If I Only Had...

When I got off the train I asked about how to get to the airport. There were plenty of service people with information to offer and happy to help. It was nice. I took a train to Haratake and then a bus into the airport. The airport was 7 kil away. I was reminded that I could take the local bus but the traffic would be too long and I was advised to take the train.

On the train, a Thai lady was on her way to the Hospital at Haratake who had me follow her. She personally took me on as someone to take care of. This whole entire trip, I have come across more people who where effortless in showing kindness and generosity of hospitality. Every time someone shows me kindness, I would feel remorse, shame, and total regret for any other time I had been impatient to others.

In Haratake was a hospital and an art academy. So the train cart was full of art students and all their art gear. I think there is something very beautiful and simple about student life that I really enjoy.

Made it to the airport 9amish. I walked around to check out flights, airlines, and possible destinations. I was directed to a travel agent who would coordinate my ticket. She told me Indian Air and Royal Nepal are all full for the rest of the year and I would need to fly Thai Air. This is like the engine search in Thailand when you go on the net where all other airlines pretty much don't work but only Thai Air. Well, Thai Air is so much more expensive and she was willing to drop ten dollars only. but really I didn't trust her. I heard that most people even Indians don't want to fly Air India so I was skeptical on either one of those airlines being sold out.

So being very tired from the train ride, I decided to just toss a coin on where I should go and what airline I should take. I went to the restroom to have a private enclosed space to think. I decided to walk some more and wait at the airline counter to get the scoop on actual factual status of seats availability. It was weird

I came across an elder Indian Sikh man named Kumar who is teaching in a business school in Bangkok. Kumar's wife and children will be moving in with him from India. He assured me of seats being available and he could not imagine the flight being sold out. He also tipped me on what to do when traveling in India. I am not to travel at night. If I land in the evening at Delhi I should sleep at the airport and wait till the morning and prepare to face the sharks and snakes. He also gave me a name to the Youth hostel in Delhi. I told him I'll be in India for a month and he was like "Why?" like why would you want to do that for? He also wanted to know why I wasn't married yet. Kumar reminded me that the Buddha was married, had a family and then focused on a spiritual life. I responded by saying that I probably couldn't travel and wonder about for months at a time without a return date like what I am doing now.

Kumar sat next to me until I was squared away with a ticket to somewhere and it ended up being Kathmandu, Nepal. It was the next available flight out of Bangkok and there were seats for me to purchase at a reasonable rate. During one of our conversations, I told Kumar about traveling in China, etc... then he mentioned he wold like to visit China and responded by saying people in general don't speak English. Then he slipped into, "well, if I only had a Chinese girlfriend who spoke both English and Chinese that would be convenient." I was shocked and disappointed by that line of proposition. I decided to just let it slip by as if I didn't hear that.

My ticket to Kathmandu via Royal Nepal was 10,000 BHT. I was very excited about going to Nepal. I had no information what so ever about Nepal. I will be landing in the evening and I have no idea where I would stay and where I would go etc...I was very excited about the unknown and how I would deal with the unresolved.

Parting the Sea of Passengers

The twelve and half hour over night train into Bangkok was full. All the berth seats were sold out. None were available at the train station. They had to be bought through agencies in Vientiane at a higher price. The berths weren't much to begin with. They are for tiny petite people. Most people who go berths were westerners who were twice as long as the berths.

During one of the Northern stops in Thailand, a pair of Thai forest monks got on the train. A younger one and an older one. The entire cart was full of people. I watched the younger monk stare down the isle with focus and intent to get to his seat without accidentally having to come into physical contact with anyone by his means or from others. Then he walked. It was so interesting to watch him part the sea of passengers with his intention to create a safe walking narrow zone as he put one foot in front of the other.

Behind me sat a young lady who had a 2 month old palmamarian puppy. It was so cute with puppy hair and all. It only recognized its owner's feet so it followed the feet closely whenever the pair of feet moved. It was so cute to see.

