Transit, via Thailand

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0. Up 'til leaving

The motorcycle trip is off - Abid the tour operator has advised that he can't do it due to a death in the family. Disappointing, but at least it leaves me with less luggage weight, not having to carry helmet and protective gear.
My employer has relented and unblocked my blog for NSW students to see (because I can moderate the comments on it and because they "know" who I am). A small win!
And Jay the American seems certain to be joining our little expedition at Kolkata.

1. Brisbane airport

Well here I am at Brisbane International Airport, having waved goodbye to my partner,and son and two good friends. Of course this was only achieved after numerous panics by myself over misplaced objects etc. Driving to the airport with loud music helped to calm nerves and start to put me in the holiday mode. It's amazing how many bits and peices have to be organised when packing for an exhibition like this. The main stressful ones being documentation (tickets,passport , accomodation, vouchers ec) and finances - (cash, cards and travellers cheques all parcelled out to various locations in luggage and clothing, so that absolute calamity (loss of all ID and money) is avoided.
In a strange way I must enjoy this unsettling on some level - otherwise why would I choose to repeat the experience ? Or is that I need to somehow pay for the pleasure of travel by giving myself some stress?
Certainly the attraction of travel for me seems to contain elements of the challenge of coping with change and stress, together with the fact that it's so non-routine.That's leaving aside the wonderful sites, sights, sounds, smells, people , animals and plants encountered along the way of course!

2. BKK to Koh Chang.

A few hours restless airplane sleep and I was on the ground at BBK airport and finally found where to catch the direct bus to the ferry pier. The bus is cheap, modern, and comfortable - certainly better than a crowded minibus!

3. Body language

Body language is a wonderful thing. On the bus from the airport to Koh Chang, the island I'm having a few days of relaxation on, the obligatory Thai movie was playing. It seemd to be a comedy, and some of the Thais on the bus were really cracking up at it. At one point a funny looking group of monks were called in to do a ceremony which seemd to be a type of exorcism, and clearly failed at their job. Again lots of the locals were really laughing at the monks who were really looking foolish, but I couldn't help noticing the body language of a couple in front of me - they clearly weren't impressed: no laughter, faces down. The communiy of Buddhist monks is held in pretty high regard in Thai society, and these watchers obviously thought things had gone too far. It was like watching conservative Christians having to sit through Life of Brian. All this was observable without understanding a word of Thai.
But of course without understanding the nuances of Thai body-language, it's also conceivable I misinterpreted completely what I was seeing!!

4. A mixed bag on a boat trip.

After a day of orienting myself in Koh Chang, I decided to take a boat trip around the islands and get in a bit of snorkelling. I wasn't expecting that much in the way of exciting coral/fish, and I was correct. The water was a bit sedimented and there was some cloud also. I guess I've been spoilt over the years from places like the Vanuatu, and other spots in Asia in years gone past. Nevertheless it was relaxing and good to be swimming. We were an odd assortment - a young holidaying couple from Sydney, two Thai girls (also a couple), a pair of German backpackers, a pair of Japanese backpackers, and an older American guy, as well as myself. Plus the Thai crew, who were happy and relaxed. We all had fun!! But the crew insisted on overfeeding us on great food. It seems food overdosing is now de rigeur on most organised SE Asian tours - western overconsumption strikes again!

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Photos

Photo 4
My hut

Photo 5
Resort Garden

Photo 6
Resort Cat

Photo 8
Koh Chang

Comments

[Bianca]

P.S, tried looking at your blog from school today and it doens't work.....site blocked. am accessing this from home...your plan didn't work

[jimguru]

Portal blockage
Bianca: I'll log into my DET a/c and email them - they did unblock it but maybe only at my page level?.or else the right hand has undone what the left hand did? Thanks for the comment and I hope you are relaxing as well as studying...;)

[jimguru]

Damn those filters
It's way too much trouble trying to get the site unblocked from overseas I've found, so if it is blocked, I guess that's one more educational opportunity lost. I guess I'll know better next time....