Escaping culture shock in the Islands

I recently experienced the first episode of cultre shock on my trip. Sweaty palms...feeling faint...spinning walls...strange sounds and foreign smells. Hot dogs rotating in a heater and pop machines humming that faint hum, the 'beep' when the door opens, and the flourecent lighting. Sound familiar? I was in one of the 4,000 7 Eleven's in Thailand, in the Northern city of Chiang Mai. Everyone says they love this town, but coming from the jungles of Laos it was too much to handle. I quickly left and met up with Ross and Barry in Pai.

Now, I've discovered that every country has their own hippy town; Japan has Takayama, Australia has Byron Bay, Canada has Nelson and Thailand has Pai. It seemed that on all of the 4 streets in town, there was a contest to see who was more psychedelic or who had the longest dreads. It's a fantastic place though, and everyone gets along which makes for incredibly fun times. I spent my time there exploring in the day and dancing in the forest at night. I didnt get dreads though...

On the eve of my departure I realized I have been travelling for 5 incredible months now. I also began to panic...this was the half way point. i have seen and done so much but it has passed by too quickly. I only have 6 months left and there is too much that I want to see and it doesnt seem like enough time. I have too many possibilities infront of me, so many that it's overwhelming. I stupidly went to Bangkok to try to sort myself out, it is the hub of Asia after all. What a mistake that turned out to be! I went to the city bus, not knowing where I was headed. On my left, I could choose the bus to go East towards Cambodia. On my left was the bus South. I did what any sun deprived girl would do, and headed for the islands.

That brought me to Koh Tao, one of the most beautiful and laid back places I have been. There is fantastic diving here as well, which I was looking forward to. I saw some sting rays and eels, and just general beautiful underwater world stuff. I met some fun people diving and we head off to a secluded beach resort, me taking the only 'backpacker' bungalow there. We called it the shack. One night howling dogs under my shack woke me up, and it turned out one of the puppies was caught up in a fishing line with a hook in his lip! I played vetrenarian and got it out at 3am. Luckily our beach was totally deserted and the next day I took intervals of snorkelling in between naps and swinging on the palmtree swing.

Now I've made it across to the Western side of Thailand, to Koh Phi Phi. What a place this is! Very touristy, but in a way where everyone is so friendly and ready for anything. I managed to get a bed in the 20 person dorm, where I met some fantastic people. We hiked to another secluded beach on the island, and spent the day playing frisbee and snorkelling in beautiful reefs. I'd dive down and look up to a million sparking fish with sunlight shining through. It was the perfect day. But that day didnt stop until 11am the next morning. We went out dancing on the beach, and at 2 am some of us had the brilliant idea of hiring a long boat and going to the beach where 'the Beach' was filmed. Swimming under the stars with phosphorescence twinkling underneath was an unreal and unbelieveable experience. We were the only ones there, and got to watch the sun rise in the lagoon and wake up to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Just as we left, hourds of long boats plowed in the lagoon, and we realized we were incredibly lucky to have seen this place without anyone else there.

Everyday I tell myself how amazing my life is right now, then another day ends and i think it cant get any better. I just can't wait for what's in store for me tomorrow...



(A few days later):
I ended up in KL with my good friend Liana. We had a James Bond day and went to the biggest casino in SEA...and I lost 40RM! I also met up with one of my best friends from home (Amy B and her boyfriend Paul) and life is better than ever!

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