We arrived in Chame about 1 hour ago. 6 days of trekking is incredible although I think I'm ready for a slower day. (We started in Besisahar at 820 m and are now at 2,670 m... about 2,500m to go)!
I will post more once the trek is over as internet is 15 Rs per hour and if it's like electricity in Nepal, it's not reliable!
The views and mountains and people are amazing.
I've connected with a German family, a brother - Peter, who's about 50 years old, his sister, Gina - 49, and the brother's daughter, Mascha 19. I met them on Day 2 near Ngadi where we had lunch and we've trekked together and shared rooms and dinner since then. We may continue on together... who knows. They are very kind and a lot of fun. Lauren - the daughter is 19! Actually... we first met on the bus from Kathmandu so that was funny to share stories of that part of the journey too!
Anyways, I'm very happy and doing well. We are safe and enjoying the trek. Normal aches and pains for packing our own stuff. I opted for no porter or guide as did they so it's been fun to hang out! I've also ditched the hot water bottle for a regular water bottle (much lighter) and one of my books! We've been eating the peanut butter I bought and cashews and they've been sharing their chocolate... a valuable commodity at 2-3000 meters where it costs about 200 Rs per candy bar... $2.50. :-) So... thank goodness the packs are getting lighter!
Much love to you all. Nepali tea is beckoning... and Tibetan bread and Daal Bat and well anything but Yak Curry! Peter (the dad) tried it last night - he had one bite and passed! I tried it... it's pretty strong and as he put it, it tastes like "200 year old sheep." We all have loads of stories to share!
Anyways, I will not be responding to e-mails for another 2-3 weeks so please bare with me.
Michael - thanks for the comment!
Love and hugs!
Namaste!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Annapurna Circuit
Hello all,
I begin today.
I left Kathmandu at 6:30 and took a bus to Besisahar which took about 7 bumpy, windy, beautiful hours. Although... let me advise others who might want to do this... have your legs shortened about 6 inches before leaving the US. It might make all buses much more comfortable!!
The scenery is incredible. The road after Dumre is barely wide enough for 2 buses to pass each other and that's only in "most" portions. The road is deteriorated and we also ran into a "road block" where about 20 people (including some kids) were waiting, rope held across road, to collect a fee to pass. Hmmmm...
Another highlight on the ride was a sign I saw (besides the incredible views - did I mention the views)? "Bridge damaged, please drive slow, one vehicle only." This as our bus barrelled over it! OMG. The bus takes a road that goes up and down several small mountains and along the edge with a great lookout. Just don't look down.
Anyways, I won't post all the details until my trip is over. Just know that I am safe and doing well. I will begin hiking either today or tomorrow. If I spend the night in Besisahar then I'll just hang out here today. I may opt to go to Kuhdi though...either catch a jeep for 30 minutes over the bumpy dirty road or walk the 3 hours. Which may mean 4 for Miss Heavy Pack. It weighs about 18-20 kg. I hope to get back to Thailand "Fit and Firm" as Pi Jew says!
There are a lot of other trekkers and I mean a LOT. I have my eyes and ears open and am enjoying the Nepali people.
I may not have access to internet the rest of the trek which I plan on taking at least 3 weeks. "Heavy Pack and All." :-) Title for my book Dylan? haaaahahahhah! Anyways, the power and internet/phone connection are sketchy but I will try to keep everyone posted. I'm okay and happy! And it's so beautiful. I think I'm in love with Nepal!
Love and hugs to you all.
I begin today.
I left Kathmandu at 6:30 and took a bus to Besisahar which took about 7 bumpy, windy, beautiful hours. Although... let me advise others who might want to do this... have your legs shortened about 6 inches before leaving the US. It might make all buses much more comfortable!!
The scenery is incredible. The road after Dumre is barely wide enough for 2 buses to pass each other and that's only in "most" portions. The road is deteriorated and we also ran into a "road block" where about 20 people (including some kids) were waiting, rope held across road, to collect a fee to pass. Hmmmm...
Another highlight on the ride was a sign I saw (besides the incredible views - did I mention the views)? "Bridge damaged, please drive slow, one vehicle only." This as our bus barrelled over it! OMG. The bus takes a road that goes up and down several small mountains and along the edge with a great lookout. Just don't look down.
Anyways, I won't post all the details until my trip is over. Just know that I am safe and doing well. I will begin hiking either today or tomorrow. If I spend the night in Besisahar then I'll just hang out here today. I may opt to go to Kuhdi though...either catch a jeep for 30 minutes over the bumpy dirty road or walk the 3 hours. Which may mean 4 for Miss Heavy Pack. It weighs about 18-20 kg. I hope to get back to Thailand "Fit and Firm" as Pi Jew says!
There are a lot of other trekkers and I mean a LOT. I have my eyes and ears open and am enjoying the Nepali people.
I may not have access to internet the rest of the trek which I plan on taking at least 3 weeks. "Heavy Pack and All." :-) Title for my book Dylan? haaaahahahhah! Anyways, the power and internet/phone connection are sketchy but I will try to keep everyone posted. I'm okay and happy! And it's so beautiful. I think I'm in love with Nepal!
Love and hugs to you all.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Kathmandu
Namaste.
This website has a beautiful definition of "namaste."
http://www.taketheleap.com/namaste.htm
I've arrived in Kathmandu and am staying at "Elbrus Home." The stopover in Bangladesh was very interesting to say the least. I had breakfast with a shihk (sp) and an interesting conversation. A Bangladesh man in the Bangkok airport offered to have me stay with him in Dhaka on my layover for my flight... yeah... NOOOOOO. Bangladesh was intimidating. It is very much a male dominated society and I was grateful I had prepared by purchasing a full length skirt in Bangkok yesterday morning. The plane left Bangkok at 9:20 pm on Benin Bangladesh airways (I will probably not use them again) and we arrived in Dhaka Bangladesh about midnight. (It's a 2+ hour flight). By the time the airlines arranged to take me to a hotel it was well after 1:00 am. I was transported there with an English man and the shihk from India. The English man was actually living in Thailand (for the prior 7 years) and was hoping to make it home in time before his mother passed away. The Shihk was traveling on business.
I met a couple from England (25 and 22) and they are very sweet. We've been helping each other out a bit since we all boarded the plane in Bangkok and we ended up deciding we'd stay in the same guesthouse here in Kathmandu. I'm sure I'll see them more and possibly see them on the trek as well. They are very sweet and fun.