Dreaming of Islands

Last night I dreamed I was at a dock on a tropical island getting information on how to get to two other islands. The weather was beautiful, everything was wonderful. I woke up wondering whether or not these islands were actual places on earth that I will be on in the future or did they only exists in dream world.

Train Ride to Nong Khai

I got off the bus at 5am and the girls room all the ladies were grooming themselves to perfection. I can’t believe how awake and alert they are at 5am in the morning for a beauty session. It was fascinating to watch them.

I knew getting a cab to the train station would cost 50 to 70 BHT but that I would have to pay a tourist price instead. It was too early in the morning to try to catch a bus and go cheap. I wanted to get to the train terminal to catch the train into Laos. I arrived at the station and was greeted by nice and very helpful workers. I bought the 6am train to North Thailand at Nong Khai. Then I would have to cross the border. The ticket was for 348 BHT. On the way tot the train deck I saw a monk getting food. The lady said it was all vegetarian. The vendor made quite an offering but the monk asked for more. The lady started to shoo him away and I had a déjà vu. I recalled this scene from a dream. In which had an opportunity to make an offering for this monk at this stand, exactly like this at this time. In the dream I forgot to make an offering and I woke up with deep regrets. I had forgotten about this because I had not been in a Thai train station before. I told the vendor I would cover the cost of whatever was additional he asked for and he recited a blessing as I stood there to receive it.

In my cart were four Britishs who were all going to Laos. Since the train arrives in the evening they were concerned with the border being closed by the time we arrived. It would be a twelve and half hour train ride.

In front of me was a Western man with a Thai girlfriend. He was drinking at 6am in the morning. In fact he drank the entire time one after another. I befriended a Swiss and Irish couple and we traded travel information. They are traveling around the world for a year.

On the train I recited the whole way especially passing by the opium plantations. A few years back in meditation I saw a map of Asia and a demon showing up to tell me which area was under his jurisdiction that if I was to enter his area that I am not to interfere with his work. He had a black book and in it were names of people. People who would become future demons by staying in pain and grief. It was the first time I looked at a demon from a different light. Once people who were stuck in pain and expressed it in anger. This demon was once a friend from the past. It was during a Roman Era. He was a skilled strategic military soldier who believed in the continual warring would bring about peace and safety of his beloved ones at home. Although he was not a general he was sure on his way up. He was extremely disciplined. Ten year later, when he arrived home he found a deserted land full of skeletons and skull. The entire town was not protected and instead was raided and destroyed. Everyone died long ago. He cursed the sky for the lie he lived in for the past decade and all his efforts were in vein. It was then the stepped onto a path to a career in demon life.

As I sat on the train I recalled why I was always afraid of this part of the world and not really know why. Now I know. I feel I enter this part of the world with nothing but hope in my heart, and joy that everything heals in time.

Ditched by the Bus at Surantani

It was very windy and chilly this morning. While chanting on the beach I had to wrap a sarong to stay warm. Rony the umbrella, chair guy offered to keep me warm with his body. He also told me that when I return home, I should have a baby because that’s what a woman should do. I got weird and I left the beach soon after that.

I chilled on the hammock one last time and checked out to head out to Phuket. I got a ferry ticket for 300 BHT. It was a speed boat. Due to the high winds the speed boat tilted on one end so all the people had to be on one side of the boat to keep it from flipping or falling off the boat. It was quite dangerous but no one was having the boat slow down or anything. I had flashes of fears in drowning.

I was glad to be on land and got a shuttle ticket for 100 BHT to take me into Patong side. Well, I got dropped off somewhere and I didn’t know where I was because I had not been here before. I walked to look for a place to stay. I learned that all prices go up double by tomorrow. I checked out the beach and it was like being in LA or Miami. Plus the fair swim conditions were over for the season. So, I thought it over and realized that I got my swim and snorkel fix in Ko Phi Phi. This isn’t what I wanted. So I went to a internet café and searched for planes and modes of transportation.

