess saw it too!  But that is all they were, bubbles lit by moonlight and floating to the surface.  We stayed in the water for a good hour.  Just standing and looking at the sky, trying to stay in one place and not let the waves toss us around.  Its so different in the ocean at night.  Everything is illuminated by the moon and the starry sky.  Its much cooler out yet the water is still warm.  You can't see any fish swimming around you like you can during the day, but you know they are still there.  We finally scurried like little crabs to the shore and put on our clothes.  I was actually a little chilly from the cool breeze.  As we were making the trek back to our bungalows and the beach party, we saw the real thing.  The little bright blue lights that glow in a neon color.  They were on the sand and it seemed if you stomped your feet they would appear.  So there we were, stomping all over the sand watching the blue sprinkles decorate the shore.  It was really neat and something I have never seen before.  One of many things to add to the list of things I have never seen before--until now!  

The rest of the night was filled with non-stop trance and house music that went on all night.  I had a few beers but that was it!  Something peculiar is happening to me...I have not had the desire to drink like I usually do!  I guess the main reason is there is no stress here and no reason to want to "unwind".  I already feel totally content, not a worry in the world, and drinking just makes me tired.  Whatever the reason, I like it.  

Well I am getting eaten up by these mosquitos.  We ran out of DEET today and they are having VIP access to my blood.  I am quite used to this though, the climate and insects here are much like Houston.  Lots of ants and mosquitos.  Itchy now, but in the morning just a red mark.  

I am so thankful to be here, now here.  

There are hundreds of things that I really love about everyday life here.  Today I will mention two of those hundreds of things.   

Buckets are first on the list.  In just about every bathroom you go into here there will be a bucket with water in it.  In this bucket will be a pan or cup of some sort to extract the water and pour it into the toilet in order to flush.  Right next to the bucket there is a small hose with a spray nozzle on the end to use in the abscense or replacement of toilet paper.  We had been using toilet paper for a while (which you don't flush) and then one day we ran out.  We were using the spray, all telling each other that the toilet paper was out and we needed to get more.  But no one ever did.  I think we all have converted now and don't miss toilet paper at all.  Its refreshing and clean. 

But enough about that, and back to the buckets.  Containing water to flush the manual toilet in not their only use.  They can also be used to wash clothes.  This is the most therapeutic and sastisfying thing I have done in a while.  Its fairly expensive to get your clothes washed around here.  I have gotten them washed once on the last island and it was that time again.  Lugging around a mix of dirty, damp, clean and dry clothes in humid weather and a stuffy bag does not leave them smelling like lavender for very long.  So when we were at the store buying mangos, we picked up a bottle of detergent.  Jess and James washed their clothes a day before me and commented on how fun it was.  I thought about this and realized I had never washed loads of laundry by hand.  Yeah I've washed a shirt or two in the sink before...but never loads of clothes from pants to bras.  So I dumped all my clothes on the floor and started washing, wondering if I would enjoy this process as much as they.  And I did.  The whole process was stress releaving and therapeutic.  I think the idea of sitting down and devoting a hour and a half of time to something that is usually a mindless task was a big part of the sastisfaction.  It was a bit of a work out too!  Kneading you clothes, scrubbing them, pushing them up and down in the water, rinsing, wringing them out and hanging them to dry takes a bit more enegy than throwing in the washing maching, dumping in some soap and pushing a couple buttons.  I felt so good after doing this task I looked forward to the time when I had to do it again.  They were dry the next day and I awoke to see that little ants were even helping in the process.  They were all over on of my white shirts.  I was worried they may chew holes in it when James told me they did the same thing to his underwear the night before.  "I think they are cleaner than they were when I hung them to dry." he told me.  So I left the shirt there and the next day they were gone.  No holes and I can't say the shirt looks noticibly whiter -- but I'd like to think they helped it a little. 

So, the lesson I learned from all this is that sometimes all the technology and tools we have to make life easier actually cause us stress and take the feeling of self sastisfaction away from us.  I have witnessed many people totally bent out of shape and in a panic becuase their washing machine broke or their dishwasher isn't working.  Almost like the world is ending.  For what?  Find a bucket!  I won't forget the bucket and will hopefully find a way to incorpoate one- or something similar- into my everyday life. 

