Shelley Brown

As I re read my blog entries I am struck with the realization that I have provided you with few cultural facts and few descriptions as to what things looked like. While my friend Sandra wrote a very detailed journal with dates, names, locations, I wrote nothing more than what I was feeling on that date and how the locations and people made me feel. So, if as you read this you would like more concrete information I would be happy to raid the journal of Sandra. If you prefer the emotional journey read on...and if you are my father you would have expected exactly this. The next three day in Koh Samui were low days for me. When we got there we hoped in the back of the cab and told the driver the guest ... read more

Jan 3rd (I believe this date to be correct) After spending a week in Koh Phangan we were all frothing at the mouth to get the hell out of there. We packed our things and walked down to the ferry. We got in line and eagerly waited to purchase the ticket that would transport us from what we now felt was a shit hole. “is full” the woman told us. “is full” the next woman told us. “is full” the final woman told us. NOOOOOOOOOO. Tears began to form in my eyes as I pictured spending even one more night on this island. And then.... “ticket for 12:30” the man said Thank god. We grabbed out bags and went to sit at the dock. Here we once again ran into the group of English boys. We ... read more

New Years eve morning I awoke feeling less than wonderful and in myself hate decided that I should not attend the full moon party but with little coaxing I pulled myself out of bed and prepared for the night that lay ahead. While preparing, as I sifted through my bag, I noticed that my credit card was not where I had put it. After tearing apart my bag I concluded that I must have lost it until...I realized my American money was also missing. Hhhhmmm come to think of it the last time I saw it was in krabi and that is where I lost my phone. “Ah ha” moment as I realized my things had actually been stolen but with my new found ability to shake things off I decided that they were gone whether ... read more

The word on the street is that Koh Phangan is the type of Island you need to walk away from with an injury to have truly experienced it. After taking our overpriced cab (we would later learn that ALL rides cost 100 baht regardless of how far you are going or how many people are crammed in the back) we were over joyed to see our accommodations. Air conditioning, a TV, flushing toilet and the most joyous of all HOT WATER. The only down fall to this room was the fact that the bed Sandra and I shared was nothing more than glorified wood. But as it turns out when in Koh Phangan sleeping is not an activity you engage in frequently so the status of your bed is actually quite irrelevant. As I mentioned before, ... read more

You may have noticed that I have stopped dating my entries this is due to two things... 1) I seem to have lost my phone (later I will come to find that it was actually stolen) 2) There is absolutely no need to know the time, date, or day while holidaying in Thailand. (especially when travelling with a Jennifer) Today, the adventure to Koh Phangan began. Early in the morning we met up with fellow Canadians, Mike and Jenny, and boarded onto our long boat that would take us to Aeonang. Here we sat and waited for a big bus. This big bus drove for 30 minutes to yet another bus stop. Here we meet the English boys I briefly mentioned in an earlier blog. Without giving details, one of the boys was less than thrilled ... read more

To break the silence of my happiness after the lagoon climb I decided to get.....a tattoo. Dad I can see you shaking your head. I promise you I do not look like a stripper and if I discover that I do look like a stripper I promise to use the money I make to fly myself home. Earlier in the day I walked over to the tattoo shop and watched a man having his entire back done. He had invested 30 hours and two trips to this location simply to have this tattoo artist ink him. This increased my confidence and I walked away thinking “ya, I can do this” Later I had forgotten about it but as I walked by the shop the tattoo artist said “hey you, still want your tattoo” at which I ... read more

In West Railey we stayed at Rapala bungalows. To get to our mats on a floor with a bucket flushing toilet, you had to climb what felt like a million stairs. It was worth it though because it felt totally remote and the hammocks were exactly what I needed. Here we met two of our favourite Canadians, Mike and Jenny, who were honeymooning. Their honey moon suit made us look like homeless bums on Rideau Street but luckily they shared the wealth and allowed us to hang out in their spa and attempt to suck up the beauty. Our first full day there we decided to go snorkling at Phi Phi islands (this is where the movie The Beach was filmed). We met our group and got on to our large boat at which point we ... read more

December 23, 08 the 17 hour adventure to Krabi began. We booked a second class fan cooled sleeper train in which I ended up by myself because I opted to be even cheaper and sleep on the top bunk. The train ride was a typical eye opener for a spoiled girl who lives in OZ. Huts lined the tracks and people did everything imaginable on them. The horror that people eat and sleep here is magnified when your realize the toilet is nothing but a hole in the bottom of the train and your waste is in fact falling into someones living room. I decided to pack it in and go to sleep early due to the fact that a 45 year old Thai man had befriended me and as it was the first day of ... read more

-Happiness is when you don’t want to go to sleep because reality is better than a dream- Dec ember 22, 08, adventure to Asia began with a 7.5 hour flight to Singapore where I got my first moments of shut eye on the airport floor and then a 2.5 hour flight to Bangkok. As we emerged from the airport the “where you go”’s began. Luckily my friend Nik had informed me of the cheapest option available and, as if we knew what we were doing, we bypassed the chaos and made our way down to the bus. As we arranged our luggage Jenn says to me “can you put the camera in your bag?” I could NOT but as a yes person I agreed to hang on to it and slipped it under my bad so ... read more

Over the past few weeks, when it has been brought to my attention that there is snow on the ground at home, I have had the very glamourized vision of my family and friends frolicking happily in the snow and enjoying the type of exhilariation that only a winter snow fall can bring. Although I realize the reality of it is much more grim I can't help but miss the atmosphere that snow brings to christmas. As I type this it is 28 degrees (a very cold day for the sunshine coast in the summer). I keep waiting for someone to jump out from behind the christmas tree and yell "just joking, we decided to have chirstmas in july this year" It does not feel like christmas. The negative to this is that I am missing ... read more