At the internet café I saw the clerk with reptilian hand with human skin. It was weird. Stuff you hear about or see on some sci-fi show on TV. Wow. I ended up taking the local bus for 30 BHT to the long distance bus station. I could not believe that I was going to take the bus. I think my butts is just so tired of buses. At the station I came across two girls from Sichuan, China who was here for the weekend. They took the medium slow bus to Phuket and was robbed one bus while they slept. One of them felt an arm underneath their legs where their purses were. They like many tourists were dropped off at Surantani and not at their destination and was told to take another transportation to wherever they needed to go. At Surantani they saw the driver hand the local Police cash. They went to the police and made a big fuss. The girls reported that they saw the Police in on this act and they demanded to be sent back to Bangkok and straight to the Embassy where their friend works etc…. Finally they police gave them their money back and delivered them to Phuket.

On the bus I sat next to a beautiful Thai girl who took care of me. I followed here whenever the bus stopped. I just stuck by her side. We stopped at a central station and all meals were included at this one stand with your bus ticket. You sit down and porridge would show up on the table along with four stir-fry dishes. I ate as she ate at the speed and quantity she ate. To ensure I did not miss my bus, I stuck by her. Not knowing the language I didn’t not have information on time etc… I couldn’t figure out which bus was ours as there were no signs and the lot was full of buses. Being totally run down in fear of getting robbed by the two Sichuan girls, I ended up reciting mantras most of the way on the bus for extra insurance.

As I sat on the bus, I kept thinking how I’d be in Bangkok by now and have already enjoyed a lovely shower blah, blah, blah. That I could have stayed in Phuket for the night and be comfortable blah, blah, blah…

Broken in Three Places

Got up at 6:30am again, missed the tai chi time again. I keep wanting to but I really have to get to bed early enough to be able to get up at 5am. I like walks on the beach this early in the morning and meditating.

I met Susan and her boyfriend on the beach. Susan was in Laos and smashed her shin into pa concrete and didn’t know it was fractured. A month later it broke in three places in Vietnam. She had to have major surgery done. It looked terrible. I’ve been watching her hop on the beach with her crutches unable to play or touch the water.

Susan gave me cards of places to stay in Laos. I was instructed how tourist can be planted with drugs and be slapped with a $250 fine by the police. I am to stay way from any drug vendors, just walk away even if they park next to me or approach me. I was given many places to stay and things to do while in Laos.

I spent the afternoon in the water again totally content and happy.

Sunsets and Pina Coladas

I dreamed a female snake was captured. Instead of destruction, I had 100 councilors give it readings. It was pretty cool. I just wanted things to get resolved. So I prescribed resolutions.

I woke up and decided to go for another snorkel day tour. I enjoyed my tour the second time around. It was very windy and towards the end of the tour swimming in the ocean became difficult and unsafe. The rain started to roll and we all climbed back into the boat and headed back.

After the rain passed I went into the water again and snorkeled some more. The tide was low so it wasn’t much for swimming, it was more like a crawl with my hands. As a result I got to notice things I otherwise would not have noticed being so close to the beach bed. I had to watch out for the black spiny sea urchins. I finally figured what the neon colored rings on them were, it’s their butt.

I learned the bar in front of my hut has virgin Pina Coladas for 40 BHT. I decided it would be a good way to watch sunsets with.

Reservation For a Friend, Reserved by a Friend

I woke up again at 6:30am too late for morning tai chi. Instead I sat on the beach and did my morning chants and meditated. Then I went back to bed to sleep for another hour. During breakfast on the beach, I got blessed by a bird in the tree above with its droppings to show for on my left shoulder. I looked above at it and it turned it’s head away like, “Who me? No! Never!” I kept staring at it and finally flew away. I moved to the other side and it flew back. IT decided to bless my table this time. But it wasn’t lumpy, it was wet and watery so it spat hard and went far with it too. I had to finally call quits and leave for good.

After meditating a bit I went swimming off the beach and saw shrimps. The water was murky today with more frequent winds picking up the sands. I swam as far off the beach as I was comfortable with and then turned around when vision was at zero in the water.

