Its a wonder what 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep will do for a person. We figured out why they had such a large and warm comforter. The air-con was actually retro-fitted from a blast freezer. The low setting must have meant that the temperature would be low. At least my feet slide across the iced up tiled floor to the bathroom. Brrrrrrrrr. I could still hear the load roar of the wind outside and was surprised upon opening the door. Instead of wind-whipped trees and dark clouds, I was blinded by the bright sunlight reflecting off the ocean that roared up [View Full Entry]

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Mmmmmm...... a cool breeze blew in our open balcony door all night long.What a nice change from the air-con we have used to cool off. I have to admit that the heat has been pretty demanding and we have caved on not getting air-con rooms. Its easy to forget the roosters are going to start crowing as soon as the sun hints at rising in the sky. It must have been sunny somewhere cause they serenaded us extra early today. We quickly got ready and made our way down stairs where our ride was waiting to take us to the bus [View Full Entry]

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This morning we decided that we wanted to stay in Ao Nang for something different. Although we love Krabi and how quiet it is, we need to stretch our legs again. Ao Nang is really touristy so I'm sure things will be interesting. I was treated to another morning of workers getting ready for the day. I watched the crew of street sweepers come out and clean up last nights leaves and garbage that had blown in.Kids passed by on their way to school. I could have sat all morning and just watched. Candace reminded me about getting to Ao Nang [View Full Entry]

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Its fun to watch a town wake up. When I leave for work, I am out the door at 5:15 and I see all sorts of things that most people miss. Over here, its the same thing. This morning, I watched men delivering fish, bags of rice and lots of vegetables. I watched a man wash his face on his balcony. Street Ladies came out and swept the street with brooms and dustpans made of old square cooking oil cans. Everyone was busy getting ready for another day. And then the motorbikes and scooters came out with whole families perched on [View Full Entry]

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This morning had I know the adventure we were in for, I would have probably made some different choices. Like taking the public bus or perhaps I would have watched for the chickens. Either way, I would have probably saved the pain and agony of riding in a vehicle made for 12 (not 15 with luggage and livestock) and I would have not been involved in the Nascar race on the toll-road to the airport. When traveling, its important to remember that not everything is going to work in your favor. Shit happens. You're not at home anymore. Get used to [View Full Entry]

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This morning, we had breakfast in the open air restaurant at our guest house. The young lady that seems to run the place is pregnant and has another kid running around. I don't think she smiles. I wonder if its because she has to wait on us? I wonder what we must seem like to her? Would it be any different than someone working at a hotel back home? I'm going to see if she'll smile before we leave Kanchanaburi. Instead of a song thaew to the bus depot, we took a motorbike taxi with a side car of sorts. In [View Full Entry]

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Our arrival into Kanchanaburi has been pretty uneventful. We heard time and time again how we were going to be scammed when we go to Thailand. I wouldn't call the tuk tuk driver a scammer so much as an extortionist. I knew better than to accept a ride right from the bus station. We probably should have walked a few blocks away and we could have scored a cheap ride to the guest houses. Instead, a very helpful and friendly fellow came over and suggested that the cheap rides where not to be found the way we were heading (which they [View Full Entry]

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I woke up this morning fully rested. Last night the air con quit so I had opened the window. The breeze coming in was perfect. I watched a man fuel his scooter and then drive off. I wanted to go down on the street and watch the city wake up. Careful to not wake Candace, I had another shower, dressed and left the room. I walked down the street from the guest house and over a bridge that spanned a khlong (a canal). Looking down into the khlong, I saw some sort of fish (maybe a carp?) on the top while [View Full Entry]

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Our driver stops in the middle of the road and gets out and opens the door. He nods towards what looks like a large street party and mutters something about Cows on the road! He gives us our bags and wants to be paid. I can only assume that the Street party or Cows on the road can only be the infamous Khao San Road. Candace grabs my arm as a street vendor pushes up a cart full of large mounds. After closer inspection, we see that the mounds are made of deep fried bugs. She does not look happy. Now [View Full Entry]

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Stepping off the plane, I couldn't tell we were anywhere special. Claiming our bags and Customs went really quick. As soon as we stepped out of secured area, we knew we weren't in Kansas anymore. So many things hit you at once. It could be the heat and humidity. A digital readout stated 28 degrees. We came from -25. It could be the pandemonium and noise. There were hundreds of new arrived people, (seems most flights arrive between 19:00 and midnight) and the hundreds waiting to pick them up or sell them something felt that yelling was the easiest way to [View Full Entry]

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