Its been 4 months, 126 days, 10 1/2 books, 6 countries, and a countless number of miles traveled since I've left home. I'm filled with sadness to be leaving but also with excitement to return to my homeland, culture, friends, and family. The memories I have gained are filled with people and experiences that not only last me my entire life but also will continue to educate me for the future years ahead. So with great sadness, this will be my last post submitted from overseas.
Next to come, top 10's.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Down By Da Beach, BOOOYYYYYIIIIII!!!!
So I have fallen VERY behind on my blogging for a few reasons. First its very expensive to use the Internet on the islands. Second, I was soooo busy laying on a beach all day, everyday, for three weeks. And third, I didn't want to worry about a single thing but myself for my last few weeks. So I'll sum it up as briefly as I can.
I arrived back in Bangkok from India to meet up with Rich and then immediately head out to Ko Chang. We got there just in time for a few beers, dinner, and the New Years celebration on the beach. There were fire shows, disco's, lounges, and everything for every type of party or chill out on the beach. We spent 5 days there soaking in the sun, swimming, eating like pigs (as we naturally do together) and laying in hammocks. A really chilled oit few days that was perfect from my detox from India.
After Ko Chang, Richy went back to Bangkok and I got on an overnight bus to Rai Ley. It took much longer than expected to get to Rai Ley but it was well worth the schlepp. Rai Ley is known for the beautifully vast white sand beaches, caves, protruding rock formations, cliffs and rock climbing. Ri Ley also has a very Rastafarian vibe because everywhere has BBQ and Reggae music. So after a long day climbing, you catch a bite on the beach for sunset and then head out for some chilling, dancing, and live music. It was the perfect place to kick back with some of the best people I have met on my trip and enjoy the paradise around us.
I spent 2 day rock climbing and two days beach bumming. The climbing was amazing and it was a great place to meet people. Since Rai Ley is an international climbers pilgrimage, I was able to meet climbers of all skill levels from all over the world. One day after climbing, me and a few friends decided to try and find the infamous Lagoon of Rai Ley. It had just poured rain on us making the path to the Lagoon was extremely dangerous; steep slopes and rock faces covered in mud. We met a few other people along the way that had back out and thought it was too dangerous but we were all determined to make it. I was nearly shitting my pants the entire way down but the reward of finally making it to the Lagoon was beyond any expectation I could have had. The Lagoon was surrounded by incredible rock formations, lush wildlife, and frosted turquoise water filled with the massage fishes that eat the dead skin from your feet. There was also very thick mud that we along with many people before us made mud sculptures and met them on a nook in a cliff. When we crawled out of the lagoon and made it back to the beach, we were cover head to toe in mud and raging on an adrenaline high. We celebrated all night for our victory to the Lagoon. I was so sad to leave Rai Ley and the amazing people, local and tourist that I had met there. But another great paradise awaits.
The last island on my trip was Ko Lipe. I rendezvoused with Richy to take a two hour boat ride to the island. Ko Lipe is a very small island located near Malaysia and is known for its chilled vibes and some of the most beautiful beaches and waters in Thailand. Again, Richy and I spent everyday eating like pigs and chilling ALL DAY in our hammocks on the white sand beach and crystal clear waters. Every night, we ate tons of fresh fish then enjoyed the night with a group of Chileans playing asshole and sipping island cocktails.
And now I'm back in Bangkok enjoying my last few days of the entire trip.
I arrived back in Bangkok from India to meet up with Rich and then immediately head out to Ko Chang. We got there just in time for a few beers, dinner, and the New Years celebration on the beach. There were fire shows, disco's, lounges, and everything for every type of party or chill out on the beach. We spent 5 days there soaking in the sun, swimming, eating like pigs (as we naturally do together) and laying in hammocks. A really chilled oit few days that was perfect from my detox from India.
After Ko Chang, Richy went back to Bangkok and I got on an overnight bus to Rai Ley. It took much longer than expected to get to Rai Ley but it was well worth the schlepp. Rai Ley is known for the beautifully vast white sand beaches, caves, protruding rock formations, cliffs and rock climbing. Ri Ley also has a very Rastafarian vibe because everywhere has BBQ and Reggae music. So after a long day climbing, you catch a bite on the beach for sunset and then head out for some chilling, dancing, and live music. It was the perfect place to kick back with some of the best people I have met on my trip and enjoy the paradise around us.
I spent 2 day rock climbing and two days beach bumming. The climbing was amazing and it was a great place to meet people. Since Rai Ley is an international climbers pilgrimage, I was able to meet climbers of all skill levels from all over the world. One day after climbing, me and a few friends decided to try and find the infamous Lagoon of Rai Ley. It had just poured rain on us making the path to the Lagoon was extremely dangerous; steep slopes and rock faces covered in mud. We met a few other people along the way that had back out and thought it was too dangerous but we were all determined to make it. I was nearly shitting my pants the entire way down but the reward of finally making it to the Lagoon was beyond any expectation I could have had. The Lagoon was surrounded by incredible rock formations, lush wildlife, and frosted turquoise water filled with the massage fishes that eat the dead skin from your feet. There was also very thick mud that we along with many people before us made mud sculptures and met them on a nook in a cliff. When we crawled out of the lagoon and made it back to the beach, we were cover head to toe in mud and raging on an adrenaline high. We celebrated all night for our victory to the Lagoon. I was so sad to leave Rai Ley and the amazing people, local and tourist that I had met there. But another great paradise awaits.