Elbrus Home is $6 USD per night for one person (~76 rupis). My room has two single beds and a fan and a private bathroom and tv. For two people the same room is $8 per night. The guesthouse is on the 4th floor and the view is beautiful. There is a large patio area that overlooks the city. Here's a website:
http://www.hostelsweb.com/hostelsweb.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=20533
Kathmandu is surrounded by mountains and reminds me of Denver but much smaller and VERY different. Not SAME SAME and YES DIFFERENT. (That's for Sherri). :-P In Thailand the phrase the foreigners hear often is "same same but different..." in otherwords, you should buy it because it's similar to something but it's unique so either way ... you will like.
Did I mention Kathmandu is surrounded by mountains? To Colorado born hiking mountain lover in me, this translates into "home." I love the mountains and was missing them in Thailand. The jungle hills are beautiful too... and same same but different. Very different. I can't hike them. It's too hot and the paths would be overgrown and bug/critter inhabited. As I told Sherri and Michael in Karon Beach one night on our way back to their hotel... "I do not cross the grass at night in Thailand." I refused to take the shortcut. NOT happening. Too many centipedes, snakes, spiders, mosquitos, ants, etc. I am pretty flexible on most things but not this.
I will be shopping for my trekking things over the next two days and working on getting my permits. I need a TIMS card and a trekking permit for the Annapurna Circuit. I also need a sleeping bag, down jacket and gloves and hats, iodine and water cannister and maybe a water purifier, a pair of pants, long underwear, long sleeve shirt... and I can't remember what else. I have a full list back at the hotel. From what I've seen in the shops with new merchandise (probably fake brand names), this may not be cheap. I'm hoping to buy some used things and get a few deals but we'll see. It's the high season for trekking the Annapurna trek so it may be difficult to get good deals. We'll see though! :-)
On a side note, I had a moment of panic at the Bangkok airport. Apparently when I arrived in Bangkok I was supposed to explicitly write my visa number out on the customs info (thought I did) and let them know I needed a 60 day visa. (Also thought I did). BUT... I failed to notice the date they actually stamped for my visa. I purchased a 60 day Thai visa in the US before leaving and when I arrived in BKK they stamped my passport with a 30 day visa. At the airline desk when I checked my bag I was informed that I had exceeded my visa stay and that I would be charged 500 baht for each extra day. I thanked her and proceeded to the immigration office. The man there reviewed my passport and my US visa and the stamp that they used when I arrived. He proceeded to cross out the date they gave me originally and restamp it with a 60 days date. I was so relieved I almost cried. I also almost called home to the US to have a good cry with one of you but realized it was somewhere between 2:00 - 4:00 am and you might not appreciate the call and me needing to be mopped up off a thai airport floor from thousands of miles away. Sigh. So I mopped myself up instead. :-) It was fine. I just don't like to mess with immigration especially since I need to come back in!
Anyways, I want to head out and find some yummy Nepalese dinner. I hope all of you are well.
Love and hugs,
Joyann
ps - for those considering trekking, the book "Trekking in the Annapurna Region" by Bryn Thomas is excellent. Sherri, thank you for getting this for me. It's becoming invaluable.
This website has a beautiful definition of "namaste."
http://www.taketheleap.com/namaste.htm
I've arrived in Kathmandu and am staying at "Elbrus Home." The stopover in Bangladesh was very interesting to say the least. I had breakfast with a shihk (sp) and an interesting conversation. A Bangladesh man in the Bangkok airport offered to have me stay with him in Dhaka on my layover for my flight... yeah... NOOOOOO. Bangladesh was intimidating. It is very much a male dominated society and I was grateful I had prepared by purchasing a full length skirt in Bangkok yesterday morning. The plane left Bangkok at 9:20 pm on Benin Bangladesh airways (I will probably not use them again) and we arrived in Dhaka Bangladesh about midnight. (It's a 2+ hour flight). By the time the airlines arranged to take me to a hotel it was well after 1:00 am. I was transported there with an English man and the shihk from India. The English man was actually living in Thailand (for the prior 7 years) and was hoping to make it home in time before his mother passed away. The Shihk was traveling on business.
I met a couple from England (25 and 22) and they are very sweet. We've been helping each other out a bit since we all boarded the plane in Bangkok and we ended up deciding we'd stay in the same guesthouse here in Kathmandu. I'm sure I'll see them more and possibly see them on the trek as well. They are very sweet and fun.
Elbrus Home is $6 USD per night for one person (~76 rupis). My room has two single beds and a fan and a private bathroom and tv. For two people the same room is $8 per night. The guesthouse is on the 4th floor and the view is beautiful. There is a large patio area that overlooks the city. Here's a website:
http://www.hostelsweb.com/hostelsweb.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=20533
Kathmandu is surrounded by mountains and reminds me of Denver but much smaller and VERY different. Not SAME SAME and YES DIFFERENT. (That's for Sherri). :-P In Thailand the phrase the foreigners hear often is "same same but different..." in otherwords, you should buy it because it's similar to something but it's unique so either way ... you will like.
Did I mention Kathmandu is surrounded by mountains? To Colorado born hiking mountain lover in me, this translates into "home." I love the mountains and was missing them in Thailand. The jungle hills are beautiful too... and same same but different. Very different. I can't hike them. It's too hot and the paths would be overgrown and bug/critter inhabited. As I told Sherri and Michael in Karon Beach one night on our way back to their hotel... "I do not cross the grass at night in Thailand." I refused to take the shortcut. NOT happening. Too many centipedes, snakes, spiders, mosquitos, ants, etc. I am pretty flexible on most things but not this.
I will be shopping for my trekking things over the next two days and working on getting my permits. I need a TIMS card and a trekking permit for the Annapurna Circuit. I also need a sleeping bag, down jacket and gloves and hats, iodine and water cannister and maybe a water purifier, a pair of pants, long underwear, long sleeve shirt... and I can't remember what else. I have a full list back at the hotel. From what I've seen in the shops with new merchandise (probably fake brand names), this may not be cheap. I'm hoping to buy some used things and get a few deals but we'll see. It's the high season for trekking the Annapurna trek so it may be difficult to get good deals. We'll see though! :-)
On a side note, I had a moment of panic at the Bangkok airport. Apparently when I arrived in Bangkok I was supposed to explicitly write my visa number out on the customs info (thought I did) and let them know I needed a 60 day visa. (Also thought I did). BUT... I failed to notice the date they actually stamped for my visa. I purchased a 60 day Thai visa in the US before leaving and when I arrived in BKK they stamped my passport with a 30 day visa. At the airline desk when I checked my bag I was informed that I had exceeded my visa stay and that I would be charged 500 baht for each extra day. I thanked her and proceeded to the immigration office. The man there reviewed my passport and my US visa and the stamp that they used when I arrived. He proceeded to cross out the date they gave me originally and restamp it with a 60 days date. I was so relieved I almost cried. I also almost called home to the US to have a good cry with one of you but realized it was somewhere between 2:00 - 4:00 am and you might not appreciate the call and me needing to be mopped up off a thai airport floor from thousands of miles away. Sigh. So I mopped myself up instead. :-) It was fine. I just don't like to mess with immigration especially since I need to come back in!
