Going to check out Ramkamhaeng University today.
Yesterday met up with Dave Taylor and his teaching crew out at a Lebanese Restuarant down on Soi 5 off of Sukumvit (downtown). Earlier in the day I finally got over to the Grand Palace with Yo (times before either not the proper attire or monks had taken it over), and walked around for 2-3 hours. Past kings (Ramas) use to live there but not presently as Rama lV lives in a stand alone palace some 30 minutes away. Must have been quite the scene when he was there though, temples everywhere and cream of the crop variety - even a minature replica of Angkor Wat. One of the temples house's the famed 'Emerald Buddha', which is a sitting green Buddha about 4 feet high. Dating back I believe to 14 36 from the old capital of Ayuttya it was subsequentely takin to Lao when the Laotians captured it, and then later returned when Rama 1 'The Great' brought it back. The most interesting part is that somewhere along the the line they were cleaning it or repairing it and they discovered that the thin exterior housed a completely solid jade carved block. Apparently though they first thought it was emerald and the name stuck.
Heading up to Chang Mai probably tomorrow. Last night I ran into Cameron and Sarah, an Aussie couple that I first met in a minivan in southern Thailand and then a handful of days later on Ko Phi Phi. Looks like I'll run into them at least once more up in Chang Mai along with Nate and Jay. Maybe Chris and Natalie from Penang Malaysia too, as I remember them saying they were headed that way too.
Alright, now to try to find this school.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
another 180 in Thailand
Cambodia and back to Bangkok today.
I'm not sure what it is but when Natey Dread and I get together we always go big. Second night in row, and another morning watching the sun break on the streets of Bangkok. Straight to the bus at 7:30 am, and then strange glimpses of a day. I definitely waited in a lot of lines, one to get out of Thailand, one to get into Cambodia, quick one to get back out of Cambodia and then another long one to get back into Thailand. Been in and out of sleep all day until now, solid sleep when I got back to the guesthouse at around 6 pm and now eerily reminiscent of the last of the LapSap String Band days, I'm a 180 off schedule again.
Didn't have to be in Cambodia long to recollect what a poor country it is. Lost of people acting as mules and pulling the most rickety of carts you can imagine back and across the boarder. The immigration building to get into Cambodia had a giant tree inside it, and they had spliced the roof around it - pretty great stuff! Met an Irish guy on the bus with last name Murray, who was telling me about some family history. Says the name Murray is actually Scottish, and then he gave me some other names that it arose from, said he had done a far amount of research on this. Then he explained the famines and when and who of us were shipped off the new world. Meant to get him to write some of this stuff down, but didn't work out.
So I flipped my visa and I'm good to go - but in the mean time I also flipped my sleep schedule. Good sign maybe, a good solid marker between the last 14 days in southern Thailand to the next 14 looking to the north.
14 more days in Thailand. Heading up north soon.
I'm not sure what it is but when Natey Dread and I get together we always go big. Second night in row, and another morning watching the sun break on the streets of Bangkok. Straight to the bus at 7:30 am, and then strange glimpses of a day. I definitely waited in a lot of lines, one to get out of Thailand, one to get into Cambodia, quick one to get back out of Cambodia and then another long one to get back into Thailand. Been in and out of sleep all day until now, solid sleep when I got back to the guesthouse at around 6 pm and now eerily reminiscent of the last of the LapSap String Band days, I'm a 180 off schedule again.
Didn't have to be in Cambodia long to recollect what a poor country it is. Lost of people acting as mules and pulling the most rickety of carts you can imagine back and across the boarder. The immigration building to get into Cambodia had a giant tree inside it, and they had spliced the roof around it - pretty great stuff! Met an Irish guy on the bus with last name Murray, who was telling me about some family history. Says the name Murray is actually Scottish, and then he gave me some other names that it arose from, said he had done a far amount of research on this. Then he explained the famines and when and who of us were shipped off the new world. Meant to get him to write some of this stuff down, but didn't work out.
So I flipped my visa and I'm good to go - but in the mean time I also flipped my sleep schedule. Good sign maybe, a good solid marker between the last 14 days in southern Thailand to the next 14 looking to the north.
14 more days in Thailand. Heading up north soon.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
More days in Bangkok
Urg!...Oh brother...must be late.
As much as I'm curious, the grimness of an undesired reality decides me against picking up that watch to find the time.
I do clearly remember buying beer from a vendor's cooler and haggling on the price to get a 40 Baht Chang.
"Make that two", and walked the ten paces back to the wet curb that seems moments earlier I had been craning my calves to the impossible not to have to sit on the worst of possibilities of what the 'wetness' was. I don't remember now thinking twice about about it once the conversations went blundering along and after I somehow ended up sitting there.
Nate at the end of his chain, sitting, as I remember on the only dry spot of that curb - still a half a' Chang between his feet as I hand him a frigid and ultra perspiring new one. The heat still thick at somewhere around 4 in the morning and radiating off the pavement. The smells, the smells may be the one of most remarkable things about Bangkok; from the street vendors - on the spot - cook you a Thai dinner carts, to the sweltering sewers.
This throbbing in my head is proof of something, but not for lack of sleep. The hour hand laying somewhere in between, 3 and 4, or 4 and 5, as it seems in vain to even do my continual hour correction. Someday I'll figure out this new watch and get off Malaysian time.
My sanctuary lay 5 ft away in a hot shower and peeling the covers away, the start of another day in Bangkok. And as I look to my feet I see its already starting as a perplexing one. The logistics of this are quite allusive; somewhere in the dead of sleep I apparently put on my swimming trunks over my boxers....hmm, and backwards on that!
And finally the rain comes. I was just wondering yesterday if it ever rained here. The thunder is exploding and the down poring drenching. I'm always glad to see the rain in places like this. It reminds me that even the most squalid and putrid of places can be cleansed - at least a little. I hope it rains and rains...so much so that the awnings over the sides walks and stalls becomes useless. I hope that it soaks and runs down the sidewalks, up the stoops and crashes against the sides of the buildings. Maybe then even that one lady who lives on the street will agree. What will she think when she is startled from that riveting debate she's having with herself as sits Indian style and stares wide eyed and the sidewalk that is her living room. The piles of different foods that have sat spilled in piles around her slowly washing further from her. The bile and puke budging and finally racing after their counterparts. And her blackend skin and tattered cloths becoming heavier with wetness, cool and refreshing. I imagine she might smile, and start ranting something crazy at the Gods, and then maybe something perplexing might hit her as she swivels her head to see herself - a quick flicker of a strange clarity.
__________________________________________________________________
Alright....to speed it up, and get myself to up to speed:
Last night met up with Natey Dread and Jay down in some back alley at some Reggae Bar. Didn't think I was going to make it out but I also didn't know if the circumstances were going to align again to 'kick it wid' da boyz'.
Yesterday I spent most of the day with a small moist wad of toilet paper next to my left nostril, running like a leaky faucet and t.p. running low - it wasn't looking to be a pretty sight. All your classic flu symptons - and I was glad to be back at the guest house about midway through the day. I pulled out "A Thousand Spendid Suns" and spent most of the rest of the day on the mat. Yo came by for spell before she went off with her friends on a river boat dinner cruise and she helped me get to pharmacy for some psueda-fed stuff. (quick observation here: do all french people sound like their pissed off, and constantly arguing with each other?).
Earlier yesterday I made it to the National Museum and boned up on my Thai history - I was determined. I went forward from the Neanderthals and through history to the present, turned around, went back through time and then sped through one more time the other way. I think I have a decent grasp of the whole Rama king stuff now. Then I headed over to the Golden Mount which is basically a giant golden spire that juts up in the center of Bangkok atop of a small man made mountain/hill. Excellent view of the entire city, and quite a special place for the Thai Buddhists considering it houses some of Buddha relics.
Sawet has come and gone today, he didn't take to the whole Veintiane plan of mine, and he instead continued on over to Savannakhet, Laos. I talked to him earlier today and exchanged some vague ideas/plans of maybe meeting up in weeks to come. As for me, as time ticks by it looks less and less like I going to make the bus to Ventiane that leaves in two hours at 7 pm. And having to be out of the country by tomorrow it looks like by last option is going to be to do a visa run over to Cambodia at 7 am. 4 hours to the border - bus drops me off - wait 4 hours for the return bus and be back my 7 pm.
As much as I'm curious, the grimness of an undesired reality decides me against picking up that watch to find the time.
I do clearly remember buying beer from a vendor's cooler and haggling on the price to get a 40 Baht Chang.
"Make that two", and walked the ten paces back to the wet curb that seems moments earlier I had been craning my calves to the impossible not to have to sit on the worst of possibilities of what the 'wetness' was. I don't remember now thinking twice about about it once the conversations went blundering along and after I somehow ended up sitting there.
Nate at the end of his chain, sitting, as I remember on the only dry spot of that curb - still a half a' Chang between his feet as I hand him a frigid and ultra perspiring new one. The heat still thick at somewhere around 4 in the morning and radiating off the pavement. The smells, the smells may be the one of most remarkable things about Bangkok; from the street vendors - on the spot - cook you a Thai dinner carts, to the sweltering sewers.
This throbbing in my head is proof of something, but not for lack of sleep. The hour hand laying somewhere in between, 3 and 4, or 4 and 5, as it seems in vain to even do my continual hour correction. Someday I'll figure out this new watch and get off Malaysian time.
My sanctuary lay 5 ft away in a hot shower and peeling the covers away, the start of another day in Bangkok. And as I look to my feet I see its already starting as a perplexing one. The logistics of this are quite allusive; somewhere in the dead of sleep I apparently put on my swimming trunks over my boxers....hmm, and backwards on that!
And finally the rain comes. I was just wondering yesterday if it ever rained here. The thunder is exploding and the down poring drenching. I'm always glad to see the rain in places like this. It reminds me that even the most squalid and putrid of places can be cleansed - at least a little. I hope it rains and rains...so much so that the awnings over the sides walks and stalls becomes useless. I hope that it soaks and runs down the sidewalks, up the stoops and crashes against the sides of the buildings. Maybe then even that one lady who lives on the street will agree. What will she think when she is startled from that riveting debate she's having with herself as sits Indian style and stares wide eyed and the sidewalk that is her living room. The piles of different foods that have sat spilled in piles around her slowly washing further from her. The bile and puke budging and finally racing after their counterparts. And her blackend skin and tattered cloths becoming heavier with wetness, cool and refreshing. I imagine she might smile, and start ranting something crazy at the Gods, and then maybe something perplexing might hit her as she swivels her head to see herself - a quick flicker of a strange clarity.
