hello from USA! im back!!! tired as all get out, but overall doing well.. everything was smooth and ontime, no lost luggage. i sat by very nice people on all my flights, talking, laughing, made it go fast.. i slept like 6 hours on my last flight, made it go real nice and fast! im back in minneapolis, took the lightrail train to downtown, and walke to my condo! strange being back... the people here are quiet ugly..and fat.. things seem dirtier to me as well, i had this view of minneapoplis being much cleaner, and newer.. but things looked worn, and run down.. its overcast, and im jetlegged beyond believe, so im sure that is a factor.. it is nice being in my place!! i put my bag down, and ran over to punch pizza. had a the best pizza i have ever had in my life.. and a chilly beer, surly bitter.. oh man, i love our food here.. i went to lunds and bought some coffee straightway.. im drinking it now, and i cant even describe it.. so smooth, rich, creamy.. not to mention JUICY! i bought some pepsi too (and tostitos with salsa.. hahaha) im going to have dinner with my neighbor friends. and take a hot tub/steam/sauna swim, and hit the SACK! this baby is tired! its great to be home! im excited to get up north!! today has been a whirlwind.. it's nice to be back. tomorrow i head up north. ahhh. pj

[highlights: punch pizza! oh my gosh! JUICY. smooth flight, met old friends at tokyo airport! went shopping, bought coffee. so good its sick.... renewed, re-appreciation]

this is it.. last post from thailand.. its 12.10am, june 17th.. i leave for the airport in 2 hours or so. cant believe its actually my time to go... im ready.. it has been a great trip, full of wonderful experiences, (some not so wonderful).. but overall, truly a wonderful trip.. one i will remember forever! thanks for reading along with me, and putting up with my rants... (germans, ladyboys, stinky european rastafarian men). this has been quiet the trip.. up and down, left and right.. from chaing mia, to paske, to hoi an, to saigon, phenom pen, bagnkok to koh lipe. my flight is only 16 hours (opposed to over 20 coming) i arrive on june 17th, sleep one night at my place in minneapolis, head up north (thanks dad) and work the next morning... killa! jetleg+waking up at 6.30am.. its going to be stingy.. oh well, 5 months of relaxation, im due for a little pain. thanks again all for reading alone, hope you enjoyed it (i will probably post once more when i get back home, about the journey(hopefully nothing like 2005/2006 return) and post misc./missed pictures... until then! pj

[highlights: my last massage.. my last pad prik gang gai, shopping, my new TOY at MBK, thailand smiles]

after over two weeks of pure switzerland it was time to depart... took the train back to zurich, slick and seamless... arrived after a silent train ride (the trains in switzerland are extremely quiet! quite a departure from the trains in thailand), waiting 4 hours at the airport (airplane delayed of course)... i carried my luggage on board, i knew it wouldn't make my connecting flight in dubi... smart move by the doctor.. they said i wouldn't make it (i originally had a little over an hour layover.. but the flight was delayed over an hour and a half) oh such a familiar feeling.. airports man, they give me ulcers.. always on the return. i ran after landing in dubai, running, bags in hand... sweaty.. i made it fine.. the flight from Dubai to bkk was also delayed, this time in my favor... i arrived in bkk at 7.15pm... its nice being back! i like it here.
switzerland was great! i was able to explore and see much of the south/west. it was so strange hearing italian, french, german, english, all at once time, in one setting.. in one restaurant i heard it all, and some japanease as well.. wild. the mountains were breathtaking, snow capped, looked like cheasy hollywood backdrops... ski resorts left and right, hanggliders/parasailing, people out biking, hiking, making use of the land (a little extreme) the swiss are a proud bunch, i thought americans were patriotic.. nothing compared to the swiss.. its good to be happy where you are from. everything was nice, old and quaint (and expensive)... lots of cheese, fondue, earlier morning beer drinking/singing. not many smiles though, i missed that. the swiss are forced to pay a radio tax! how crazy is that.. people actually come to your house, and see if you have a radio, and ask if you use it... if you have one, you pay the tax.. its over 100 francs every three months (1 franc is just under one usd) (totally not worth it for the music, i guess the journalism is very good, but i cant understand french.. but i did hear the awful amaican music they played. ouch!) people over here really get into our garbage, NIN, Korn, limp bizkit, just crappp! its always a little disconcerting... i did lots of walking, in fribourg there were so many stairs.. everything is hilly, it makes for beautiful scenery and a good workout. everything was concrete color, rather drap. i was up in a ski resort town, very beautiful, mountains, houses stacked on the hillside, widing roads, switching back and forth. each region has its own wine, its own cheese. the scenery was wonderful, esp in the early summer, everything very lush and alive. went to a ski resort pool... up in the mountains, very nice setting!
the water in the rivers and lakes was absolutely freezing! it was very bright! white waterfalls, with a blue/green tint. (you can see yourself, in the pics). now that my trip is nearing its end (2 more nights) i am really getting ready for returning home.. the US sounds mighty nice right about now. living out of a bag for nearly 5 months starts to get a little old.. always depending on people, guesthouses.. it will be nice being back in my home, my setting. (my food! im ready for it! ahh!) i wanna thank cathrine, alan, bridget and tanja, brook and emily, raphelle, dominiq and all my other fabulous dance partners, and all the stranger i met on the streets, you made my time very special. thank you switzerland. and goodnight. dr.p

[highlights: fondue, dance party, steamboat, mountain hikes, smooth plane rides, swiss chocolate, friendly friends]

i needed a vacation from my vacation and booked a super deal and am currently in switzerland! thats right, switzerland! i had been here once before in 1999, in zurich only.. and it was during the winter months of nov-dec... what a different impression this time around has given me! wow, sunshine everyday, warm, nice breezes, cool nights... the people, not so smiley.. but nice nonetheless... things here are more spendy, its tough coming from super cheap thailand to more-expensive-than-minnesota switzerland.. but amazing! i got in on thurs afternoon.. (after a terrible flight, my first one, from bkk to Dubai, i thought i was going to die, the flight left bkk at 1.25am.. night flight, great, i can sleep.. not quite! i slept, for the first hour maybe, then woke up with intense gut pains (after i ate the poisons flight meal) i woke up sweating, shaking, ready to die... where to go? im miles in the sky, full plane.. me ready to throw up and start pooping everywhere... what do i do? oh man, terrible, never again could i endure that pain... the flight attendants were nice, and gave me some medicine that helped... but man, i was feeling funky the rest of the day/night/day... anyhow, i survived, landed, and cruised zurich (german speaking) a bit, weird being back in a place that i had been when i was 18! i remembered it, things looked familiar... headed over to geneva, (ritzy town... kinda snobby people (think paris).. and am now in fribourg (french speaking) staying at a couple i met in thailand!(email addresses come in handy!!) they have been showing me all around, taking me up and down the old streets of this fair village! its so beautiful! old houses, roads, small private shops and cafes, people out everywhere sipping their coffees and wine spirits, talking, smoking like crazy... we went to an outdoor pool yesterday (the water was freezing! and the pool was packed, crazy) tonight there is a music festival we might all goto... i am recovering from slight jetlag/sickness still, but doing much better! i fly back to bkk on the 14th, and fly for USA on the 17th, kinda crazy.. ill be paying the price when i start work on the 20th.. my poor body clock is going to be retarded... ok. ill upload some amazing pics soon! be patient! love and kisses to all my droogiee friends! dr.pee pee

[highlights: new scenery! new foods! new beauty! lake Geneva, warm weather! ( 70 F plus!)]

back up, once again.. after 10 days on koh phagnan, it was time to pack up and move out... my batteries recharged, i taxied to the pier, and hopped the 12.30 ferry to surat thani... from their, waited an hour for my train, and off i was.. fan only, sleeper car. we were set to arrive in bkk at 5am.. (we arrived at 6am). what a night, i went to the diner car to get a snake, and something to drink, and ended up staying there till amost midnight, dancing away.. there were party lights in the ceiling, blue, red, green, flashing, big speakers pumping bad thai music.. i asked if i could play from my mp3... and the party began! there was probably 12 of us in there, dancing away, as the train was cutting through the black jungle.. wow, so much fun.. .the police man, with gun and handcuffs was out dancing with us, his shirt off, hat and gun still on, dancing away.. only in thailand. he showed us his scars, he had been shot 4 times, and stabbed 5 or 6 times.. his body was a mess! freaky! but he liked to dance! arrived at 6am, and got my hotel, and slept! i feel like ive posted about everything there is to post.. thailand is great, but i feel the novelty is wearing thin.. now and then it hits me though, i look around, and smile.. such a different life over here. im going to go explore! the day is still young!
pabs

[highlights: night train party train! MBK shopping! boyieok tower]

the weather here has been great (esp considering it is the monsoon season!)! making it hard to leave. its nice to settle in, become one with the land and people.. i was getting tired moving so much, new people, new directions, town layouts.. its nice to become familiar with an area. im at the very northern part of the island.. next to a little fishing village.. the seafood here is amazing! best ive had! ive been snorkeling and swimming lots (great corals right out from my bungalow!) i went cruising yesterday on my moped... it was so incredibly hot yesterday morning, i couldn't believe it.. i thought i was going to die.. i got on my bike and took off for the other side of the island, thong noi pan yoi... i had to go all the way south, back to the main pier, and then north on a different road, a little rutted dirt road, slow going... i got their, i and i wasnt there for more than 3 minutes and a monster storm came in, out of no where! BOOM! winds, rain slashing down... it was wild! i was stuck, i took shelter and waited it out.. or tried to anyhow... it kept coming. i had lunch, ate slowly, waiting waiting... let up a little, checked out the village, and it started again... it was geting late, had to get back, so i got a plastic bag, wrapped my camera and wallet up, and braved the gale! man it got cold! wet, little needles, poking me, slapping me! the road was flooding everywhere... pits, and trenches, i couldn't see how deep they were.. rain, wind, palms flying everywhere.. wild times!!! it was so hot, got so cold, so fast, i couldn't believe it.. im lucky to be alive! i got back, stripped off my wets, wrapped myself in the blanket and drank hot coffee.. yummm... finally warmed back up... rain stopped, sun came out for its grand finale, dipped behind the ocean, and it was night. have you ever had mangostiens? unreal, tastiest little fruit i have ever had it think.. and to think i had never tasted before.. 28 years it took me! go get some, try them! oh oh! i need to go now, enough computer time! mangostien! go do it! p

[highlights: mangostien! ive never had suc a fruit!]

