back to the boat

Asia » Thailand
January 31st 2008

Published: January 31st 2008

I wrote this blog a couple of days ago and of course we haven’t had internet access, so I wasn’t able to post it. We’re getting back into the swing of things academically on the ship and starting to plan activities for India! Hope everyone is well! xo

January 29, 2008

Well, I’m back on the boat. We actually just set sail and it feels STRANGE to be on water again! I’ll have to spend the next week getting my sea legs back and then we’ll be in India!

The rest of my time in Thailand was great. We ended up only spending one day in Bangkok because it was extremely hot and dirty and we just needed to get back to the boat. We went to the Grand Palace and to an amazing night market with over 3,500 stalls selling everything Thai you can possibly imagine. I had some Baht (the Thai currency) left over from my vacation, so I treated myself to a cute dress, some sandals and a few tops. I’ve actually been in need of all of these things…my 40 pound airline weight limit left me to pack only 3 short sleeved shirts and one pair of shorts. I’ve been wearing the same clothes over and over again for the last two weeks! Mom also surprised me with an extra $50 in my bank account, so I bought the most amazing wall hanging. It’s red and velvety with two elephants on it and lots of sparkles. It’s hard to explain but I took a picture and as soon as I’m in India I’ll post it for everyone to see.

Today we spent the day in Pattaya, a town about half an hour away from our port. I spent the morning getting the most amazing foot massage ever. An hour of foot and leg massage and 30 minutes of back and head massage for the equivalent of 6 US dollars. Man, I love Thailand!! Thai massages are all about pressure points and bending and twisting and cracking. It was definitely different than any other massage I’ve had, but I have felt amazing for the rest of the day! I’m so glad we came to this country because it has so much to offer and it allows me to keep my budget!

In Pattaya, I did see my first signs of prostitution. I could pick out prostitutes on the streets and I was told that it gets even worse at night. I also paid very close attention during my week of the numbers of old white men with young Thai women. When we were waiting for a Ferry back from the island, I saw an American soldier with tan lines where his wedding ring should be… I know I can’t assume that every woman was a prostitute or had been ‘bought’ by the man, but it’s definitely a reality in this part of the world. Especially since the Tsunami, many young women find the only way to make a decent living is to sell their bodies. Sad, but true.

Unfortunately, I’ve managed to pick up a head cold. Yes, a cold in the tropics. I feel pretty awful today and I’ve stocked up on some Thai drugs that will hopefully help me function tomorrow.

We’ve got a lot of academic work to get done in the next four days. I have a presentation to prepare and I need to get working on some essays. Midterms are only two ports away and essays are due soon after. Ah, if only there was no school this would be the perfect trip!

That’s about all of my news from here. Thailand was amazing and I’m very disappointed to be leaving already. I could stay here for a looong time. The food is great, the people are happy, the climate is perfect and the prices are cheap! Paradise!

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved