What Trust

Bangkok is a city where you always have to watch your back at all times and not everything is as it seems.
Do I trust this man is not trying to rip me off?
Do I trust someone just didn't try to unzip my backpack?
Do I trust that woman is really a woman?

Today I extend some trust and give up my passport to a travel agent for 4 LONG days. That will be Friday at 6pm - The amount of time it will take to get a Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos visa. And if he doesn't perform? I'm stuck in this city through the weekend and probably Monday. And if he loses my passport? Much longer. I'm trusting his services will pull through.

Killer Coconuts

They warn you about it when you arrive, and there are sometimes even signs. But nothing will send a shiver up your spine faster than a huge coconut crashing down from 12 meters to within 2 meters of your precious little head. Happened to me yesterday and now I'm looking up everywhere I go!

Star Wars: Revenge of the Pirates

Well, in less than a week from US release I saw Episode III last night. It was a solid copy with DVD quality picture and sound. The only way you knew it was a pirate was the constant running time tracking numbers at the top of the screen. Probably an advanced viewers copy.

Watched it in a restaurant with 20 other tourists. Bought my dinner and a couple beers there. Still way cheaper than going to the movies at home!

Mc Nasty

So, I settle into a very cush bungalow tonight. Get myself settled, unpack my toiletries and head for the shower. After a refreshing rinse, I return to the main room and peer over to the sink. What do I see? A giant cockroach, doing the nasty on top of the business end of my toothbrush!!! After a 5 minute dance around the room of - I chase you, then you chase me - he scurries into a shower drain and I wash him into oblivion.

My only saving grace was that I witnessed the act and promptly purchased a new teeth-cleaning machine.

Let the Sun Shine In

I have just witnessed three consecutive sunrises! As I am now officially nocturnal, I think it will take some time to get my normal sleeping pattern back. But I survived the longest consecutive party celebrating the moon and have a whole new perspective on Thai beach culture.

After one more day of recovery, I will be on my way to Bangkok.

Howlin' at the Moon

Today I find myself in Koh Pah Ngan on the eve of the Full Moon Party. I've been here for three nights now and there hasn't really been a calm before the storm. The beach has been packed with people going strong until dawn every night. There are about 8 clubs that spill onto Hadd Rin Beach, but all afternoon Thai's have been erecting more humongous structures in preparation for the big party.

Thousands of people descend from neighboring beaches and islands for this monthly lunar event. There promises to be painted bodies, lethal buckets of booze, fire shows, and plenty of stumbly revilers. Such a perfect setting: soft sand beach, good weather, moonlight. Mix in a little international flavor with a healthy dose of smiling faces and I really couldn't imagine a better place on the planet to be tonight.

Asian Road Rules

I finally figured out the rules to driving in Asia. Actually there is only one rule:

1. Smaller vehicles always yield to larger vehicles....ALWAYS!

Beyond that: you can drive on whatever side suites you, even the shoulder; blinkers, helmets and seatbelts are optional; speed limits and stoplights are merely suggestions and there is always more room on the bus for 9 more people.

Ugly American

Setting: Koh Phi Phi island, Thailand a community that was completely devastated by the sunami disaster five months ago.

I now know why people hate us. I have witnessed the worst American I've ever laid eyes on. He was about 24, spikey blond hair, brash, ignorant and extremely loud. The first encounter was at a dive shop when he burst in and demanded to know if there was a wave runner or a boat he could rent. When the guy who was obviously talking to an actual customer tried to explain that there are hired boats available at the pier...he says "Naw man, I don't want to pay some dude to drive me around. I want to do my own thing man. I can't get a wave runner or sompin?" So, he then explains that we're actually in the middle of a huge Thailand marine park that is protected and they don't want Joe Hotshot driving all around banging into coral. "Awe that sucks man." I'm quite certain he didn't say Thank You for the information.

Encounter number two was this morning when I was trying desperately to find an international phone connection. It's the quiet hours of the early morning and I pass by him sitting back in a chair practically yelling at these two Thai guys across a desk about how we get hurricanes in America, they're terrible and there aren't any Thai people that fly over and help us clean up. He can't seem to understand it! Crazy nonsense, all these white volunteers helping fix up an island when they don't come help us. And then he goes on about how he's "Married a Thai girl!, I know brother because I married a Thai girl!" Like they're supposed to thank him for taking her off their collective hands and buying her a meal. He was so loud I caught this exchange just walking by. I made the international crazy sign by pointing to him and swirling my finger by my head. Both guys smiled. Poor guys.

It's a very small island and day-by-day I pray this man never finds out I'm also American because I don't want him anywhere near me!

Bomb

I went through this train station just 6 HOURS after this incident and didn't know until now! Holy Crap! http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/12/thailand.bombs.reut/index.html

Addition: It occured to me some days later a broken conversation I had with my hired car driver taking me to the border. It went something like

Driver: "Over there...that hill is Thailand, you know?"
Brian: "Really? Great, so we're close?"
D: Very close
Then there was a police roadblock. Driver says "Crazy Thais"
B: Huh, looking for illegal immigrants into Malaysia?
D: Something mumbled in Malaysian
B: Ok, then
D: Bomb, Bomb! You know?
B: What?
D: Bomb. and he points to Thailand
B: Sure, I know. (I guess people sometime bomb stuff in Thailand. Not really knowing what the heck he was talking about)...Turns out he was trying to tell me about this story and what I was about to take a train into. Hmph.

SINGnoPORE

If there is one thing Singapore is not...it's poor. Business is booming in this town and the rewards are evident. The streets are solid, the sidewalks are clean, and there are more aircon malls that you can shake a kebob at. One thing this town does well is shopping. Tons of clothes, souvenirs and electronics. As a sidenote, I now own my third camera of this trip. Unbelievable, I know. Through a rigorous systems of fines for littering, jaywalking, spitting, smoking in public, and various other unclean offenses...this nanny-state stays shiney and new. Looking back, I cannot believe that nobody asked me for money on the street for 5 whole days!

I enjoyed the cable car to Sentosa island and the obligatory trip to China town. But the highlight of Singapore is its famed zoo with the largest collection of primates in the world. Most have free reign and you will quite often look up in a tree over the walkway and see plenty of cheeky monkeys. I have been to quite a few zoos and this one ties with San Diego for best zoo on the planet. If you're ever in town, make a day for it.

While I enjoyed myself in Singapore, spent a lot of money and had a good time. It didn't seem like Asia. Sure it was diverse and had ethnic quarters, but so does every large city. It was like going home for a weekend and could have easily been SF or NYC. Then again, maybe that's why I liked it so much. I was anonymous again in a Western city and it was a welcome break from my current ordinary life.

Hear no Evil

I just watched in awe as 5 deaf kids sat at a table and had a very vigorous conversation. I have no idea how they can watch all 4 sets of hands going at once. It was like a shouting match at one point and I learned the best was to shut up a deaf person...grab their hand!