yesterday i went diving with lotus divers (thai owned and operated, unlike all the others here owned by white english men and their thai 'wives')... it was ok, nothing in comparison to the andaman side.. and i knew that would be the case... it was cheaper here, and shorter boat ride... our first dive was absolutely terrible... i couldn't see five feet in front of my face! plankton infested dark grey water.. just horrible. and my dive master was retarded, a thai man, owner of the shop actually... he kept trying to give me signals underwater... level, stay close, what is your air pressure at, are you ok? level up on and on this went... i have my advanced man, im not some open water with 4 dives under my belt... but even if i was, i would have still been annoyed. wow... i had my own little babysitter underwater.. weee!! i was ready to turn of his tank... self control. i have some. there were 3 other americans on board (this side, the gulf, is much more touristy) very pleasant people.. couple from arkansas and a man and his wife from colorado/switzerland/thailand (shes swiss, hes american, and they have a house here as well, on koh phagnan... the site we dived was sail rock, supposedly the best here in the golf. the second dive we did after lunch was much better. the viz improved immensely and i switched dive masters, this guy was much more chill! we had a great time. there was a great huge chimney swim through... a huge rock with the center hollowed out.. it had a window at the bottom, at 38 meters... and went up 30 meters... corals and fish swirling around inside, daylight streaming in.. really a neat spot! i really enjoyed that. we saw a GIANT barracuda... a really big giant barracuda... and he was acting very strange aggressive behavior... moth open, alone, and he started dancing vertically, thrashing its tail... scary man. saw a nice blue spotted sting ray, lots of mini white eye morays... weather was beautiful! on the way home, we could see our little island was being rained on.. heavily... rained for about 1 hour, and then finished, sun came back out and dried up all the rain. today i woke up to rain, softly falling, laid in bed until about 9.30 or so.. got up brushed my teeth (something i think i should be doing a little more often) and had a yummy breakfast, eggs./veggies and a backed brown roll with butter.. and fresh juice and thai coffee of course. im a little bummed, i was going to go check out this other beach, bottle beach, i heard it was really laid back (i thought i was on it at first, but oops.. next one over) the only way to get to bottle beach is by long tail taxi boat (or hiking over the mountain pass) so, i thought, great, secluded, but ive talked to a couple who were over there, and they said it was WAY more busy in comparison to here.,, so, i think ill stay put! maybe hike over and check it out... this place would be absolutely perfect if it weren't for the israeli daughter in law here.. a real nazi! man, she makes me feel uncomfortable, i hate asking for anything; i feel guilty even telling her my lunch order... she is just a miserable little girl who needs a good hard spanking on her face! some people just are not cut out for dealing with people/hospitality, and that is just fine, they shouldn't!!! find a new job... a gardener maybe? undertaker? just leave here please! its funny because some of the other people staying here have said the same thing.. with out me even bringing it up.. so its not just me (or not just her hating me)...
anyhow, the rain has stopped now, its 3.39pm, on a wonderful sunday afternoon.. i think its time for a nap, then a swim, then i think it will be time to eat..(im scared...)
ok my droogets
be good, think of the pablo
P

[highlights: sunshine on a cloudy day]

after sleep 12 hours, i awoke, refreshed, and recharged... i hadnt slept all that well on the sleeper car that i took from BKK to here.. i left bkk at 7.30pm, and arrived here, 1.30pm. i had a 2nd class sleeper car... i ate my first meal in the diner car! windows wide open, music... it was a fun experience! the food was enterprisingly cheap... and good! the waitresses reminded me of diner waitresses in the states... talking up the customers... bad hair, sitting down to take orders... laughing loudly... it was funny... there were no white people in there which was refreshing. we were trained down to surat thani (sp) and then bussed to the pier, and then ferried to koh samui, and on to koh phagnan.. my first impression was, PHI PHI! busy, tons of party backpackers, shirts of, wreaking of BO to the tenth degree, tattooed, and dreaded... hmmm, havent seen that before.. ya know, i think these people have to try so hard, because they are boring, and ordinary. and when i see them, its a nice warning, saying, dont talk to me, i will bore you, with my stonner talk, and hippie attitude.. i got off the ferry, and boom! there was a heard o these people, like i have never seen before.. i got scared. real scared. but i took a deep breath, and said, TAXI! koh phagnan is were they have the famous full moon party.. every month, on hat rin beach, people, anywhere from 5,000 to 30,000 people jam pack the beach, with each venue trying to blast the next, fireshows, drugs, drug nasties, freaking out to trance and electronica... i made sure i arived just after (if you come before, there are warm up parties everynight, for like a week before the actual party)... not only that, but they have half moon parties now, quarter moon parties, every phase of the moon parties really... kinda silly... some kids just want to dance... to terrible music. but anyhow, that is the south, hat rin, close to the pier, i at the very northern most part of the island... there is one other couple at my bungalow, and they are old, and tattoo free! i love it. and they dont smell bad either... i like em! i got a bike today, and cruised! checked out the hat rin area, wow, glad im not there, thats all im going to say about that! there are soo many beaches on this island, probably 18 or so... each with its own litle vibe... the one im at only has 4 bungalow operators on it... and two are closed down for the season! it poured last night! hardcore.. woke up to the sun and not a cloud in the sky! it has been a perfect day! i got burned, real bad again... im going diving again tomorrow... sail rock, i hear its pretty tasty... for the golf side anyhow. and they have been seeing TONS of whale sharks... 6/10 times.. not bad! maybe i will see my first one. there are about 14 dive shops on the island, i went with the last one i stopped at.. all thais... (usually they are all run by white german, english)... i want thai! (and they were the cheapest, and the nicest, and the have a big boat, versus a small speed boat, and they pick you up at your hotel, and they give you breakfast and lunch! lotus divers here we come, 8am tomorrow... there is a month long meditation retreat here.. you dont talk for 1 month! wow... i would die... i really dont think i could make it 3 days.. i might try one out! clear my head, cleanse the soul. we will see, ill probably be kicked out for saying something! its almost been 4 months on the road.. there is a monster gecko in my room, that is soo loud!!! the thing i swear must be 10 ft long, by the sound of it. im off, to enjoy the evening! another fine day in paradise! pj

[highlights: new island, new adventure! sleeping 12 hours...]

i am dr. droog! and i am alive! in bangkok.. have been for 4 or 5 days now, time to move on.. came to the big city to renew my passport, do some shopping, see some old friends, re-juice, and then scoot!... and i have done it all, time to move out! a little depressing, soo many people, hustle bustle... its a sensory overload esp after koh payam... BOOOM BOOM BOOMBANG.. tomorrow i leave to koh phangang.. i take the 7.30pm night train... to surattani... then ferry onward... bought treasure island today at a bookstore. its been raining every eveing, a little bit of a downer... lots of white men and their fancy thai whores... gets old real fast. food is tasty, but im ready for some beach and pablo alone time.. everything here is paved and filled with people.. i used to like it, not this visit. kinda lonely here.. so many people, but they just brush past... after this i am going to the mountains... pj

[highlights: cap. cake, kao pad gang gai, MBK, new sandals, sunshine, local busses, tallest building in thailand]

after 8 days on koh payam, it was time to move on, i kept waiting for the first rainy day to make my departure easier, but it never came... but i grew restless, and decided 8 nights had been enough (long? its all relative, there were a couple guys who had been there for over 6 months! not working, just "relaxing"... i couldn't do that, even though the island was perfect in so many ways, i would need new scenery, new adventures) i swam everyday.. on my birthday (28!! wooo hooo) i treated myself to a big crepe breakfast, 4 of them, sugar and butter dripping all over the place.. soo good... three coffees at stellas... JJ, noi, oi and rambo treated me to a birthday pancake at payam beach resort, with a candle, and sang happy birthday, (habby bird day) very nice of them! i highly recommend staying there if you find yourself on koh payam.. by far some of the nicest folks on koh payam...
there was a dance party the night i left at south star bar... i was there for about 30 minutes, but couldn't handle the reggae... man i hate reggae.. with a passion... the rastafarian islanders... deadlocks, rainbow rasta headband/hat,tattooed up and down, smoking pot 24/7... what a life! not for me man.. for being so happy and peace, love, they seemed to be some of the most unhappy people on the island... have you ever seen a tattoo that you actually like? i haven't i am now in hui hin, after a 8 hour bus ride (i was told only 4.5 hours)... its all mental, if you are told 9 hours, its easy.. if you are told 4, and it turns out double.. its hard, i get uncomfortable, and irritable.. doesn't help when the guy behind me is grinding his knees into the back of my seat, over, and over... while listening to his thai music on his little tinny phone-speaker... i think im going to stick with the trains from now on out (there are no trains on the west coast... only east side)... i love being able to move about, dinner car, bathrooms, much more room! a little slower, but well worth it in the long run! (i heard they convert the diner car into a dance car at night.. i have yet to see this myself (i guess they put up a disco ball and all... sounds like a myth to me, i will report on this later!)
so, hui hin, i was here in 2005, but nothing looks familiar... nothing, either everything has changed, or i was staying in a whole other part of town.. its a very clear, well manicured town... i walked around the night market for a bit, got some tasty chicken.. and browsed the stalls... i could people watch all night long! such a mix... there are some real freaks here in thailand. never ceases to amaze me.... just when i think ive seen the freakiest, WHAM! around the corner comes a potbellied- bikini wearing- arm missing- coke snorting- ladyboy. im always so conscientious of taking pictures of people.. but man, if i weren't, i would have quiet a photo album...
im not really sure what hui hin has to offer.. a beach i guess? the king lives here... umm.. there are horses all over the place, im guessing you can rent them... lets see, massages, restaurants galore, markets... just had some amazing seafood... belly is full, time for a nap!
PEEJAY

[highlights: hot shower! shrimps, fresh lemon juice,my soon to have massage!]

(day 1 and 2) similans. my 6 night diving adventure is actually 7 nights...its the last dive trip for phuket divers, so they add on 3 extra days... i am not complain 1 week on a boat! diving.... day 1 we did 4 dives, anitas reef, boom beach, deep 6 and east of eden... like that means anything to you. wonderful visibility! and water temp is around 32-33 C... that's like 88F or so? a little warm. its the end of the season, so fewer boats, bigger waves, but the conditions underwater are still amazing. the we have almost equal staff to guests ratio... food again is amazing... im not sure if it is just so good, or that i work up such an appetite that it tastes so good... (or eating on a boat... things always taste better somewhere remote).. all 3 contribute i think.. bottom line, it is tasty... the doctor is happy. the staff are so great.. the caption has dance parties in his room at night, with a flashlight light show.. techno-acid trance... just my cup of tea.. but it is funny... seeing him at the wheel, dancing, with a flashlight, covering it, and over covering it, dancing... by himself... there is an american dive master on board... first one i have ever seen... nice guy, from oregon, now living in nyc. day 3: got up at 6.20, had the deck to myself, enjoying my morning coffee.. taking in the natural beauty... so peaceful! first dive was the tuna wreck, and old tuna fishing boat, sunk 40 meters... i really enjoy the first dive of the day, everything is fresh and new. so much life! many soft corals. 5 new people are coming today at 11am by speedboat. i have my own room.. hope it can stay that way.s. night dive at honeymoon bay. we had a super dance party tonight... listening to the captions trance/electronica... using flashlights hanging from the ceilings as disco/strobe/lights.. we danced all night.. ending it with all jumping in for a night swim. i hadn't danced so hard in a long time! what a fun fun night! Day4: weather conditions have been rough, wave-wise... no speedboats are able to come and go... we did a morning dive at elephant ead... big waves today!reallly rockin the boat! 3 guests were going to leave today, but we will have to wait and see if speedboats are able to leave khao lak or not (yesterday they were unable to due to big waves) 4 more people were going to come... we will see.. if the 3 leave, and no one new comes, it will just be me! me and 5 staff! no complaints! i have been so full this entire trip, the food so good, i don't know when to call it quits! its sunny today, as it was yesterday and the day before... nice ocean breeze. we do our next dive in 1 hour...
Day 5-6: had the boat to myself! just me and two diver masters, two boat boys, captain and cook... it was great we did some wild uncharted dives! we did elephant head, the waves were HUGE, the boat didn't find us for half hour or so once we surfaced.. finally found us, but we could barely get on the boat, it was a challenge.. the waves were so big, bucking the boat up and down, making it virtually impossible to get on deck... what a trip! what a ride!! we got on deck and saw that everything had fallen over, the tables, chairs, stereo, tanks, the kitchen was a mess.. the waves just shook us about.. we had to cancel one day, due to the big waves... so we headed back to phuket (had to dry dock the boat) it took a little over 8 hours... of up and down and sideways, the waves were in charge.. not us... they refunded some of my money back due to the fact a a day and a half was canceled... i ended up paying around 130 usd.. for 6 nights! 16 dives, food, sleeping! that is unheard of.. never had i heard of such a deal! and two of those days all mine, getting to choose where to dive, what to eat.. i will never be spoiled that bad again. got to phuket around sunset, car was there to pick us up and drive 1 1/2 back up to khao lak.. the owner lady let me sleep in her shop, in the back, for free.. nice, in the morning,
i got on the 9:30 bus to ranong, stayed a night (bumped into jonni, linda, air and olaf again! people i had met on koh chang, and celebrated songkran with in ranong) that was nice seeing them again.. they were leaving to bangkok on the 8pm night bus... next morning took a taxi to the peir.. and back to koh payam.. this time for a week.. already pre-paid for my bungalow... im here till at least the 1st or 2nd of may! first day was sunny and hot, nice waves still.. yesterday was rainy most of the day, cleared up around 4pm or so, today is super sunny, slight breeze! wonderful day so far... just got back from stellas, where i drink the most amazing coffee ive ever had while in thailand! and now its time for a swim and beach/reading... later today i will explore the island on my motorbike.. lots to see yet! my birthday is in 3 days, i will be 28.. buy me something nice... expensive. paypal is fine too! pablo

