Lazy Boy (attempt #2)

Honestly I wrote a whole page updating my travels and the internet connection I had in Phucket was terrible. It took 45 minutes just to upload those 4 photos. I will re-recap my trip. I left with a friend I met at the Hostel a German named Patrick to visit Phucket in Southwest Thailand. We left by train to Surat Thani and that leg of the trip took 11 hours. We had a layover in Surat Thani for 4 hours from 4 in the A.M. to 8 A.M. when we took a 4 hours bus to Phucket. When I finally arrived I felt like I had just run a marathon (or at least walked a marathon). Slept for 20 straight hours and was completely refreshed. I decided to live it up beach style and headed to my local beach about 300 yards away from the hotel for a little R&R. Laid out for 5 hours in the sun reading my book and swimming. I managed to acquire a minor sunburn which made for an early evening. The next day I decided to go see Ko Phi Phi the island from the movie "The Beach" starring Leo. Unfortunately I left my memory card to the camera in the computer, so alas no photos, but I am sure you can imagine... utter paradise. I got to go snorkeling in the reefs and had a great lunch on a beach encircled by mountains coming striaght out of the water on 3 sides. The next day I decided to rent a motorbike (scooter) and go visit my friend Patrick on the other side of the island at his Muay Thai Kick boxing camp. It was about 25 kilometers away around some crazy terrain. We ended up going to some sweet beach around Rawai. Supposedly it is considered one of the 10 best beaches in the world. I tried to upload a short video below. The girl in the video is an Italian kickboxer who just won a match in 3 minutes in Bangkok about 2 weeks ago.

I ended up staying the whole day until it was late and decided to sober up a few hours and make the drive back to Patong (where I was staying). I popped in some Mike West and made the journey home safe and sound. I had so much fun renting the bike that I decided to keep it another day. I took the motorcycle around the whole southern half of the island. It took about 6 hours (making the obligatory tourist stops).

I stopped for lunch in a sleepy little seaside town and met a cool Canadian that had been traveling for over a year. She knew a "secret beach" that took a bit of hiking to get to. But well worth the extra energy. I didn't bring my camera because of the Sand/Water/Salt/Sweat mixture that tends to destroy electronics. We ended up going out the the debacherous Patong Beach night life. Imagine spring break daytona beach style with a shit ton of "ladyboys" trying to lure you into bars. Ladyboys are men who have decided to live thier lives at women. Some electing to endure dramatic surgery to enhance feminine characterstics. My friend took a picture of me with two ladyboys which I am hoping she will send soon so I can share with you guys. Here is the streets of Patong below.

The next day I kept my bike for one last day. One day too many. I was coming back to my hotel from running to the bus station to buy my ticket back to Bangkok when a giant truck decided to pass a car on the other side of the road. When he passed I was to the left of a car on my side of the road. the car on my side swerved to avoid the truck and I had the choice of hitting the side of the car or slamming into the curb at 20 M.P.H.. I elected for the latter. I hit and basically flipped over the handle bars. Luckily I only scrapped my elbows and knees. Unfortunately I bent the front tire. I had to walk it back the rest of the way, well over a mile on a broken wheel. Then the rental place charged me $160 to repair the broken wheel. After this incident I have elected to "steer" clear of motorbikes in Thailand.

So I traveled back to Bangkok. No more dial up speed internet. It was a 12 hour trip back and I am once again feeling jetlagged. Hanging low tonight updating my blog.

As far as my Chinese Visa goes, I still haven't acquired it yet. I picked my physical that I had to take here in Bangkok, today. So once I get my orginal paperwork from Dave, I will try again to get my visa. There is a chance that I won't be getting my visa, which will force me to come back stateside. I will know for sure in the next week. Tomorrow, I think I am going to be a geeky tourist and go see the Buddist temples.

This last video is for Olivia. I thought that she would dig all the shells from the ocean.

"It's the simple pleasures, I'm a child at heart. I play fast and I play hard"

-Mike West