Anyways, I want to head out and find some yummy Nepalese dinner. I hope all of you are well.
Love and hugs,
Joyann
ps - for those considering trekking, the book "Trekking in the Annapurna Region" by Bryn Thomas is excellent. Sherri, thank you for getting this for me. It's becoming invaluable.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Asha Guesthouse
Hi all,
I'm back in Bangkok at the Asha Guesthouse. I took the night bus from Phuket which ended up being 15 hours and one of the 3 drivers talked VERY loud much of the way. Sigh!
Anyways, I leave tomorrow evening for Nepal via Bangladesh.
Joyann
I'm back in Bangkok at the Asha Guesthouse. I took the night bus from Phuket which ended up being 15 hours and one of the 3 drivers talked VERY loud much of the way. Sigh!
Anyways, I leave tomorrow evening for Nepal via Bangladesh.
Joyann
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Last Thursday, October 9
Last week, Kellie and her boyfriend Ken took Fiona and I on a tour south of Bangkok - about an hour or two south? I will get the names after my Nepal trip because I can't remember them off the top of my head and I also don't have my computer so I can't post the pics.
Ken drove us to a market on the river where we caught a tour boat that lasted about 1-1.5 hours. It was so beautiful and incredibly refreshing after spending the week in Bangkok. Ken and Kellie are a lot of fun and Ken was very kind to take us around. There are numerous Thai house boats on the river. One side was more commercialized and the other was much more traditional thai housing. We had ice-cream from a small vendor in a boat on the river. YUM!!
After the market we went to a summer palace that is on the university grounds where Ken got his engineering degree. He is a material engineer and works in Bangkok (he's a plastic engineer there). The summer palace and grounds were gorgeous.
We had a light 'snack'/dinner at a market near his family home and then went and met his mother and saw his house. He was born and raised here.
From there we went to a temple that is the tallest in Thailand and the world (if I understood correctly). Again - I'll get the names later.
Dinner was at a market - excellent dinner! Ken not only drove us around but also treated us to the tour and meals which was incredibly generous.
Ken drove us to a market on the river where we caught a tour boat that lasted about 1-1.5 hours. It was so beautiful and incredibly refreshing after spending the week in Bangkok. Ken and Kellie are a lot of fun and Ken was very kind to take us around. There are numerous Thai house boats on the river. One side was more commercialized and the other was much more traditional thai housing. We had ice-cream from a small vendor in a boat on the river. YUM!!
After the market we went to a summer palace that is on the university grounds where Ken got his engineering degree. He is a material engineer and works in Bangkok (he's a plastic engineer there). The summer palace and grounds were gorgeous.
We had a light 'snack'/dinner at a market near his family home and then went and met his mother and saw his house. He was born and raised here.
From there we went to a temple that is the tallest in Thailand and the world (if I understood correctly). Again - I'll get the names later.
Dinner was at a market - excellent dinner! Ken not only drove us around but also treated us to the tour and meals which was incredibly generous.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
I'm back! And gone again...
I've been from Bangkok to Takua Pa to Phuket and back to Yaowawit and then back to Phuket. I'm now staying at the Pineapple Guesthouse in Karon Beach for a few days. My sister and brother-in-law are at the Hilton for her work conference on Dengue Fever. Cool stuff for her!
The Hilton here is one of the nicest hotels in Karon beach (if not THE nicest). It's weird for me to go from seeing the children in one room dirty homes (minus the emotional trauma) to seeing this huge resort with beautiful property and phenomenal rooms and multiple pools. I have to remind myself that I'd feel the same way in the US - going from people in poverty to lovely, expensive rich hotels there. Even I have a lot of money comparatively with my 905 sq ft condo and 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and I'm the only one living there! (As opposed to 15 people to fill it!) Besides the Hilton and resorts like it allow for foreigners to come and feel comfortable in a strange place and it brings funds to a struggling economy. I'm just trying to wrap my head around it all. Tourism, trade, economics, poverty... it would be REALLY cool to study! Anyways, I'm off to sit by the pool with Michael (brother-in-law) and read a book so it must not bother me too much to go enjoy it! :-)
Sherri and Michael went on what sounds like an absolutely lovely tour yesterday to Khao Sok to ride elephants through the jungle, see Khao Lok, see monkeys, see a nice temple... they went with a fairly new company and their guide was great - he took them to other places besides what they signed up for and was flexible with what they did.
I went back to Yaowawit yesterday to get my things and switch my stuff out for what I'd need in Nepal. My room is currently under construction. They are fixing the roof leaks and repainting and re-tiling the kitchen. It will be nice. I stayed in one of the hotel rooms for the night - please come visit if you are thinking of taking a trip. The hotel is lovely and Yaowawit is a very special place. The school is exemplary and I think you would really enjoy experiencing it.
Anyways, I've been busing quite a bit. When Sherri and Michael flew to Phuket I hopped on the 2nd Class bus from Bangkok to Takua Pa (11 hours). It's actually not bad at all. Fiona picked me up and we drove to Karon Beach to see Sherri and Michael for lunch. I ended up going back with Fiona to Nom Phen (sp?) and Uncle Jew picked me up and took me back to Yaowawit. I rode with Pee Wit (the headmaster) and three boys to Phang Nga in the morning to catch the bus back to Phuket. I had a great conversation with the headmaster about the school and breaking the cycle of poverty.
I enjoyed getting to know Fiona better - I spent most of last week with her as well as Monday. She's a phenomenal woman and has done so much not only for Yaowawit but also for her friends, the Nom Phen community (where she now lives in Thailand) and also for people in Cambodia. She's also involved in helping the local animals. She feeds the dogs mange pills and works with a local vet. On the way back to her house we picked up a puppy that she'd been seeing for the last few days. No mama dog and it was all by itself and starving. She's a beautiful puppy and now has the BEST home! Fiona's also had foster kids in Australia and has helped numerous other kids. She's an amazing person and a damn hoot to boot!
Anyways, I'm sad that I'm leaving Yaowawit for a month but am looking forward to hiking in Nepal. During the trek I will not have contact via internet or phone (unless one of the remote villages/tea houses has electricity or phone service) then I'll post or call someone. Otherwise, After October 24/25 I'll be out of touch for 3 weeks.
Much love to you. Sa wah dee ka. Namaste.
