It is insane I have been here more than 100 days now. Been the trip of a lifetime and just cant believe all the people and places you can see in 3 months.
After my last post Spencer and I split up for a little bit and I went down to 4000 islands with a few friends we had met. It was a 24 hour travelling adventure because it is so remote and the roads are not very good in Laos. But this trip was definitely memorable. The 1st bus was supposed to be air con but of course it did not work so for 4 hours on are way to Vietianne I sweated out all the water in my body and every single person in there was dripping. Seriously was a sauna, no windows and 100 degree heat. THe next bus was a sleeper bus which sounded nice but big surprise for me. The three of us who were travelling together and one girl I had met at the bus station got on the bus and we were the only ones so we just "spread out" on out 5'6" beds and maybe 4 ft wide. Good size for Lao people not so much for me. We did not know that we had to stop at the other bus station in town and this is when all the bus got completely full with Lao people. Kept trying to keep my spot to myself because it was meant for two but me fitting with someone was not happening. I ended up getting a little Lao girl. She started looking at me very strange and ended up getting kicked out because Lao people do not sleep guy and girl together and turned into a whole scene. Luckily my friend gave me a spot and all was alright for the bus ride. Got off that bus at 7am and took a minibus with our driving literally falling asleep at the wheel to apier to take a boat to get to the island. Finally got there and just passed out. I ended up staying for 5 days (only planned for 2) and just chilled out and relaxed on Don Det because really that is all you can do. Lay on hammocks, drink beer, night bonfires and relax. Good life they have over there.
I met a good group of people in 4000 islands and ended up travelling with them to Siem Reap Cambodia. Went to the temples in Siem Reap for 3 days in 100-110 degree heat climbing and sweating buckets (theme of the trip). Saw a sunset, sunrise at Angkor Wat, saw the "TOmb Raider" temple which they are very proud of there and partied it up in town which was actually good fun. Unfortunately Cambodia gave me a present to take back to Bangkok on my flight which was a stomach parasite. This led to the flight from hell where i just had my head on the seat in front of me the whole flight and people definitely judged me. Got to Bangkok and just passed out for 4 days until I got better. Cost me sometime in the Thai islands but I was not doing well so it is what it is.
After I got better I went down to Ko Phi Phi which was an amazing islands. Literally no sleep for 3 days. First day went on an overnight camping trip to Maya Beach (place where the beach was filmed) and just drank the night away and swam and just had fun. Played Kings cup with a 10 yr old which was screwed up but he was playing with water but not good start for the little guy. The parties on the beaches are like spring break every day and good fun. Watched people get ridiculous tattoos and drink buckets when the bars closed and was thoroughly amusing. Ended up leaving for Ko Tao to meet back up with Speedy and get our scuba diving certification. ALways wanted to and made it come true. Ended up getting my open water and advanced open water certification I liked it so much. Had a great instructor one of our friends knew and just had a great time doing something new. Of course Ko Tao gave me a present much like Siem Reap and I got an ear infection from diving just in time for party time for Full Moon. Really I think my body is just telling me to go screw myself and to take better care but I come home soon so whatever.
The first two days in Ko Pha Ngan I just laid around not able to do anything because of the constant pain in my ear but after a few days I had to party because I wasnt gonna miss out so I have been drinking massive quantities to counteract the ear ache. Not recommended by your local doctor but still very fun. Been partying for three straight days now and tonight is the FULL MOON PARTY. Been looking forward to this for the whole trip and is basically our final swan song. We got to take a taxi at 12pm tomorrow to a ferry to a bus to another bus to bangkok and get a taxi at 6am to the airport, catch our 11am flight to Hong Kong and get in after about a 30 hour travel day. Should be good with a massive hangover or no sleep or both. The town is filling up for the party tonight so I will be on my way.
The trip has been amazing and starting to see the finish line. Crazy to think about everything that has happened. Crazy to think about coming home and living the planted down life but it is very welcomed. Introducing yourself and getting to know people with the same conversation gets tiring after awhile and it will be good just to chill out with the fam bam once again. My everlasting summer will continue when I get home but please all I want is just one day of cold when I get home because I have been way too hot for way too long. Much love from abroad and next time I talk to you all it will be stateside. See you all soon talk to you soon and love you all. Full Moon time babyyyyyyyyyyy
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Thailand and Laos
Leaving the western world was a welcomed change and has been amazing. Our flight to Melboune to Bangkok left us at 6am to figure out a place to stay which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We were shown to Khao San road which we had never heard of and were interested just because all of the riots that were and are going on. We got down there and the streets were just filled with water and gray clay and we saw signs for Songkran festival aka Thai New Years. Sad we missed it but we checked into a guesthouse and I went to watch the sharks game like a good fan would at 8:30am to watch them lose. When I got out of the internet spot it was mayhem and led to one of the best days of my life. Songkran is literally just the biggest waterfight in the road and the only way to explain is to go to youtube type in Songkran Khao San Rd Bangkok and you will see. Craziness for a few days for sure and glad we caught the end of it. It is a child's dream to have a water fight this big and everyone should go once, just absolute mayhem.
Bangkok was much to hustle and bustle and "white man buy everything" so we went north to Chiang Mai which was a much chiller city. Everyone laid back, pad thai and tom yum for less than a dollar on the street which fulfilled a dream of mine. The first day we ended up renting scooters which quickly turned out bad becayse i gave way too much power to start and put it right into a gazebo. Luckily talked out of it got a new one and the next two days just scooted around the city embracing the who gives a fuck about road laws mentality of SE asia.