In the evening I went and researched the boasts to Railay that it leaves everyday at around 3pm and it costs around 350 to 390 BHT. I went to call on my reservation in Railay at Yaya resort but they didn’t have anything under my name. They just have a reservation under “a friend reserved for a friend”. I kept telling the reservation that person is me and the person refused and said it wasn’t my reservation. Only later did I register how upset I was over this whole confusion ordeal. Then I asked myself why I was bothered by it. Anything is changeable, I am happy here and I can just stay here longer and that would be alright.

Snorkel on Ko Phi Phi

Woke up this early this morning but I didn’t want to get up till 6:30am. By then, it was already too late and too bright for doing my tai chi set on the beach. I would have to do it another day at 5am. It was a clear day to snorkel but I was ill prepared. I had not fully unpacked so I ended up rushing to get myself ready to head out to the boats before take off. I could not locate the place with 450 BHT day trip and ended up paying 500 BHT.

I ended up with a boat with mostly girls from Canada and Finland. My mask, was one of the things I was worried about. Was it going to work? I didn’t want to rent because I want a new one that was hopefully not going to leak. Lots of people have this problem with rental gear. Mine was from Team USA made in Taiwan. It was great and so were the fins.

The water was warm and clear. I had a great time looking at sea creatures. I especially like looking at corals. I saw big squids and sea snakes too. There were colorful big clams, the kind in Botticelli paintings. It was interesting to see the communities surrounding the corals. I had a blast looking at colors and patterns of nature. I really had fun with the girls and had a great time. They even helped me scout out things to see that I would otherwise have missed it.

I keep coming across a broken record on replay in my head trying to make me feel sorry for myself and to be upset and negative etc… Who’s playing that in my head? Shut Up! I am having so much fun, and it ain’t working.

Number 13

I woke up at 3:30am and then at 6:30am. I wanted to walk the beach during sunrise and feel the breeze. I had fun and was still very tired. I sat on the beach chairs and watched the sky change through it’s beautiful colors. I got up when the workers started to lay out umbrellas etc.. The chairs and umbrellas are for rent and good for the day for 40 BHT each. I went back to my very warm tent to chant and meditate. Then I went out for breakfast at a buffet on the beach. I killed time until 11am where I was due back at the reception, a.k.a. mini mart to ensure I was the first to stand in the no wait list line at it’s official time. I ended up with a hut for 500BHT with it’s own mosquito net inside, a twin bed, fan, and did I mention a burnt orange hammock? I got to check in to #13 by 11:30am. The ants and bugs crawl all over. The bed and the inside isn’t much to show for. Besides, who came here to just stay indoors?

I was still very tired and ended up falling asleep in a two hour nap with the fan on and the door wide open. The first thing I did when I woke up was to go swimming in the ocean. I wanted to check out the temperature, the currents, the salt level in the water. A very important thing I learned in surfing, always check out the water before entering, and respect nature. I went into the water and felt hot and cold currents in conjunction together. This tells me there is strong wind pushing in bringing cold water to shore. The dark rain clouds were moving in and I left the water to dry on my hammock. As I lay on the deck I watched everyone else moving with the clouds getting out of the beach. Within 20 minutes it rained, and it rained for 20 minutes. It is amazing how many beautiful people are on the beach and on this island. What blessings each person brings with them.

Twin Palms Bungalow

When I got off the ferry I waited for my British friends like we agreed on to head over to Twin Palms. His arrangement was so that the resort was picking him up at the pier. We walked in mud because it rained all day today. So I guess it was good that I got here when I did so that I would be out of the rain. Walking in the rain with luggage through mud is not fun.

We arrived in Twin Palms in the dark with the stars twinkling in the sky. Even in the dark I knew I wanted to stay here. All the huts were on the beach. Each hut had it’s own deck and hammock. Everything was full on the beach. After searching all over the island for the cheapest accommodation at 600 BHT in stuffy rooms, I opted to return to Twin Palms for the tent for 400BHT and put myself on the no wait list, list for the next day. The reception was situated in the mini mart. There was one security by the locker room. There were beach bars all over the beach. Reggae is the sound of the wind here. Andy the other guy who didn’t have housing negotiated a queen bedroom with its own bath for 500 BHT. Although the tent price was 400BHT I negotiated for 300 and ended up with 350BHT.