Joyann
The Hilton here is one of the nicest hotels in Karon beach (if not THE nicest). It's weird for me to go from seeing the children in one room dirty homes (minus the emotional trauma) to seeing this huge resort with beautiful property and phenomenal rooms and multiple pools. I have to remind myself that I'd feel the same way in the US - going from people in poverty to lovely, expensive rich hotels there. Even I have a lot of money comparatively with my 905 sq ft condo and 2 bedrooms and 2 baths and I'm the only one living there! (As opposed to 15 people to fill it!) Besides the Hilton and resorts like it allow for foreigners to come and feel comfortable in a strange place and it brings funds to a struggling economy. I'm just trying to wrap my head around it all. Tourism, trade, economics, poverty... it would be REALLY cool to study! Anyways, I'm off to sit by the pool with Michael (brother-in-law) and read a book so it must not bother me too much to go enjoy it! :-)
Sherri and Michael went on what sounds like an absolutely lovely tour yesterday to Khao Sok to ride elephants through the jungle, see Khao Lok, see monkeys, see a nice temple... they went with a fairly new company and their guide was great - he took them to other places besides what they signed up for and was flexible with what they did.
I went back to Yaowawit yesterday to get my things and switch my stuff out for what I'd need in Nepal. My room is currently under construction. They are fixing the roof leaks and repainting and re-tiling the kitchen. It will be nice. I stayed in one of the hotel rooms for the night - please come visit if you are thinking of taking a trip. The hotel is lovely and Yaowawit is a very special place. The school is exemplary and I think you would really enjoy experiencing it.
Anyways, I've been busing quite a bit. When Sherri and Michael flew to Phuket I hopped on the 2nd Class bus from Bangkok to Takua Pa (11 hours). It's actually not bad at all. Fiona picked me up and we drove to Karon Beach to see Sherri and Michael for lunch. I ended up going back with Fiona to Nom Phen (sp?) and Uncle Jew picked me up and took me back to Yaowawit. I rode with Pee Wit (the headmaster) and three boys to Phang Nga in the morning to catch the bus back to Phuket. I had a great conversation with the headmaster about the school and breaking the cycle of poverty.
I enjoyed getting to know Fiona better - I spent most of last week with her as well as Monday. She's a phenomenal woman and has done so much not only for Yaowawit but also for her friends, the Nom Phen community (where she now lives in Thailand) and also for people in Cambodia. She's also involved in helping the local animals. She feeds the dogs mange pills and works with a local vet. On the way back to her house we picked up a puppy that she'd been seeing for the last few days. No mama dog and it was all by itself and starving. She's a beautiful puppy and now has the BEST home! Fiona's also had foster kids in Australia and has helped numerous other kids. She's an amazing person and a damn hoot to boot!
Anyways, I'm sad that I'm leaving Yaowawit for a month but am looking forward to hiking in Nepal. During the trek I will not have contact via internet or phone (unless one of the remote villages/tea houses has electricity or phone service) then I'll post or call someone. Otherwise, After October 24/25 I'll be out of touch for 3 weeks.
Much love to you. Sa wah dee ka. Namaste.
Joyann
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Still in Bangkok
Hello all!
Yesterday was a bit annoying. I trekked all the way across town to find the Nepal Embassy closed for 3 days for holiday. Too bad I can't seem to get good information on the net. Anyways, I'm over Bangkok and shopping and ready to go back to the jungle. :-)
Today Kellie and Fiona and I are going on a day trip to another city about an hour out of Bangkok so it will be nice to get away and fun to spend time with them!
I hope things are going okay for all of you. Good luck with everything going on. The world's a bit crazy at the moment!
Love and hugs.
Yesterday was a bit annoying. I trekked all the way across town to find the Nepal Embassy closed for 3 days for holiday. Too bad I can't seem to get good information on the net. Anyways, I'm over Bangkok and shopping and ready to go back to the jungle. :-)
Today Kellie and Fiona and I are going on a day trip to another city about an hour out of Bangkok so it will be nice to get away and fun to spend time with them!
I hope things are going okay for all of you. Good luck with everything going on. The world's a bit crazy at the moment!
Love and hugs.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Bangkok
Still in Bangkok and Oh my...still shopping. I have been infected with the disease!
Anyways, I spent much of the day with Georgie the fab Aussie and had a great time. Didn't get back to the hotel until late and I'll be going to Kellie's tomorrow evening instead.
So much for the Visa for Nepal... I got a little sidetracked!
Love and hugs,
jaz
Anyways, I spent much of the day with Georgie the fab Aussie and had a great time. Didn't get back to the hotel until late and I'll be going to Kellie's tomorrow evening instead.
So much for the Visa for Nepal... I got a little sidetracked!
Love and hugs,
jaz
Monday, October 6, 2008
Fashion and fun! What? Same sentence! Oh my.
Okay gals, cheers to you shoppers out there. I am not one of you. I do like fashion but it's more work than I'm willing to put in. So... for those of you savvy shoppers, I apologize. I am not giving up my Chacos for sexy shoes. Of course a new friend would disagree... "one doesn't have to look homeless while their trekking! You do have pictures taken don't you?" Hmm... food for thought. I still hate shopping. And... I'm still not giving up my Chacos... homeless attire or not!
Fiona and I arrived in Bangkok this morning at 7:00 am after a tiring night of bus travel. Much of my sleepy thoughts - or perhaps they were dreams - were of large speeding bullets going round and round, riding a bus that was too large and top heavy to be going so fast on narrow harried corners, maybe this is what an acid trip is like... the world spinning by and you can barely make out the shapes and silhouettes ... passing large trucks on corners with solid no pass lines... dark dark night in a foreign land..." I really do think I was dreaming. REALLY.
Today I spent with Fiona and her friend Georgie from Australia. Georgie buys a ton of fashionable clothes in Bangkok and Bali and also has some manufactured in Bali as well, both her designs as well as ones she sees. She then ships them home to Aussie land and sells them. (Dresses can be bought for $5, add in shipping fees and then sell for $30-90). She's got an eye for fashion and is gorgeous and a lot of fun. I tagged along to see how someone else makes their living. A lot of work from what I see but she's got a talent and spunk. And I had help finding a new dress! I don't mind if someone else is shopping.
Anyways, made for an interesting day. Tomorrow I'm off to find the Embassy of Nepal to get my Visa and to meet up with Kellie. I'll be staying with her the next two days. Tonight the three of us gals (Fiona, Georgie and I) are sharing a three-bed room at the New Siam II off Khaosan road in Bangkok. Check out the website if you're interested... for the curious... 1125 baht split 3 ways. :-)
http://www.newsiam.net/ns/index.php
I had pizza, pasta and a Margharita tonight. I LOVE western food and did I mention... alcohol?