[highlights: dance party, ship to myself, wild waves, surfing koh payam, frisbee, sleeping in till 10, coffee at stellas]

back to koh payam.. got here two days ago.. amazing weathe, great surf right out front! they have body boards and surf boards... been out there everyday, all day... NO people in the water, i cannot believe it... its all mine! there are quiet a few people here on the island, but they stay indoors when the sun is out.. thinking of you mr.fish, you would be eating it up! well, i got an email last night...from phuket divers... offering a last minute deal, 6 nights, similans.. for 10,000 bht! that is unreal!!! i cannot pass it up! so i am leaving once again, taking a speed boat at 1pm to ranong, bus leaves to khao lak at 2.30, then arrive at 6.. we leave the pier at 6.30~!!!! awesome! i cant wait!!! normally its 3,000bht for 2 dives... we will be doing 25+!! food, accommodation... diving/gear! unreal! i have been having a great time here (as usual) meeting many nice people... sharing stories.. some funny people here... there is this one girl, who is russian.. who goes around laughing at everyone, trying to catch the fish in the pond... taking off her clothes.. and running around.. very strange girl... she goes barking, and running with the local stray dogs every morning.. what is her deal? bad drugs? anyhow, i better take off to the pier now.. cant miss my boat! (the water temp here is 88 F.. bathwater) ok, im off, be back the 25th of april! come here fishy fishies! dr.p and the droogiee girls

[highlights: bodyboarding, coffee, southstar party!]

sorry for the back to back posts... but it was just an odd day... first off, im walking down the street, looking for a yummy breakfast place and i run into someone i met just two weeks ago... not a biggie, we remember each others names... strange (being that i am just horrible with names)... say hello, nice to see you again, goodbye... i walk, not even 1 minute later... i bump into a guy i met on koh chang in 2005! we both remembered very well... strange i thought... but that wasnt the end... no, i have been looking everywhere for a clippers/electric shaver... for my face (razors hurt me)... everywhere.. no one has these things.. the barbers do, but where do they get them? usa..(i finally found it, but that is a whole other store for another day). anyhow, this one thai man tells me to goto TESCO (they have a tesco here... does not fit... ) but i go, no have.. surprise surprise... but what they did have was someone i met in vietnam! like three months ago... its too much, 1, 2 ok... but this.. all in one day? what is going on... its a hub, sure, but there are NO white people here right now anyhow.. just the ones i mentioned... i think i have to stay indoors for a bit.. who else will i meet? also, my poor skin... ill wait for the sun to settle down a bit. just wanted to share... as you were! p

[highlights: shopping success! vacuum coffee, bumping into old friends]

(TIP: for the pictures, be sure to let the page FULLY load before clicking on any picture... the picture should open in a new popup window with a description underneath, if you get just the picture, in a white background, you clicked too early, cool your jets) what a last couple of days! koh chang was wonderful for my spirit and soul! re-juiced and ready once again! had a very pleasant stay at full moon bungalows... days were filled with books, eating, laying on desolate beaches, hiking, evenings filled with talking and cashew and ginger wine... i came back to ranong (mainland) yesterday, monday the 13th) for songkran, the water festival here... it was out of this world! i have never experienced anything so wonderful and fun! the town was packed, people on the streets, music out of every shop, people dancing, more pickup trucks filled with people lining the streets than i have ever seen.. young and old, woman and children... were all out enjoying the festival, laughing and smiling and throwing water on anything! hoses, buckets, balloons, squirt guns... insane! i walked out of my room for breakfast at 8am.. and came back drenched and face painted red... when i got back to my guest-house the others (who were on koh chang with me) had gathered and were in the back of a pickup... which i joined... and rode i for the next 4 hours or so, in the back, with hug barrels filled with ice and water... we each had scoops.. and proceeded to drive around, dousing everyone everywhere... i wish i could have taken a picture of it.. i have some, that others took, but it was after we got out of the truck and just continued our water wars outside of a restaurant... we were 7 in the back of our truck... 5 whites two thais.. we were the only white people in ranong... so we were a HUGE target, FARANG!!! BOOOOFFFF.... it was incredible! words cannot describe! what a fun fun day! (i was completely wet all day, it was perfect, it probably got close to 100 F) it was a perfectly sunny day! couldnt have been better... (it did rain for 50 mins or so around 4-5, but then sun came back out to play once more)... songkran is their thai new year.. and also a way to cool off on the one of the hottest days of the year! today was painfully hot... i melted! i liked it, but my skin was saying otherwise... i am now tyler- tan.. today i did my boarder run into burma... everything went perfect, i had been hearing many horror stories about people just getting jacked at the immigration office/boat ride... boat rides cost about 300-400 bht or so i was told, i got mine for 250... i thought i would start low when they asked me how much i would pay, i said 250 and he just looked a little puzzled then said ok... i thought.. hmmm, whats the catch, that was too easy... i got over to burma, they wouldnt accept my 10 usd bill (the visa fee) because it had a fold in the middle! i have been traveling for 3 months... how on earth do you keep a bill crispy... so i had to pay in thai bought a little more than the equivalent (like 1 usd more)... then, it was time to go back to thailand, and the man i went with told me to get in another boat, and that i must pay now... i did, entered the boat, then thought... uh oh, i bet i will be charged again, i had given the guy 300, i needed 50 back, i thought, great, their goes my 300, and i will have to pay again... but no, i got to the pier, and the guy gave me 50 bht.. and i was home! boom, easy... on the boat ride over, i felt so good, the sun was shinning, sea eagles catching their fresh fish right in front of my eyes... i just had this wave of GOODNESS! i wanted to shout, I LOVE YOU! i love you sea eagle, i love you little thai-long-tail-boat-captain, so as the boat was going, i just had to stand up..in excitement, almost causing us to capsize... my high was dampened immediately.. im a bit manic.. ups and downs, but i would rather have it this way than any other! so im good to go for another 2 months here! i was going to goto bangkok on monday to do some shopping, see some friends, get some city life after being on the island for the last i dont know how long, as you all most likely know, there was an outbreak in bangkok yesterday, the red jackets and the yellow jackets (think airport three months ago). gunfire, cars and busses on fire, tear gas... i was supposed to be there, but the hotel i was going to stay at was full, and being in no rush, i postponed for the next day) ;lucky me... things have quieted down a bit, but it is still not advised to be in bangkok.. you can read about it here and here(my guest-house where i usually stay is right across the street from paragon, scary)... i saw the tv, and kohsan road was empty! i couldnt believe it, that is the most touristic area... to see it just empty was surreal... because of all this... my live aboard boat trip was canceled, everyone called in and canceled i guess (thats right, i was going to do it again! they offered me a juicy discount i couldnt pass up! and besides, its my bday on the 30th, early presents!!!) they might be postponing, which kinda goofs me up a bit.. i dont want to venture too far, but i dont want to stay in ranong for a week either... i was going to goto bangkok, then over to koh toa, but.... no, i think i will .. i dont know! maybe move south a bit... town by town until i get word of whether a boat is leaving or not... i had my first ever 2 hour thai massage today... YUM YUM... it wasnt just twice as long as a 1 hour, it was all new moves! new techniques, and longer time spent on the legs and back, just what i needed.. it has been over two weeks... i was overdue. LEE LAVA DEE, ranong, DO IT. dang nabbit this is long, your probably bored to tears... that is it, im done.. oh, nose pickers here man, wow, something else, so nonchalant, 2 knuckles deep, spinning their finger back and forth, looking for treasure, unreal! whats next? i dont know! dont be scared! man, im forgetting so much.. this was just a blink of what happened, if that gives you any idea!
adios says the pablo!