__________________________________________________________________
Alright....to speed it up, and get myself to up to speed:
Last night met up with Natey Dread and Jay down in some back alley at some Reggae Bar. Didn't think I was going to make it out but I also didn't know if the circumstances were going to align again to 'kick it wid' da boyz'.
Yesterday I spent most of the day with a small moist wad of toilet paper next to my left nostril, running like a leaky faucet and t.p. running low - it wasn't looking to be a pretty sight. All your classic flu symptons - and I was glad to be back at the guest house about midway through the day. I pulled out "A Thousand Spendid Suns" and spent most of the rest of the day on the mat. Yo came by for spell before she went off with her friends on a river boat dinner cruise and she helped me get to pharmacy for some psueda-fed stuff. (quick observation here: do all french people sound like their pissed off, and constantly arguing with each other?).
Earlier yesterday I made it to the National Museum and boned up on my Thai history - I was determined. I went forward from the Neanderthals and through history to the present, turned around, went back through time and then sped through one more time the other way. I think I have a decent grasp of the whole Rama king stuff now. Then I headed over to the Golden Mount which is basically a giant golden spire that juts up in the center of Bangkok atop of a small man made mountain/hill. Excellent view of the entire city, and quite a special place for the Thai Buddhists considering it houses some of Buddha relics.
Sawet has come and gone today, he didn't take to the whole Veintiane plan of mine, and he instead continued on over to Savannakhet, Laos. I talked to him earlier today and exchanged some vague ideas/plans of maybe meeting up in weeks to come. As for me, as time ticks by it looks less and less like I going to make the bus to Ventiane that leaves in two hours at 7 pm. And having to be out of the country by tomorrow it looks like by last option is going to be to do a visa run over to Cambodia at 7 am. 4 hours to the border - bus drops me off - wait 4 hours for the return bus and be back my 7 pm.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Couple of days on Khao San.
Khao San road a night or two later.
Flu symptoms setting in...might be the hini! -; which, lately I'm figuring could be good thing.... So the big fear about the hini right now is not necessarily how deadly it is but more in how quickly and easily this thing spreads. Now, if I can get this thing before it mutates into a potentially more lethal version, maybe, just maybe, the immunities the I've created to fight off this previous strain might be able to prepare and mutate in their own right, readying themselves for battles to come... or I suppose some version of the opposite could be true.
Been touring Bangkok for the last couple of days - 4 to be exact. Yesterday went to the old capital of Thailand called Ayuttuya (I definitely spelled this wrong, but its pronounced I-U-T-ah). Largest sitting Buddha statue in the world, ancient temples, .... day before - long tail boat ride through back water canals of Bangkok, then caught the new Transformers movie. Day before walked Khao San area.
Today I did more of my traditional walk forever, get lost, walk another couple hours, get lost. Apparently I was quite entralled by this since I didn't decide to eat any food until around 8 pm.
Sawet called me today just as the engine of the Tuk-Tuk was heeving itself over the gear changes. Apparently the smaller your vehicle is the more liberties you take with traffic; and with only motor cycles higher on the chain of crazied traffic bees; it proved to be way too much for any type of communication with Sawet, considering I can barely understand him in the best of circumstances. I did however manage to gather that he'd call me back tomorrow, and something about him coming in on Saturday. Not sure whats suppose to happen then.
Whelp, 2 more days until my visa expires. I suppose I'll find myself in Laos one way or another in the next couple of days.
Flu symptoms setting in...might be the hini! -; which, lately I'm figuring could be good thing.... So the big fear about the hini right now is not necessarily how deadly it is but more in how quickly and easily this thing spreads. Now, if I can get this thing before it mutates into a potentially more lethal version, maybe, just maybe, the immunities the I've created to fight off this previous strain might be able to prepare and mutate in their own right, readying themselves for battles to come... or I suppose some version of the opposite could be true.Been touring Bangkok for the last couple of days - 4 to be exact. Yesterday went to the old capital of Thailand called Ayuttuya (I definitely spelled this wrong, but its pronounced I-U-T-ah). Largest sitting Buddha statue in the world, ancient temples, .... day before - long tail boat ride through back water canals of Bangkok, then caught the new Transformers movie. Day before walked Khao San area.
Today I did more of my traditional walk forever, get lost, walk another couple hours, get lost. Apparently I was quite entralled by this since I didn't decide to eat any food until around 8 pm.
Sawet called me today just as the engine of the Tuk-Tuk was heeving itself over the gear changes. Apparently the smaller your vehicle is the more liberties you take with traffic; and with only motor cycles higher on the chain of crazied traffic bees; it proved to be way too much for any type of communication with Sawet, considering I can barely understand him in the best of circumstances. I did however manage to gather that he'd call me back tomorrow, and something about him coming in on Saturday. Not sure whats suppose to happen then.
Whelp, 2 more days until my visa expires. I suppose I'll find myself in Laos one way or another in the next couple of days.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Bangkok: Khao San Street - My New Home
Made it to Bangkok, and my eyeballs hurt.
Not 3 minutes walking down the road where I'm staying and I already got my share of 'lady boy' admirers. Fuckin' 6:30 am and the road pubs are still full of gweis and thais lively chattin' it up over brewskamoes; all while the lady boys stand on the sides of road looking for freshies to proposition. What circus this street must have looked like 3 hours earlier, still closed on both ends the sun's heat beginning to humidify the cramped air stuffed between the city block, aided by the stagnant puddles of beer, puke, piss, water, etc . As I lug my sacks and tramp the center line, - keeping my eyes' resources honed for bargain hostels -the scenes of Khao San Street begin to appear: Shop owners purvey the atrocities of night before as they sweep their own territories of sludge and hose the filth to the guttered sides of the street; transients from some far off country, bug eyed with jet lag and left to the mercy 'this' to get them back on schedule; all the likes of taxi transport vehicles and personal waiting in clumps here and there for the either the well rested fare coming out some hostel entrance or one of the possible puke bags who just happen to stumble off their stool with their last inevitable act of the night; and of course all night bus jockeys who've been knocked and bounced around for twelve hours wondering if their one of the ones that will start the day or still try to end the last one; and then all the 'fringe': dirty travelers sitting and smoking with Thais in front of 7 11's, a city worker, etc.......home sweet home.
- 400 baht for the Khao San 'Palace' Hotel ( mattress with a ceiling fan, that sounds it my fly off it crank shaft)
Looking to maybe bed the head for minute and work a session at the old linoleum cubical. Then I'll try to get a hold of You, no not 'you', Yo (pronounced somewhere in the middle of the two), a Thai gal who I met in Ko Phi Phi. Then maybe today, tomorrow, - no rush -meet up with Dave Taylor to do a little international school tour.
6 days to go before they kick me out of Thailand....
Other News:
Yesterday, or I guess it would be the day before yesterday, I got to drive on the other side of the road - and this time legally! (still however - sidewalks and lawns also remain illegal) At only one point did I find myself back on the right side, or the wrong side for that matter. I moto-ed all over Phuket Island on my way to FantaSea. A must do recommendation for people who like to drive fast and disobey traffic laws. Winding roads switch backing up and over a small mountains, one moment you've got three lanes and the next your down to one simply because the other direction has taken their turn at wanting three. Hmm... red light, nah looks clear - Going for it! Cars to the inside and screaming motor scooters slicing the outside, mothers with children, old folks, crazy tourists who want a piece of the action...
- 150 Baht (24 hour motor scooter rental)
Note: As much I get accustom to these foreign lands something about motor scooter renters requiring a passport as collateral still doesn't sit right: A speeding foreigner, no international ID, no international driving license, no insurance; my new home might be the Bangkok Hilton if the wrong pissed off Thai nabs me.
- Still have some parasite living in my guts. I think I've traced it to a piece of chicken I ate three or four days ago in Ko Phi Phi. I remember it being on a Kabob and when I bit into it I sort of disintegrated like a stale donut. I also remember thinking that it might not be good to eat, but also remember that it seemed edible and I had my eye on the green pepper that was next in line.
The VIP bus' toilet turned out to be a bust. No possible way to do anything in there but try not to urinate all over the place, which apparently a lot of people had some difficulty.
- Another recommendation apparently is not to where yellow or red shirts as these are the colors of the two disputing parties that have raging protests of late and have inflicted mild violence...( darn, down to two shirts).
-Sawet just called. Turned out he couldn't come with me because he can't start his vacation until next week. He called to let me know when he'll be in Bangkok - Saturday. He still wants to talk me to Laos.
-Met some Aussie's on the overnight, told me about the Pig Pong Show back in Phuket - better to save the explanation of this one.
Sunday the 21st of June
"Jame, where you go...today"
I give him my staple line, and I"m gracious that the sincerity of it lines up with extend of my motivation to talk about it, having just woken up.
"Umm....I don't know"
Sawet the hostel keeper/worker replies with a rising accented question.
"Go Bangkok?"
"aaaaa....Bangkok?"
"We go Bangkok, and then we go Lao."
"aa...Laos, we?" - flashbacks of the interchangability of pronouns from Filipino english, the random bluntness of his we, starts me down that possibility.
But alas, Sawet has a plan, we will travel through the country and go to Laos. I tell him that I'm meeting people in Bangkok, and he says he will continue on alone then from there. I ask why he doesn't just go to Bangkok on his own. "Why do want to go with me?"
He just responds with a smile and says: "Better: Talking friend". I can't argue with that, I figure maybe its a sign. Ko Pangan will have to wait, sick of the island paradise stuff anyway....
Leaving for Bangkok, catching a bus in 40 minutes. 12 hours, which should put there at the crack of the a red dawn. Where exactly, I have no idea. I assume they'll drop me at bus stop but anything could happen...
- 975 Baht - Phuket to Bangkok bus ticket (VIP)
Opted for the VIP which was about 300 more because it has a toilet on board. It seems as though I have something living in my guts. Three days of alligator green splashing, and visit to the porcelin throne have been often. Shooting pains have slightly subsided, and may be partially due to a fail safe remedy of fighting fire with fire: cigarettes and beer. If only I can drown this sucker and send em' down the sewers.