Fiona and I arrived in Bangkok this morning at 7:00 am after a tiring night of bus travel. Much of my sleepy thoughts - or perhaps they were dreams - were of large speeding bullets going round and round, riding a bus that was too large and top heavy to be going so fast on narrow harried corners, maybe this is what an acid trip is like... the world spinning by and you can barely make out the shapes and silhouettes ... passing large trucks on corners with solid no pass lines... dark dark night in a foreign land..." I really do think I was dreaming. REALLY.
Today I spent with Fiona and her friend Georgie from Australia. Georgie buys a ton of fashionable clothes in Bangkok and Bali and also has some manufactured in Bali as well, both her designs as well as ones she sees. She then ships them home to Aussie land and sells them. (Dresses can be bought for $5, add in shipping fees and then sell for $30-90). She's got an eye for fashion and is gorgeous and a lot of fun. I tagged along to see how someone else makes their living. A lot of work from what I see but she's got a talent and spunk. And I had help finding a new dress! I don't mind if someone else is shopping.
Anyways, made for an interesting day. Tomorrow I'm off to find the Embassy of Nepal to get my Visa and to meet up with Kellie. I'll be staying with her the next two days. Tonight the three of us gals (Fiona, Georgie and I) are sharing a three-bed room at the New Siam II off Khaosan road in Bangkok. Check out the website if you're interested... for the curious... 1125 baht split 3 ways. :-)
http://www.newsiam.net/ns/index.php
I had pizza, pasta and a Margharita tonight. I LOVE western food and did I mention... alcohol?
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Pics - enjoy
I posted a few pics but need to run... I'm off to pack for Bangkok. By the way... I purchased my Nepal ticket and leave Bangkok on the 19th of October. CAN'T WAIT!!!
Yes... only a dork would take a picture of their drink!! Chuckle. This is me in Kata Beach on Oct 2 at the Oyster Restaurant.
Kru Noi and I with a view of Phuket Town from Big Buddha (yes these are seriously out of order). With the flash you can't see the city... sigh...
Vegetarian Festival in Phuket Town (Oct 4)
After sunset at Kata Beach
I know I called this a "bell" and it's not - feel free to correct me because I can't remember the name of it.
Big Buddha overlooking Phuket town
Yes... only a dork would take a picture of their drink!! Chuckle. This is me in Kata Beach on Oct 2 at the Oyster Restaurant.
Kru Noi and I with a view of Phuket Town from Big Buddha (yes these are seriously out of order). With the flash you can't see the city... sigh...
Vegetarian Festival in Phuket Town (Oct 4)
After sunset at Kata Beach
I know I called this a "bell" and it's not - feel free to correct me because I can't remember the name of it.
Big Buddha overlooking Phuket town
Off to Bangkok!!
Okay, so change of plans. Instead of going to Bangkok on Wednesday I'm going to leave today at 4:00 and try to book a ticket in Takua Pa for the 7:30 pm bus to Bangkok. If there is space available I will be riding with Fiona and then may share a taxi into town. I'm not sure yet where I will be staying but will let you know.
If I can't get on this bus then I will be waiting a day or two.
Much love,
jaz
If I can't get on this bus then I will be waiting a day or two.
Much love,
jaz
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Back to Yaowawit
I'm back in Kapong at Yaowawit. Yesterday Uncle Jew picked me up at our designated meeting spot in Phuket. I had a little trouble getting there from Karon Beach because of the vegetarian festival parade and traffic jam.
One of the traditions of the festival is for individuals to inflict pain upon themselves. They do this by spearing metal objects through their face and ears and swinging axes and knives onto their back. They walk from the sea to the Chinese Buddhist temple in Old Town Phuket (I think this is 2-3 km?). To add pressure to the pain in their face they will add weight to the objects - some even hang a bicycle frame from their cheeks. I didn't see this so I don't know how they do it. I crossed the parade in between groups and saw a few... I post the pics later. They aren't the best because I didn't get very close. Part of this process is to purge themselves from either pain or acknowledging it. I'm not clear on in - I had the information but forgot it. They will also set off numerous firecrackers to rid themselves of bad spirits.
Uncle Jew is quite humorous and likes to kid me. He had attended the parade last year so I thought he meant he walked in it. So I asked him if he pierced his head and hit himself with sharp objects... he told me "yes, he had and that it was very painful." I looked at his cheeks and I said "but you don't have any scars?" And he laughed and said "he walked very far..." I eventually got it. He was pulling my leg. He's a riot! Half the time Uncle Jew has me in stitches! Until of course he decides he's hell bent for getting home and drives like a mad man! He's good - I think he'd be fabulous on a race course with the way he smooths out the curves with little change of the wheel and all but... in an old Mazda (the odometer is busted) and the clutches is burning out... he'll scare the living shit out of you and still do a safe job maneuvering traffic. (Although at times you can touch the bumper in front). I only experienced this on the last hour of our trip home last night. For the most part he drives normal and he keeps us out of trouble. (I feel pretty safe riding with him... you just have to let go of the control thing and not think).
Yesterday was a bit rough. A couple of the cooks, Than and Wit (her boyfriend) and Pepsi (Sri's new nick name), two high school girls and the housekeeping woman, Pawn, Kru Noi (teacher and my friend) and Kru Kung (the office woman) came to Phuket. Kru Kung had an accounting class for the day, Kru Noi was working and interviewing some of the children's families, and the rest came to shop and "Big C." Big C is from France, Tesco is from England and Mesccra? is from Sweden. The one from Sweden is like Costco in that you need a card to get in and out and they have wholesale prices.
Anyways, I'm not into shopping and I wanted to meet the families and see the homes of some of the children. This was very discouraging. Kru Noi interviews the parent or "guardian," and I video tape the interview. Kru Noi also takes pictures of the home for the children's history that we keep on file (as well as for sponsors).
Nong "Nit"
Nong Nit is about 10 years old. She's a very smart and talented girl (kind of a diva among her peers at Yaowawit - she seems to be able to get them to do her laundry for her too!). She's one of our best dancers and her English and ability to speak on stage is excellent. Nit lives in Patong Beach with her mother and brother when not living at Yaowawit. Her mother works in a bar in Patong which literally means she is in the sex trade. Right now she has not been able to get work as tourism is in the low season. She is about to be evicted from their place and has about 50 baht left to live on. What would have cost her 20 baht for fruit now costs 40 baht because Nit is there.
Nit's mother rents a one room "apartment" for 5000 baht per month (expensive for a Thai person). It is in a nicer part of Patong Beach near the bar where she works (about 2 km from the beach). The place is relatively clean but they live in a room about 10-12 ft x 12 ft. There is a private bathroom off of the room. There is no kitchen but there was a rice cooker and some other cooking stuff - I think they go outside to cook. By standards I came to see later yesterday, this was a very nice place. There is a double bed, a futon type of bed (wedged next to the bed and the wall), a shelf, an armoire, and a table with a lot of stuff on it. The floor is simple but nice white tile. There were pictures on the wall. Outside is an outdoor covered hallway and there are other rooms off of this. The hallway opens to the street via a short flight of stairs and is stationed next to a restaurant/bar. This is off of one of the main roads into Patong.