[highlights: SONGKRAN!]

there is not many places like this left. no roads, cars, power, shops (7/11's) and yet beautiful... usually if it is empty there is a reason... i slept in late today, 9am... (usually im up quarter to 7)... felt good... feel rested. it is quiet warm here... no breeze today, so i am, once again, wet and soggy. the island is closing down.. many vacant bungalows... the water festival is coming up.. on the 14th... to welcome the rainy season (its also the hottest time of year) so everyone goes around dumping water on each other.. hoses, squirt guns... its a huge thai holiday, they get over a week off of work, so many thais are vacationing now. i really want to go out on one of the fishing boats.. i am asking around, trying to find out how long they go for, if any crew can speak any english... when i get back to rangon, i think i will join a crew, and head out fishing! i love being out at sea.. i want to go for 4-5 days.. i never get sea sick, but this is the rainy, wavy season... so we will see! i took a longtail from payam to chang, what a ride, waves were crashing over us... i was just drenched... as if i had dove in the ocean with all my clothes. it was very wavy, but other than that, great weather, sun was out full force! i took off all my clothes and layed in the front, sucking up the sun, my body drinking it right up. im glowing. my nose is burnt once again. turns out burma is very difficult to travel, you need special visas... they can give you one on arrival, but it is only good for 15 days, and you cannot go more than a 3 mile radius around the peir.. no fun! i looked into diving in burma... the visa alone is almost 200 usd, then the live aboard is over 27,000 bht (750 USD).. NEXT DAY: rained most of yesterday... really changes the mood.. let me tell ya.. grey, rain rain rain... read all day, ate, read, talked with my neighbor friends, walked on the beach, to the village (wasnt raining then, but started on my way back)... it is interesting to see the kind of people this island attracts... people who dont fit in anywhere else i think.. there are some real characters here... last night went to koh chang resort (nothing resort about it.. just simple bamboo huts, the name is deceiving)... and hung out with a finish couple and some germans.. they were a fun bunch... talking, laughing, hugging, high fives... very nice night! was watching the waves crash on the shore/rocks.. they were glowing, electric waves.. the plankton.. the insects here are SO loud, really loud, and the geckos, and lizards, everything makes noise...and not to mention the frogs.. wow, its an orchestra... then suddenly it will all stop.. for 10 seconds, completely silent.. then back at it! dang and momma seem very tired.. not the same as last time.. dang is married now (maybe that's why.. it was a arranged marriage..wow) its the end of the season, im sure everyone is just worn out. END OF NIGHT: had a crazy night of cashew wine, ginger wine... with germans and finish and thai... i am ready for bed! meatballs, and potato pancakes... what a day (beautiful all day, ended with a heavy downpour~! then finished, clouds cam creeping over the mountain.. very beautiful... the sea eagles, and horn-bills were fishing, ending a perfect evening, us sipping our wine... BOOM! the party is just starting! happy birthday kristen! p

[highlights: oh man. cashew wine, olaf, air bar, lightening waves, cherry bombs!]

currently stationed on koh payam, koh changs next door neighbor. the island is very small, and has no proper roads, just these narrow paved paths, for foot/bike/motorbike.. but man are they fun on the bike! zipping through the jungle, winding back and forth, up and down, i smile so big. it is off season here now, so beaches are empty, prices are dropping, the weather is still great! i am here at the perfect time for pablo! i was curious about diving up here, the surin islands, they are right next to us, but they only do live-aboards, and they are almost double the cost of the live-aboard in khao lak.. so, no go. there are some remote little bars/bungalows... i drove for a while on a sandy rocky, unpaved path, following the sign pointing to monkey bar... i like monkeys, so i thought i would check out the bar named after something i like so much... man it took forever.. the sun went down, all of a sudden, its like the gates here open, and out poured the insects/frogs... i had to slow down, not because lack of light, but because HUGE insects here hitting my face/going in my mouth.. big things, with crunchy shells, some were wet and rubbery feeling.. i dont know what i was hitting, but they were everywhere! and frogs, little frogs, big frogs.. jumping everywhere... 11 o'clock, BOING, 2 o'clock, BOING BOING... some would just jump straight up in the air, catching bugs and whatnot.. or maybe just bored, and having fun.. seeing how high he can jump... i was laughing, while driving, bugs everywhere, spiders, frogs, jumping and doing their croaking.. you gotta hear it.. WELL, finally found the monkey bar, a new bar/bungalow, not even open yet.. i came down their newly cleared path/driveway.. mud, roots, slipping all over.. parked the bike and was greeted by a nice thai man, who promptly sat me down with the rest of his family/friends and insisted i eat.. i tried to tell him i was full, but gave up, and ended up eating two dinners.. this one was much better! red snapper with garlic, peppers... and free. we ate, hugged and said are goodbyes.. im getting good at that. im staying at bamboo huts on the LONG beach of koh payam... normally this place would be busy busy i think.. they have tons of ads, and many, empty (right now) bungalows... the food is alright.. i tried ordering dinner last night.. first they were out of the springs rolls, then i ordered BBQ skewers.. they told me they would take a very very long time.. i said how long, like and hour, i was told.. great.. do you want me to not eat here? i gotta got the vibe they didnt... so i left. found this lovely little bakery.. where i spent hours this morning drinking coffee... talking... drinking more coffee... oh it was so good, i had some homemade bread and jam... very filling... the girl running it had been here for 12 years... i could never do that... i love it here, but traveling, living here.. i dont think i could... i would miss my home country too much, i need maple syrup... i am at the adaman buri, eating, drinking and using the free wifi, it is ontop of a mountain.. wow, it was a workout walking up here, i returned the bike already, so it was walky walky.. wa up a mountain... just for you! im sweaty. the view up here is wonderful... everything is wonderful, i haven't had a bad experience since vietnam... my boat sets sail at 2 to koh chang.. then to burma (but i just found out they only give 14 day visas, and you cant go more than 3 miles outside of the main town/peir) sooo... im going to enjoy my lunch now.. i need both hands@ love and kisses to my friendly followers! PJrayGUN

[highlights: COFFEE! out of this word, had 5 cups.. i feel so good!]

i have returned! rejuiced.. and ready for more! i passe with flying colors! i am now advanced open water! i had a great time, of course, it flew by! the food was amazing, the diving even better... i slept better than i have this whole trip, on that boat! i was so tired by 9pm... bam, bed! no dream, no bathroom breaks, just hardcore sleep! i would wake at 6.30, have some coffee, and watch the sun rise, all by my lonesome... nothing like it! we had great weather, all 5 days... i ate so much food. tasty... food tastes so good on a boat (and after diving, add the two up, and boom, juicy flavors). the people for the most part were ok.. we had 11, then 6 left, and 5 new ones came (there was only 3 of us who did the whol 4 day) the 5 new, were, of course, all german... fun little buggers.. i have to say the people this trip were a little drab.. not much life in them..with a few exceptions of course. we saw so much! octapus, manta ray, sting ray, ghost pipe fish, whale shark (i didnt!!) tons of scorpion fish, lion fish, bat fish, tuna, baracuda, fossilias, shrimpies, cleaner fish (they would swim in your ears and start eating dead skin.. really freaky feeling! sucker fish, they would start eating my legs! freaked me out a bit.. so much, eals, honeycomb, giant, all over the place.. its like swimming in an aquarium zoo.. out of this world! i had 15 dives.. we did a night dive.. at boomy bay, we turned off our lights, and saw the glow in the dark plankton... when agitated, they would glow blue/white... like little stars.. then, we kept the lights off.. it was a full moon, we didn't use the lights the rest of the time... just swimming by moonlight! so peaceful! there was one dive, where we hit a thermalcline, the temp changed from 30C to about 20C.. and a cloud of green silt came upon us.. just destroying all visibility, i lost contact with my body and DM, and the water was COLD! then it cleared, and we were surrounded by schools and schools of fish, swimming around us.. it was out of this world... i cant explain it.. welll, i just did, but it did nothing.. you had to have been there! and you wernt, so you will never know.. only i will.. and enzo and sabation i am tempted to head up into burma (i need to leave the country by the 14th of april, visa expires)... so, im thinking burma, and diving more! new islands, new fishies, no boats, new food... new new new! but, i was told it is very expensive, and there is only one main dive shop (thats why it is expensive, no compititon)... but next is koh payam and koh chang! (there is no power/internet, so... until next time!)
PJ

[highlights: similans diving!]

hello droogets! (new pictures, juicy juicy| http://asia.pjrey.com ) it is i, the doctor. i have paid, i am packed, tried on my wetsuit, bcd, fins, and mask, i am fitted and ready to depart. similan/surin 2009!! 5 days, 4 nights of bliss i arrived here in koh lak at 11.30 after staying one magical night in northern phuket. the sun was shining full force, my back drenched in sweat, sweeet sweet sweat, i love it. my arm hair is like golden wheat stock, blowing in the wind, i swear its grown an inch.. the sun makes things grow! turns out my boat doesn't depart until 7pm (so, i had some time to kill) walked the beach, the shops, coffee breaks, reading, catching up on some emails (i hate being inside when the sun is in full glory!) my mom turned 56 yesterday, happy birthday mom, i love you! ok. now, back to diving... so, we meet back at 6pm, then we are bussed down to the pier, load up, eat diner in the harbor, and goto bed, the ship leaves at 2am (i don't know why, weather?) when i came here i was told there were just 5 others! i was excited, more room (maybe even my OWN cabin room) and less diver/to/dive master ratio.. but after having a lunch, and coming back, i hear the boat is now full, 12 divers.. boo hiss! i guess some are just snorkeling, and for one day only.. a speed boat is coming out tomorrow to pick them up... yaa! we are going to new places this time, im excited, we are going to do the surin islands, and also a ship wreck.. i am going to be doing my advanced training.. open water (basic padi) is getting old.. with 30+ dives under my belt, it is time to advance, and advance i shall! i have to complete a 5 dive course... navigation, deep, night, fish ID, and current.. piece of cake! its not cheap though, but.. once you are certified, its for life.. "why not!?". my DM is a german boy, with some really sharp S's and even sharper body odor, i love smelling B.O.! why is it only white people stink? i never, or rarely i should say, smell the thais... its always the germans... oh well, god loves them, and i try! this subject has been discused to death, i knowww...i walked by where i stayed in 2005.. man have things changed! new resorts everywhere... it was strange being back... like a dream, you remember, but things are very vague. i want a massage. i have time. i think that's what i will do, massage, then dive.. they should really bring someone out on the boat, a massage AFTER diving... oh oh oh! a shout out to stephani and peter from switzerland.. im going to miss you two! i hear we are getting dumped on with snow back home.. man, i cant say i miss it one bit... the sea is my life, the waves are my food, and thailand is my restaurant, and im hungry! i love you! pablo

[highlights: swiss chocolate]

sorry it has been a bit, ihave been putting it off, because adding pictures takes a little bit of my time... so, i will post, but no pictures, they are coming, and they are amazing, the best yet! koh lipe was out of this world... truely the most beautiful island i have ever set foot on... magical! unspoiled.. (at least this time of yearr) the water was so warm.. like a bath.. the sand so white, the water so blue.. enough of that. i went to koh muk, didnt care for it, so jetted out of there to koh gnai.. it was better, but spendy.. but beautiful again... stayed one night and took off for koh lanta again.. staying at my thai house... checked in (after renting my motorcyle) i was in my room and five minutes later, a bee, then another, and another, dive bombing me.. i thought what the heck man.. first it was rats, now bees... i walked outside and my goodness gracious.. there was a wall/ball of bees that hummed like a race car.. right there... i was in the middle, i felt like mac culkin in my girl... running, screaming... no, didnt really scream, but i was running.. they apologized profusely , which i kept telling that wasnt a big deal, unless you put them there on purpose.. dislike for americans or something funny... so they moved me into their plush air con/fan/tv/fridge/hot showe room.. all closed in.. concrete big windows.. close to the beach, same price.. i said OK, why not... went diving today again, ive really been spoiling myself lately.. i figure, man, partake of what this area has to offer! great conditions again... (much better than koh lipe, diving-wise) saw lots, went into some caves/chimneys.. that was alot of fun! the coral, man, like you have never seen.. everywhere, soft, hard, looks like nothing you have ever seen... it is something you ahve never seen, unless you have been diving... thailand! juicy! drove around the western part of the island, visited a big old light house on the end... and what did i see, but monkeys.. wild monkeys... very wild.. they started mating right in front of me... wow, a little too much... i have really been getting my fill of monkeys, but my infatuation is as strong as ever still! cant explain it! there is a pet monkey in the guesthouse next to mine.. they walk him, and i play with him, he really likes to go swimming... i didnt know they were so good, underwater, cruising around... funny little things... got my clothes just washed, all fresh and new, and smelling so good! all is well on the eastern front! im going to go watch the sunset! and have a singha! the pablo liveth! oh, PS i just booked my 5 day live aboard to the similan islands.. i leave on the 2nd out of khao lak...