Mosquito nets are also nice.  I like them for the practical reason of keeping the bugs away, but they are also sort of symbolic.  When you climb through the opening and clip the net shut, stuffing the bottom of the net under the matress to make sure nothing can creep in - its time to go to bed.  Nice and cozy, protected from the blood sucking mosquitos outside.  Then in the morning, when it starts to get a little heated in this bubble and there are no longer bugs to be protected from, its time to get up.  Once you crawl out of the cuccoon, the day has officially started.  There is no laying around in bed taking hours to wake up... its too humid for that.  Plus, you can't feel the fan as good from the inside of the net. 

This morning I woke up hearing words I have never heard before.  Cool huh!?  The situation could have turned out to be not so cool but it is neat to think that in my life, until this day, I have never been woken up by someone saying, "Everything is ok now but there us a tsunami warning in effect until 8 o'clock."  That was James.  Jess and I were still enclosed in the net and half asleep.  I didn't move because James said he would come tell us if we needed to leave.  But I was thinking about where all my stuff was and preparing myself to stuff it into my backpack as quick as possible if need be.  Then about thirty minutes later a woman who works here knocks on the door and gives us the same warning.  I was really not concerned for some reason, and figured I would run when I heard it getting real chaotic outside.  Luckily, that never happened.  Tornado, Hurricane, Thunderstorm, Hailstorm, and Flood warnings I've heard them all...Tsunami was a new one though. 

We were supposed to leave "The Beach" bungalows today.  After looking for different bungalows on another side of the island and not finding any we liked, we realized our spot is pretty prime.  We are pretty much the only people here, have made friends with the owners, the beach is gorgeous and we pay about 7 bucks a night.  Change is good, but sometimes its better to keep a good thing going. 

Hammocks are great.  They are used in many different situations, but mostly for pleasure and relaxation.  I have enjoyed hammocks on decks, beaches and porches...even one that went across the diameter of a friends living room.  All of these you could put a leg over the side and push off the ground to give your self a nice swing.  But I have never, until yesterday, had the joy of climbing a tree and relaxing in a hammock that was about 25 feet off the ground.  Hammock Heaven is located at a super chill little "house" that looks similar to a tree house.  Its built out of driftwood and bamboo that has all been found in nature.  We first saw the sign that reads "Little bar for little money people"  when we were renting our motorbikes.  So when we returned them we wandered back past some bungalows and walked into this awesome little chill spot.  The beers are the cheapest around and they play the best. most relaxing music.  There are only four available rooms for rent and they all have single beds.  They are pretty cheap too, 120-180 Baht.  The exchange rate for 1 USD is about 31 Baht.  But, my favorite part of this whole, funky area is Hammock Heaven.   

Hammock Heaven is a tree with 7 different hammocks in it.  I have not seen the movie "Avitar" but Jess describes it as the tree of life that the Avitars sleep in.  There are 3 on the bottom that are accessible from the ground.  There are 4 that have to be reached by the ladder and a little tree climbing.  I got into the 2nd highest hammock.  It was a little scary getting in, but it is so worth it.  There I was in the canopy of a tree, swinging by pushing off a branch.  Jess, James and our friend Rach were down below sitting at a table and I could hear everything they were saying but I was in my own little world.  There were no mosquitos up there to bite me and the music was carrying me away to another place.  They also had a convenient pulley system up to the top hammocks.  There was a half coconut that served as a bowl to put items in such as beer.  You simply pulled a string until the coconut travelled to the bar, they load the coconut with a beer or two, and you pull it back up to the hammock.  It was really a great invention!  Hanging in a hammock up in the top of a tree is so different than one that is right off the ground.  I love it up there.  I have been back to Hammock Heaven twice since then and I think I will go back today to read a little.  

I would love to have a little place like this one day.  A place built from natural resources, small but will good quality rooms and hospitality.  A place where travelers can stay who don't want to spend a lot of money on a room and are ok with sharing a bathroom and sleeping under a mosquito net.  Among the MANY things I have learned so far on this trip, the one that seems to be the most consistent and present is that ANYTHING is possible and any dream or desire you have can become a reality!  

Motorbikes and Monkeys and Elephants … Oh my!