Last night I really splurged and treated the jp to night out: FantaSea - The Ultimate Cultural Theme Park (and extra 400 for the grand buffet) - 2100 Baht total. Complete with Elephant stunts, illusions, pyrotechniques - a most "Spectacular Show".
up...18 minutes to get to the bus.....spelling and grammer be damned...off to bangkok!!
I give him my staple line, and I"m gracious that the sincerity of it lines up with extend of my motivation to talk about it, having just woken up.
"Umm....I don't know"
Sawet the hostel keeper/worker replies with a rising accented question.
"Go Bangkok?"
"aaaaa....Bangkok?"
"We go Bangkok, and then we go Lao."
"aa...Laos, we?" - flashbacks of the interchangability of pronouns from Filipino english, the random bluntness of his we, starts me down that possibility.
But alas, Sawet has a plan, we will travel through the country and go to Laos. I tell him that I'm meeting people in Bangkok, and he says he will continue on alone then from there. I ask why he doesn't just go to Bangkok on his own. "Why do want to go with me?"
He just responds with a smile and says: "Better: Talking friend". I can't argue with that, I figure maybe its a sign. Ko Pangan will have to wait, sick of the island paradise stuff anyway....
Leaving for Bangkok, catching a bus in 40 minutes. 12 hours, which should put there at the crack of the a red dawn. Where exactly, I have no idea. I assume they'll drop me at bus stop but anything could happen...
- 975 Baht - Phuket to Bangkok bus ticket (VIP)
Opted for the VIP which was about 300 more because it has a toilet on board. It seems as though I have something living in my guts. Three days of alligator green splashing, and visit to the porcelin throne have been often. Shooting pains have slightly subsided, and may be partially due to a fail safe remedy of fighting fire with fire: cigarettes and beer. If only I can drown this sucker and send em' down the sewers.
Last night I really splurged and treated the jp to night out: FantaSea - The Ultimate Cultural Theme Park (and extra 400 for the grand buffet) - 2100 Baht total. Complete with Elephant stunts, illusions, pyrotechniques - a most "Spectacular Show".
up...18 minutes to get to the bus.....spelling and grammer be damned...off to bangkok!!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thai Boxing on Ko Phi Phi Island
Three of my first five evenings on Ko Phi Phi - slurping back some Chang beer and cutting bets on matchs with the Sweds, Samuel and David.
This first clip is the ceremonious introduction that they do before all the fights.
Alright. pretty anticlimatic on this one. Been waiting for over an hour to put one of these rounds up...wasn't meant to be. All these crazy Thai gamers in this place must be drowning me out.
Whelp...hope you enjoy that intro then...one of these days.
Made it to Phuket. Exhausted, somethings definitely on my back, and I'm beginning to realize that a 2 week Thai visa makes it impossible to do a swath of this country with any type of justice.
Crossing my fingers for a bedbug free night.
Last night was another romper. Went back to see the fire shows down at the beach side resorts. Hung out with the gals from the internet cafe again and watched all the crazy gweilo's try their hand at the various fire feats. Stick twirlers, fire ball swingers, flaming numb chuck things...A big hit at all the fire show beach bars is the flaming jump rope; about 35 ft long - two Thai guys standing on either end on table tops, the flames leaping with heat rushing off and back to outer lawn chairs. The night before, Nok from the cafe ran out to the center of the jope, slipped on her back and ended up taking some pretty nice burns on her arm and leg.
Another hit is the flaming limbo. Held my own on this one and got lower than any other gweilo - free shots of vodka - for anyone that even tried. The Thai's really build the whole episode and then they go under with about a foot and a half clearance..................
not feeling the blog fever right now, no infusion, only mindless recaps and running out of gas....
this might be the first night that I actually go to sleep at reasonable hour....
well, there is that blues bar around the corner that has a live band that started 17 minutes ago. Maybe I'll just pop in for a Chang...
This first clip is the ceremonious introduction that they do before all the fights.
Alright. pretty anticlimatic on this one. Been waiting for over an hour to put one of these rounds up...wasn't meant to be. All these crazy Thai gamers in this place must be drowning me out.
Whelp...hope you enjoy that intro then...one of these days.
Made it to Phuket. Exhausted, somethings definitely on my back, and I'm beginning to realize that a 2 week Thai visa makes it impossible to do a swath of this country with any type of justice.
Crossing my fingers for a bedbug free night.
Last night was another romper. Went back to see the fire shows down at the beach side resorts. Hung out with the gals from the internet cafe again and watched all the crazy gweilo's try their hand at the various fire feats. Stick twirlers, fire ball swingers, flaming numb chuck things...A big hit at all the fire show beach bars is the flaming jump rope; about 35 ft long - two Thai guys standing on either end on table tops, the flames leaping with heat rushing off and back to outer lawn chairs. The night before, Nok from the cafe ran out to the center of the jope, slipped on her back and ended up taking some pretty nice burns on her arm and leg.
Another hit is the flaming limbo. Held my own on this one and got lower than any other gweilo - free shots of vodka - for anyone that even tried. The Thai's really build the whole episode and then they go under with about a foot and a half clearance..................
not feeling the blog fever right now, no infusion, only mindless recaps and running out of gas....
this might be the first night that I actually go to sleep at reasonable hour....
well, there is that blues bar around the corner that has a live band that started 17 minutes ago. Maybe I'll just pop in for a Chang...
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Last day in Ko Phi Phi (pretty sure this time)
Man!...Adams blogger skills are truely of tip top caliber. I would be remiss not to mention them - yet again! He has recently updated a bunch more of the days that we spent together, complete with tons of picture, little anecdotes, neato details, slideshows, and a good jolly roll of that Petrashune humor .
http://docboneshk.blogspot.com
As for me...same same but different.
Exhaustion. Laying on the bed of my little santuary where I've spent the last three nights - drifting in and out of consciousness. This could be it, about 7 o'clock and looking like I could be down for the count. Nice cold shower after a sunset snorkeling cruise to the famed 'Beach' Island, memories of a groggy beaten self resurface from a morning that was more of an afternoon.
My sole amenity of comfort oscilating above me and sweeping a cold dampness of refreshment across my skin. Ahhhh...and then it begins, like everynight before, including and going all the way back through Malaysia - the little pestering, jumping, nipping and biting - BUGS! I still have not figured out what these annoyances are: fleas, bed bugs (what every these really are), combos, etc - everytime a see one it's either teleported somewhere else in a split instance; or, and more of the unlikelier case, quickly smushed under my finger and unabled to be scrutinized.
I begin the mental battle I must go through everynight, albeit this time without out the help a couple 'go down easies' and the helplessness of nightfall. One leg over the other, arms above head, laying on the side - to the eventual... eh, how many bites can they give - feast away you varmits, my options slowly running out.
A note here: I've been wondering what this bites are all over my ankles, they itch like mosquito bites, but I never recall every being bit by any. I've wrote them off as sand flies, but I'm beginning to reevalute this.
Sleep prevails, but hunger triumphs, and I'm soon off to find that place that serves the 'big greasy' (pizza that is).
________________________________________________________
Out for the last night in pee pee.
http://docboneshk.blogspot.com
As for me...same same but different.
Exhaustion. Laying on the bed of my little santuary where I've spent the last three nights - drifting in and out of consciousness. This could be it, about 7 o'clock and looking like I could be down for the count. Nice cold shower after a sunset snorkeling cruise to the famed 'Beach' Island, memories of a groggy beaten self resurface from a morning that was more of an afternoon.
My sole amenity of comfort oscilating above me and sweeping a cold dampness of refreshment across my skin. Ahhhh...and then it begins, like everynight before, including and going all the way back through Malaysia - the little pestering, jumping, nipping and biting - BUGS! I still have not figured out what these annoyances are: fleas, bed bugs (what every these really are), combos, etc - everytime a see one it's either teleported somewhere else in a split instance; or, and more of the unlikelier case, quickly smushed under my finger and unabled to be scrutinized.
I begin the mental battle I must go through everynight, albeit this time without out the help a couple 'go down easies' and the helplessness of nightfall. One leg over the other, arms above head, laying on the side - to the eventual... eh, how many bites can they give - feast away you varmits, my options slowly running out.
A note here: I've been wondering what this bites are all over my ankles, they itch like mosquito bites, but I never recall every being bit by any. I've wrote them off as sand flies, but I'm beginning to reevalute this.
Sleep prevails, but hunger triumphs, and I'm soon off to find that place that serves the 'big greasy' (pizza that is).
________________________________________________________
Out for the last night in pee pee.
Captive in Ko Phi Phi
Still in Ko Phi Phi. Can't seem to get out of here. Although I've said this that last two days - tomorrow - definitely out of here... Thailand only allows a 2 weeks visa stay if you arrive by land (4 weeks by air) - I completely forgot about this until about my third day here in Ko Phi Phi. I definitely need to start laying some tracks north if I plan on making it to the north country.
Other News:
Here's an interesting one: a 20 year old pregnant British girl gets arresting in Laos trying to smuggle some 600 odd grams of herion by plane into Thailand. Laos law holds that for over 500 grams of the 'horse' - penalty is death. The Brits hopped on this one, and I guess the Lao-ians realized that it wasn't going to be the best PR move for their country - instead they've opted for the life sentence.
When I first arrive 5 days ago H1N1 was at about 45 cases - today in the paper its up into the 3 to 4 hundreds. Many schools have closed in Bangkok, and pictures in the newpaper show about 10 - 20 workers scrubbing the streets. Suds and scrub brooms, complete with the masks and jumper suits.
Other News:
Here's an interesting one: a 20 year old pregnant British girl gets arresting in Laos trying to smuggle some 600 odd grams of herion by plane into Thailand. Laos law holds that for over 500 grams of the 'horse' - penalty is death. The Brits hopped on this one, and I guess the Lao-ians realized that it wasn't going to be the best PR move for their country - instead they've opted for the life sentence.
When I first arrive 5 days ago H1N1 was at about 45 cases - today in the paper its up into the 3 to 4 hundreds. Many schools have closed in Bangkok, and pictures in the newpaper show about 10 - 20 workers scrubbing the streets. Suds and scrub brooms, complete with the masks and jumper suits.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Rain and Gloom in Paradise.