[highlights: diving, sunset, upgrade room, my motorcycle, lighthouse, swimming monkeys, fresh clothes]

my goodness this island is beyond beautiful! it is out of this world! i arrived after a 5 hour ferry ride (in the rain)(our ferry boat ran over a tigershark.. we heard a BUMP.. we stopped, pulled the props up.. and there was a 5 foot shark, that the props ate up.. sad...) .. got in around 4.30... found a bungalow.. and settled in... the rain cleared, and i explored, right out front of my room is a little beach, 200 feet long or so, all mine. the water BLUEr than anythign i have ever swam in, and its all mine... i have my own little island right out front that i can swim to easily... this is paradise.. i was laying out this mrning, reading, swimming... just what i have been looking for! i walked around the entire island today, and have concluded that i have the best spot on the entire island.. (and the cheapest!) im going to go diving tomorrow.. i want to take adventage of this! the internet here is very expensive, im going to keep this short! just wanted to report in. all is well, very very well! pabu

[highlights: my own private beach, out of this world!]

still here.. time is going fast! its been about 6 days.. i think i move out tomorrow, im getting restless! i was feeling mighty funky these last days.. my gut... i think i have worms... not really... but something is going on.. amibas... taking over... but i will win in the end... changing gears here.. went caving with two girls i met while diving (my fin friend ben was no where to be found).. it was alright.. i thought it would just be the three of us (kathryn(swiss) myself and tiril (norway) but a group showed up at the last minute... one couple, a russian couple, oh my gosh, the girls outfit.. im going to post a picture, you can see for yourself.. you wouldn't wear this to the beach, much less caving? it was too much! the other girls took some more pictures (better pictures) so i will post those later, mine now... it was so hilarious, very strange couple.. russians are a different bread, no doubt about it.. the cave wasn't so impressive.. lots of bats and spiders, there was a lagoon, big hall, the guide spoke no english, he would just point at things and grunt... it was an odd mix of people..but it is nice changing it up a bit, seeing what the island has to offer, beaches and water gets boring, i cant lay out for more than 20 minutes before i have to get up and do something... go exploring! played some badminton against a little local boy, schooled him sweet! again, then i broke his racket.. it was such a powerful hit, it just shattered.. yesterday me and ben checked out the undeveloped eastern side of the island.. wow was it beautiful!! it was such a fun road to cruise on the bike... up and down, islands popping out the ocean all over the place, the color of the water is something else!! the mountain.. the ocean, the warm breeze.. heaven man! today i gotta book a ferry ticket to somewhere, i think koh gnai, or kradon, or boulon.. ill have to look at ferry time-tables, where and when.. and take it from there. p

[highlights: cave, mangroves, sunsets, this coffee shop!]

the insects here sound like powertools... buzzing like a bansaw! wow... their are rats living in my ceiling of my bungalow... i can hear them scurrying about at night.. as long as they dont come down and start eating me... but besides that, where im staying is great. its cheap, right ont he ocean, wonderful beach out front.. very long, blue/green waters, corals, fishies, and emtpy! its the off season.. so i get a huge stretch of beach all to myself! i love it... i have a motorbike, been driving around everyday... checking out the sites.. there are some caves im going to check out tomorrow.. also a waterful...the weather is getting hotter and hotter, super humid.. raining every night for the last 5-6 days.. last night it rained all night! super wet... did i tell you i added another month to my trip.. now it is end of may i return.. time flies over here! went diving today, was amazing. finally... something similiar to similans... saw huge sea turtle, it attacked a HUGE jellyfish, just started chomping away at it... then it starting munching on some soft coral, it was a hungry guy! saw moray eels (3 of them) a HUGE stingray.. a manta ray... trigger fish, blow fish, tiger fish, clown fish, stone fish, dragon fish, angel fish, barracuda, tuna, shrimp, crab, and a big tigershark taht swam right up to me.. i was 2 feet away... what a rush! we were diving on koh ha, a set of 6 smalll islands bout 5 moiles off shore here from koh lanta... the water was so brilliant! so clear, just crystal blue/green... had breakfast ont eh boat, lunch, coffee, soda fruit.. i love eating on boats... esp after diving.. so refreshing! last night when the sun was setting, the sky turned so yellow/orange, i have never seen anything like it in all my life.. so strange.. it was very surreal .. i took a picture, i will see how it turns out when i move it to my cmptuer (i broke my LCD screen... i was chasing a cat, and landed right on it, crack!) bummer.. so, still works, just cant really see the results (or change settings) everything is temporary.. its just passing by... well, im off! time to explore, the sun is still shining (quiet powerfully) adios! the PABS

[highlights: diving! koh ha]

had a great time on luboa hut (of course) such a wonderful place, wonderful people, and foood! wow, get nuts chicken fried rice, the best ive ever had! by far... everyone who would come, i told to try, and they all ended up eating it almost every meal... i had everyone eating nuts chicken fried rice... it was pretty funny.. iwas there for a week, time flew! my daily walk in the morning, going to the village in the afternoon, back for a swim, eat, take a nap/read, and then it was volleyball time, shower, read, eat dinner, sit in my hammock down in the restaurant and drink a couple beers... my bill was so small... for 7 nights sleeping, and food, and beer and everything else.. it was 122 USD.. i could easily spend that in one night alone... just for lodging (while i couldn't personally, but one could easily) there is a new german man that built a bar right by luboa hut.. he is a real nut, i saw him, drunk day and night... wobbeling around. there has been some major tension between the luboa hut gang and his... the last night i was there fighting broke out... screeming, yelling, it was pretty wild... i thought someone was stabbed, there was this thai girl that was just wailing! then ann asked me to go over there to see what was up.. great... i get to get stabbed... i went over.. there was pushing going, yelling, had no idea what about exactly, but nut and his crew had asked them very nice to turn down the loud music and they did nothing... asked agian, nothing, this was their third attempt. poor nut, he was very calm durnig it all, he hates the fighting and yelling... i feel it is only geoing to get worse and worse... why does the german have to come and start a business? just vaction like the rest of use... oh those types drive me nuts! i guess he pays them tons too, so its goofing up the whole flow.. not good... i wanted to punch his face a little bit that night.. he was all wobbly.. trying to hug nut, telling him he loves him, kept patting his heart.. and pointing and his... oh i wanted to smack him... germans man, they really do get under my skein, i think its because of their travel book, the loose.. william loose, he writes about all thses places, and the germans come in mases... so, its just too many of them.. i left yesterday to koh lanta, said goodbye, they kept trying to talk me into staying longer... but i had to move, it was my time.. i needed to give someone else a chance to dominate at volleyball!
PJ

[highlights: new island, new roads, new motorcycle... ]

another blissful day. woke up, ate, laid and read by the shore.. no one is on the beach.. to myself, again... me and the sun and the waves... and the monkeys.. was woken up today by two fighting monkeys outside my bungalow window.. RIGHT outside of it, i thought there were going to tumble into my home... they were really going at it... cute little buggers.. the food here is soo good, nut is amazing! that or i am just starved everytime i eat.. and eating on an island always tastes better! was snorkeling and saw a BOX jelly fish, very deadly.. a boy just died in phuket from one! scary... some eels.. even a turtle around the area.. and its all mine... no one to spoil it... there has been news of a boat that sank at the similans... thats whwere i go diving.. and i heard it was one of my boats, the same company i went with... seven people are still missing.. a big storm came by surprise.. and ate them up! poof! scary.. happened at night too, can you imagine.. warm and snug in your bed, boom, in the water, clinging to your life... waves crashing oeverhead... out in the middle of teh sea! 60 miles from land... yikes! im still going to book with them though, they are by far the cheapest (maybe thats why!) ive found out about some new islands... koh bulon, and koh ngai.. never heard of them before, i hear koh bulon is even more chill than koh jam.. how could that be? i must find out... i dont even know where it is... but im going! wanna come? ha, sucker! enjoy the snow p

[highlights: another day in paradise! snorkeling, box jellyfish, kowpot gai]

ahhh, im here, im home, luboa HUT... ann and nut remembered me, very well. i had to take a big ferry from phi phi back to krabi, at the pier i got off and changed ferrys to koh lanta.. midway through we were met with long tail taxies that came up to our big ferryboat, i jumped off and headed straight to norther koh jam, koh pu.. and am staying at luboahut... it feels so good to be back here, not much changed, they added on a bit... made the place a little bigger, added two new bungalows... it is HOT wow.. i am pretty burnt... my face and arms.. played vollyball for hours yesterday... i was just drenched... soaking wet.. my shorts, i could wring them out... the food at Lhut is amazing.. tastes soo good, finally, amazing food, peace and quiet.. the waters so blue and warm.. almost too warm!it is summer here, and i have never quite had one like it... the sun is more intense than i have ever experienced... i like it... i am using some guys laptop in the main village.. i was chosen today to do the village market run.. gas, veggies, some whiskey and other odds and ends... koh jam is the island name, koh pu is the same island, but the northern partof it.. it was about a 15 kl drive... rough roads, for motorbike only... what a change from phi phi, what a breath of fresh air, i was feeling so sour and angry there... oh man, just thinking about it is bringing those feelings back, so, lets change gears! more monkeys.. yes, thats right.. cruising down the road, and there was a pack of wild monkeys.. i stopped, they came close, i wish there were friendly, and not scared of me..i just want to hold them! just for a little bit... i will stay here for another 3-4-5 days... rejuice up.. and then head south, not sure, but i might go check out malaysia.. lots of islands there as well.. and you know how i like islands! lots are starting to change, even koh jam... they have power running through the island now, they havent tapped it themselves, i guess it is for PHI PHI.. all islands have been getting power via generators as of now, koh jam included... but they have sunk a line to koh phi phi, so in the next year or so, i think koh jam will have power 24/7, and that will change many things... kinda sad... very sad really... this might be it... i better be on my way back home, they will be wondering where the goods are at! there is only one other man staying at the bungalows.. william, from scotland... he has been there 3 months now... to him, im just passing through... take care all, i sure am! pabuFEELsoGOOD

[highlights: peace and quiet, amazing food, more monkeys!]

i got to play with a gibbon... he hugged me, held my hand, we walked around... i am on phi phi, and i hate it.. besides the monkey, everything has sucked... the people, the guesthouse, the ________ (fill in yourself). why did i come here? what am i doing? i was here three years ago, and hated it... why did i come back? i talked to lots of different people, saying try it again, try again... grrrr... i will never follow peoples advice... its a party land, a disney world... all whites, everyone... white, fat, tattooed... speedos... the trip here was over 2 hours... cost 400 baht, more than any hotel ive had... the hotel i have here is also 400 baht. everythign is expensive, the internet, the food, the water, the beer.. why do people come here? because they are scared... they can be wth their own kind... oh yuk...please, stay clear, avoid. i got off the boat at 5 pm, didnt find my place until 7.20pm... i walked miles.. to a far away beach, all the entrieres in my travel guide have gone up tenfold... i walked all the way to the end, about a 30-40 minute walk, and then lightening, and it started pouring.. me, tired, hadnt eaten all day, thirsty... no guesthouse, and the rain starts pouring... ive seen more drunk nasty europeans than i saw while in europe... sorry to be so negative.. im out! peace says the pablo

