I have a pretty good sense of direction, and I tend to find my way back to where I started without much fuss. Sometimes I even find myself back there without intending - just wandering about and getting the lay of the land. When I set off in search of the last few items on my list, I assumed this would be the case again. Worse comes to worse, I can just back-track, right? Well, that may have worked if I hadn't taken a turn into a bazaar down an alley. I felt as though I was going in the correct direction to intersect the street I'd come from when I came to a street that ended at a perfect circle with streets intersecting it from five different directions. Since I was already about what I estimated as a couple miles off my original route, I had to say it again, 'I am so screwed.'
I took a chance and picked one, knowing that none of them were striaght and could potentially lead me anywhere. I had almost three hours until I had to be back at the station, so why not? Then the dark clouds came rolling in along with some fairly intimidating thunder. It started to rain a little, so I asked one of the policemen standing outside one of the numerous temples which way I should go to get back to the train station. Although he pointed me in the proper direction and I was not as far off as I'd thought, the downpour intensified and I got stuck under a staircase connecting the temple with the sidewalk on the other side of the street. I tried to cross so I could get under the awning over there, but traffic was too heavy and standing at the curb was just getting me drenched by the cars splashing water from the gutter. When I finally got across, a tuk-tuk driver managed to get me to agree to pay him 40 baht to drive me just over a mile back to the station - highway robbery. When we got there, it was so congested that I had to walk the last block. I must have been a sight - soaked from head to toe and grumbling. I retrieved my bag and changed into some dry clothes in the shower room (10 baht for the shower room). Did I mention that I didn't get any of the stinkin' items on my list? Yeah, I'm over it.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Follow your first mind
There's a reason why these cliches are so common. I did the dummy check to the car when I parked it in the back yard, and my eyes fell upon my trusty brown rain jacket. As I stood under an awning with a couple of motor bike riders today, I wondered why I hadn't brought the damn thing with me. .
.
I'm not the type to let a little water discourage me, so when I checked out of the hotel and saw the rain outside I put the rain cover over my pack and headed out undeterred. A quarter mile into my trek, I ran out of awning and the rain was coming down in sheets. I was practically taking a shower fully clothed, and that is not an exaggeration.
.
.
Although I've changed out of my wet shoes, the money I hid in them is showing signs of deterioration. Hopefully that won't matter come time to spend it. Come to think of it, the guide stated that monsoon season would be over by November; it never said anything about how much it would rain.
.
.
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm so sick of rice that I could just scream! I haven't gotten so desperate as to dine at the Thai versions of western restaurants, such as the KFC at the train station. The fact that rice is one of the few safe food options combined with my inability to make new friends without visiting a bar and the incessant rain, I'm in quite a funk. I'm lonely and homesick. The richest of all coconut milk sticky rice can't lift my spirits. I have yet to even look for any because the smells and heat suppress my appetite. I'm hoping to find some way to hasten my acclimation.
.
.
I checked my bag at the train station and am wandering the streets of Chinatown in search of the last few items on my shopping list. I'll power down for now, guessing that my next opportunity to charge my phone may be when I return to Bangkok on the 11th. Until then, cheers from the East - H
.
I'm not the type to let a little water discourage me, so when I checked out of the hotel and saw the rain outside I put the rain cover over my pack and headed out undeterred. A quarter mile into my trek, I ran out of awning and the rain was coming down in sheets. I was practically taking a shower fully clothed, and that is not an exaggeration.
.
.
Although I've changed out of my wet shoes, the money I hid in them is showing signs of deterioration. Hopefully that won't matter come time to spend it. Come to think of it, the guide stated that monsoon season would be over by November; it never said anything about how much it would rain.
.
.
