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Published: October 13th 2006
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Well I want everyone to know that I am hear in Phuket... here's how the journey began....
In fear of not catching a bus to Phuket from BKK on time to arrive in Ao Chalong by morning (no one knew the times of departure) I arrived 2 hours early, bought my ticket for 6:45pm and found an outside bar to have a beer and waste some time. For the first time I really feel that I am across the world. Not one farang (foreigner) to be found, wild dogs everyone, hundreds of people rumaging the streets and palm trees swaying in the wind. Even though it is still monsoon season it is very hot and humid and man do I appreciate the wind and beer right now. An old thai woman found it quite amusing that I ordered Chang a thai beer that comes in a 20oz bottle. "You like the thai bee huh?" she says. I laughed gave her a thumbs up and she walked away.
People hear have appreciated my broken thai as I guess they see it as my making an effort in their world. Too many farang here disrespect thailand with their drunkness, littering, exploiting
thai women and so forth. The thai women love all the money the drunkness men throw around and can usually take them for all their worth...
My cost for a 13 hour bus ride to Phuket from the BKK Southern Terminal cost me 645 baht (19 CAD) and I was so excited to arrive after a very long sleepless night next to a thai man who was on his way to LoHak to dive. He was trained in the US to speech english when he was in the thai military and was sent to the US to train.(go figure!) He was very happy to use his English and was very amused with my odd thai word.
Anyways, I arrived, tired and sleepy but excited about my training. I went directly to the Shanti Lodge Phuket because I couldnt get a hold of the camp to sign in. Shanti Phuket is a beautiful jungle like atmosphere... but expensive for me at $18 CAD a night.
I got a hold of the camp and they came and got me paid for my night at Shanti and booked me into their bungalow which I am sharing with a girl from
NYC named Melissa who is here for a month after her 4 month travelling excusion in SE Asia.
She's a typical Jersey girl and I'm loving her company. Because Will the guy didnt have a all the accomodations we asked for he gave us a great deal on the HUGE bungalow with aircon and a western toilet so the total stay and training for the week cost me $100 CAD.
Yesterday was my first day of training 7-10am and then 3:45-6pm in the evening and can I tell you I dont remember the last time I hurt so bad but how much I love it. My trainer Em is this little thai man who has been fighting for years. He pushs me hard yells at me when I stop, "Lo you no stop now... now you do 100 more." I curse him but love it at the same time. 100jab/ crosses, 100 kness, 150 front kicks, 100 sit ups, etc. etc... By the of this week I will be exhausted and well needing my 3 days in the beach in Krabi and Ko Phi Phi
I also went to my first muay thai fight the other night. Quite
exciting... people screaming, betting, chanting and drunkin farang yelling and making fools of themselves. The techniques and ritual is very interesting and adrenaline pumps through you. I even watched 8 year old boys fight which weirded me otu a little but its their culture and they are not forced but really enjoy it.
Melissa and I split a bike for the week to save money but I promised myself that I would learn to drive one before I leave. Stay tuned for that. We have adventured the city looking for good food, and mosquito repellent cause the deet I have doesnt work and is irritating my skin. 43 bites on my legs and arms so far.... the trainers think its funny to yell "mozzie" and then slap my arm or leg... everyone is a comedian here.
So besides being swollen, sore, and drenched with sweat I'm incredibly well and wish I was staying here longer. Everyone at the camp stays 2 or more months and looks at me funny when I say I am staying only a week. But my time here is limited so I have to make the most of it all. I have decided to
change my travels a bit. I will be staying here the way then going to Krabi/ Ko Phi Phi then heading up north for a week to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Pai where I will be doing a massage course, cooking, elephant riding, rafting and trekking and then heading to BAli for my last week. Melissa was just there for a month and said it was amazing so she is giving me all her information and I will be staying all the places she stayed. Apparently Bali is cheaper than Thailand and just as beautiful beaches.
I wish I was able to right all the stories I have but Iwould be sitting here writing forever and not adventuring as much. I am going to the beach this weekend as Sunday is the day off from training and I will post pictures as soon as I can though again I will try to attach a couple here.
I hope everyone is well... Email or comment... My adventure continues.
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sonia
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i'm jealous
Sista i am so happy you are having a great adventure abroad. Sounds like this trip was worth more than the money spent. Keep your head about you and G says hello. She misses you and dad so much, but loves to read your blogs with me. Jeanluca is 9.5lbs now so he will me nice and plump for your home coming. Love you lots.