[highlights: holding, touching, petting, hugging mokey!]

in krabi, once again, i gota get off my old path... so, i booked a ticket to koh phi phi.. and island about 30 some miles from krabi. i was there 3 years ago, but for only an hour.. this time i will check it out more.. i guess ther are some very chilled out inexpensive places... so, i will give it a try... from there i think i will goto koh pu and regroup.. read, lay, eat and swim.. need to get away from it all for a while.. exhaust, motorbikes... another very warm day.. rained last night.. very humid.. i need some water! bad... 16, top of door, ON ON. code breaker. surprises... ive had so much coffee today, im super sweaty, a little jittery... met some nice locals here.. sak and his crew.. they invited me to stay at their house, i would have, but i already had a place... they fed me, taxi'ed me around krabi... very hospitable. i felt bad, they opened a new eatery.. and NO one was there.. i walked around, came back, no one.. they said it has been very very slow... everything seems a little slow here, which is just fine with me! my boat sets sail at 2.... better pack up. koh phi phi here we come (you guys need to google krabi, and koh phi phi, search unde images.. get an idea where im at... it is incredible! pj

[highlights: free food and taxi! the scenery ]

wow. it is hot here, i have never quiet experienced this sort of heat before, i am just dripping.. sopping, shorts and all... i like it though! takes getting used to at night.. laying in bed, sheets soaked, wow. today reached about 100, with about 100% humidity.. mixed with the raw sun, just eating you like nothing else.. such power. dogs are laying around, panting, sweating, i dont know how they make it. pepsi sure tastes good here! got into phuket two days ago.. short flight out of chiang mai.. 1.40. got into town, am staying at the ON ON hotel, same as three years ago, its still the cheapest.. some rooms for 180baht. walked around a ton, went to the fishing village, the pier. got a motorbike yesterday, went to the very top of phuket island, to a gibbon rehabilitation clinic/hospital thing. they were so cute! like stuffed animals.. swinging around, playing, singing... amazing creatures.. one, came down to me, in its cage, and just looked at me, it looked like a little old man.. i started laughing.. and it started snickering at me.. and laughing too.. so crazy.. i laughed harder, and it started laughing harder.. crazy.. i couldnt help but think it was a conscious little man, sitting in a cage, knowing fully well what was going on.. little old men, in a stretchy boys body... the sun at me up.. i was beat up.. took a walk up to a waterfall, pretty lame, it was a trickle really, but it was in raw jungle/rainforest.. amazing how cool it was in there.. so wet though, my clothes were glued to my body... then out in the sun again, BAM motorbike seat was almost unbearable to sit on... burned my but.. (park in the shade next time) today i took the bike to sri island.. mangroves, and more monkeys.. like the one used in the little rascals.. i dont know what type.. crazy little things.. saw TONS of them.. running around, trying to mate with eachother, take your drink from your hands.. playing, fighting, bathing... they are intelligent little guys... i love monkeys! drove around the little island of sri... fishing villages mostly ... beautiful untouched bays... its amazing, you can take one turn, and be in the middle of now where... turn again, in a bustling village, another turn, resortville./. filled with white fatties and their little girls. i cant get over the generosity here... i am treated always so well.. this lady is letting me use her store, to check my email (on my laptop) she brought me drinks... and then refused payment... regardless of her not charging me... she was a very kind lady. when they smile, their faces just light up! im doing laundry again.. fresh clothes.. oh i need them. oh, took a taxi truck to kata/karon beach.. wow, nasty.. filled with FAT, topless, sunburnt women.. and their equally nasty counterpart... bars upon bars, resorts upon resorts.. not my scene to say the least! cockroaches keep trying to eat my feet... i think they smell the rotting flesh, and want a bite! nasty little guys... ive got lots of pictures, but little time... battery is about to die... so, next time. tomorrow i head to krabi, going to take a long tail to an island.. i need a beach all to myself, its due time... enough city for a while... my tummy is better.. been having some major nighttime gass though.. wow, feel bad for the neighbors.. but it makes me feel better... so too bad, deal with it. until the next posting.. love and kisses. pabu

[highlights: monkey, motorbike, the weather, the water, the love]

woke up in the middle of the night last night.. not feeling well at all.. and there were these two dogs that kept barking, all night... finally jumped out of bed and grabbed my earplugs... grrrr, getting woken up by animals.. dogs, barking, i get really mad, and often yell, SHUT UP out the window.. what can that do, maybe im hoping the owner hears me, feels bad, and kills its dog... or dopes it up. if you have a barking dog, that just barks, kill it... no one else likes it but you... and do you even? so, was up most the night, next day felt really sick, strange tummy cramps, and achy body, like the flu/cold onset... so, i was in bed, watching movies, reading and sleeping (and sweating the poison out) just woke up (laptop on lab, not bad for a room that costs 250bht (6.92 usd) and am posting this.. not feeling too much better... i fly out today at noon.. to phuket.. if your even in chiang mai, stay at kavil... im up on the top floor, nice big room.. hot water, king bed, lots of windows... D3... down a quiet street...im ready to leave..im ready to start feeling better as well peje

[highlights: not dying in my sleep...]

started the day with a monster breakfast.. i ordered the fruit, omelet, toasts coffee combo.. thinking i would have a little to get me going before i attended my cooking class. man, i was wrong about little... the fruit alone.. jakefruit, dragon fruit, had some pineapple, watermelon (about half a melon) papaya and a banana... it wasnt just little pieces of each fruit, it was the the entire thing... it was insane.. my belly packed i head off to my class... we round up everyone in the mini van (my hotel was right across from the main office, so im first in the bus) round everyone up, and head to the market... were we are introduced to the fruits and vegetables that are native to thailand, and also the ones we will be using in our cooking course.. we head off. to the garden, a piece of land they have outside of the city surrounded by gardens.. it was a very nice place, very relaxing, no human noise. there was a huge open 'kitchen' with woks and burners and tables with cutting boards and hacker knives. and then the tables outside, by a babbling brook. i made red curry paste, tom yum goong soup (hot, sour, spicy soup) chicken spring rolls, pad thai, and for dessert, sticky rice with coconut milk and mango. i was stuffed to die.. felt really kinda sick actually... packed to the max... i couldn't really enjoy the food even towards the end.. should have skipped the breakfast. got back at 4.30 and took my daily walk.. zig zagging through the old city... found my first female tuk tuk driver (the taxi motorcycle/truck taxis).. talked to her for a bit, just curious what it was like being a tuk tuk driver.. she said the most she ever made in one day was 500bht, thats not even 15 usd... and that was the most.. she rents her tuk tuk.. for 180 a day.. too expensive to buy.. over 300,000 bht (right now 1 usd = 36.2 bht). they may not make much, but they sure seem/appear to be much happier than those who do back home. always smiling, always! with each other, laughing, smiling.. it is so pleasant to see... i really appreciate it. found a nice little place to get my daily massage.. very good once again, i have had a string of very nice massages.. must be chiang mai. with ten minutes left, i heard this man bark, 'IM AMERICAN ok, 5 MINUTES MEANS FINE MINUTES' oh i shuddered. im american, i love it, ya, blast it out buddy, tell the world.. and i wonder why we are disliked everywhere.. just takes a couple bad apples to spoil the batch. i dont even know what he was upset about, but man was he unpleasant! i guess he had been waiting outside for a massage or something... he was so loud, and so rude, everyone was quiet embarrassed.. including myself. the weather today was very nice, clear and HOT, into the mid 90's. take care! im going to watch a movie in bed now it think.. p

[highlights: cooking class]

my feet are starting to rott.. and fall apart. the stink.. oh, ive got through a couple sets of sandals already, i dont know what to do... i feel so bad when i get a massage... they do wash your feet first, but still, they are rotting...
changed hotels today, this one is much cheaper, and its actually nicer.. nicer vibe, bigger room (no fridge or tv.. what am i going to doooo) never turned the last one on. been drinking tons of water, melissa would be proud. sweating a ton... i walked a ways today to this park i had seen earlier yesterday, and rented a bamboo matt for 10bht. laid by the water, in the sun.. felt good, but i started sweating, wow... the sun was heating up the ground so much, the grass was giving off some powerful WET heat... mixed with the sun beating me from the top, i was cooking, my shirt was drenched... so i got a pepsi, and then another one. i was good for a little. decided to pack it up, and move on. got a coffee boong (bag coffee), they put grounds in a net, pour hot water over it, let the net/grounds sit in the water, and tada... yummy... mixed with some sweetened and condensed milk. tasty, but not that powerful, caffeine wise, i dont really feel a thing from it (maybe because i have calloused my caffeine nerves from all the nani coffee. so i had a couple. then it was time for my daily massage... where to this time.. must try something new... the place i went to was empty... (its sunday, lots closed down here) but what was interesting i noticed, is there were tons of shoes outside (you always take your shoes off before entering)... tricky huh.. they parked a whole bunch of shooes outside, making it appear to be busy.. when in fact, i think i was the only one the entire time. perfect! when i cam in i was drippping, the girl gave me some cold water, and washed my feet. i felt like jesus for a little bit... the lady i had today, was amazing. she makes the top 5 of all time massages... she was probably in her 50's, so strong, yet so gentle, so soft, but yet force was used... it was magical. i gave a tip, something i had never done before... but i deemed this worthy. she seemed much appreciated, kept on kap-kauhn-kaping me... it was a 60 cent tip.. but for a 2.70 massage, thats quite a bit./ right? after the massage, it was back to my place, lay down for a second... i talked to my family via netmeeting (think msn, but slicker!) that was nice, i was able to see and talk with them a bit...
after that i took back to the streets, aimless, a little hungry, feet washed, ready to go. i exited my alley, and BOOM, a market, like i have NEVER seen before... well, at first i just though, ohh, little night market, but i walked, and walked and walked for probably 3 hours... its endless! all the roads are blocked... it goes on for miles and miles, and then at every intersection, splits again.. this is a street market like NO OTHER! food, clothes, paintings, hats, hand made guitars, hand made dolls, more food, drinks, carrot juice, oj, banana, ancient ice cream (had some, like sherbet) more coffee. its neat because there are tons of thais here, most are. i saw a shadow puppeteer, doing this dance, it was really amazing.. the girl was soo into it.. there are street musicians everywhere, all sorts... then in the center of the street, were a line of blind musicians, in the back you had the bass drum, a 5 gal bucket with a blanket inside, then a guitarist, a bass, and front was another drum.. he had 3 kiddie drums set up, and a cymbal on the ground... that was his high-hat... and he used his knee to open and close the sound.. and it sounded really good! i was amazed, it touched my heart, to see these men, totally blind, playing together, smiling so big, laughing, and it actually sounded very good. i got a bit emotional.... i took some pics...
ive signed up for an all day cooking class tomorrow... starts at 8am.. goes until 5pm.. we first goto the markets to get the fresh supplies.. should be funi get to choose out of a list of things, what i want to make.. should be fun, ive heard good things about it.. so ill give it a try.. ive done enough hermit wondering to last a week... might do a jungle trek too, thats what everyone here is doing...
thailand is an amazing country.
pj

