Feb 8th already!?!

Wow,

I didn't realise so much time had passed since my last up date.

Ohhhh so much to talk about:)

I stayed at the OnOn hotel for 4 nights. I struggled to get my but in gear to get out of Phuket when suddenly, as I was writing in my journal, the biggest bed bug I've ever seen (not that i've actually seen one before) ran across my bed!!! I looked everywhere but couldn't find it, I slapped on the bug spray, put on long pants and socks in 32 degree weather and tried to sleep. I couldn't so I started to journal again. This time 2 bugs ran up from beneath my bed. I caught both of them; one was full of blood but the other wasn't, how much you wanna bet that the blood was O-, I also found 2 more under the mattress. Anyways that was all the motivation I needed and the next night I was sleeping on the Island Phi Phi.
Koh Phi Phi is a beautiful island, it was one of the worst hit in the tsunami and there is construction everywhere, I'm afraid to think of what it will look like in 2 years, it is also the most expensive of the islands. As soon as I stepped off the boat I was surrounded by locals trying to get me to their hotel. I turned to one lady and asked what the cheapest place went for, she told me 1000 baht! I was paying 170 at OnOn!!! I asked for something 500Baht or less and her answer was "500 Baht! There's the boat, but a ticket 300 baht and go back to Phuket!" I was so shocked! I started wandering down the road trying to look like I knew where I was going so locals would stop asking me "you have accommodations?" when a guy came out of a dive shop, equipped me with a map and headed me in a better direction. Later down the road another diveshop guy came out to direct me. 25m after that a local stopped me to ask if I had accommodations. I didn't and it was crazy hot so I asked him what he was offering, he had a place that was 700 baht/night. I told him I could not afford it and turned to walk away, as I did he called me back and hesitantly told me of a secret place called 'The Rock' that was only 200baht/night. 1000 Baht my but!!! I headed to the hostel (it was a dorm) and thankfully changed into my swim suit:) back to the beach I went!!!
I was tanning with one of my dorm mattes when he started chatting with a guy who'd just arrived on his dingy from his yacht. Next thing I know we've been invited to spend 3 days cruising around southern Thailand for only 500 Baht/day. We agreed to meet him the next morning.
That night I met up with 4 Canadians from Calgary and Toronto. We hit the bar, I never seem to be in the mood to go out here (probably because it feels like a giant high school house party on all these islands) so I headed back to the dorm; totally excited about the yacht trip.

This is turning into a really long entry... sorry:P

At 6:30am I boarded the ship 'Juno' with 2 other random travelers and the owner. Tom is a retired American navy officer and the other 2 people were Abbie from England and Luke from Australia. Tom took us to 2 Island, Koh Moc and Koh Lanta; we swam in caves to hidden beaches, sailed to various beaches (at one I was chased by 2 monkeys) and slept on the 20m yacht. It was the best thing to happen as of yet and it was fun cause Tom expected us to help out, cooking, raising the sail, other things that I can't remember the names to...

I sadly left Juno to get to Koh Phangan on the Eastern side in time for the 'Full Moon' party. I can't say I've ever been so embarrassed to be a foreigner, i can't believe the locals put up with that month after month. It was disgusting people were too drunk, I found one girl wondering in nothing but her underwear who had no idea where her hostel was or how to find her friends!!! I left after only a couple hours, went back to my side of the Island. I was renting a bungalow for only 100baht a night, I stayed there for 5 days, it was so nice to be able to go grocery shopping and actually plan meals for myself:) I met up with one of the Americans I met in Bangkok. Devin had a motorbike so one day we took off and trekked through the mountains. One of the risks here is getting hit by falling coconuts, one bungalow down the beach had one go through it's roof! As we were touring around we found a guy who had a monkey on a leash. The monkey was trained to climb the tree and pull off all the coconuts. The guy goes around the island and people hire him to clear the trees, beats raking leaves :)

I finally figured that my tan was not going to get much darker; so I left the south and headed north. It took me 28 hours of busing but I made it. I'm staying at the Banana hostel. It's only costing me 80baht/night so I think I'll stay here for a bit, at least a week anyways. Internet is cheaper here so you can expect to hear from me alot over the next few days... I'll try to get the monkey pics up for you (yes, I got a picture just before the monkey started to chase me)

Today was the first day I felt horribly homesick. I stopped taking the 'tourist' buses and grabbed the bus here that's similar to Greyhound. It's cheaper, they supply the food, only bad thing is you are completely isolated cause not many people speak to you. Nothing like 28 hours of isolation to make you miss the people you love:)

Kari.