Another day of crappy weather. I'm not sure how much longer I can really wait for this weather to clear up. Just checked the Ko Phi Phi 5 day - thunderstorms across the board. Seems like I may have to cut my losses.
Last night I got some excellent video from all three rounds of Thai Boxing match. Tried to upload them to this and facebook, but the upload time looked to be around 14 hours for one round. I'll probably have to wait until I get to mainland connection, maybe in Phuket, to get this up.
Definitely was into the red last night in my gamblings with the Sweds, Samuel and David. 20 to 40 Baht per bout.
Last night I got some excellent video from all three rounds of Thai Boxing match. Tried to upload them to this and facebook, but the upload time looked to be around 14 hours for one round. I'll probably have to wait until I get to mainland connection, maybe in Phuket, to get this up.
Definitely was into the red last night in my gamblings with the Sweds, Samuel and David. 20 to 40 Baht per bout.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Ko Phi Phi
Made it to Ko Phi Phi yesterday at 5 pm Thai time, one hour earlier than Malaysian time. Considering these two countries are right on top of each other there must be a noodle of time zone de-limiter between them. 13 hours: 2 buses, a pickup truck, a ferry, and then the ol' bi-pedalers.
Once in Krabi, the jumping off point for Phi Phi Island (pronounced peepee), I find out that the island right next store was the sight for the movie "The Beach". I'm thinking that Chris, the english guy from Penang has given me a pretty good tip in heading here.
... pooped from putting up all the pictures of philippines, malaysia, and thailand up on facebook. Check em' out. All up to date to the moment. first time, and going to owe some serious Baht to this internet joint.
Off to plan for a trip for tomorrow, and back to watch some Thai Boxing tonight. I'll have to definitely get some pictures of this. Last night a guy took a back of the heel to the face and got spatula'd on the mat ; lost another 20 Baht to Samuel from Sweden. Free mixed drink bucket to anyone who volunteers to fight. I joked with Samuel that I'd be training today to take him down tonight - hope he didn't take me serious. Some of the audience fights were pretty amusing. This Israeli guy kept running around the ring to get away from an English guy....
alright been here too long...
____________________________________________
- room 250 Baht
- brekers 200 baht (puke buffet)
- internet 2 baht per minute ... 400 baht ... yep time to go.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Last day in Penang (pretty sure this time)
I knew that from my three year old Lonely Planet book, that in Butterworth there were supposedly two buses that went up to Hat Yai Thailand, one in the early morning and one in the afternoon, but with little motivation, and as my wet clothes lay drying around the room at well past midnight, the logistics of execution lay elsewhere.
This morning I learn a helpful fact that 75 Travelers lodge has it's own laundry service. Instead of washing my clothes in the shower last night with a bar of soap, I could have gotten it done for under 5 RM ($1 USD). Good to know....(probably would be less mold spores following me back to Hong Kong).
I've been following the news in southern Thailand recently, and though I haven't quite changed any plans because of it, it's definitely creeping up into my consciousness. In the three southern most provinces of Thailand there are some truely serious and dangerous places that you do not want to go. Yesterday, reports of another murder, this time a 60 year old monk merely doing his dayly door to door alms requests. Day before that, a pregnant woman gunned down by AK 47's. Of recent and markedly represented by the mosque killings, these areas are going through a spike in their turmoiled history.
Bordering these three districts is the Songkhla to the North, supposed here there has been a much smaller degree of incidents. The district being where my the bus for Malaysia would drop me and where I would have to wait and get another bus to conitinue northward. Being not thrilled about the prospects of staying in this cross over point of Hat Yai any longer than I have to, it thus added to my lack of zeal to peal out of Pedang at the crack of dawn today.
All this being said, there is a contigincy of tourists that I've met through out south east asia who are quite surely traveling through these routes oblivious to these developments.
_______________________________________________________________
Yesterday, most of the day simply revolving around The Bus: trying to find the bus, waiting forthe bus, riding the bus, walking from/to bus stops - probably a good 7 hours.
Went to Snake Temple in the morning ( after a good deal of time in and around buses).
Snake temple is something to the effect of a simple Chinese temple that is home to a bunck of 'wild' snakes, mostly a very poisinous pit viper 
that is mostly flourescent green with a unmistakable arrow shaped skull. Snake temple being their home, they come and go as they please. 
Got a couple pictures of one on my head,
that had somehow been de-venomized, and marked to distinquish it from all the others with a smudge of red on its head 
(what a not funny joke it would be to switch this mark up). Most of these pit vipers were chilling out on picture frames and thickets of branches placed in various pots around the joint. I'm not sure exactly how it works but my impression is that all these pit vipers ( I saw about 10) do consider this there home and do come and go as they please but probably the snake guy or someone else who works there picks them off the floor in the morning and puts them certain places for the day.
To the side of the temple is a 5 RM entrance fee for the Snake Garden, filled with some 30 odd species of some of the most deadly snakes in the world and to my surprise most of the snake are local to south east asia and many native to malaysia itself. Various types of boas, vipers, cobras, pytons,
rat snakes, etc. The snakes are arranged sunked into the exterior wall in ten gallon fish tanks, with the roofless interior about maybe 15 square meters. Packed in the center: chained monkeys, caged monkeys, one cage filled with a 23 ft python, 
the next with three maybe 12 ft pythons in a heap half submerged in a small puddle in the corner, cages filled with bunnies and guinea pigs, turtles roaming... 
Slightly off to one side is the rather small snake stage for the 'shows'. The snake guy, pulls out about a 16 ft King Cobra and proceeds to try to piss it off, so that the small crowd of 6 of so with be sufficiently freaked out. The King Cob stands up about 4 ft and hissed and lunges a couple of times. 
A few times when it got a couple of feet off the stage, everybody would be tripping over the 2 x 4 benches and each other receeding into the monkeys den where he waits to snatch any loose article. He eventually kisses the King Cob on the forehead, and then leads it back to its box on the side of the platform.
Later the snake guy pulled out a mangroove cat snake, jet black with yellow stripes.
The English guy Chris who I traveled with to the snake temple, accepted the snake guy's offering to hold it so I thought I'd do the same, all the while slightly curious that the snake guy continued to hold the snakes head to his side.
Snake guy puts the Mangroove cat snake on top of a crate
and proceeds to smack it to get it riled up. 
The snake recoils ready to strike and the snake guy tries to sneak his hand to its back to smack it from behind. Just after he makes contact the snake turns and strikes. He jumps back to find the side of his hand with about 4 puncture wounds and small needle like teeth still lodged in his skin. He quickly remarks that its 'ok' - not poisinous, well, except for the 'back' fangs which are indeed quite poisinous. But he tells us that he was only bitin by the front fangs, 'they grow back very quicktly'. No sooner than he can put the Mangroove snake back than the caged monkeys start freaking out and hooting that they had stole a girls bracelet off her wrist. By the time we left, one of the monkeys had escaped and was toying with it's owner, but the braclet though chewed and broken was recovered.
More bus - eventually back to the bus depot, and with time to spare I splite from Chris and Natalie, the English couple I had met at the same spot hours earlier, and head to get a bite before having to make it down the road for the fishing trip. Mustafa had said it was a half hour ride, so to make it there at 5 pm and right on time I still had about an hour. I ate some really horrible tasting Thai food, and went back to the depot.
Apparently, I had been somewhat oblivious to the actual time it took to get to the national park yesterday. 'Maybe Mustafa said and hour and half', I think to my myself. None the less, I'm definitely almost an hour late, but luckily an Indonesian girl lets me use her phone to alert him of my lateness. Turns out however that Mustafa ends up being more than an hour late himself and no fishing guy in sight when I get there.
Mustafa eventually shows up and then the fishing guy on a bike a couple of minutes later. Mustafa translates over if I need a pole. Thinking that I thought we had gone through all this yesterday, the fishing guy comes back in a couple minutes with an open face plastic spinner rod with the line all tangle around the reel. As Mustafa and I head to dock we meet an another older guy who takes us out in his 20 ft skift, never to see the 'fishing guy' again. I start to realize that, 'yep, got slightly hosed on this one'. Only one 'pole', and Mustafa hand lines it; with little to no tackle, at least there's a little bit of bait.
We head out a short distance, I set up the rod and get to work. Mustafa and the boat guy, keep a steady stream of Malay talk going and I resign myself to do a little fishing. The sun setting just behind the back of the Island looks quite stunning from what I can see, and to the opposite side over the expanse of water lies the mountain range that runs up the Malaysian mainland on up through Thailand and beyond. The heavy test line, no doubt a much higher rating then the reel and pole suggest, and with all its thick spiral twistes, never stops bobbing with bites. Apparently though the innards of drag crank had to have been completely removed or seperated from anything, just solid tension to pull up any type of fish... and pull up fish I surely did! Blowfish after blowfish after blowfish. Some quite large and once coming up to the boat they'd quickly and in thrusting breaths proceed to quadruple in size and hold, slowly releasing.
Gave the blowfish a break, had a smoke, and talked with Mustafa a little bit on the finer points of the Muslim religion, his family, and Malaysian in general. Boat guy relays something through Mustafa that we will have to go back before eight because the local fishermen are starting to set up their nets without the proper markers, and thus 'supposedly' makeing it very difficult if not near impossible to meander our way back to the pier. Feeling slightly sea sick, and pretty much done on the day, I aggree with no complaints, you can only catch so may blowfish before initial excited inflats and slowly releases.
Catch a quick drink with Mustafa at a local Muslim Indian (referred to as moema's) joint, and head to the bus stop to wait for the 101. Supposedly coming every 20 minutes I wonder what my luck will be to how soon it will come. An hour later I'm just glad that it eventually came at all. Another hour and a half to get back to the home base area, tired of doing anything, I eat Enchiladas at a 'mexican' joint and watch a Indian, and Malay band jam out some classic rock.
______________________________________________________________
This morning I find out that I can take a minibus from here all the way to Krabi, supposedly not having to stop in Hat Yai - 55 RM. Not bad considering they'll pick me up from my hostel at 5 a.m. I've more or less decided to go to Krabi and then ferry over to Ko Phi Phi. Ko Phi Phi is hailed as one of the 'most beautiful places in the world' (although touristy), so yeah, I should probably check it out. It doesn't seem right to just zip right through the whole of south and central thailand only to get to the congestion of Bangkok.