[highlights: meat on a stick, banana pancake (best one ever!), my masage, reading in the park, blind band]

met some french-canadian/UK couple.. that met up with some spainards... with the funny lisps... hard to take them seriously... had a nice dinner, on a dock, on the river.. with a funny thai cover band playing everything from AC/CD, offspring, beatles, no doubt... another great mix... so funny seeing them up there rockin.... too bad its all covers... the hairstyles in this country have gone down the crapper. so many lesbos and homos/ladyboys, sexual crisis here, my gosh... they dont know which way is up.... i think there is just too many peoplke in one area, causing people to do whatever to stand out some how... lot of opium heads up here, just blasted, its pretty here, but it is the time of year that they burn the fields, so it is very hazy.. went to the tallest peak in thailand, there was a temple on top.. tons of tourists, i have heard more english spoken on this trip... than i hear back home in minneapolis... couldnt really see anything... and the temple.. like all the rest, super gawdy... gold, yellow... buddas, laying, standing, laughing, starving, young, old, emerald, budda wearing leper print, weird stuff... got out of there quick, and went to this other wat, and old one, in ruins, caves, a monk village, no white people there, no tourists at all, that was my scene... there was a little lake, and an island in the middle, docks, birds, parrots, and wild chickens... i was downstairs earlier, drinking my cup of joe, and out came three huge fling cockroaches, jumped right on me, and started going up my pantlegs, oh nasty... got them off, only to be attacked 4 minutes later, by two more kamikaze roaches... they move so fast! none in my room so far... so were good, just in the restaurant area, great. and rats the size of a small baby... its much cooler here than BKK, although today was very very warm... later in the afternoon my body told me to get a massage, found this old parlor, all blind masseuses. i had this guy who was so intense, i have never been so abused in all my life. he broke me, and them broke me some more! wow... it was too intense, i like it hard, but this was out of this world, i was actually counting down this massage, waiting for it to be over... my body is seriously bruised.. one of the blind masseuses kept farting and burping... and the others would start laughing... kinda weird. i heard my sister had her baby... in an email, but i havent been officially told, i dont know if its a boy or girl.. when she delivered ... wway to keep in touch family!! i got a flight to phuket on the 5th... 2 hours, straight to phuket.. apposed to 14 hours from here to just bangkok... than another 12.... trains are slowwwww. i always get the sleepers, but i do little of that... constant jerking, lights left on all night... the food is yummy.. having some of the special foods found only in the north, minced pork with tomatoes, and chili paste, on rice.. goood.. nice and spicy! hope everyone is well. i am! party P

[highlights: blind man massage..]

hello all in bangkok still, leaving tonight at 7pm to chang mai.. dont really want to go north, but feel i must! im sure ill enjoy it... melissa left at 3am... took a taxi to the airport and away she went... shes probably in japan by now... this is my first post using my computer! fun! there is wifi floating everywhere, im on my deck, having a coffee, enjoying the warmth, checking some email... chang mai should be nice.. i hear its cheap and very laid back... but i do like being on the water... mountains just dont really do it for me... its a 13 hour train ride... i got a sleeper perth... cozy, with bright florescent lights right in my face, all night! i bought a eye-cover-sleeper thing... and earplugs, i should be good... i arrive at 9.45am.. ill spend week or two up there, then back down, through bangkok and to my islands, that are waiting for me... (i cant wait to do a dive trip again, i looked online, its 14,000 baht, for 4 night live aboard, not tooo bad... not too cheap though.. its about 390 usd.. well, thats it for now... time to do some last minute shoppping! p

[highlights: first post from the MINI]

back in bangkok, staying at prawnee, same place i stayed 3 years ago.. and the exact same room! deja-vu! things are still the same here! didnt waste any time, headed over to pantip, my electronic playground! 6 floors of pure fun~ oh, i could stay there all day! and we did, almost... melissa liked it too! i bought a new computer, for 350 bucks.. the HP MINI! its so small, and light... i love it! i got another stamp! (phil, this one is so 2009)... we have been going to some movies! i love it.. saw valkarie.. it was ok.. it was fun just being in a theater! my stomach has been at war! crazy gass pains.. bubbles... cramping, had the squirts for 2 days... wet wet wet! that was when we were on koh chang.. so i would go out in the ocean and just poop... all day long.. i was out there bobbing, and pooping... felt soo good.. like waterbirth (i imagine) we got a massage today, 160 bht, that is exactly.. let me check... 4.49193 USD.. not bad for an hour hardcore, bone tapping, muscle ripping massage.. i loved it, too much for melissa though.. (this one was, she has been enjoying the rest of them!) then we jumped on a ferry canal boat, didnt know where it was giong.. 8 bht... got off, walked around, saw a temple, went in.. golden mountain... walked some more, so tame compared to sigon! childs park... no honking.. no yelling, much more organized... walked around, and found oursevles on koh san road.. yukky.. yukky people everywhere... we left quickly.. not our scene... took the ferry boat back.. and here i am... gonig to go get some food, mabye even go for another movie tonight! i love it! bought a train ticket today for chang mai.. leaving on the 25th (same day melissa flies back home)... i was giong to fly the same day down to bali.. but i heard i will most likely have troubles comeing back into malaysia.. because my passport is about to expire... they require 6 months.. and i wont have that.. that, mixed with the fact that i must have a return ticket otu of bali.. but i didnt know when i would leave, and i cannot get a visa on arrival into indonesia.. sooo.. thailand it is... no problem!dive trips, lonely beaches, my cup of tea!but first, i must check out the north...(even though the calling isnt so strong.. i feel i must) cant go around doing what you like, or you will never try anything new... i love the weather, i love you. p

[highlights: canal boat rides, new computer, english movie theater!]

we went elephant trekking today.. we both got to ride on the elephants head! and feed it.. went through the jungle... the computer here erased my whole thunb drive.. that had my image resizer on it.. along with LOTS of other things.. nexe time maybe so many nasty white men with 12 year old looking girls.. dejaVU... from my last trip... the thai's dont bat an eye... ho hum.. all the men, are, 1, long hair, but balding, 2,shirtless 3, tattooed today we drove on the east coast of the island.. much less development going on, although we saw construction workers working away, dump trucks hauling rock, things are changing... but it is still VERY quiet...


PABS

[highlights: riding elephants]

beautiful day here once again. we found a great bungalow.. its about 20 feet in the air.. built around trees.. a deck.. right on the ocean! waves crashing.. white sand... the water is INSANELY warm! no rocks, just smooth sand... perfect beach.. very quiet.. spent the day walking on the beach, swimming.. then drove to the state park.. and went swimming in the river.. below the falls.. very refreshing! the atm is working now.. thank goodness... we were out of funds... (had some US, converted some over to THB... got us through the day) just got done playing some badminton with a local boy.. schooled him sweet! im just sopping.. tomorrow is elephant day.. we love elephants! so big and gentle... like me! i had diarrhea all day...its firming up now.. you guys prayed a little too hard for my movements i think! feel a little weak.. but i feel thin! goood! had some yummy food here.. wow the food here is so much better than lao, vietnam, and cambodia combined... soo good. the people so peacefull! its very refreshing.. no horns here at all! silent, i LOVE IT! it has been very relaxing! we had free buffet today at our spendy hotel last night.. so we CHOWED down.. like 5 trips each.. 5 coffees.. tons of fruit, i had 3 omelets, 4 eggs, couple bowls of corn flakes, OJ (i think?) bacon, ham, fried rice, it was nice.. to eat my fill! (it was going right out the other end, so i need it baby) thats all for now!
peace be with you my brothers and sisters
pablo

[highlights: swimming in the waterafall, ATM cards back in action]

back, back where i was in 2005, christmas day to be exact.. staying at the same place as well.. kai bei beach i think its called.. nice sand, nice water, i think i'll call it home.. for the night.. then moving over to KB HUT.. its a treehouse man! right on the ocean, and almost half the cost of tonights hotstop... treehouse! on the beach, up with the monkeys and the stars... waves lapping.. midnight swim? i think so... what a mess at the cambodia/thailand border.. took forever.. two guys working.. and like 6 HUGE buss loads of people.. it was a madhouse.. people acting like animals (the germans again) grunting, and whining.. pushing ans shoving.. their gross sweaty tattooed bodies, rubbing up against my clean flesh.. they were really making me upset... but i would not become like them.. i held my ground, looking around, smiling, when really i wanted to kick em in the face, and pull their nasty rat-tail mullets right off.. or maybe a speedo wedgie.. i dont know... we were wakling aound right now, looking for a cheap internet place (island internet, it can be spendy) and there was this young guy walking around, in a leper print, THONG... ya, like it was no big deal, drinking a beer.. checking out the ladies.. struntin.. wow.. what he didnt realize was that everyone was giggling behind his hairy back... ok, enough of the nasties.. on to the YUMMIES... got a bike, after catching the ferry, after riding the bus (for 8 hours.. i think? it seemed like it). there we are, we got a bike, full of gas, 2 helmets, darkness is creeping faster and faster.. its almost 6.30pm/. no home... we break off, into the night... and after about 20 miles.. we find home.. lumyia huts.. fine, basic, cheap (hot water though, yummy) it was right in the heart of hippyville.. so, kinda loud, heard the weirdest mix of music.. from ramstien, the cranberries, then hendrix, 4 non blondes, neal young, ace of bace.. it was a timewarp... i brought earplugs though. slept like a baby! the sun is setting, once again, as it nears 6.30... its time to eat? hmmm, red snapper? tuna steak? maybe some JUMBO tiger prawns? with a chilly singha.. sounds goooood! party on my people.. i am! tomorrow, its elephants, and waterfalls.. time to revisit the 'pool'. will tell you all about it soon. oh, atm's arnt working for us... says please contact your bank.. great.. first time this has ever happened.. party hard!

pablo and the droogiee dolls

[highlights: finally some spicy food! motorcycling around the ziggy-zaggy island]

just a short update,.,. its valentines day,... flowers everywhere... people comin to me trying to sell them.. telling me to spead the love... what they really mea is, spread the money... funny little shoppins malls here.. terrible music.. oh my.. its very dirty, very poor, saw lots of children on the side of the road naked... surprisingly though, food and hotel is more than in vietnam... hmm? we are heading to sihanoukville tomorrow (south most peninsula of cambodia.. where we will chill for a day or two, then take a ferry into thailand.. awesome hjuih.. then melissa flies out the 25th.. i just purchased my ticket to bali, for the 25th as well, that way we can head to the airport together...itll be slickkk... oh, we witnessed a moto crash in mui ne.. drunk westerners.. ht this poor old man... everyone was fine.. the old man was throwen to the ground.. gashed his head open a bit.. he was laying on the highway for a bit, unconscious.. scary... im surprised i havent seen more to be honest.. its a madhouse! i havent had a good movement in days.. pray for me.. im gettng eaten by malaria infested mosquitoes.. .i must go

PABLO

[highlights: smooth travels..]