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm so sick of rice that I could just scream! I haven't gotten so desperate as to dine at the Thai versions of western restaurants, such as the KFC at the train station. The fact that rice is one of the few safe food options combined with my inability to make new friends without visiting a bar and the incessant rain, I'm in quite a funk. I'm lonely and homesick. The richest of all coconut milk sticky rice can't lift my spirits. I have yet to even look for any because the smells and heat suppress my appetite. I'm hoping to find some way to hasten my acclimation.
.
.
I checked my bag at the train station and am wandering the streets of Chinatown in search of the last few items on my shopping list. I'll power down for now, guessing that my next opportunity to charge my phone may be when I return to Bangkok on the 11th. Until then, cheers from the East - H
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Jetlag Plus
It's about 7 PM. I'm in my room at the White Orchid Hotel in Bangkok's Chinatown. Yeah, it,s super ethnic in this neighborhood. I'm about a half mile from the train station where I'll depart for Chaiya tomorrow night. That ride will be slightly more than ten hours. It's doubtful that I'll have any internet there. I'm going blind from reading this tiny screen anyway. My eyes welcome the break.
It was 88 degrees and raining when we landed today. It got warmer when the rain stopped, but I don't think it's ever dry. The walk from the train station with my backpack (which I'm estimating is 40 lbs give or take a bottled water) left me drenched in sweat. Everything smells like it's always wet, including this hotel. At 700 baht a night (21 USD), I guess I can't complain. It does have A/C though - a sad one, but it counts. After moving the fridge to plug the cable in, I have some channels in English. Obama is big news all over. If he's not president when I get back, I may need counseling.
I felt strong today on my sweaty walk. I sat and had a smoke in front of the train station. I can't remember the last time I smoked. It made me feel calm, like I knew where I was and where I was going next; neither was true at the time. Those were the only few minutes I had without someone trying to approach me to offer some type of service. Tourist scams are very common here. I'm still wondering if that cab ride from the airport to the train station was really worth 1000 baht. No matter; I found out that I can take the subway back. It is a really long drive. The subway is probably a better method anyway.
I'm exhausted. I attempted to head out in search of flip flops, a hat and water. I managed to get the water. I settled for the hotel lobby buffet because all the food here is suspect. The street vendors aren't very clean and the restaurants are dominated by seafood. As I walked around with increasingly urgent hunger I thought, 'I am so screwed'. I'm sure things will look up after I get some ten or more hours of sleep.
All things considered, it has been a good trip. I'd say I'm in spectacular condition for someone who has spent almost two days in transit. I've taken my Malaria pill and so far no diarrhea (knock on wood). The pipes have been unusually active - including a symphony of growls, gurgles and toots, but everything's pretty solid.
I wish I knew how to speak Thai. Who was it that convinced me not to get the Rosetta Stone lesson? I could really use that right now. If there are so few English speakers here, I can just imagine how it will be further out. This should be interesting.
It was 88 degrees and raining when we landed today. It got warmer when the rain stopped, but I don't think it's ever dry. The walk from the train station with my backpack (which I'm estimating is 40 lbs give or take a bottled water) left me drenched in sweat. Everything smells like it's always wet, including this hotel. At 700 baht a night (21 USD), I guess I can't complain. It does have A/C though - a sad one, but it counts. After moving the fridge to plug the cable in, I have some channels in English. Obama is big news all over. If he's not president when I get back, I may need counseling.
I felt strong today on my sweaty walk. I sat and had a smoke in front of the train station. I can't remember the last time I smoked. It made me feel calm, like I knew where I was and where I was going next; neither was true at the time. Those were the only few minutes I had without someone trying to approach me to offer some type of service. Tourist scams are very common here. I'm still wondering if that cab ride from the airport to the train station was really worth 1000 baht. No matter; I found out that I can take the subway back. It is a really long drive. The subway is probably a better method anyway.
I'm exhausted. I attempted to head out in search of flip flops, a hat and water. I managed to get the water. I settled for the hotel lobby buffet because all the food here is suspect. The street vendors aren't very clean and the restaurants are dominated by seafood. As I walked around with increasingly urgent hunger I thought, 'I am so screwed'. I'm sure things will look up after I get some ten or more hours of sleep.