Today was the first time in my life on planet Earth that I have seen monkeys roaming freeing the wild.  It was also the first time I have seen a mother and baby elephant so close.  It was on a motorbike trip around the island   when both were spotted.  Motorbiking, by the way, is so much more fun in the pouring down rain.  Both in Koh Samui and Koh Lanta when we rented these bikes, it absolutely poured while we were riding.  In Koh Samui I was driving and I must say I am happy I had that experience.  There is nothing like riding a motorbike in a bikini with shorts and a tank top and then getting totally drenched by huge, pelting rained drops seconds later.  Then, a few minutes later, air drying by the wind and sun while taking in beautiful views of ocean and jungle… all at the same time!  Talk about feeling happy to be alive!  Well, today was pretty much the same story but we were stopped at a shop in search of antiseptic cream when the heavy rain hit.  We had just bought fresh mango and another fruit that tasted like soggy wheat bread with sugar on it.  I was hand peeling the mango when the store owner who happened to be the nicest little lady brought out a knife and plate and motioned for me to hand over the mango.  She started slicing it up and then started slicing the other fruit we had.  She spoke not a lick of English and us only about two words in Thai but we all sat there together enjoying each others company, watching the rain and eating fresh, whole fruit.  It was such a great feeling to experience that kind of genuine humanity and benevolence.  We left her the soggy wheat bread fruit as a "thank you" and I think she enjoyed it a little more than we did.  After the rain cleared, it was time to move on.  We were in search of meeting a friend of a friend James knew who has a long boat company here.  It was on this quest that we saw the baby and mother elephant right there on the side of the road.  The mother was getting washed and the baby seemed to be eating off the mother.  It was so cool to see these enormous creatures so close.  And even though they were not totally free, they were not behind bars in a zoo, which made it better.  We are planning to go back tomorrow and check into the elephant trekking.  As we continued on a dirt road, wondering if our bikes could make it up these hills and if this road led to where we wanted it to go, we saw the pack of monkeys.  The first one we spotted must have been the territorial pack leader.  We stopped the bike, I took out my camera and almost had the perfect shot of him when he lunged and screeched, showing his mouth full of very jagged, long, sharp teeth.  I instinctively screeched back while Jess floored the motorbike and we scooted away as fast as we possibly could.  This tactic seemed to work because he ran back into the bushes.  Jess and I both had visions of a monkey jumping and latching onto our faces.  Then the thought of rabies shots in the stomach followed.  We then rode on and found at least 15 monkeys running up trees.  There was one baby wrapped around its mother just enjoying the ride.  It was so cute.  They were in the tops of the trees looking down at us and probably laughing at what had just happened.  I snapped a few more pictures but I was a little apprehensive about us slowing down in front of these monkeys who also had jagged, long, sharp teeth.  We never found the long boat lady but we had a great time adventuring and taking in the beautiful sites of this lovely island.  

We have met two travelers from England, Rach and Andy, whose company we are really enjoying.  Its great to hear what they think the American accent sounds like and how we act.  They said the way we speak sounds like we draw everything out.  I.E.  L-I-T-E-R-A-L-L-Y and NEWW YORKK CITYY.  They also said we talk with a lot of expression and passion - which kind of surprised me (not in a bad way).  It all makes you a little self-conscious when your speaking to foreigners!  The part that sucks the most is that they (English people) think that American college people are all like the snobs on the OC and Laguna Beach!  Ugh, that made me so sad and quite disgusted!    We also banded together and got a great deal on the bungalows we are staying in now.  These bungalows are officially bungalows.  Bathroom is outside, there are cracks in the floorboards which lay on stilts, thatched branches of coconut trees make up our ceiling, and we sleep in a mosquito net.  Right up my alley, I love it here!  I also love laughing at Jess and (sometimes) James who are paranoid of most every bug we see.  

We discovered Prickly Heat Powder which is a life saver!  You put it all over your body after you are dry and out of the shower.  It cools you to the core!  A must have for living in the hot and humid climate.  

Tomorrow Jess and I will do an 8:30 am yoga class on the beach.  I am so excited!  That was one of the "to-do's" on my list of activities for Thailand.  Slowly but surely checking things off the list!

Well, its time to learn a new card game from our new English friends.  Until next time America!