Nit and her brother were asleep when we arrived about 11 am (?) - Patong was very hot yesterday. Just getting there required several calls to her mother to figure out the location of their home and driving around in the little Mazda and reversing and trying again. Eventually Nit's mom flagged us down.
Nong Lek and Nuang
These two boys live with their grandmother in a very run down building. Lek is 14 years old and Nuang I think is 8 or 10? You go down a dirt street, around a corner and into an area that the tenants use for cooking. It's very dirty and a little intimidating. To get to their room you go up wooden stairs and their room is the first door on a dark hallway (the end opens to the street - no glass for windows). The room itself is about 10 x 13' and has a bed, a folded up mattress, a tv, a fridge and ants. The linoleum is pieced together and the floor uneven. The walls are written on. There is no toilet or shower in the room. The cost is 1200 baht. The grandmother works in the evenings and does Thai Massage but gets home late. It is difficult for her to care for the two boys.
Nong Lek does not want to be back in Patong Beach. He wants to be back at Yaowawit. They can watch tv in the room or go outside but do not like it. At Yaowawit it is clean and they can shower and have meals and it's safe. I think this place may be safe for them but it was very dirty and run down.
Nong Bush
Bush lives with his mother in an apartment that I think is 2-3000 baht. He is 5-6 years old (he's one of the kindergarten children I teach). He's very smart. Bush's mother is Thai and his father was a foreigner who left. Bush's mother works in a Thai massage place at night so Bush is left home alone in the evenings. He gets much love and attention from his mother.
Nong Let
I think I have Let's name wrong... he's about 10 years old. He lives with his mother and brother in a small run down room. They pay either 1200-2000 baht for their place. There is no bathroom. The place is probably 10x10' with a bed, tv and fridge. I don't know what Let's mother does for a living... I forgot to ask. Let plays video games a lot or watches tv. The video games are 20 baht an hour. I don't know the entire story here.
Each of these was discouraging but left me wondering what poverty looks like in the slums of the US. I imagine that they are not places I would like to visit either and are probably just as dirty with the same dismal stories... just a little different.
After we left Patong Beach, Uncle Jew and Kru Noi and I drove around a bit running errands. It was terribly hot and after walking around in Patong city trying to find where the children lived and then riding in the hot car we were exhausted. We finally ended up back at the Big C and Kru Noi and I were able to hit a bathroom and freshen up. I soaked my head in water to help. Yes, I'm sure the locals think that I look ridiculous (and most of the time I do... dressed in my travel clothes and having horrible hair that WILL NOT cooperate in this climate). Anyways, were had about an hour to kill so Kru Noi and I had KFC - yes you heard right... Kentucky Fried Chicken! and Icecream and did a little shopping.
Afterwards we picked up Kru Kung from her accounting class and Uncle Jew took us to see the Big Buddha. This is a 35 meter statue overlooking the city of Phuket. From the top you have a view east of the city as well as a view west of Kata and Karon beach (there are some trees in the way to the west but it's absolutely gorgeous). You ring the big bell 9 times, walk around Buddha 3 times. I loved this and the detour had me humming. It's a lovely drive 6 km up from the road that goes from Phuket to Kata/Karon. The sun had set so we left in the dark.
We stopped at the night market for 20 minutes and then it was off to drop off one of the students at her home on the north side of Phuket island. The drive back was about 1.5 hours and we stopped and dropped off the teachers/staff and the last student. We finally made it home by about 9:00 or 9:30 pm.
I missed Yaowawit and the people so it was lovely spending the day with some of them and really nice to be back.
One of the traditions of the festival is for individuals to inflict pain upon themselves. They do this by spearing metal objects through their face and ears and swinging axes and knives onto their back. They walk from the sea to the Chinese Buddhist temple in Old Town Phuket (I think this is 2-3 km?). To add pressure to the pain in their face they will add weight to the objects - some even hang a bicycle frame from their cheeks. I didn't see this so I don't know how they do it. I crossed the parade in between groups and saw a few... I post the pics later. They aren't the best because I didn't get very close. Part of this process is to purge themselves from either pain or acknowledging it. I'm not clear on in - I had the information but forgot it. They will also set off numerous firecrackers to rid themselves of bad spirits.
Uncle Jew is quite humorous and likes to kid me. He had attended the parade last year so I thought he meant he walked in it. So I asked him if he pierced his head and hit himself with sharp objects... he told me "yes, he had and that it was very painful." I looked at his cheeks and I said "but you don't have any scars?" And he laughed and said "he walked very far..." I eventually got it. He was pulling my leg. He's a riot! Half the time Uncle Jew has me in stitches! Until of course he decides he's hell bent for getting home and drives like a mad man! He's good - I think he'd be fabulous on a race course with the way he smooths out the curves with little change of the wheel and all but... in an old Mazda (the odometer is busted) and the clutches is burning out... he'll scare the living shit out of you and still do a safe job maneuvering traffic. (Although at times you can touch the bumper in front). I only experienced this on the last hour of our trip home last night. For the most part he drives normal and he keeps us out of trouble. (I feel pretty safe riding with him... you just have to let go of the control thing and not think).
Yesterday was a bit rough. A couple of the cooks, Than and Wit (her boyfriend) and Pepsi (Sri's new nick name), two high school girls and the housekeeping woman, Pawn, Kru Noi (teacher and my friend) and Kru Kung (the office woman) came to Phuket. Kru Kung had an accounting class for the day, Kru Noi was working and interviewing some of the children's families, and the rest came to shop and "Big C." Big C is from France, Tesco is from England and Mesccra? is from Sweden. The one from Sweden is like Costco in that you need a card to get in and out and they have wholesale prices.
Anyways, I'm not into shopping and I wanted to meet the families and see the homes of some of the children. This was very discouraging. Kru Noi interviews the parent or "guardian," and I video tape the interview. Kru Noi also takes pictures of the home for the children's history that we keep on file (as well as for sponsors).
Nong "Nit"
Nong Nit is about 10 years old. She's a very smart and talented girl (kind of a diva among her peers at Yaowawit - she seems to be able to get them to do her laundry for her too!). She's one of our best dancers and her English and ability to speak on stage is excellent. Nit lives in Patong Beach with her mother and brother when not living at Yaowawit. Her mother works in a bar in Patong which literally means she is in the sex trade. Right now she has not been able to get work as tourism is in the low season. She is about to be evicted from their place and has about 50 baht left to live on. What would have cost her 20 baht for fruit now costs 40 baht because Nit is there.
