Bangkok

After meeting up at BKK at about 130am Steve, john, and i headed off to find a place to stay for the night. Lucky for us we are smart travelers and know the areas that we enter well before we get there. Headed to Khao San Rd cause we knew it was an "international freak show" and easy to find a cheap place 24 hours a day. Lucky for us we had a taxi driver who not only gave us a good deal but also thought he was Michael Schumaker so we were burning rubber at every possible corner. Made it to the road unscathed and walked our way down amongst the drunk Englishmen, girly boys, and street vendors to try to find a place. First few we checked were full which did not bode well but we had to press on and luckily we did and found AtHome. Little bit off Khao San and on a beautiful alley. Got a room with AC for 600, not a bad deal at that time of night, or for 3 people (about $5 each). Decided to go out and have a beer to celebrate our long days and recent successes and headed back only to find no beers after 1am so after being hit on by drunk thai chicks playing pool we headed home and luckily there was a place next to AtHome where we had beers both cheaper and colder. After a slight debacle w/ the bill and Steve trying to pay 3000 instead of 300 we made it out and the proprietress even let us keep the glasses so we could have a drink in the room.

Woke up the next morning to the roof of the place being destroyed so after a solid 4 hour sleep we were ready for the day. Got some brekky and met Mr B while waiting to change money. He wanted to take us on a tour of the city via tuk tuk for 5 baht each which is like 12 cents or something. We later read it was the classic scam to take us to travel agents and suit makers. We didn't need any suits made so that kind of pissed Mr B off and after a yelling match and multiple threats he stopped and we got out. Luckily we got to see the Standing Buddha which was like 60ft tall and some other temples before the trip went sour. Also, 3 big guys on the back of a 3 wheeled motorcycle doesn't really work out. Went and saw the palace which had enough gold to cover the dome of the GA capital 100 times over and the emerald Buddha which is most prized and has caused wars after the king of Laos stole it. Headed to Chinatown because there is one in every city and you have to go check it out for cheap stuff so we did and it was crowded and cheap and dirty like them all. Took the water taxi home and saw Wat Arun at sunset which is certainly a site but the sky wasn't great that day. Postcards looked much better. After dinner of street pad thai headed out to mui thai boxing and upon arrival found out it was much more than expected. Hung out anyway drank beers, stood on buckets and sat on walls to see over the wall to the stadium, and talked w/ the locals about whether to bet on red or blue. Good times and after several tries of bribery and getting thai people to buy tickets for us things didn't work out so we took off. Stopped off at the night market for a beer and while we were finding it our tuk tuk driver got a better offer and took off. Had a look around and found another and got back after a long windblown ride. The rest of the night is a blur but there were discotheques, Ms Laos and Ms Cambodia, some sweet Thai girlfriends, Red Bull, facewash, pool, and plenty of Changs.

After going to bed at sunrise one would think that waking up at 9-10 is normal since we had done just that the day before but today after walking downstairs and starting to order breakfast the waitress showed us it was 330. In the afternoon. So that's why i don't have a hangover, hmm. A few short talks and a walk around later Steve and john are off to the bus to go to Krabi and i have a walk back and look at a 6 story high class mall, some super sweet weekend market, and elephants walking down the street. Fed him bamboo or something for only 10B, really good deal to me for one on one time with the guy. Made the 5 mile walk back and had an easy night w/ dinner, finding an alarm clock, and a few beers at the local bar. Went to bed about 12 which was still a mistake since i couldn't sleep past 5 because of all the sleep the day before. Got up and walked around before people were up and it was a completely different scene. Met Jo at the airport, hung out for the day, drank some tea, and headed out on the night bus at 6p.

Night bus was sweet with multiple stops to feed you at odd times and smoke breaks for the drivers and passengers. Wasn't too bad though just tired by the time we got the ferry to Rai Leh Beach where Esto and John had ended up. Lucky after being soaked by waves on the long tail boat ride over Esto was there with a whistle and to point us in the right direction to Viewpoint Resort. The place was a beaut and included a pool. This town looked pretty darn cool but not before brekky and a nap.