All things considered, it has been a good trip. I'd say I'm in spectacular condition for someone who has spent almost two days in transit. I've taken my Malaria pill and so far no diarrhea (knock on wood). The pipes have been unusually active - including a symphony of growls, gurgles and toots, but everything's pretty solid.
I wish I knew how to speak Thai. Who was it that convinced me not to get the Rosetta Stone lesson? I could really use that right now. If there are so few English speakers here, I can just imagine how it will be further out. This should be interesting.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
3 hours in Tai Pei
I feel much better now that I've eaten and had some water. My hands are almost steady, and I think I may be able to wait this headache out without another round of Tylenol. At this point it has become a ritual; I keep taking them but they're not working anymore. The phlegm in my chest is reconstituting after all those hours on the plane with minimal liquid. I sat by the window, so I didn't want to make the others in my row get up every hour for my pee breaks. I only coughed a handful of times, but I sounded like an old sick man when I did. I had to stop in the restroom upon landing to clear the mucus from my head. It was really gross. I knew it would be. Maybe I can chug another bottle of water and cough or blow more if it loose before my next flight.
We descended upon Taiwan as dawn broke. The horizon was glowing orange and pink over the fluffy dark gray clouds. On the other side of them, the coast appeared out of pitch black, a snake-like string of sparkling yellow diamonds lying atop a mirror. I sighed just as I am doing now remembering the sight of it. You already know what that means. That's the thing about traveling alone; sometimes it makes you feel alone. Nonetheless, I am enjoying pacing the empty corridors of this airport. I think it has some sort of restoring effect. It feels good to have so much space and quiet after that long crowded flight.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
We descended upon Taiwan as dawn broke. The horizon was glowing orange and pink over the fluffy dark gray clouds. On the other side of them, the coast appeared out of pitch black, a snake-like string of sparkling yellow diamonds lying atop a mirror. I sighed just as I am doing now remembering the sight of it. You already know what that means. That's the thing about traveling alone; sometimes it makes you feel alone. Nonetheless, I am enjoying pacing the empty corridors of this airport. I think it has some sort of restoring effect. It feels good to have so much space and quiet after that long crowded flight.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Oops
I got my days mixed up. I guess that's what happens when you fly after midnight. Thankfully I decided to get everything packed and ready today.
As I was finishing up, it occurred to me that a 1AM flight on the 28th actually leaves on the 27th. The reminder I set for myself on the calendar didn't raise any red flags. I can't help but wonder why not. Maybe I should have set one yesterday as well. Then I could have made last night count, instead of being hypoglycemic and premenstrual.
It's midnight. Secret Squirrel and I just exchanged our last few texts. I keep sighing because I'd mentally prepared myself for a nice farewell night tonight with a simple dinner, a good movie and some laughs about the past few months we've spent playing like big kids. I had it set in my mind. Damn my crappy memory!
Well, we should start boarding soon (the plane is massive). I gotta figure out how to turn this gadget on music only mode, and I'm going to get all the ceramic toilet time I can before spending 21 hours in the air.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
As I was finishing up, it occurred to me that a 1AM flight on the 28th actually leaves on the 27th. The reminder I set for myself on the calendar didn't raise any red flags. I can't help but wonder why not. Maybe I should have set one yesterday as well. Then I could have made last night count, instead of being hypoglycemic and premenstrual.
It's midnight. Secret Squirrel and I just exchanged our last few texts. I keep sighing because I'd mentally prepared myself for a nice farewell night tonight with a simple dinner, a good movie and some laughs about the past few months we've spent playing like big kids. I had it set in my mind. Damn my crappy memory!
Well, we should start boarding soon (the plane is massive). I gotta figure out how to turn this gadget on music only mode, and I'm going to get all the ceramic toilet time I can before spending 21 hours in the air.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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