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Published: July 23rd 2006
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It's been quite a while since I last updated the blog and I figured I should do that now, as we leave Thailand tonight for India. For the past few weeks, Jackie and I have been in Thailand, spreading ourselves between Bangkok and the island of Koh Samet.
We arrived in Bangkok on July 10th after a marathon bus ride from Siem Reap. We went from a bus that was worse than any I was ever on in China, which says a lot, and driving on a road that had 50 meters of pavement interspersed with kilometers of dusty, potholed roads. We once again walked across a border, my third in a row, and were met by lovely roads and first class buses in Thailand...which rarely moved faster than 30 mph while being passed by grandmothers and the rest of there families riding on motorbikes. Actually it really wasn't that bad, but after 11 hours, it was just time to get off the bus.
We managed to find a pretty nice guest house in Bangkok on Khoa Sarn Rd, or near it, which I expected to be a completely seedy, backpacker's slum. But to my surprise, it is actually
better than Itaewon in Seoul. Much more laid back and more fun in people watching.
After a few days, mainly getting our plans for India settled, we decided to head down to a beach to kill some time, as our friends, Carol, Heather, Euan, Andrew and Tiff were going to be in Bangkok on the 19th and we really wanted to see them all. So, after a couple hour bus ride and a short boat ride, we were on the island and checked into a rustic (was going to say very rustic, but it did have indoor plumbing...of a sort and a cold-water shower) bungalow. We then proceeded to spend 6 days on the island, where 4 days would have been plenty.
The main event of our time on the island, other than swimming and relaxing, was that Jackie and I got tattoos (pictures to follow at some point). Jackie, who had already been tattooed, minutely on her right ankle, got another minute tat on her left ankle and a butterfly on her hip. I, my first, received a rather larger than planned deer on my left shoulder blade. The deer is significant for me because of my
family name, "Hart," which is defined as a male red deer, if my memory serves. Of course, if my memory doesn't serve...then it's just a cool design that I've thought about getting inked for several years now.
We arrived back in Bangkok on July 19th and have had a few days fun with our friends. However, as I tend to be a bit accident prone, and it had been more than 2 countries ago since I was last in a hospital, I guess fate or karma deemed it time for another visit. While walking along a road on Saturday morning, I was ducking under low laying awnings, which had yet to be raised for the day. Well, I was ducking and dodging when all of a sudden, I found myself on the ground. I had run right into a steel awning pool, which put a half inch gash above my left eye. The store owners were horrified and quickly brought me toilet paper to stop the bleeding, but there really wasn't much. After a few minutes, I was up and headed back to the hotel.
The scene then went about like this:
Joel: "Uhh...Baby...I hit my head.
Jackie:
"Ohhh...you need to get stitches."
Joel: "OK."
Jackie: "I'm almost ready and we'll go to the hospital."
Joel: starting to feel pretty green. "Hmmm."
Jackie: "Let's go. I'll get us the elevator. Lock the door."
In the elevator.
Jackie: "You ok? Just don't faint on me."
Joel: "I'm going to faint."
30 seconds later after Jackie has been frantically calling for help.
Jackie: "Baby...baby...can you stand?"
Joel: "Uggg...yeah."
With the help of the entire front desk staff and a few others they got me to a sofa to sit while they called a cab, then walked me out to the street. Unfortunately, we couldn't get across the sidewalk to a cab, as just at that moment, a group of several hundred tourists decided to all walk by in single file, while I was starting to feel distinctly worse. Sweet was pouring down me, every inch, and then came the contents of my stomach, forgivingly minimal after a night of little food and a bit of drinking.
So, we managed to get to the hospital in the end, where I received 2 measley stitches and a CT scan to decide whether the newest lump on my
head had caused any serious damage. In the end, it was only a mild dent and I'm doing fine.
Well, that's it for Thailand, at least until we return in two months after India. Jackie and Carol are getting massages now and I decided to get some internet time, which I've been deprived of lately. We'll then spend a bit of time tonight with some friends I made in China, who I just learned are in Bangkok, and then, about 10 pm tonight, we'll head off for the airport and the land of a billion thali sets...just hope they save a few for me.
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