_________________________________________________________________
In other news:
-Three men caught back in November - 32, 36, 36 - where sentence by the high court for their possession of some 100 pounds of marijuana. The defense that they thought the merchandise they were selling was contraband cigarettes, was not bought - mandatory sentence - death.
I was talking to Chan my tour driver two days ago about the penalities for crimes, unregisterd guns, and illegal drugs, mandatory sentence - death by hanging.
-A poor Malay woman caught in China with possession of Meth. Her parents say that she is easily gullible, and not to smart, and that they is no way she had money to fund these trips on her own. Some source says that these types of easy tagets for drup running are all too suceptible. We'll have to see what the high court decides here.
- Thailands H1N1 cases just about doubled yesterday, something like 23 to 46.
- about 36 degree Celcius - 96.8 F
_________________________________________________________________
If whoever reads from the homeland could comment back, I'm curious to know how many cases of H1N1 are in the Buffalo area compared to these areas. It seems like everywhere I've been to there is H1N1 close by, and this being in places that completely dwarfed by US's statistics.
__________________________________________________________________
This morning I learn a helpful fact that 75 Travelers lodge has it's own laundry service. Instead of washing my clothes in the shower last night with a bar of soap, I could have gotten it done for under 5 RM ($1 USD). Good to know....(probably would be less mold spores following me back to Hong Kong).
I've been following the news in southern Thailand recently, and though I haven't quite changed any plans because of it, it's definitely creeping up into my consciousness. In the three southern most provinces of Thailand there are some truely serious and dangerous places that you do not want to go. Yesterday, reports of another murder, this time a 60 year old monk merely doing his dayly door to door alms requests. Day before that, a pregnant woman gunned down by AK 47's. Of recent and markedly represented by the mosque killings, these areas are going through a spike in their turmoiled history.
Bordering these three districts is the Songkhla to the North, supposed here there has been a much smaller degree of incidents. The district being where my the bus for Malaysia would drop me and where I would have to wait and get another bus to conitinue northward. Being not thrilled about the prospects of staying in this cross over point of Hat Yai any longer than I have to, it thus added to my lack of zeal to peal out of Pedang at the crack of dawn today.
All this being said, there is a contigincy of tourists that I've met through out south east asia who are quite surely traveling through these routes oblivious to these developments.
_______________________________________________________________
Yesterday, most of the day simply revolving around The Bus: trying to find the bus, waiting forthe bus, riding the bus, walking from/to bus stops - probably a good 7 hours.
Went to Snake Temple in the morning ( after a good deal of time in and around buses).
Snake temple is something to the effect of a simple Chinese temple that is home to a bunck of 'wild' snakes, mostly a very poisinous pit viper 
that is mostly flourescent green with a unmistakable arrow shaped skull. Snake temple being their home, they come and go as they please. 
Got a couple pictures of one on my head,
that had somehow been de-venomized, and marked to distinquish it from all the others with a smudge of red on its head 
(what a not funny joke it would be to switch this mark up). Most of these pit vipers were chilling out on picture frames and thickets of branches placed in various pots around the joint. I'm not sure exactly how it works but my impression is that all these pit vipers ( I saw about 10) do consider this there home and do come and go as they please but probably the snake guy or someone else who works there picks them off the floor in the morning and puts them certain places for the day.To the side of the temple is a 5 RM entrance fee for the Snake Garden, filled with some 30 odd species of some of the most deadly snakes in the world and to my surprise most of the snake are local to south east asia and many native to malaysia itself. Various types of boas, vipers, cobras, pytons,
rat snakes, etc. The snakes are arranged sunked into the exterior wall in ten gallon fish tanks, with the roofless interior about maybe 15 square meters. Packed in the center: chained monkeys, caged monkeys, one cage filled with a 23 ft python, 
the next with three maybe 12 ft pythons in a heap half submerged in a small puddle in the corner, cages filled with bunnies and guinea pigs, turtles roaming... 
Slightly off to one side is the rather small snake stage for the 'shows'. The snake guy, pulls out about a 16 ft King Cobra and proceeds to try to piss it off, so that the small crowd of 6 of so with be sufficiently freaked out. The King Cob stands up about 4 ft and hissed and lunges a couple of times. 
A few times when it got a couple of feet off the stage, everybody would be tripping over the 2 x 4 benches and each other receeding into the monkeys den where he waits to snatch any loose article. He eventually kisses the King Cob on the forehead, and then leads it back to its box on the side of the platform.Later the snake guy pulled out a mangroove cat snake, jet black with yellow stripes.
The English guy Chris who I traveled with to the snake temple, accepted the snake guy's offering to hold it so I thought I'd do the same, all the while slightly curious that the snake guy continued to hold the snakes head to his side.Snake guy puts the Mangroove cat snake on top of a crate
and proceeds to smack it to get it riled up. 
The snake recoils ready to strike and the snake guy tries to sneak his hand to its back to smack it from behind. Just after he makes contact the snake turns and strikes. He jumps back to find the side of his hand with about 4 puncture wounds and small needle like teeth still lodged in his skin. He quickly remarks that its 'ok' - not poisinous, well, except for the 'back' fangs which are indeed quite poisinous. But he tells us that he was only bitin by the front fangs, 'they grow back very quicktly'. No sooner than he can put the Mangroove snake back than the caged monkeys start freaking out and hooting that they had stole a girls bracelet off her wrist. By the time we left, one of the monkeys had escaped and was toying with it's owner, but the braclet though chewed and broken was recovered.
More bus - eventually back to the bus depot, and with time to spare I splite from Chris and Natalie, the English couple I had met at the same spot hours earlier, and head to get a bite before having to make it down the road for the fishing trip. Mustafa had said it was a half hour ride, so to make it there at 5 pm and right on time I still had about an hour. I ate some really horrible tasting Thai food, and went back to the depot.
Apparently, I had been somewhat oblivious to the actual time it took to get to the national park yesterday. 'Maybe Mustafa said and hour and half', I think to my myself. None the less, I'm definitely almost an hour late, but luckily an Indonesian girl lets me use her phone to alert him of my lateness. Turns out however that Mustafa ends up being more than an hour late himself and no fishing guy in sight when I get there.
Mustafa eventually shows up and then the fishing guy on a bike a couple of minutes later. Mustafa translates over if I need a pole. Thinking that I thought we had gone through all this yesterday, the fishing guy comes back in a couple minutes with an open face plastic spinner rod with the line all tangle around the reel. As Mustafa and I head to dock we meet an another older guy who takes us out in his 20 ft skift, never to see the 'fishing guy' again. I start to realize that, 'yep, got slightly hosed on this one'. Only one 'pole', and Mustafa hand lines it; with little to no tackle, at least there's a little bit of bait.
We head out a short distance, I set up the rod and get to work. Mustafa and the boat guy, keep a steady stream of Malay talk going and I resign myself to do a little fishing. The sun setting just behind the back of the Island looks quite stunning from what I can see, and to the opposite side over the expanse of water lies the mountain range that runs up the Malaysian mainland on up through Thailand and beyond. The heavy test line, no doubt a much higher rating then the reel and pole suggest, and with all its thick spiral twistes, never stops bobbing with bites. Apparently though the innards of drag crank had to have been completely removed or seperated from anything, just solid tension to pull up any type of fish... and pull up fish I surely did! Blowfish after blowfish after blowfish. Some quite large and once coming up to the boat they'd quickly and in thrusting breaths proceed to quadruple in size and hold, slowly releasing.
Gave the blowfish a break, had a smoke, and talked with Mustafa a little bit on the finer points of the Muslim religion, his family, and Malaysian in general. Boat guy relays something through Mustafa that we will have to go back before eight because the local fishermen are starting to set up their nets without the proper markers, and thus 'supposedly' makeing it very difficult if not near impossible to meander our way back to the pier. Feeling slightly sea sick, and pretty much done on the day, I aggree with no complaints, you can only catch so may blowfish before initial excited inflats and slowly releases.
Catch a quick drink with Mustafa at a local Muslim Indian (referred to as moema's) joint, and head to the bus stop to wait for the 101. Supposedly coming every 20 minutes I wonder what my luck will be to how soon it will come. An hour later I'm just glad that it eventually came at all. Another hour and a half to get back to the home base area, tired of doing anything, I eat Enchiladas at a 'mexican' joint and watch a Indian, and Malay band jam out some classic rock.
______________________________________________________________
This morning I find out that I can take a minibus from here all the way to Krabi, supposedly not having to stop in Hat Yai - 55 RM. Not bad considering they'll pick me up from my hostel at 5 a.m. I've more or less decided to go to Krabi and then ferry over to Ko Phi Phi. Ko Phi Phi is hailed as one of the 'most beautiful places in the world' (although touristy), so yeah, I should probably check it out. It doesn't seem right to just zip right through the whole of south and central thailand only to get to the congestion of Bangkok.
_________________________________________________________________
In other news:
-Three men caught back in November - 32, 36, 36 - where sentence by the high court for their possession of some 100 pounds of marijuana. The defense that they thought the merchandise they were selling was contraband cigarettes, was not bought - mandatory sentence - death.
I was talking to Chan my tour driver two days ago about the penalities for crimes, unregisterd guns, and illegal drugs, mandatory sentence - death by hanging.
-A poor Malay woman caught in China with possession of Meth. Her parents say that she is easily gullible, and not to smart, and that they is no way she had money to fund these trips on her own. Some source says that these types of easy tagets for drup running are all too suceptible. We'll have to see what the high court decides here.
- Thailands H1N1 cases just about doubled yesterday, something like 23 to 46.
- about 36 degree Celcius - 96.8 F
_________________________________________________________________
If whoever reads from the homeland could comment back, I'm curious to know how many cases of H1N1 are in the Buffalo area compared to these areas. It seems like everywhere I've been to there is H1N1 close by, and this being in places that completely dwarfed by US's statistics.
__________________________________________________________________
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Back at 75 Travelers Lodge
8:30 pm, and feeling in an easy way. Did a good bout of exploring and touring Penang Island today, and looking to fill the gullet.
