The last few days.

Haven't been doing a whole lot and crappy internet connection stopped me from posting (and laziness contributed).

New Year's Eve was pretty quiet. I was in the first stages of a stomach bug and it was making me extremely lethargic and the couple I was hanging with were feeling very much the same. We watched some really good fireworks at midnight and that was about it.

The cat in the picture decided to open up my screen door to my room and have a sleep. I had to kick the fleabag out though.

I stayed on Koh Chang until the 2nd. I was really ready to leave. Not a bad place was getting bored.

On the morning of the second I headed out to the street to get a "taxi" to the pier to catch the ferry to the mainland. I got out to the street at about 8:30. I was told to get out by at least 9:00 so I would be able to get to down to the pier in time to catch the 10:00 ferry. Well, it was about 9:30 by the time I got a taxi but made it to the pier on time. It was still an hour in the sun i wasn't thrilled about.

On the other side I was supposed to wait until 11:30 for my bus to Bangkok. When you get there, they give you different colored stickers on your shirt to indicate which bus you are to catch. This time i got a pink one. I noticed a few others around me with the pink stickers so i made sure to keep an eye on them; if they leave, I leave.

Well, 11:30 rolled around and we inquired as to the status of the arrival/departure of the bus. As it turned out, the bus was out front the whole time but was now full. Very nice. It was delightful to see the bus pull away at 11;50 without me on it.

We were told we would have to wait another 30 minutes for the next one. 30 minutes later, it was another 30 minutes. We finally left at 1:30 pm.

This may have been the slowest bus driver on the planet. I highly doubt he went over 80 kms the whole trip. The best part of the trip was when he went passed our exit, did a u-turn and stopped at a restaurant (which he likely got commission) about 60 kms out of Bangkok. We had a 30 minute delay there. I finally got into Bangkok at about 8:00 and found a hotel around 8:30. Stayed at a shitty place for 200 baht a night.

Am now in Bangkok staying at a former coworker's place (Teri Lynn). It took me a couple of hours to get here yesterday but wasn't bad going down the river in the boat taxi and riding the sky train. Teri Lynn teaches here and was out the door by 5:30 a.m. I think to start her school day at 7:10. I am going to head out to explore until she gets in later at around 4:30

Koh Chang cont..

Spent the majority of the day on the scooter going around the island. I managed to get a 200 baht fine for not wearing a helmet (I wasn't given one.). The stupid thing is that they allowed me to continue riding and never asked for a license . Gotta love the Thai police.

Stopped at Khlong Phlu waterfall and then continued to place called The Treehouse for a late lunch/ early dinner but they didn't serve between 4-6. We got there at 4:08. Typical.

Last night it was pizza and an early night. Looks like the sun is actually out today so it will likely be the beach for awhile and then some 'buckets' later to help bring in the New Year.

Koh Chang

What I thought was going to be a 5.5 to 6 hour trip turned into a 12 plus hour journey. We left Sihanoukville at 7:30 a.m., and drove to the Cambodian/ Thai border (after several stops to pick up others). We had a 40 minute stop for lunch at a restaurant in Koh Kong, which wasn't that great.

Once at the border (about 4.5 hrs later), our bags were loaded onto a cart which a Thai dude took across the border for us. Little did we know, once we cleared customs, we were asked by our baggage handler that we needed to tip him. He would not leave you alone until you gave him something. I opened up the wallet and basically gave him the smallest notes I had left which were 3 X 300 Riel. I believe that is about 8 cents. He wasn't all that pleased, but I told him if he didn't want it he could give it back...

We had about an hour wait until we got into a van. At one point 7 of us were sitting there in this van, with a couple of seats empty. The driver came in and said something but we couldn't figure out exactly what it was he was trying to say. It was either "We need 2 of you to change vehicles." or "We are waiting for 2 more people to join.". We all kind of figure it was the former of the two, because after he stood there for a few minutes, he then closed the door and turn the a/c off. We sat in the sweatbox for about 30 minutes. We figured it was a way to sweat a couple of us out. It was brutal but none of us succumbed to the torture. Finally, 2 others joined us and we were relieved of the heat. Away we went. Had yet another van transfer, a ferry ride, then two tuk tuk rides but finally got the main area of Koh Chang around 7 p.m. and the hotel about 8 p.m..

Staying at a rather expensive place but due to the fact that we (hanging with a Swedish couple) got here late, in the dark, and were tired, we didn't feel like scoping out anything else. The plan today is to try to find something else a bit cheaper.

Sihanoukville--Day 3. Outta here tomorrow.

Spent the day at my local watering hole--Banana Rest Bar-- and then a nap back at the hotel. The evening I wandered down the beach and ended up at the same place as last night for a bite to eat and some $0.50 draft. Back here now at the the Banana Rest Bar for some free internet. It is run by some Israeli's; the 'owner' has rented it for this season. Pretty chilled place and actually wouldn't mind staying a bit longer, but time to move on.

Went to take a picture of the restaurant I was sitting at this evening and these two older German guys were hiding their faces as i took the picture and we rather upset about it. Stupid asses. I guess, like MANY older European dudes, they are here for a little fun with the local prostitutes and are paranoid about getting caught. I took them out of the picture; they would have been just to the left of the BBQ sign.

Spot the rat pancake....

Sihanoukville

Day 2 in Sihanoukville. Moved hotels this morning to a place closer to the beach but not as nice as the last hotel. The beach is lined with restaurants and bars but by the looks of it, there might not be beach here much longer. It seems to be getting eroded, unless the restaurants have always been this close to the water.

A few afternoon beers at the beach. Not bad.

Sihanoukville

Nothing too exciting. Caught a bus at 7:45 for 4.5 hours of fun to Sihanoukville in the south. Actually wasn't that bad as I had two seats to myself. When I got here, as usual, the leeches grabbed hold to take me somewhere in their tuk tuks or scooters. 'Mr. Kim' gave me a ride on the back of his scooter to the hotel.

The pictures here are of the hotel, Orchidee. Has been a very lazy day of sitting by the pool and relaxing. I need to move tomorrow though because they don't have a room for me. Mr. Kim is coming back tomorrow at 9 to 'help' me find a new place. He has some recommendations. Oh goody.

Various stuff / Phnom Penh

On the way back to the hotel after dinner I took a wrong turn and went a tad too far but came across this HUGE park. In the park there were thousands of people and music playing everywhere. In groups of maybe a hundred they were dancing , same moves, same expressions, etc.. There were likely about 5 groups dancing; kids, adults etc. dancing and bunch of others watching. I had a good laugh when this little girl, maybe 2 years old, came in front of my camera but when I tried to take a picture, she would run and hide. It was a really neat experience; better than the museums, temples etc.

The other pics are of a market (flies like meat and fish). And women like to walk around in pajamas.