I wish we could of seen more of Northern Thailand but we ran through Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong on very interesting public buses to get to Laos. No matter how much time you have on a trip is never long enough I guess. Our 4 day adventure to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in Thailand took 4 days but was amazing. We took a 2 day slowboat with close to 75 people and turned out to be a good way to meet people because we traveled with most of them for most of Laos. A lot of presidents and assholes made time go by quick as well as on dollar 5th's of whiskey.
Getting into Luang Prabang everyone was tired but turned out to be a graet city for me. I ended up just walking around locals part of town one day and got offered to get taken to a bunch of temples for a personal tour for 40000 kip ($4) so i said sure. Ended up being awesome and saw lots of cool caves in monastery where I was able to talk to monks and pick their minds. Really good experience and I tipped the man an extra 20,000kip and he ended up offering me dinner at his house and to meet his English speaking son Loon. Was a night I will never forget especially going out to the bars with a bunch of Lao people and just jaw dropped at the scene which was awesome.
The next day 8 of us went to a waterfall near town that turned out to just be absolutely unreal. Th directions to get there literally was follow the wooden stairs, go up and see a sign that says No swim and swim, go up the waterfall rocks that are like sandpaper and not slippery, past the stream and to the best place ever. Somehow we found it and it was awesome, my idea of utopia with a swimming hole that you could jump off cliffs from and a infinity pool style just overlooking waterfalls and Laos. It was amazing day and an amazing place.
ANother long bus ride later we got to Vang Vieng, basically a white mans playground on a river for partying and jumping off bridges. Got over a little of my fear of heights by jumping off 20-30 ft platforms into water and the free shots and buckets definitely helped. We partied until 6am and the next morning I felt it. My body felt done for and just took it easy. Slept in and watched the Mayweather fight at a weird English bar at 9am watching the Vegas lights which was weird.
I just got done with a 24 hour travel day to get to the 4000 islands in the south of Laos. One of the most chilled out places on Earth and just laid in a hammock all day which was nice after so much travelling. Figuring out to do with the rest of the trip but Laos has just been a great surprise and a place I will return because it is incredible. Time seems to be winding down with less then a month left but plenty of time still. Following the Sharks as close as possible (yessir), 49ers draft (yessir), and the A's (maybesir). Excited to be sitting down for a little in a chill area but headed to Angkor Wat next which has always been a dream. Like always hope everyone is safe and sound and much love from across the pond.
Bangkok was much to hustle and bustle and "white man buy everything" so we went north to Chiang Mai which was a much chiller city. Everyone laid back, pad thai and tom yum for less than a dollar on the street which fulfilled a dream of mine. The first day we ended up renting scooters which quickly turned out bad becayse i gave way too much power to start and put it right into a gazebo. Luckily talked out of it got a new one and the next two days just scooted around the city embracing the who gives a fuck about road laws mentality of SE asia.
I wish we could of seen more of Northern Thailand but we ran through Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong on very interesting public buses to get to Laos. No matter how much time you have on a trip is never long enough I guess. Our 4 day adventure to get from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang in Thailand took 4 days but was amazing. We took a 2 day slowboat with close to 75 people and turned out to be a good way to meet people because we traveled with most of them for most of Laos. A lot of presidents and assholes made time go by quick as well as on dollar 5th's of whiskey.
Getting into Luang Prabang everyone was tired but turned out to be a graet city for me. I ended up just walking around locals part of town one day and got offered to get taken to a bunch of temples for a personal tour for 40000 kip ($4) so i said sure. Ended up being awesome and saw lots of cool caves in monastery where I was able to talk to monks and pick their minds. Really good experience and I tipped the man an extra 20,000kip and he ended up offering me dinner at his house and to meet his English speaking son Loon. Was a night I will never forget especially going out to the bars with a bunch of Lao people and just jaw dropped at the scene which was awesome.
The next day 8 of us went to a waterfall near town that turned out to just be absolutely unreal. Th directions to get there literally was follow the wooden stairs, go up and see a sign that says No swim and swim, go up the waterfall rocks that are like sandpaper and not slippery, past the stream and to the best place ever. Somehow we found it and it was awesome, my idea of utopia with a swimming hole that you could jump off cliffs from and a infinity pool style just overlooking waterfalls and Laos. It was amazing day and an amazing place.
ANother long bus ride later we got to Vang Vieng, basically a white mans playground on a river for partying and jumping off bridges. Got over a little of my fear of heights by jumping off 20-30 ft platforms into water and the free shots and buckets definitely helped. We partied until 6am and the next morning I felt it. My body felt done for and just took it easy. Slept in and watched the Mayweather fight at a weird English bar at 9am watching the Vegas lights which was weird.
I just got done with a 24 hour travel day to get to the 4000 islands in the south of Laos. One of the most chilled out places on Earth and just laid in a hammock all day which was nice after so much travelling. Figuring out to do with the rest of the trip but Laos has just been a great surprise and a place I will return because it is incredible. Time seems to be winding down with less then a month left but plenty of time still. Following the Sharks as close as possible (yessir), 49ers draft (yessir), and the A's (maybesir). Excited to be sitting down for a little in a chill area but headed to Angkor Wat next which has always been a dream. Like always hope everyone is safe and sound and much love from across the pond.
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