The last island on my trip was Ko Lipe. I rendezvoused with Richy to take a two hour boat ride to the island. Ko Lipe is a very small island located near Malaysia and is known for its chilled vibes and some of the most beautiful beaches and waters in Thailand. Again, Richy and I spent everyday eating like pigs and chilling ALL DAY in our hammocks on the white sand beach and crystal clear waters. Every night, we ate tons of fresh fish then enjoyed the night with a group of Chileans playing asshole and sipping island cocktails.
And now I'm back in Bangkok enjoying my last few days of the entire trip.
Last Days In India
My last few days in India began with a 22 hour bus ride from Diu to Mumbai. Naturally, for me this mean several funny stories of misunderstandings, an upset stomach, and several awkward interactions.
The most notable however was when I was trying to get to sleep on the bus. My sleeper cell was the first one and anything that goes on in the cockpit would be heard crystal clear in my bunk. The noise coming from the front was especially loud for me also because there was a giant opening in my wall. So its about 12am and the driver is blasting some terrible Hindi music at max volume and the sound is funneling into my bunk and echoing. I cant sleep and I'm beginning to lose my shit. I start kicking on the wall but no one seems to mind. So to get his attention, I turn on the strobe setting of my headlamp and point it at the driver through the hole in the wall. Instead of just turning down the music like I expected, he pulled over and stopped the bus. He unlocked and opened the cockpit door and slammed a guy sleeping on the floor right in the head. This was only the beginning of the embarrassment I was about to feel. He grumpily asked whats wrong and if I had to go toilet. I said no and I would appreciate it if he turns down the music so I can sleep. Other than asking, "do need go toilet?" he didn't speak a word of English so comprehending my request was just not going to happen at this hour. Now all the other people on the bus start popping their heads out of thier bunks to see whats going on and get involved. Now I'm REALLY embarrassed! I'm that bratty gora (white man) stopping the bus for no good reason. After all was said and done, the driver closed the door and turned the music all the way back up to max volume....I didn't sleep.
The last two days were spent in Mumbai where I really didn't do much. I toured Colaba with some people I met between Diu and Mumbai and we all saw Avatar in 3D. The next day I spent eating as much Indian food as possible and finally went to see a Bollywood film in a famous theater. This was amazing, better than any of the other cinema experiences I've had in India. First the Indian National Anthem, then a series of terrible ad's by Vicco. When the movie finally began, everyone went crazy like a concert. When each famous actor came out they cheered and hooted. Throughout the entire 3 hour film, everyone was talking to each other or on phones, yelling out jokes, and booing certain characters. Though the movie was in and out of English and Hindi, I could easily follow the story...and it was terrible. You have love, hate, triumph, deceit, suicide, crying, laughing, singing, dancing, etc. It had everything, and somehow is seemed to all come together.
By the time I got on the plane, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of bittersweet emotions. I was so happy to be going back to Thailand and leaving the chaos of India, though I know I'll miss it all; the people, the sounds, the chaos, the smells, the cows, the food, the head wiggle and so on. But its time for the next leg of my trip and the conclusion of my journey begins.
The most notable however was when I was trying to get to sleep on the bus. My sleeper cell was the first one and anything that goes on in the cockpit would be heard crystal clear in my bunk. The noise coming from the front was especially loud for me also because there was a giant opening in my wall. So its about 12am and the driver is blasting some terrible Hindi music at max volume and the sound is funneling into my bunk and echoing. I cant sleep and I'm beginning to lose my shit. I start kicking on the wall but no one seems to mind. So to get his attention, I turn on the strobe setting of my headlamp and point it at the driver through the hole in the wall. Instead of just turning down the music like I expected, he pulled over and stopped the bus. He unlocked and opened the cockpit door and slammed a guy sleeping on the floor right in the head. This was only the beginning of the embarrassment I was about to feel. He grumpily asked whats wrong and if I had to go toilet. I said no and I would appreciate it if he turns down the music so I can sleep. Other than asking, "do need go toilet?" he didn't speak a word of English so comprehending my request was just not going to happen at this hour. Now all the other people on the bus start popping their heads out of thier bunks to see whats going on and get involved. Now I'm REALLY embarrassed! I'm that bratty gora (white man) stopping the bus for no good reason. After all was said and done, the driver closed the door and turned the music all the way back up to max volume....I didn't sleep.
The last two days were spent in Mumbai where I really didn't do much. I toured Colaba with some people I met between Diu and Mumbai and we all saw Avatar in 3D. The next day I spent eating as much Indian food as possible and finally went to see a Bollywood film in a famous theater. This was amazing, better than any of the other cinema experiences I've had in India. First the Indian National Anthem, then a series of terrible ad's by Vicco. When the movie finally began, everyone went crazy like a concert. When each famous actor came out they cheered and hooted. Throughout the entire 3 hour film, everyone was talking to each other or on phones, yelling out jokes, and booing certain characters. Though the movie was in and out of English and Hindi, I could easily follow the story...and it was terrible. You have love, hate, triumph, deceit, suicide, crying, laughing, singing, dancing, etc. It had everything, and somehow is seemed to all come together.
By the time I got on the plane, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of bittersweet emotions. I was so happy to be going back to Thailand and leaving the chaos of India, though I know I'll miss it all; the people, the sounds, the chaos, the smells, the cows, the food, the head wiggle and so on. But its time for the next leg of my trip and the conclusion of my journey begins.
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