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Wandered into…Thailand!
I’m averaging about one big trip a year, and this is it since last year’s mid-east experience.
Thailand is quite possibly the polar opposite, but oddly similiar in certain respects.
I don’t really feel like writing a ton, but do want to document a few things, for any friends and family that are not here with me (i.e. everyone but Rico)–will probably write about it after the fact, rather then in real time, because in real time, I’m too busy enjoying myself.
So for now, a short list of highlights, inspired by my list-a-thon e-mails with Ethan.
Things of note in Thailand so far:
1) Tigers tigers tigers. Oh my. I could easily gush about this for hours–just ask Rico. I will say that the Tiger Temple is touristy and they kind of rush you through the photos as if the point is to have a picture taken with a tiger whereas I was much more interested in just oggling at the tigers. This is pretty obvious in all of my photos, in which I am staring rather open mouthed at the big, magnificent, passed out in the mid-day sun cat that I am supposed to be kneeling in front of like a statue. (photos to follow) After the main photo shoot, we found monks and employees walking 5 month older tiger cubs around, and those you could just walk up to and play with. They were however much more interested in ambushing each other, and on stalking the herd of water buffalo that kept creeping closer in a hey-guys-what-about-us-we’ll-pose-for-pictures type way. Tiger cubs were luckily on leashes, so no water buffalo were harmed, and I was able to see a tiger cub butt wiggle. I can die happy.
2) bus, boat, taxi, moto-taxi, bicycle rickshaw (this one was a bit of a surprise), tuk-tuk, you name it, I have ridden in it to get somewhere in the past week.
3) Sai Yok Noi national park–river raft guesthouse IN the river between two waterfalls, in the midst of a spectacularly empty wilderness of jungle. After enjoying a leisurely hike in the jungle, in which we saw very little wildlife other then birds and big hairy caterpillars, we saw a snake, lizards and the biggest freaking spider I have ever seen, in the manicured gazebo at the entrance of the park. Guess the wildlife prefers the tidy area as well…
4) Swam the River Kwai. Twice.
5) Motorbiking through the Thai countryside outside of Kanchanaburi at twilight. Wow.
6) Menu item in Kanchanabur: Peanus
7) Sign on the way to Ratchaburi: Welcome to (name of city): Nice People Live Here
Ice cream sandwhich from street vendor at bus stop that was literally a sandwhich, as in ice cream between two slices of bread–quite possibly the tastiest thing I’ve had here so far (and that’s saying a lot)
9) The hour it took Rico and I to figure out that we were in fact waiting for the ferry-bus on a small side canal rather then the actual main river. We were both quite disapointed with the “river” which seemed rather small. Had many conversations such as, “I haven’t seen any boats, have you?” “No…maybe it’s not rush hour…” “yeah…”
10) Grass jelly drink, bought at Bangkok 7-11. Ingredients: grass jelly (15%), sugar (10%). No other ingredients. What the hell is grass jelly? Still don’t know…
I’m in Ko Tao now, getting ready to learn how to dive tomorrow–today just relaxing after a day of hectic travel yesterday. More to follow!
On how my love for Jon Stewart is totally justified
Is Jon Stewart the Most Trusted Man in America? Asks the New York Times today, August 20th.
Quite possibly and this quote sums up why: “Mr. Stewart has said he is looking forward to the end of the Bush administration “as a comedian, as a person, as a citizen, as a mammal.””
