A short word from Thailand
I have a break from the travel routine and decided to take a moment to let everyone know I'm alive and well. Internet access has been difficult, not because of a lack of internet stations but because they charge by the minute and I'm usually in a panic looking up travel information.
After traveling around the north of Thailand for two weeks (Bangkok ---> Kanchanaburi --> Sangklahburi ---> Kanchanaburi --> Bangkok ---> Chiang Mai ---> Phitsanulok --> Ko Samui), I am on Koh Pha-Ngan island ... really remote ... was a bitch to get here .... two flights, a "taxi", a boat, and finally an hour drive in the back of an open pick-up truck with 8 other people.
Transportation around Thailand has been a real eye-opener. I think an appropriate motto would be "safety last". The funny but very scary thing is that it has the best infrastructure of many of the south asian countries; I can't imagine how they'll be (but now I am aching to see Burma and Vietnam). The part of thailand so far that's been my favorite has been the part I spent near the border with Burma (town called Sangklahburi). I know now that it is more burmese (Mon and Karen tribes, if you feel like looking it up) than Thai and that is probably why I liked it most. Often in Thailand I feel like I'm just a walking 'baht"; some things have surpassed my expectations (the people) and some things have been disappointing (cities, tourism, and also some people).
But it is interesting and vibrant, and I've taken every form of transportation known to man. (tuk-tuk, taxis, boats, ferries, planes, trains, motorbikes and a few others that I can't spell). I'm pretty happy to be parked on this island and the moment, with my backpack unpacked; living in a hut at the beach - basic but I think good, and clean .... a/c, hot shower ... things you learn to appreciate in Thailand. The porch has a hammock and I'm swinging in the breeze reading "Picture Palace" by Paul Theroux and occasionally taking in the turquoise water. The breeze is the best, it's a warm solid thing against your skin.
Food! Right. It is in general very good but I was surprised to learn in a Thai cooking class that many restaurants use MSG. So now I know the Thai for "No MSG". I haven't been brave enough to eat food from the street vendors yet. I like to sit and watch people anyway. I'm coming back with good ideas. Garlic pepper prawns. Pad Thai. Varieties of curries -- I pounded my own green curry paste together in that cooking class, from organic herbs growing on their farm.
I'm getting hungry! And my time is up. Hope to write more soon - sorry for not having pics but I can't upload them here. Bye!