Nit's mother rents a one room "apartment" for 5000 baht per month (expensive for a Thai person). It is in a nicer part of Patong Beach near the bar where she works (about 2 km from the beach). The place is relatively clean but they live in a room about 10-12 ft x 12 ft. There is a private bathroom off of the room. There is no kitchen but there was a rice cooker and some other cooking stuff - I think they go outside to cook. By standards I came to see later yesterday, this was a very nice place. There is a double bed, a futon type of bed (wedged next to the bed and the wall), a shelf, an armoire, and a table with a lot of stuff on it. The floor is simple but nice white tile. There were pictures on the wall. Outside is an outdoor covered hallway and there are other rooms off of this. The hallway opens to the street via a short flight of stairs and is stationed next to a restaurant/bar. This is off of one of the main roads into Patong.
Nit and her brother were asleep when we arrived about 11 am (?) - Patong was very hot yesterday. Just getting there required several calls to her mother to figure out the location of their home and driving around in the little Mazda and reversing and trying again. Eventually Nit's mom flagged us down.
Nong Lek and Nuang
These two boys live with their grandmother in a very run down building. Lek is 14 years old and Nuang I think is 8 or 10? You go down a dirt street, around a corner and into an area that the tenants use for cooking. It's very dirty and a little intimidating. To get to their room you go up wooden stairs and their room is the first door on a dark hallway (the end opens to the street - no glass for windows). The room itself is about 10 x 13' and has a bed, a folded up mattress, a tv, a fridge and ants. The linoleum is pieced together and the floor uneven. The walls are written on. There is no toilet or shower in the room. The cost is 1200 baht. The grandmother works in the evenings and does Thai Massage but gets home late. It is difficult for her to care for the two boys.
Nong Lek does not want to be back in Patong Beach. He wants to be back at Yaowawit. They can watch tv in the room or go outside but do not like it. At Yaowawit it is clean and they can shower and have meals and it's safe. I think this place may be safe for them but it was very dirty and run down.
Nong Bush
Bush lives with his mother in an apartment that I think is 2-3000 baht. He is 5-6 years old (he's one of the kindergarten children I teach). He's very smart. Bush's mother is Thai and his father was a foreigner who left. Bush's mother works in a Thai massage place at night so Bush is left home alone in the evenings. He gets much love and attention from his mother.
Nong Let
I think I have Let's name wrong... he's about 10 years old. He lives with his mother and brother in a small run down room. They pay either 1200-2000 baht for their place. There is no bathroom. The place is probably 10x10' with a bed, tv and fridge. I don't know what Let's mother does for a living... I forgot to ask. Let plays video games a lot or watches tv. The video games are 20 baht an hour. I don't know the entire story here.
Each of these was discouraging but left me wondering what poverty looks like in the slums of the US. I imagine that they are not places I would like to visit either and are probably just as dirty with the same dismal stories... just a little different.
After we left Patong Beach, Uncle Jew and Kru Noi and I drove around a bit running errands. It was terribly hot and after walking around in Patong city trying to find where the children lived and then riding in the hot car we were exhausted. We finally ended up back at the Big C and Kru Noi and I were able to hit a bathroom and freshen up. I soaked my head in water to help. Yes, I'm sure the locals think that I look ridiculous (and most of the time I do... dressed in my travel clothes and having horrible hair that WILL NOT cooperate in this climate). Anyways, were had about an hour to kill so Kru Noi and I had KFC - yes you heard right... Kentucky Fried Chicken! and Icecream and did a little shopping.
Afterwards we picked up Kru Kung from her accounting class and Uncle Jew took us to see the Big Buddha. This is a 35 meter statue overlooking the city of Phuket. From the top you have a view east of the city as well as a view west of Kata and Karon beach (there are some trees in the way to the west but it's absolutely gorgeous). You ring the big bell 9 times, walk around Buddha 3 times. I loved this and the detour had me humming. It's a lovely drive 6 km up from the road that goes from Phuket to Kata/Karon. The sun had set so we left in the dark.
We stopped at the night market for 20 minutes and then it was off to drop off one of the students at her home on the north side of Phuket island. The drive back was about 1.5 hours and we stopped and dropped off the teachers/staff and the last student. We finally made it home by about 9:00 or 9:30 pm.
I missed Yaowawit and the people so it was lovely spending the day with some of them and really nice to be back.
Friday, October 3, 2008
PIZZA! Did I mention PIZZA???
LOVE the pizza. If you are in Karon Beach you must visit "2gether" which is a GREAT steak and pizza/pasta place. YUM.
I had a vegetarian pizza (I'm craving vegies and am over meat at the moment - or at least the Thai meat) and a Chang beer. YUM. Ate by myself. Eventually the owner came over to say hello and see how the pizza was. They probably have the best around. He stole the pizza cook from another restaurant and paid the guy 3+ times more to keep him. He also has a great steak cook as well. I may have to try the steak! His wife and daughter were there. He's originally from Sweden and eventually moved to Thailand permanently.
For the curious, dinner was 280 baht (200 pizza, 50 baht chang beer, 30 baht water)
So... after dinner I walked around the corner to one of the bars and ordered a bloody mary. YES. You heard me... I'm drinkin' it up. (Did I mention that last night I hit the "Oyster Restaurant" and had a coconut alcohol drink? YUM - and that thing was huge!). Anyways, enjoyed the bloody mary but even more important, the bartender, "We" is his name, was playing Creedence Clearwater Revival. Ahhh a whisper of music from home. I rather enjoyed myself. Hung out and yacked with the bartender and a local aussie who is now a permanent Thai resident. They are Harley fans and are part of the local club. Too bad I'm leaving tomorrow because they invited me to the club BBQ (at the bar). Bummer! Meet local motorcycle enthusiasts! And I'm not even an enthusiast myself! Just enjoy speaking English to people and listening to American (good American) music! (and the bloody mary was 160 baht, water 30 baht...).
Michael and Sherri, I've found the good eats and good drink spots! I'm sure we'll discover others but for now I've at least got us hooked up for the first night! Cheers!
Okay, so I may still have a buzz...
buzz... buzz... I'm off to my room. Gotta get up early. I'm enjoying my happy little buzz and the water's about to kick in (I drank at least a liter!). Gotta run... PPPPPPeace out.
BWWAHHHHHH!!! Heh hehe hee! Burp. Giggle...
I had a vegetarian pizza (I'm craving vegies and am over meat at the moment - or at least the Thai meat) and a Chang beer. YUM. Ate by myself. Eventually the owner came over to say hello and see how the pizza was. They probably have the best around. He stole the pizza cook from another restaurant and paid the guy 3+ times more to keep him. He also has a great steak cook as well. I may have to try the steak! His wife and daughter were there. He's originally from Sweden and eventually moved to Thailand permanently.
