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Published: April 27th 2009
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The day we were due to leave was the last day of business for the Baan Phu Lae before the impending monsoon season shuts down most of the Island. They decided to throw a party as a thank you to the guests. They did a BBQ, a buffet and they made a punch which everyone got a free pint of. In the first few sips I could detect vodka, rum, and malibu before I gave up trying to count and just drank it because it was free. Then after everyone had eaten, a few of the staff put on a kind of cabaret. They were really very good, they had all the guests up laughing and clapping, it was brilliant. I know some of the staff were off to Bangkok after the Baan Phu Lae closed and I suspect cabaret is what they do to make a living until after the monsoon when the Baan Phu Lae reopens.
Bangkok is the centre of the world for 'gender realignment surgery' We could see some of the girls/boys at the Baan Phu Lae had had the hormone treatment because they had boobs. But the obvious question you can't help yourself thinking is......
"I wonder if they've had the nut removal surgery?" Once the cabaret started you could clearly see from their costumes one or two of them had. This is something I don't like to consider when I think of my own nuts so I'll move on. The party went on, trays of glasses filled with Thai whiskey kept appearing. I know I really shouldn't have because I knew we had a long journey the next day but I was having such a good time and they were free.
There was nothing good about the next day. With the impending monsoon the weather was turning and it had turned the sea rough. The six hour boat trip to Phuket town with the boat pitching around in the ocean was an endurance test I'd like to forget. The only thing that got me through it was the sight of other guests from the Baan Phu Lae making the same trip as us who looked just as bad as I felt.
Leaving Asia was sad. I didn't see all that much in Asia that could rival the natural beauty of South and East Africa. But what made Asia for us was the
people. I don't know if its the prevalence of Buddhist teaching in the East or if its some other aspect of their cultures, but we were almost always treated graciously and with respect everywhere we went. In particular by people in Cambodia and Sarawak in Borneo who were almost always lovely. It was a pleasure being around them.
The ethos seems to work on a simple level........'I be respectful to you, and you be respectful to me'......who'd have thought that might work?.......
In much of Asia and particularly in Cambodia the traditional greeting of placing your palms together and bowing slightly is widely used. I resisted doing it at first. But you look stupid with your hand held out for a Western handshake and the other person is bowing politely in front if you. Now I'm so used to it I can't stop. There are many Asian people working here in Australia and every time one opens a door for me, shows me to a table or whatever I find my self bowing to them. Of course they look a little confused and come out with something typically Australian like 'no worries mate"
Culture shock is too strong
a word for it but I felt weird the Saturday night we arrived in Sydney. We got to the hotel at about 7pm and went straight out to find something to eat. As it was a Saturday night the evening was in full flow and the streets were busy with pissed people shouting and urinating in doorways. It was a lot like a scene from back home. Then the restaurant we went to was packed and noisy and for an hour or more I just couldn't talk, or relax. Coming from the places we've been I now felt totally out of place in what would have been my normal surroundings a few months ago. I felt better the next day though. We met up with an ex work colleague of Lynn's and her husband who emigrated here from the UK two years ago. Together with them we went and ate outside at a seafood restaurant with a view over Sydney harbor to the opera house. While we were sat eating I remembered that Me and Lynn had eaten at the same place when we first came to Australia seven years ago. The fresh grilled fish, the wine, the view, are
'Pop' boss at the Baan Phu Lae
He doesn't make a very convincing woman, but he knows how to throw a party and have a laugh, lovely man. the best that Sydney has to offer. After weeks of Thai food I was so grateful for something nice to eat.
We're only in Sydney for a short time. It was a prerequisite of our round the world air ticket that the plane touch down somewhere in Australia at some point. But because of the weak British pound this is an expensive place for us to be, and nice as Sydney is I'm glad we only planned to stay here three days.
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Shelley
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So where are you off to next??
Hi Guys Not heard from you in a while, were are you off to after your touch base in Aus? xxx