Hooked up with a 'tour' group by waking up early and just walking down the stairs and giving the guy at the desk 55RM. About 10 minutes later Chan showed up with one of those tiny little cars looking like a mini cooper, was more expecting a bus, but eh, this could be better - more personal. The family of three from Jakarta Indonesia gave up the front seat for me and packed in the back, Mr. Choi, and I assume his wife and daughter. Apparently they didn't know English (except for the daughter which I found out later in the day), and I started feeling jipped on the main buying point for this tour - which of course - is that it would be in English. Thought about calling the whole thing off after Chan and Mr. Choi would be going on and on about stuff - just the inconsequential stuff I wanted to babble about. When your in a place like this you begin to really cherish opportunities to communicate about nothing.
However, maybe sensing the obvious (or maybe a little overreacting), Chan made a solid point to clue me on anything of worthy of interest.
- went up Penang Hill - tourist attraction, rail car going up a mountain on a cable at a serious pitch.
- went to a Chinese Temple
- went to the Botanical Gardens: finally ate Jack Fruit, which was pretty great. Learned the Queen of Fruits in Mangosteeen, and King of Fruits in Durian.
- drank the best coffee since Laos and bought some white coffee for 25 RM
- Ate quite possibly the best chinese food since being in Asia
- drank the best coffee since Laos and bought some white coffee for 25 RM
- went to the ThaiBuddhist Temple
- went to the Burmese Buddhist Temple
( some really good pictures)
Got back from the tour around 2, walked to 75 Travelers, asked about how to get the Fruit Farm, and turned right around and headed up to Chulia street to find a bus. Ended up who knows where, had to catch a connection bus somehow, first bus drops me off 1/2 mile away from where I need to be, but finally met a dude who set me straight but would have to wait a bit. In the mean time he cracked up a Durian and finally got to try that for the first time today too.... awful. Some people said that its smells terrible (which is true), but tastes great ( nope, tastes terrible too).
After waiting a bit, finally saw the bus, waved it, and watched it speed by. Walked the 1/2 mile back to Taman Negara Panang, National Park at Panang, at hike the coastal trail to Monkey Beach for hour plus. Saw some gigantic monitor lizards, and a bunch of monkeys who were trying to stare me down.
Once back out of the trails, commented to the staff about the big black cat statue they had on the hill. After looking at me funny, I repeated the question to the person see decided to look at for help. He confirmed to me that there is indeed black panthers in the park, of which, he has seen twice with is own eyes. Finally being able to put some other rumors to rest I had a pretty definitive source on my hand: Mustafa. Mustafa, park ranger, has also seen Bengal Tigers swimming Tama Negara Pahang ( 130 million year old rain forest jungle - as old if not older than the Amazon). He has also added confirmation in the Cobra story told from Apex on Tioman Island. Cobra can stand 5 ft tall and indeed get to 10 meters in length. The only difference in story is that this would have to be the King Cobra(brownish/yellow), not the black cobra. Could have been a lost in translation error on my part on this point however. As for the Anaconda story that the massage guy, Danny told be about, Mustafa said that there are now Anaconda's in Malaysia. So I guess the Danny's story about the Anaconda that had to be shot because it had a guys head in its mouth, and the one about the the towns people capturing a 15 meter one, would have had to be python instead....
Other animals here:
Elephant trunk snake, only lives in water, apparently its body is to soft and it is unable to ply the land.
Ant Eater.
Rhinoceros, albeit a slightly smaller version, and a smaller type of horn structure.
Mouse Deer - yep exactly like it sounds!
Wild Elephants
? - some monkey thing with huge arms that has to constantly live in the trees, cant stand on solid ground otherwise.
? - some tough looking water buffalo thing.
Leopard cat
Bear Cat - yet again here.
and some more that can't recall here, but equally if not more amazing.
Talked to Mustafa a bit and organized a fishing trip tomorrow at five with him, me and his friend. I managed to get Mustafa on board with this one after learning that the fishing boat guy didn't quite no a lick of English. Somehow being in the middle of the Straits of Malacca in probably a rinky dink boat, unable to communicate with the captain, didn't seem as great of a time. Maybe slightly hosed on the price, 80 Rm, maybe not, but seemingly got things running on my terms by the end of it, so pretty good deal.
Tomorrow I'll try to make it to the Snake Temple, see some cobs ( short for cobras), and other death laded creatures. Then try to make it Fruit Farm for a tour and a smorgasbord, and then completely the clockwise circle around Pedang Island back at Taman Negara for the night fishing.
Other news:
--Southern Thailand is in the shits. Apparently 3500 people have been killed in unrest since 2004. Still piecing the story together here. Something between the Muslim south wanting some sort of autonomy. Two days ago some type of militants stormed into a mosque with service in order and sprayed the congregation with automatic weapons. Killed 12, critically wounded about the same number. Now yesterday, a Muslim a suppose thinking the government was behind this, went and shot up some public works employee's killing a woman and dropping a note that said something to the effect the "you have killed innocent people, now revenge had to come"... Sure I'll have some more to say on this topic. As for me, this happening in Narathiwat, I should have no problem going up the west side and leaving this madness to the east.
--Saw two more Muslim women today in the complete black gowns, one even with the eye slit covered with the black screen thing so you can't see in. Apparently, as Chan my guide says, these people are from Saudia Arabia. I don't think this conclusion comes from the gowns alone, but that maybe the Saudia's are the only Middy east country that wears these and can afford to go on vacation. Chan says that Malaysia being a Muslim country and it being maybe 15 degrees Celsius cooler, the saudi's come to vacation during their summer months. Quite a surreal sight to actual see these women in person. Must be quite hot in there...
Tonight out to find some Malay food, hopefully some Mee Yun, and then toss back some go down easy's...so much easier to sleep in a stuffy, sticky hot room after a couple a cold brewsker.
Hooked up with a 'tour' group by waking up early and just walking down the stairs and giving the guy at the desk 55RM. About 10 minutes later Chan showed up with one of those tiny little cars looking like a mini cooper, was more expecting a bus, but eh, this could be better - more personal. The family of three from Jakarta Indonesia gave up the front seat for me and packed in the back, Mr. Choi, and I assume his wife and daughter. Apparently they didn't know English (except for the daughter which I found out later in the day), and I started feeling jipped on the main buying point for this tour - which of course - is that it would be in English. Thought about calling the whole thing off after Chan and Mr. Choi would be going on and on about stuff - just the inconsequential stuff I wanted to babble about. When your in a place like this you begin to really cherish opportunities to communicate about nothing.
However, maybe sensing the obvious (or maybe a little overreacting), Chan made a solid point to clue me on anything of worthy of interest.
- went up Penang Hill - tourist attraction, rail car going up a mountain on a cable at a serious pitch.
- went to a Chinese Temple
- went to the Botanical Gardens: finally ate Jack Fruit, which was pretty great. Learned the Queen of Fruits in Mangosteeen, and King of Fruits in Durian.
- drank the best coffee since Laos and bought some white coffee for 25 RM
- Ate quite possibly the best chinese food since being in Asia
- drank the best coffee since Laos and bought some white coffee for 25 RM
- went to the ThaiBuddhist Temple
- went to the Burmese Buddhist Temple
( some really good pictures)
Got back from the tour around 2, walked to 75 Travelers, asked about how to get the Fruit Farm, and turned right around and headed up to Chulia street to find a bus. Ended up who knows where, had to catch a connection bus somehow, first bus drops me off 1/2 mile away from where I need to be, but finally met a dude who set me straight but would have to wait a bit. In the mean time he cracked up a Durian and finally got to try that for the first time today too.... awful. Some people said that its smells terrible (which is true), but tastes great ( nope, tastes terrible too).
After waiting a bit, finally saw the bus, waved it, and watched it speed by. Walked the 1/2 mile back to Taman Negara Panang, National Park at Panang, at hike the coastal trail to Monkey Beach for hour plus. Saw some gigantic monitor lizards, and a bunch of monkeys who were trying to stare me down.
Once back out of the trails, commented to the staff about the big black cat statue they had on the hill. After looking at me funny, I repeated the question to the person see decided to look at for help. He confirmed to me that there is indeed black panthers in the park, of which, he has seen twice with is own eyes. Finally being able to put some other rumors to rest I had a pretty definitive source on my hand: Mustafa. Mustafa, park ranger, has also seen Bengal Tigers swimming Tama Negara Pahang ( 130 million year old rain forest jungle - as old if not older than the Amazon). He has also added confirmation in the Cobra story told from Apex on Tioman Island. Cobra can stand 5 ft tall and indeed get to 10 meters in length. The only difference in story is that this would have to be the King Cobra(brownish/yellow), not the black cobra. Could have been a lost in translation error on my part on this point however. As for the Anaconda story that the massage guy, Danny told be about, Mustafa said that there are now Anaconda's in Malaysia. So I guess the Danny's story about the Anaconda that had to be shot because it had a guys head in its mouth, and the one about the the towns people capturing a 15 meter one, would have had to be python instead....
Other animals here:
Elephant trunk snake, only lives in water, apparently its body is to soft and it is unable to ply the land.
Ant Eater.
Rhinoceros, albeit a slightly smaller version, and a smaller type of horn structure.
Mouse Deer - yep exactly like it sounds!
Wild Elephants
? - some monkey thing with huge arms that has to constantly live in the trees, cant stand on solid ground otherwise.
? - some tough looking water buffalo thing.
Leopard cat
Bear Cat - yet again here.
and some more that can't recall here, but equally if not more amazing.
Talked to Mustafa a bit and organized a fishing trip tomorrow at five with him, me and his friend. I managed to get Mustafa on board with this one after learning that the fishing boat guy didn't quite no a lick of English. Somehow being in the middle of the Straits of Malacca in probably a rinky dink boat, unable to communicate with the captain, didn't seem as great of a time. Maybe slightly hosed on the price, 80 Rm, maybe not, but seemingly got things running on my terms by the end of it, so pretty good deal.
Tomorrow I'll try to make it to the Snake Temple, see some cobs ( short for cobras), and other death laded creatures. Then try to make it Fruit Farm for a tour and a smorgasbord, and then completely the clockwise circle around Pedang Island back at Taman Negara for the night fishing.
Other news:
--Southern Thailand is in the shits. Apparently 3500 people have been killed in unrest since 2004. Still piecing the story together here. Something between the Muslim south wanting some sort of autonomy. Two days ago some type of militants stormed into a mosque with service in order and sprayed the congregation with automatic weapons. Killed 12, critically wounded about the same number. Now yesterday, a Muslim a suppose thinking the government was behind this, went and shot up some public works employee's killing a woman and dropping a note that said something to the effect the "you have killed innocent people, now revenge had to come"... Sure I'll have some more to say on this topic. As for me, this happening in Narathiwat, I should have no problem going up the west side and leaving this madness to the east.