For the curious, dinner was 280 baht (200 pizza, 50 baht chang beer, 30 baht water)
So... after dinner I walked around the corner to one of the bars and ordered a bloody mary. YES. You heard me... I'm drinkin' it up. (Did I mention that last night I hit the "Oyster Restaurant" and had a coconut alcohol drink? YUM - and that thing was huge!). Anyways, enjoyed the bloody mary but even more important, the bartender, "We" is his name, was playing Creedence Clearwater Revival. Ahhh a whisper of music from home. I rather enjoyed myself. Hung out and yacked with the bartender and a local aussie who is now a permanent Thai resident. They are Harley fans and are part of the local club. Too bad I'm leaving tomorrow because they invited me to the club BBQ (at the bar). Bummer! Meet local motorcycle enthusiasts! And I'm not even an enthusiast myself! Just enjoy speaking English to people and listening to American (good American) music! (and the bloody mary was 160 baht, water 30 baht...).
Michael and Sherri, I've found the good eats and good drink spots! I'm sure we'll discover others but for now I've at least got us hooked up for the first night! Cheers!
Okay, so I may still have a buzz...
buzz... buzz... I'm off to my room. Gotta get up early. I'm enjoying my happy little buzz and the water's about to kick in (I drank at least a liter!). Gotta run... PPPPPPeace out.
BWWAHHHHHH!!! Heh hehe hee! Burp. Giggle...
Karon Beach
Hi all,
I'm in Karon Beach which is right next to Kata Beach tonight. I changed guest houses. I met an Italian couple that made me want to drown them but... ended up finding a place to stay together (separate rooms). Didn't help with the price and they were outright rude to the Thais we encountered. Idiots. Last night's guest house was 300 baht and had a bathroom in the room (WOW) and a tv and fridge and had windows that opened (although it was 4 floors up). That place was Kata Golden Guest House.
Anyways, decided to move to the beach my sister and brother-in-law will be staying at for tonight to try out a guest house recommended by Lek at Old Town Guest House. It's the Pineapple Guesthouse. Cost is 360 baht per night for room with fan (has a bathroom in the room and tv and fridge as well - yay!).
http://www.pineapplephuket.com/
Although Kata and Karon are beautiful I am now officially bored. I find that I can only swim in the ocean and lay on the beach and read... all by myself for only so long. BORED. bored. bored. Wishing the school was open and that I could get back to my routine.
I'm meeting Uncle Jew in Old Town Phuket tomorrow at 9:00 am so I will be up early to catch the 30 baht bus back. I'll catch a ride with him to Yaowawit School and hope to get a bus this coming Wednesday to Bangkok to prepare for the Nepal trip. I need a Nepal Visa and would like to see more of Bangkok.
Anyways, got any homework that you need help editing? Got any work you need me to do? Insurance certificates??? HAAAAAAaaa! Okay maybe not quite desperate enough to do those for free but... about ready to ask for work!! Sigh. Can't wait to see my sister and brother-in-law and I can't wait to get to Nepal.
Good luck to you all with the market stuff.
Love and hugs,
jaz
I'm in Karon Beach which is right next to Kata Beach tonight. I changed guest houses. I met an Italian couple that made me want to drown them but... ended up finding a place to stay together (separate rooms). Didn't help with the price and they were outright rude to the Thais we encountered. Idiots. Last night's guest house was 300 baht and had a bathroom in the room (WOW) and a tv and fridge and had windows that opened (although it was 4 floors up). That place was Kata Golden Guest House.
Anyways, decided to move to the beach my sister and brother-in-law will be staying at for tonight to try out a guest house recommended by Lek at Old Town Guest House. It's the Pineapple Guesthouse. Cost is 360 baht per night for room with fan (has a bathroom in the room and tv and fridge as well - yay!).
http://www.pineapplephuket.com/
Although Kata and Karon are beautiful I am now officially bored. I find that I can only swim in the ocean and lay on the beach and read... all by myself for only so long. BORED. bored. bored. Wishing the school was open and that I could get back to my routine.
I'm meeting Uncle Jew in Old Town Phuket tomorrow at 9:00 am so I will be up early to catch the 30 baht bus back. I'll catch a ride with him to Yaowawit School and hope to get a bus this coming Wednesday to Bangkok to prepare for the Nepal trip. I need a Nepal Visa and would like to see more of Bangkok.
Anyways, got any homework that you need help editing? Got any work you need me to do? Insurance certificates??? HAAAAAAaaa! Okay maybe not quite desperate enough to do those for free but... about ready to ask for work!! Sigh. Can't wait to see my sister and brother-in-law and I can't wait to get to Nepal.
Good luck to you all with the market stuff.
Love and hugs,
jaz
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Back in Phuket
Okay, so I'm back in Phuket tonight. I'm staying at... you guessed it! My fav the Old Town Hostel. I will be going to Kata Beach again tomorrow morning after taking care of some errands and then staying in a guesthouse or bungalow in Kata for Thursday and Friday night.
I'm meeting Uncle Jew back at a noodle shop by the Merlin hotel in Phuket at 9:00 am Saturday morning.
Today is the first night of the Vegetarian Buddhist festival so if my stomach settles down (just started again tonight) then I'll head out and walk the streets with the festival crowd. It's kind of a Chinese Buddhist festival (I think). You can google it... or I may get the real details and blog later.
Anyways, those participating are wearing all white. There are Chinese lanterns lit along the street and they are beautiful. Along the sidewalks are vendors with lots of food and goodies. I believe the crowd is actually headed toward the Chinese temple to see the Buddha so I may jet shortly... Phuket is a pretty okay place to walk around at night.
I've run into two of our students so far, one of which was one of my students. They live here in Phuket Old Town and are on their break. These kids are awesome. I miss them!
Anyways, I wish you all the best.
Love and hugs,
jaz
I'm meeting Uncle Jew back at a noodle shop by the Merlin hotel in Phuket at 9:00 am Saturday morning.
Today is the first night of the Vegetarian Buddhist festival so if my stomach settles down (just started again tonight) then I'll head out and walk the streets with the festival crowd. It's kind of a Chinese Buddhist festival (I think). You can google it... or I may get the real details and blog later.
Anyways, those participating are wearing all white. There are Chinese lanterns lit along the street and they are beautiful. Along the sidewalks are vendors with lots of food and goodies. I believe the crowd is actually headed toward the Chinese temple to see the Buddha so I may jet shortly... Phuket is a pretty okay place to walk around at night.
I've run into two of our students so far, one of which was one of my students. They live here in Phuket Old Town and are on their break. These kids are awesome. I miss them!
Anyways, I wish you all the best.
Love and hugs,
jaz
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