Sweet heavenly sun!

After a 28 hour bus saga I've finally made it to the beach... And now I'm kinda stuck cause it feels so good to just sit and soak it in. After 2 days my tan is already darker than the end of last summer, the rays are very strong here:) The only down side is that old women tanning topless and old men wearing itsy bitsy speedos seems to be the in thing. At least the speedos are helping me feel like I haven't left North Surrey Rec.

I am staying in a Hostel called 'On On' It's neat cause it's famous for a cameo it had in the movie 'The Beach' staring Leonardo DiCaprio, I'm also planning to head out and find the waterfall used in the film, apparently it's breath taking and you can swim in it:)

Well I don't have much to say now as my days are summed up in two words: sun bathing! As soon as things pick up I'll be sure to fill you in.

Thanks for all your comments, they have become such a great treat to look forward to!

Hope all is well,

Kari.

Some Pictures

Phra Nakhon



These are from the city Ayutthaya which used to be Thailand's capitol.









I bought a coke from a street vendor, and she wouldn't let me keep the bottle cause they return it for the deposit, everywhere you go you see people drinking from little plastic bags:)




The streets are so clean!!! Yes thats a toothbrush she's holding.

Here is an example of people accepting change and growing with technology. The Monk is on his cell during a ceremony:)

This is the lady who feeds me everyday. The Pat Thai costs 20 Baht which is less than $1 Can


.I wanted to buy these for Rachel, I knew how much she'd love them, but sadly I do not think they would pass the weight restrictions on the plane... Sorry Rachel :D

Where's the beach?

Hello all,
Well I still can't figure out how it's happened, but I am still in Bangkok. I can't believe I've stayed away from the beach for this long! I had to stay through the weekend to hit the weekend market, which was crazy, I bought 7 or 8 things for $40 Can :) Today I'm heading out to see some last temples that are deemed 'must sees' and tomorrow night I'm hopping on a bus and heading south.
I woke this morning to rain and thought it would ruin the day's plans. but after 15 min it all cleared up and now can hardly tell it ever rained at all. Nothing like home were the rain stews for days.
I only have a few minutes so no time for pics, hopefully I'll get some up tonight.

Kari

The Beginning

Hello to all. I've made it safe and sound to Bangkok. It only took me 27 hours; 21 hours in the air and 6 hours waiting for flights. I still can't quite figure out what day it is, but since I don't need to be anywhere for another 75 days I won't worry about it.

Last night I arrived @ 12:00am, I'd met two other lone travellers and we decided to stick together till we got our bearings. I ditched my reservations (only cost me $4) and we took off to find a hostel that could accommodate all of us... 20 hostels later, we found a hole in the wall that took us all for $8. I love the prices here. Tried to fall asleep once we got a place to avoid crazy jet leg, sleeping is really hard when there are 10 roosters in the area, all of which were very confused about what time it was.

Anyways, I'm running out of time on the computer, I'll stop this note and add some pics.

Mom and Dad - sorry I didn't call again / Jason - I miss you / Rachel - I already got the glasses / Veronica - Your letter made me cry, I love you / Drew - Songs sound great :)

Kari

Here I go

I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within. ~Lillian Smith

So I am off to a new land with new food, new people, new bugs, new languages, new customs and new climates. I am looking forward to quite an adventure. I hope to update this often and be able to share my stories with you as I experience all these new experiences so check this often.

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. ~Mark Twain