Time is a funny thing.  It never stops but yet sometimes you don't even realize it is passing you by, day to day.  It is an odd feeling to not NEED to know what time it is - or even what day or date it is for that matter.  I know the families who's bungalows we are staying in have a better concept of all this, but it is still not as big of a factor for them as it is in the city.  I like the schedule I am on now.  When it gets dark and the mosquitos come out... I go to bed.  The fan above my head creates the perfect breeze and the insects outside calm and sooth my mind as I doze off.  The rhythmic noise of the ocean waves can knock out any insomniac.  Then, when the first birds start chirping and the sun forces its light into the window...I am awake.  The rhythmic noise of the ocean calls me outside. As I brush my teeth and put on my swimsuit, I anticipate the beauty I am about to see of the orange sun rising up from the water and into the sky.  The mornings are my favorite.  The sand is nice and cool, perfect for taking long walks on the shore to the perfect sitting spot.  The family is up sweeping off the restaurant floor while pots and pans are clanging in the kitchen, preparing to cook breakfast for anyone who wanders in.  I love sitting in the hammocks for breakfast- eating mango and bananas, just listening to all the sounds of the islands.  When the sun is directly up in the sky, I know its about noon and probably time for a little snack.  Thats pretty much the extent of time telling here.   A perfect example of how unimportant the calendar day is here is the story of how (more importantly when) we arrived in Koh Phagnan.  .  We had it all figured out - made our reservations to be taxied to the pier, got our boat tickets, got scammed to be driven about a quarter mile for 100 Baht, and finally found our bungalow villas... just to be told that it was the 28th and our reservations were for the 29th.  It didn't even matter though- they had our place ready and we dropped our bags and grabbed a beer.  And let me just say that the beer was well deserved because finding our bungalow on Koh Phagnan was quite the process.  The tourism industry on this island especially is huge!  They'll get you!  But you can't even get mad about it, just smile and know you weren't the first and definitely not the last to be misled.  Its all part of the way of life here and you just have to roll with it.  We are doing pretty good and have learned A LOT about getting around in the past week.  

Place - even though we are only a thirty minute boat ride away from the beloved island of Koh Samui, we are in a totally different place.  This island has a different feel to it.  We could all tell right when we arrived.  The Full Moon, Half Moon, New Moon, and all the other moon parties run this island.  It is what the people here make their money on.  You see the poster and fliers for parties everywhere around here.  I have come to realize that this is the Cancun- South Padre - Miami scene for all the European and Australian party goers.  And it is spring break.  I was talking with James earlier and we agreed that we were glad to get to experience this 8,000 person Full Moon bash but would be happy to be leaving soon after to a more secluded and peaceful destination- Koh Phi Phi.  I did not come to Thailand for a spring break.  I came for many reasons- but I think the best reason is that there was really no particular reason.  I didn't pick this destination, don't have family here, don't know anyone here; but at the same time I knew I had to see what life was like in this part of the world.  And I had to act on the opportunity, the time and the place.  I find the reactions I got so interesting when I told them about my plans for travel.  Some asked many questions and couldn't understand the reason, the place or the time.  Then there were others who totally understood everything I told them and encouraged me, giving me confidence and urgency for the trip.  I'm glad that I listened to the advice and encouragement, but most importantly I am so happy that I listened to myself and did what I felt was correct.  It has taught me to do that more often, even when the future is uncertain.  

As for right now, I can see that the sun is starting to near the tree tops, everything is cooling off from the nice ocean breeze.  Time to take a nice five minute walk through a jungled, muddy road to the fruit stand.  I think a few mangos, sticky rice, and a few other exotic Thai fruits will make the perfect dinner.  I could get used to this alternative lifestyle.  With so many all across the world, why must most people live only one?  