I would have slept on the beach but the guys wouldn’t let me. They didn’t think it was safe for me. How interesting that two strangers who I barely knew for an hour was looking out for me. How very gentlemen of them. This entire trip I have found it to be so, people where all taking care of me where ever I went regardless if they knew my name or not. They just wanted to make sure I was safe.

My tent was right next to the walk way across from the market and the security lockers. As I strolled on the beach and dipped my feet in warm salt water, I noticed the security guard keeping his eye out for my safety. The beaches here are clean without trash. I saw a crab in the water and a gold fish looking fish while walking with my flash light.

I hung out with two Swedish guys on beach chairs. One of them had a guitar and played. I was tired and relaxed. I went back to my tent and found a nice not so lumpy spot to lay on in the tent. I got fresh towels and a night lamp in the tent.

The Krabi Sea

I got up very early at around 6:30am to get ready for my flight. I went out to the street to catch a bus to the airport. I did the sign language thing to communicate whether or not I was standing in the right place for the airport. I gave myself plenty of time because I was forewarned that the Thai bus function like the Indian ones, not on time. I got onto #552 bus and it only costs me 35 BHT but it took 1:40 minutes to get to the airport on a local bus. I was a good thing I got onto the bus early because no one told me that it took almost two hours to get to the terminal. Because after getting off the local bus, I had to take an inner airport bus shuttle to take me to the counter and then I got to go to the gate and take another shuttle to walk onto the domestic plane. I made it to the gate 30 seconds before boarding call. Thai boarding periods are short. You’re late the gate’s closed.

I like Thai stewards, they are all gentle and nice. On Air Asia, all drinks, and food are for sale. At the airport my driver picked me up from the airport. She was nice and she had pre-purchased my ferry ticket already. She told me the ferry left at 3pm in the afternoon. So I had three hours to kill. I spent it in shopping and on local Buddhist vegetarian food. She took me on her scooter without helmets to pick up snorkel gear etc… I asked about where my helmet was while she was putting hers on without buckling, she told me that the police does not ticket her when the passanger is without helmet so I needn't to worry. I was wasn't worried about the police but more on my brains. But I guess that was lost in translation.

I couldn’t believe how there was Buddhist vegetarian food near by. It was delicious too. I love minced sauté lemon grass. I bought 12 bottles of water because she said water is very expense on the island and so was everything else.

When I arrived at the station I learned the ferry wasn’t leaving till 4pm so I had more time to kill. I sat with 4 British guys. One of them had reservations at Twin Palms on a beach for 500 BHT a night with a personal single bed hut. I decided then and there to follow him after docking to see what the availabilities were.

All the British guys shared their stories of picking up and being picked up by prostitutes who were organically female and “boy girls”. One of them even got tangled up with organized business gang members and he had to run for his life out the back door.

On the day of King’s birthday, there is national celebration and everyone wears yellow, the same bright yellow polo shirt. There is no alcohol served on his birthday anywhere even in bars. There was a full moon party in Ko Samui which every westerner raved about on the King’s birthday.

I sat next to a Thai girl who was heading to Ko Phi Phi to work for a month and her housing was 300 BHT a month. I guess that is Thai resident rate. I also sat next to a man from Netherlands who enjoys photography. He gave me tips on where to snorkel to see sharks and turtles etc…. The nice Thai girl gave me sun flower seeds to snack on, it was make in China. I recognized the packaging it was everywhere in China.

On the ride, the clouds looked interesting. It was clear that there was rain on the island of Ko Pho Phi. Tropical rains in the winter are just a few minutes long. Looking into the clouds I saw a face in the clouds. It was masculine energy. It told me to be careful swimming in the water the next few days because of the wind that would slowly be picking up more speed each day and be ware of underwater powerful difficult to detect currents. That it will take 2-3 days for the weather to change. There were two more I saw and they were interesting to watch. I watched how they watched to make sure not even a micro organism would be harmed during the rain and storm out in the open sea.