--Saw two more Muslim women today in the complete black gowns, one even with the eye slit covered with the black screen thing so you can't see in. Apparently, as Chan my guide says, these people are from Saudia Arabia. I don't think this conclusion comes from the gowns alone, but that maybe the Saudia's are the only Middy east country that wears these and can afford to go on vacation. Chan says that Malaysia being a Muslim country and it being maybe 15 degrees Celsius cooler, the saudi's come to vacation during their summer months. Quite a surreal sight to actual see these women in person. Must be quite hot in there...
Tonight out to find some Malay food, hopefully some Mee Yun, and then toss back some go down easy's...so much easier to sleep in a stuffy, sticky hot room after a couple a cold brewsker.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Penang Malaysia
Got into Butterworth around 5 pm after a 5 hour bus ride up from Kuala Lumpur. Immediately off of the bus and about 100 yards I caught a ferry over to Penang. Wondered the streets last night, ate the supposed best Tandoori chicken in town and got a room at 75 Travelers. Worked some road until it came to the water and rested the bones. Once back on the streets I saw a place advertising a chess tournament. After exploring some huge Victorian architecture structure I stumblin apon an orchestra that was just about to start. 10 RM, and they encored with some lone ranger stuff. Wandered more and hit the scene, sung "take it easy" and "in my life" at a chinese karoake bar.
Later up early 7:30 am and looking to go on a tour of island today. breakfast awaits.
Later up early 7:30 am and looking to go on a tour of island today. breakfast awaits.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Kuala Lumpur
10:14 pm, and feeling the drain... walked another 8 or so hours again today.
Got to KL around 6 last night. Found a crash pad named Backpackers Traveling Lodge( a name of pure genius), met a real wanderer who's been pushing along for the last 3 1/2 half years through South America and now South East Asia, and started settling into to the my new mode of solo travel.
- 35 Ringget room (~10 USD)
Talked with the wanderer, Ben, and he definitely shed some new light on certain areas of SE Asia that I had had my reservations about heading too. Think I'll give Burma another look once I get over into the North of Thailand. Some sources say not to go there, because your tourist bucks might go to helping the corrupt regime that been quashing it citizens human rights. But as I've come to agree with Ben with, you can often gain and spread greater awareness, and simply add to the general consciousness of these things by visited such places. In addition, there are means to support the common people over the government when in Burma; mainly by trying to stay away from government run amenities. And maybe the most obvious being that there going to next to nothing from a cheapo like me.
Other places for to add to the list: Sumatra, and Mindanao.
Time running thin after writing emails and always leaving this to last really suffers. Already 10:30 and need to go hit the town up a little tonight, so in brief then:
Walked all over KL last night, well into the night. KL, super safe city, babies could walk the streets at all hours of night. Aside from the the occasional proposition and shady cars full of shady girls with dudes behind the wheel and pimps trying to get you go with them, really a peaceful night life. Nobodies to crazy, and nothing quite boring, a constant hum, through out the whole place. Side walk grills go all night, men sit around cafe's drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes well into the night. Equal measure of Indians, Chinese, and Malays everywhere
( except in Little India, china town, and all the out skirts, and you may imagine how that works).
Went to a bunch of little club/bar joints last night. Rum Jungle, Hardrock cafe, some Curry place.
- 20 Ringget for a beer (~7-8 USD) .. very prices
Took it quite light considering beer was so expensive, but definitely didn't call it a night because of that. Saw an African band at the rum jungle, they played 'king of the jungle', pretty funny.
got back at around 2 a.m. I think. slept good.
Took another night at same Hostel place, and went to the Museum today... walked, walked and walked around KL arches aching. Got a foot massage- 35 RM (10 USD). Ate food, took a number 3 ( a couple of those), and maybe one more.
Anyway, tomorrow will probably head north to Butterworth! Buses run pretty much every hour and are way way way cheaper then the train (3x cheaper). No rush though. They've already cleaned my room out at Hong Kong, so the whole thought of going back there to kind of regroup and settle and figure things out is seeming more hampered now with the thought that I'm going to be 'that guy on the Futon'. No biggy I suppose, but definitely forcing me to ask the question whether I should try to not even to go back there at all until the last minute to get my stuff in August....(wish I didn't have this huge sack full of worthless stuff on my back though)....
Other news... read the paper today:
-The US has a crap ton of H1N1 cases now a days. Some some what startling statistic. I think out of the the 10's of thousands in the world the US had something like half.
-North Korea's blowing some more nuks off, more airplanes are crashing into water.
- Here's a crazy new story from Singapore today, maybe it's made it around the world. A little disturbing but can't help but be amazed by it. In real short: Family in high rise. Argument between Mother, Father, Son. Son locks all of the family(brothers and some others) in a room and jumps off the balcony. Police come, bring family down stairs. A pun finding out that his favorite son had killed himself, the father runs back up to their floor and jumps off killing himself.... F'in crazy.
Alright, promised myself I wasn't going to start using this blog as an umbilical chord. One exception here, separation anxiety maybe. Give em' hell Adam.
the nights not over yet, where's that map a had.......
Got to KL around 6 last night. Found a crash pad named Backpackers Traveling Lodge( a name of pure genius), met a real wanderer who's been pushing along for the last 3 1/2 half years through South America and now South East Asia, and started settling into to the my new mode of solo travel.
- 35 Ringget room (~10 USD)
Talked with the wanderer, Ben, and he definitely shed some new light on certain areas of SE Asia that I had had my reservations about heading too. Think I'll give Burma another look once I get over into the North of Thailand. Some sources say not to go there, because your tourist bucks might go to helping the corrupt regime that been quashing it citizens human rights. But as I've come to agree with Ben with, you can often gain and spread greater awareness, and simply add to the general consciousness of these things by visited such places. In addition, there are means to support the common people over the government when in Burma; mainly by trying to stay away from government run amenities. And maybe the most obvious being that there going to next to nothing from a cheapo like me.
Other places for to add to the list: Sumatra, and Mindanao.
Time running thin after writing emails and always leaving this to last really suffers. Already 10:30 and need to go hit the town up a little tonight, so in brief then:
Walked all over KL last night, well into the night. KL, super safe city, babies could walk the streets at all hours of night. Aside from the the occasional proposition and shady cars full of shady girls with dudes behind the wheel and pimps trying to get you go with them, really a peaceful night life. Nobodies to crazy, and nothing quite boring, a constant hum, through out the whole place. Side walk grills go all night, men sit around cafe's drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes well into the night. Equal measure of Indians, Chinese, and Malays everywhere
( except in Little India, china town, and all the out skirts, and you may imagine how that works).
Went to a bunch of little club/bar joints last night. Rum Jungle, Hardrock cafe, some Curry place.
- 20 Ringget for a beer (~7-8 USD) .. very prices
Took it quite light considering beer was so expensive, but definitely didn't call it a night because of that. Saw an African band at the rum jungle, they played 'king of the jungle', pretty funny.
got back at around 2 a.m. I think. slept good.
Took another night at same Hostel place, and went to the Museum today... walked, walked and walked around KL arches aching. Got a foot massage- 35 RM (10 USD). Ate food, took a number 3 ( a couple of those), and maybe one more.
Anyway, tomorrow will probably head north to Butterworth! Buses run pretty much every hour and are way way way cheaper then the train (3x cheaper). No rush though. They've already cleaned my room out at Hong Kong, so the whole thought of going back there to kind of regroup and settle and figure things out is seeming more hampered now with the thought that I'm going to be 'that guy on the Futon'. No biggy I suppose, but definitely forcing me to ask the question whether I should try to not even to go back there at all until the last minute to get my stuff in August....(wish I didn't have this huge sack full of worthless stuff on my back though)....
Other news... read the paper today:
-The US has a crap ton of H1N1 cases now a days. Some some what startling statistic. I think out of the the 10's of thousands in the world the US had something like half.
-North Korea's blowing some more nuks off, more airplanes are crashing into water.
- Here's a crazy new story from Singapore today, maybe it's made it around the world. A little disturbing but can't help but be amazed by it. In real short: Family in high rise. Argument between Mother, Father, Son. Son locks all of the family(brothers and some others) in a room and jumps off the balcony. Police come, bring family down stairs. A pun finding out that his favorite son had killed himself, the father runs back up to their floor and jumps off killing himself.... F'in crazy.
Alright, promised myself I wasn't going to start using this blog as an umbilical chord. One exception here, separation anxiety maybe. Give em' hell Adam.
the nights not over yet, where's that map a had.......
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Back to Mersing Malaysia for night.
Again, if who ever reads this... Actually just looked at Adams blog a little more thoroughly:
www.docboneshk.blogspot.com
and he's got some pictures and videos to check out. Anything you see there i was pretty much looking at the same exact stuff at the same time.
I wonder who actually reads this stuff. Does slime time read this? Or any of the other inbreeds known as the Seven? In any case, this can at least serve as a testament to may to my last days should any shit hit the fan. (just joking mom, don't take this to seriously).
Any who, back from Tioman Island and back to mainland (peninsular) Malaysia. Tomorrow morning Adam heads to back to Singapore via bus and then back to Hong Kong to start the summer surf camp in a week or so. Myself, instead of south back to Singapore, I've decided to head west across the peninsula over to Kuala Lumpur. No great reason for going there just slightly leaned toward going up the west coast versus the east coast. The west coast is more populated, not as great white sand beaches like the east, but up the west coast runs a train that goes all the way up to Bangkok and beyond. Little bit of back up plan there if it turns out to be a bust.
www.docboneshk.blogspot.com
and he's got some pictures and videos to check out. Anything you see there i was pretty much looking at the same exact stuff at the same time.
I wonder who actually reads this stuff. Does slime time read this? Or any of the other inbreeds known as the Seven? In any case, this can at least serve as a testament to may to my last days should any shit hit the fan. (just joking mom, don't take this to seriously).