Sarah

Today was another flawless day on Lamai Beach. Woke up in bungalow #411 just in time to watch the low sun rise into the beautiful blue sky. Started the morning with a nice meditation and yoga session, followed by a nice long swim and jog. Really starting to get into a routine of swimming and running. Something about this clear blue water and bright blue skies that motivate me like nothing ever has! Anyway, the day was pretty relaxed, lots of sun, sand and swim. So about 5pm rolls around and we realize we are starving! We decide to venture away from our little bungalow community and find a little family run cafe to eat in. They had quite a large menu and after looking through it a few times I decided on a Coconut milk soup with potatoes and mushrooms. Coconut and mango are two of my favorite fruits so I order them any chance I get..and I had never had a coconut soup before. Jess ordered Pad Thai - James pineapple fried rice and my soup came first. James (germaphobe) said "I feel like if we are going to get sick, this is the place." I thought he was just worrying too much (he is always worried about getting sick out here!) and started digging into my soup. It was really good! It had bamboo, basil, red chiles, and great flavor. Then as I am scooping from the bottom to get a good bite, I notice a pitch black ingredient with ridges on it. Sure enough, it was a centipede! At first I thought 'maybe this is supposed to be in here' even though I had the feeling it wasn't. I didn't know what to do..should I just toss it and keep eating, tell the waiter, take this opportunity to eat my first centipede? I kind of lost my appetite at that point and James was doing all he could not to throw up. Jess was laughing. The waiter must have noticed something because he was looking directly at me when I looked up. I didn't want to be the bitchy American customer but motioned for him to come over as he simultaneously made his way to the table. I pointed to the bug and shrugged. He looked at it for a moment and then took the soup and centipede away. The whole family, grandma and all went into the kitchen area and looked at the centipede (dead of course) on my plate. The mom stated taking out all the ingredients for my soup and started to make another Coconut soup. I wonder what a native Thai would have done? Probably just threw the bug out and kept eating...which maybe I should have done but this was a first and I was just a little startled. Anyway all is well and my second bowl of soup was divine and centipede free. Iv'e already decided if something like that happens again I am going to eat the extra protein. I may be in a situation someday where I have to eat bugs to survive..who knows. Plus he was already cooked and saturated in Coconut milk..yummm! Koh Samui is a true paradise. Something about the family atmosphere of our bungalow community makes it even more enjoyable. Family run restaurants and crafts man selling trinkets on the beach. While their kids run around playing with the friendly dogs that roam our community. The family dynamic of my traveling buddies makes it even more comforting. We share everything we have, make fun of each other, get annoyed with each other (and let them know just how we feel!) and enjoy each other's company as a true family does. Thats all for now folks, we have a reggae bar to go to with fire dancers!!

Day 3 in Bangkok, and it keeps getting better. 

This is going to be a quick entry cause in Thailand there is no "free" Wifi - at least not for any and every one.  But I just wanted to make a quick note on the "riots" here that have probably scared thousands of people away from vacationing here.  And that is a shame!  I think everyone needs to experience a riot like I did yesterday.  Riot or love fest?  Thousands of people parading in Mardi Gras fashion ( in the backs of trucks, on motorcycles and by foots) wearing red, clapping heart shaped noise makers, and throwing up the peace and 'i love you' signs.  Hundreds of monks were praying on stage and protesting with peace.  I know I am an outsider looking in and do not know the true root and reason for this demonstration, but I do know that the media totally portrayed this the wrong way.  Big suprise eh?  Just makes me realize I can't believe anything I see or read on CNN and, that violence sells.  Yeah, maybe some Thais did throw some blood--but they are just so desperate to be heard.  Throwing blood is a but nicer than blowing up cars or buildings.  All I really know is that I was there and I had the time of my life walking with the Thais in this riot..and at that time, in that moment, I was happy and I felt the exilerationg and exciting feeling that peace and change can bring. 

Headed to the islands tonight, can't wait to be a Southern Thailand beach bum!!

Sarah

In exactly two weeks I will be boarding a plane to Baltimore, MD..followed by a flight to Thailand the very next day.  This trip could not be coming at a better time for me.  The uncertainty of my life, although exciting, is starting to take a toll.  What am I here for?  What is my passion?  What do I want to accomplish in this lone, short life I have?  Should I let society influence me in any way, or should I make decisions solely on what I feel in my heart is right?  These are all questions that have been clouding my mind lately.  I know that going to Thailand is not going to magically answer these questions, but it will give me time away from my everyday life to ponder them.  

I know I've said it many times before, but I couldn't be going with two better people.  Free spirited, open minded soul searchers who want to live life for the experience!  Jess and I are much like true sisters...we argue, annoy each other and even have our little spats at rare times, but 98% of the time we are an unstoppable force of good times, no worries and lots of love....always got each other's backs!  Then I met James.  The missing link!  I met him for a total of about 46 hours and I feel like I have known him for years!  Look forward to sharing this incredible journey with you James!! 

Well, off to make copies of passports, buy a few last things for the trip, and appreciate the little things in life we Americans have that we take for granted everyday.