It was then I felt, nothing is truly an accident. Everyone gets what they deserve. There is no one to resent. We only have our own bad karmic retribution to blame. There is so much kindness, and everyone is handled with so much care.

Royal Palace

I decided to settle my next two months worth of flying today by going to a travel agency. I found things on the internet and knew the low prices or what the common fare was. I located an agency that was open on a national holiday the day of the King’s Birthday. I spent about an hour getting clear of flight and prices, then when I was ready to pay for everything the agent told me I could not get my tickets till a few days from now. This was a problem for me because I would not be in Bangkok. So after all that work I had to walk away with nothing.

All that planning and arranging gone wasted. Why should I be surprised or even upset? This trip has not been about getting organized and planning left and right. It really has been so much more effortless than that. But it sure took more leaps of faith than anything else on my part. Faith? Faith in what? Trust? Trust in what? What do I call it? Whatever it is called, it definitely has been about gliding in a different universal current than the intellectual critical analytical one I’ve been raised to be on.

For lunch I found street food a vegetarian sushi stall. I got four pieces of sushi for 27BHT. Then I took the bus to the Royal Palace. The Palace was beautiful. I like all the colors and things that shined. I like the flower and the trees. It was petite and beautiful. I realized after feeling faint that I haven’t put any liquids into my body at all. I walked searching for the bus stop that people kept pointing me to and it was a far away bus stop because I walked for 40 minutes. I felt as if I was walking back to the hostel. I came across a fruit push cart and had two slices of melons to finally hydrate me. I think they saved the day, I was severely dehydrated.

Back at the hostel I headed straight up the roof to pick up my laundry and they dried in this humidity. I came across a guy and a girl who was drinking away. The girl was from London who was Indian but has yet to visit India. They smoked and drank. The guy who was from US handed me all his Laos money which came out to be about $15. US. He said it can’t be traded in for anything and can only be spent in Laos. I guess I will be going to Laos at some point.

I parted with the flirting friends of party for two and joined my new roommate Patricia from Lima for dinner. She is a pharmacist. A another Thai lady who was also a new roommate and was in Bangkok to do legal paperwork joined us for dinner. She went on and on about how she as a Thai person can’t stand Bangkok and how she can’t wait to get out etc… I don’t see how anyone could find 60 ways of reiterating the same point for an hour. It was 9pm and I was tired and I really didn’t have patience to politely sit and hear her whine.

One of the guys from Australia while in Cheng Mai for the weekend fell off a scooter and scrapped half of his face and body. He was swollen and looking terrible. Nothing was broken or fractured but it is going to take time for his skin and flesh to grow back. He pretty much spends the day in the room fully air conditioned to keep him from having to scratch his wounds.

I am not worried about getting to Ko Phi Phi at sun down. There is a reason to everything and some times I don’t understand most of it ahead of time. I am so happy about all the places I have been already. The things I have learned have been incredible. My body is in a space of peace and calm after so much healing from people’s kindness that I have come across. My heart is filled with gratitude. I feel very blessed and rich inside.

Weekend Chatuchat Market

This morning I discovered at this hostel there is complimentary toast, jam and tea till 10am. It has been so long since I had toast and jam, so much so that I didn’t mind the tea was Lipton and the toast was complete white flour. The day time receptionist’s name is Gevaleen. She’s quite resourceful, very helpful, nice, and friendly person. She helped me on the phone to book a place to stay for the next two on two different islands in southern Thailand. She was like my personal travel agent and she was fun to hangout with too.

After taking the details for the next two weeks, I made it out the door around 11am for the weekend Chatuchat Market. Ray from San Diego, Cal joined me. We bought a one day Sky Train pass that gives you unlimited rides for the day thinking we would still have energy after the shopping to play more. I had planned to only see and not buy anything at the 6,000 stall weekend market. My goal at the market was not to go on a shopping spree but try good local food.