Any who, back from Tioman Island and back to mainland (peninsular) Malaysia. Tomorrow morning Adam heads to back to Singapore via bus and then back to Hong Kong to start the summer surf camp in a week or so. Myself, instead of south back to Singapore, I've decided to head west across the peninsula over to Kuala Lumpur. No great reason for going there just slightly leaned toward going up the west coast versus the east coast. The west coast is more populated, not as great white sand beaches like the east, but up the west coast runs a train that goes all the way up to Bangkok and beyond. Little bit of back up plan there if it turns out to be a bust.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Day 7: Tekek and then back to Juara
No internet access until next week sometime. Going back across the island to the isolation of Juara Beach.
Day 6: Teket, Tioman Island, Malaysia
Hiked 2 hours today through the jungle, and across the island; Juara Beach to Tekek. Feel pretty pukey, combination of multiple factors: 2 hour hike in 100+ temps with a soggy deep fried grease omelet in the gullet, smoking cigarettes until my larynx feels like a muffler, Jack and Cokes for dinner...hmm, probably just a bug of some kind... been pretty lucky anyhow.
Day 6, and feeling a new lease being presented. Adam will fly back to Hong Kong in just under a week and I've resolved myself to head by land north. Haven't decided on the East or West coast of Malaysia yet, but then on up into Bangkok possibly. Maybe a flight out of Bangkok back to HK, or maybe continue to travel by land and go back up through and hit up the North. Then regroup in Hong Kong for spell.
Met a guy named Dave Taylor when in Hanoi on the Ha Long bay cruise. He hipped me to a possible teaching gig in Thailand (Bangkok?), where if I recall correctly starts in October. If all works through maybe I will be able to visit the school on my way through and get a feel for the atmospheric conditions and operations.
...
On Juara Beach. Excess of 100 degrees and the sweat comes down. Puddles of sweat collecting on my eyebrows until then continually reach their maximum holding capacity and burst salty sunblock into my eyes. Good day for paddle up the river. Two rivers border the beach and quickly lose themselves in jungled rain forests beyond.
Nate grabs three boats from the local pirate john, and armed with a spinner rod, fly rod, squid, some smokes, and some smoke, and we head up stream, the salt already being to stick and dry from the quick brackish swim at the mouth.
The galaxy of twerps, and cackler's, monkeys high in the palms, glimpses slight in the thick groves, and giant palm shaders. Strange mangled vines and low lying tangles filled with fallen trunks, dried leaves and dirt. Arching back to the stern of the kayak, barely clearing a foot diameter tree where the base and top somewhere unseen, extend deep into the thick reaches of the forest on either side. Nate comments that the water seems more murky and dirtier than usual and attributes it to the tide coming in in some certain strange way. I was looking for a swim in some fresh water for change, but the water seems ominous and dense with no telling what... starting to loosen up and realizing what pristine place I've found myself. Better than any jungle rain forest CD you can buy, orchestrated unworldly rhythms reaching across the whole of my surroundings. I could probably paddle the boat with my eyes closed just listening to the forest, the water, the breeze, surrounding everything...
Despite the relatively relaxed state I've found myself, be it assisted, or forced, I can't quite let the comment from Nate about the pythons slip so easily away from me. Apparently, though Nate has never seen one, the Pythons like to come to the river in the hottest part of the day and cool down, and that many people see them. After coming from the Philippines where the world's largest captive python lives, I am fully aware at how gargantuan these creatures can become. I scan the trees a foot above my head to the mangled messes of treeness that surround the most high.
Then, about 10 meters ahead, one o'clock. A head like a size 11 sneaker, and neck extending about a foot and half above the murky water. As quickly as I relay the location the giant serpent returns into the abyss from whence it came, easily 15 foot long and 150 - 200 pounds. We slowly peruse the situation and slow and steady, make a deliberate passing of the last known citing. It's beginning to dawn on me that we are not exactly in the natural habitat of the human. No telling how deep this water is, where the land beneath the thicket tangles and grooves to the side begins. Ah, good healthy fears. Always seem to learn something new about ourselves in times like these.
Another 50 meters or so and the river is too thick to continue, we languor and mill and slowly gather ourselves for the return. A break in the canopy and the sun still descending and dropping its weight amongst us, heavy. Back under the protection of the giant palms and leaves high above, back to the quiet motionless water, and back to the tunnel of our liquid path back. Strange monkey screeching, and high pitch squawks, close by and just up ahead, off the starboard. Some type of encounter just within the side of the river where our eyes cannot penetrate. We slowly coast, eyes peeled and alert. Suddenly, one last squeal and then a giant splashing sound continuing and clumsy. "what the hell was that" I say quickly. Someone replies with maybe a monkey or something, but I'm already not agreeable to this guess work, and I respond that it sounds more like a 300 pound python falling into the water. "There it is!". Up a head 15 meters, 1 0'clock, heading away and about the same size as the one I saw earlier. "where?, where?", I try to convey when all of a sudden right in front of the Nate's boat, 6 ft away, another giant python breaches the surface, extending 1 to 2 feet out of the water and in a hurry, head like an iron dripping blood from it's mouth from a moments earlier kill, and heading straight for Nate...Holy shit, my stomach drops and I hear Nate say eerily calm but with utter urgency to listen - "back paddle"... Naahh I think, sweep stroke and some haul ass front speed for me. Adrenaline pumping, I catch the python out of the corner of my eye as I'm turning, it spies us and descends back into the murkiness. We back ourselves up about 10 meters and check ourselves...
Just another day on Juara Beach. No unlikely statistics did we find ourselves, just three more for pizza and beers at the Bushman.
Apparently, a guy from lonely planet went up the same river a couple weeks ago and say three different types of pythons that he had never seen before.
- In other news. : Lapsap String Band Reunited, and now peering into vast possibilities of
psychedelic trance grass.
Day 6, and feeling a new lease being presented. Adam will fly back to Hong Kong in just under a week and I've resolved myself to head by land north. Haven't decided on the East or West coast of Malaysia yet, but then on up into Bangkok possibly. Maybe a flight out of Bangkok back to HK, or maybe continue to travel by land and go back up through and hit up the North. Then regroup in Hong Kong for spell.
Met a guy named Dave Taylor when in Hanoi on the Ha Long bay cruise. He hipped me to a possible teaching gig in Thailand (Bangkok?), where if I recall correctly starts in October. If all works through maybe I will be able to visit the school on my way through and get a feel for the atmospheric conditions and operations.
...
On Juara Beach. Excess of 100 degrees and the sweat comes down. Puddles of sweat collecting on my eyebrows until then continually reach their maximum holding capacity and burst salty sunblock into my eyes. Good day for paddle up the river. Two rivers border the beach and quickly lose themselves in jungled rain forests beyond.
Nate grabs three boats from the local pirate john, and armed with a spinner rod, fly rod, squid, some smokes, and some smoke, and we head up stream, the salt already being to stick and dry from the quick brackish swim at the mouth.
The galaxy of twerps, and cackler's, monkeys high in the palms, glimpses slight in the thick groves, and giant palm shaders. Strange mangled vines and low lying tangles filled with fallen trunks, dried leaves and dirt. Arching back to the stern of the kayak, barely clearing a foot diameter tree where the base and top somewhere unseen, extend deep into the thick reaches of the forest on either side. Nate comments that the water seems more murky and dirtier than usual and attributes it to the tide coming in in some certain strange way. I was looking for a swim in some fresh water for change, but the water seems ominous and dense with no telling what... starting to loosen up and realizing what pristine place I've found myself. Better than any jungle rain forest CD you can buy, orchestrated unworldly rhythms reaching across the whole of my surroundings. I could probably paddle the boat with my eyes closed just listening to the forest, the water, the breeze, surrounding everything...
Despite the relatively relaxed state I've found myself, be it assisted, or forced, I can't quite let the comment from Nate about the pythons slip so easily away from me. Apparently, though Nate has never seen one, the Pythons like to come to the river in the hottest part of the day and cool down, and that many people see them. After coming from the Philippines where the world's largest captive python lives, I am fully aware at how gargantuan these creatures can become. I scan the trees a foot above my head to the mangled messes of treeness that surround the most high.
Then, about 10 meters ahead, one o'clock. A head like a size 11 sneaker, and neck extending about a foot and half above the murky water. As quickly as I relay the location the giant serpent returns into the abyss from whence it came, easily 15 foot long and 150 - 200 pounds. We slowly peruse the situation and slow and steady, make a deliberate passing of the last known citing. It's beginning to dawn on me that we are not exactly in the natural habitat of the human. No telling how deep this water is, where the land beneath the thicket tangles and grooves to the side begins. Ah, good healthy fears. Always seem to learn something new about ourselves in times like these.
Another 50 meters or so and the river is too thick to continue, we languor and mill and slowly gather ourselves for the return. A break in the canopy and the sun still descending and dropping its weight amongst us, heavy. Back under the protection of the giant palms and leaves high above, back to the quiet motionless water, and back to the tunnel of our liquid path back. Strange monkey screeching, and high pitch squawks, close by and just up ahead, off the starboard. Some type of encounter just within the side of the river where our eyes cannot penetrate. We slowly coast, eyes peeled and alert. Suddenly, one last squeal and then a giant splashing sound continuing and clumsy. "what the hell was that" I say quickly. Someone replies with maybe a monkey or something, but I'm already not agreeable to this guess work, and I respond that it sounds more like a 300 pound python falling into the water. "There it is!". Up a head 15 meters, 1 0'clock, heading away and about the same size as the one I saw earlier. "where?, where?", I try to convey when all of a sudden right in front of the Nate's boat, 6 ft away, another giant python breaches the surface, extending 1 to 2 feet out of the water and in a hurry, head like an iron dripping blood from it's mouth from a moments earlier kill, and heading straight for Nate...Holy shit, my stomach drops and I hear Nate say eerily calm but with utter urgency to listen - "back paddle"... Naahh I think, sweep stroke and some haul ass front speed for me. Adrenaline pumping, I catch the python out of the corner of my eye as I'm turning, it spies us and descends back into the murkiness. We back ourselves up about 10 meters and check ourselves...
Just another day on Juara Beach. No unlikely statistics did we find ourselves, just three more for pizza and beers at the Bushman.
Apparently, a guy from lonely planet went up the same river a couple weeks ago and say three different types of pythons that he had never seen before.
- In other news. : Lapsap String Band Reunited, and now peering into vast possibilities of
psychedelic trance grass.
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