The market turned out to be, well everything you can find and everything was cheap. I ended up spending lots of money with Ray. He was shopping for Christmas presents and shipping them back. There were discounts to buy things in quantity where the price was negotiable. So it served both of us purpose to team up and buy things together. I spent about 1,200bht on nine articles of clothing. Everything at the market was mostly size 4 or smaller and no larger than B cup. At one point we ended up going in circles trying to locate a shop we had come across earlier but Ray didn’t stop to get what he wanted and couldn’t remember where it was. We were given shopping strategic instructions before we arrived which was to write down stall numbers so that you know how to get back to it. Well, we obviously did not follow those instructions. After spending an entire afternoon shopping we were both fried and headed back to the hostel to unload all the things we bought.

I headed out to the street stall to have papaya salad and stir-fry flat noodles along with 4 cups of freshly squeezed juices. I love how the food portions here are tiny compared to US. A group formed at the hostel where we pretty much all hung out together. It was such a sight to see everyone walk together on the street. It looked like a well organized group where everyone knew each other since birth or something. The groups past time activity was to drink and smoke in the terrace on the roof top. I decided to pack my and repack and repack my bag again. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to leave my bags here and pick it up later or take it with me. If I leave it here, it would me I would have to come all the way back here to pick up my bags but that would me light travels for me. If I take my packs then I would have more things to lug around, I’d be more tired but I could go anywhere at any given moment.

I met Amy from England who was also planning on going to Krabi and talked me into buying a plane ticket that was twice the amount than a bus ticket. Well, I bought my ticket online before the windows closed and Amy ended up drinking in the roof and didn’t get her plane ticket. So now I have a plane ticket she talked me into getting to go with her to Krabi but she was no longer going on the plane but by bus. It was all a bit silly. I also learned that the airport was far way from the docks where I would catch a ferry to Ko Phi Phi. I had to arrange to hire a driver because I would miss the 9am boat to Ko Phi Phi and would have to wait for the sunset boat instead. Well, my original plans of taking the bus turned into a plane. I don’t have housing and I heard it is a bad idea to arrive so late at night because all the places would be taken. Oh well, everything happens for a reason and its really about my journey in the process and it was never about money.

Bangkok, Propositioned

I woke up at 4:30am to get ready for the airport. I took a taxi to the bus station where the shuttle to the airport was. It was only a few minutes away. The first roll off was at 5:30am to PuDong airport. I arrived by the PuDong airport by 6:10am. The counter did not open till 6:30am

I stood in line with Anthony from Bangalore. He works for Intel in IT. He says people in China are hard working and the infra-structure is good. He says it is different in India.

I sat next to a man from Minnesota who also works in Bangalore and has been for a year and half. He mentioned a co-worker who was working the night shift, a female American who called a taxi to pick her up from the company to take her home. She never showed up. Talks here and there arose among the company saying a good woman should be at home and dressed properly, no t-shirts etc… He also warned me about not taking food and drinks from other because it might be drugged.

Although I paid for a ticket price for China airline, I was on the Thai airplane. It was cheaper through the China airline instead of Thai airline price. I don’t understand how it works but it worked for me. I liked Thai air, the seats and they have orchids in the restroom. Upon landing orchids were passed out as welcome gifts to Thailand.

I found out I did not need VISA at all for within 30 day stay. What a good thing, I saved myself some money there. I took the shuttle to my hostel. Met a man from Adeline, Australia who didn’t have a place to stay and gave him all the info I had on me for him to find a place to stay. He decided to stay at the same hostel I was staying at. The shuttle costed 150 BHT per person and he picked up my ticket for me for helping him out with all the info. During conversation on the bus he propositioned me to accompany him in his travel. This was new to me so it took me awhile to pick up the cues.

After checking into the hostel I went for papaya salad and noodles. It was so good. It doesn’t taste this good in the States and it was cheap. Thailand is hot. I can see why lots of places say they don’t have hot water for shower. Why? Because you wouldn’t want to use it because it’s too hot. I went from Shanghai cold-cold weather to 30 degree C Bangkok. There was air conditioning in the room. It really saved me from melting away.