just a short update,.,. its valentines day,... flowers everywhere... people comin to me trying to sell them.. telling me to spead the love... what they really mea is, spread the money... funny little shoppins malls here.. terrible music.. oh my.. its very dirty, very poor, saw lots of children on the side of the road naked... surprisingly though, food and hotel is more than in vietnam... hmm? we are heading to sihanoukville tomorrow (south most peninsula of cambodia.. where we will chill for a day or two, then take a ferry into thailand.. awesome hjuih.. then melissa flies out the 25th.. i just purchased my ticket to bali, for the 25th as well, that way we can head to the airport together...itll be slickkk... oh, we witnessed a moto crash in mui ne.. drunk westerners.. ht this poor old man... everyone was fine.. the old man was throwen to the ground.. gashed his head open a bit.. he was laying on the highway for a bit, unconscious.. scary... im surprised i havent seen more to be honest.. its a madhouse! i havent had a good movement in days.. pray for me.. im gettng eaten by malaria infested mosquitoes.. .i must go

PABLO

[highlights: smooth travels..]

hello, this is it, last post from vietnam.. we got a ticket today out of sigon into cambodia... we leave 8am tomorrow... travel here is so cheap... and hotels as well..oh wait, and food too.. pretty much everythingi s dirt cheap!.. ive got some vietnamese flow left over and am unsure what to do wth my dong... chocolate?do i load up on vietnamese coffee? hmmm we left mui ne at 9 today, it was a 5 hour journey andhere we are, in crazy sigon... motorbike city.. just madness! it takes years off my life crossing the streets... my nerves..oh my nerves.. its suicide...bikes everywhree, zoooming by.. honking.. busses, taxies... im just a little speck in the madness... it is getting hotter,the further south we go...very humid.. ive been wet all day.. and i love it! sweaty.. sticky, sun beating me..imthirsty,i drink pepsi,i come to life again.we saw2 a man i the streets who had no face...it was burnt off by acid, or gas,scariest thingi have ever seen.. i felt so bad... what can i do? whatcanhe do? he cant get work.. he was so scary to look at... worse than a horror movie (quoting alvi,our dutch friends, who we bumped into once again!) he lives with that day in and day out... what torture! we talked with a boy at the restaurant, our waiter, he told use he makes almost 100 usd a month... wow.. andthat was considered good for his age (22) theni asked him what his schooling cost him.. about 125 usd a year! andi asked what his rent was... 15usd a month..and he splits it with his brother... they all love our new president... itis resfreshing to hear nicethings about our president, versus last time.. bush this,bush that...they love him here! so do all theeruopeans... theyis keyboard is stickingso bad, oh my... its inteesting, the vietnamese have 6 different tones.. they have one word for instance, ma.. that has 6 different meanings depending on the tone... ho chi min is on every single bill.. money is interesting, feels like plastic, kindallkke the romanian money (rmember brother?) thgns are going well, im lvng he weaher so much.. the sun, we have been blessed, one day of rain, the rest perfect! blessed be! the pictures:

[highlights: my health]

ok, pictures like promised.they are not in the correct order.. the picture will have text under it, explaining where and what... we are in mui ne, have been for two days, leaving tomorrow for sigon, and then cambodia.. we hope to be able to get a ferry from cambodia into thailand.. i think there is a ferry that can take us to the island koh chang. it rained last night.. power went off... got mighty hot in our room, all we have is a fan, but that makes a big difference... the seafood here is plentiful! lobsters on the sidewalks everywhere, clams, squid, prawns, shrimp, eel, tuna, you name it... the vietnamese coffee is very good.. they bring it to you in a little tin strainer cup that sits on top of your cup.. and it drips in slowely.. you ahve to wait for it to finish before you can drink it.. its pretty powerful! beats the instant coffee by a long shot! the melons here are great, all the fruit is really, the dragon fruit.. passion fruit, mangos, bananas, fresh orange juice... coconut juice.. everyday, not to mention my daily dose of pepsi... so good! we got a motorcycle for 24 hours.. 5 bucks.. cruised around up and down.. mui ne has about 10 miles of beach.. lined in the north with fishing boats and small huts.. in the southern part, hotels, resorts, restaurants. its very laid back here, no one hassles you, everyone is very chill.. we are enjoying this immensity.. the southern vietnamese are much more laid back and enjoyable than the northern cousins.... its a beautiful day, awaiting me.. i feel guilty sitting inside.. i wanted to upload the pics like i promised, give you an update... but i must be on my way! its a sin sitting here!
until next time!
the pj departs

[highlights: red sand dunes, natural springs, bald chickens, watching the kite surfers, our amazing seafood dinner!]

went diving today, just 2 dives.. the visibility was pretty bad.. but it was nice being in the water, seeing some ocean life.. it was a group of 20.. some just snorkeled.. melissa was able to dive (with an instructor holding onto her) she threw up a bit last night.. something she ate, feeling great today.. my skin is feeling the sun a bit today, had to take it easy.. ill be going out again soon, i love being in the ocean.. but i will wait for the sun to weaken a bit first. the food is good and cheap.. we met a dutch couple that we have been enjoying the city with.. went diving and out to dinner with them.. we might be here another night, not sure yet.. i will try and get some pictures up... p

[highlights: diving/boat trip/the weather]

left hoi an last night at 6.30 pm which really means 7.58pm.. we were on our way to nga trang... about 500km south.. we arrived at 7am.. met a nice dutch couple on the bus (sleeper bus by the way, so not too bad in the comfy dept) they honked throughout the night.. nonstop.. i brought earplugs! thankgoodness! got off the bus, and got a vietnamese cofee, or two.. and we all went out shopping for a hotel.. everywhere we went, "$10 dalla, 10 dolla" we got it down to 8.. a block in from the ocean, not bad. the sun is out full blast today, and found its way into my skin.. im a little red at the moment, but by tomorrow, it will be a brown/golden glowww..teh sun feels soo good, very energizing.. not to mention the fresh food we have been eating.. fresh fruits, dragon fruit, passion fruit, mangos/bananas/clementines etc... that and teh tap water, it has been a good intestinal cleaning.. i think i have shed a couple pounds.. but i dont know.. i have been eating a lot! we all booked a dive for tomorrow.. leaving at 7.55am and brings us back and 1pm.. the two girls are not certified, but us men are,.. they have a special course for un-certified divers.. they pay more, and cannot go as deep, and have to have a dive master along side at all times, other than that, its pretty much the same deal as us... we take a 45 min boat ride to get there i guesss.. octopus divers, the company is called, way cheaper than the rest around here, and it was recommended in our travelbook (lonely planet) it was only 40 usd for 2 dives, boat ride and lunch (and all transport to and from dock) not bad.. melissa is upstairs chilling.. she has some tummy cramps (and wet poops) it seems the further south we go, the people are nicer and less loud.. its more laid back... ive been hearing alot of negitive reports on indonesia... that might have to wait for the next trip... im still trying to decide how to work it all... its a bit of a pain getting a visa, you need to have a return ticket in order to be issued a visa... and your not always guaranteed.. i would have no idea when i would be leaving, seeing as ive never been there, and dont have a clue what to expect.. so how would i have an onward ticket? crossing borders via land has been a bit of a pain.. always ripped off, because its 'after hours' or 'special rush' its a joke.. they rip you off any way they can... gets a little old.. then when you finally do get through, the taxis are waiting, ready to do more ripping... so much bartering here, i dont care much for it... but overall the trip is going great.. its very relaxing (once we get situated and settled in, bags down) the food is good, living is cheap.. at least the sun is free... i will try and post some pictures up later today.. stay tuned (i wont send out an email, so just check the page back if you want) pj

[highlights: bodysurfing/sun/clean hotel]

another beautiful day here in paradise.. we took a motorcycle ride from hoas place into hoi an, about 18 miles away.. but a much differnt feel already.. lots of tourists.. for once i dont mind... prices may be a tich higher, but i am not constantly bothered with hello, how are you, where you from, come her sir, sir buy... we are not gawked at here, kind of refreshing.. hotel room is $7.60, a little more than where we were before, 5 bucks.. but not bad, this is much nicer.. so, ill take a little comfort for a little extra price.. my neck has been killing me today, because of the bed/pillow setup at the last place.. not worth it.. i feel like a 90 year old man, look back and forth across the streets before i cross, i look pretty goofy i bet.. grabbed a motorcycle taxi from hoas place into hoi an, only a 30 min ride or so.. not bad, found a nice hotel after checking out 3 or 4... doing laundry now, my dirty bag was getting pretty full (and stinky)... the food here is good, no thai food.. but not bad, not spicy at all.. i need a little kick ya know... the coffee is good, sweet without any sugar... thick, syrup, good. there is some surf here.. my brother would be out riding it if he was here..pretty messy, but that wouldnt stop him. little dogs everywhere, chihuahuas... lots of traditional hats...worn by women only.. rice paddy fields everywhere./ crazy graves, all on hillsides, in bright colors, little houses they look like, perched on the hills... they love the horn here, there should be a fine, for every honk... staying at my choau... tomorrow we leave, head south.. where to? what next? write in, and tell us! and you can live through us! dr.p and droogie girl

[highlights: comfy bed/hotel room]

after writing last night, came back to the room to find melissa with her bag all over the room floor, searching... "my cell phone has been stolen" right away i think she just misplaced it, but she said her charger was gone too, and it was kept in a separate part of the bag.. i thought i better check mine.. everything looked fine.. i saw my camera, my archos, sunglasses, ohh... my zen (mp3 player, NICE ONE) gone... and headphones (also very nice, and by nice i mean expensive))gone... great!! my temperature rose, and i had to go drink a pepsi to cool it back down... it worked.. i am fine now.. but man that chapps my bunns.. we think we know when it happened... we both had to use the atm... and they made us run out and use it.. i think it was these two vietnamese boys.. who were VERY friendly... i even have locks for my bag, but of course wasnt locked... melissa had just bought a lock in BKK as well.. wasnt using it as well... this is the first time i have ever had anything stolen from me in all my years of travel, so, not so bad... but still, its never a nice time to have something stolen from you... what a feeling it is. it wcuuld have been our passports/credit cards etc... oh well, he will rott in hell forever.. we stayed teh day here today, are about to go up marble mountain, go check taht out, went for a dip today, current was strong, and after 5 minutes of sw3imming a little man motioned to me to get out.. and made some swirlly motion with his hands... current i think... i was done anyhow.. melissa is waiting, must be on my way.. hoi an tomorrow... more to come children.. pj

[highlights: swimming in ocean, eating a crazy burger]

what a day.. caught a bus at 7.30am... a half-hour into the journey, we had a tireblow out... in the middle of no where, a couple staw houses, with curious kids and wild chikcens, but that was it... we had a spare, but it was of course flat as can be.. so the took it to the nearest town to get it filled... an hour plus some, we were back on the road, heading east... as we neared the border of vietnam, it became very mountainous.. wild... up and down, side ways, back and forth... what was fun at first, became nt so fun aftert 6 hours.. and it only kept gettng worse.. higher mountains, steeper cliffs and crazier driving... they were gunning it, as if they were goign to get paid extra for every minute saved... it was gut wrenching... corners at 90 degrees, doing 80k/h... tires skidding, babies crying... my seat broke with 3 hours still left to go, he hit a bump so hard, we flew.. i cam down on the seat and snapped it, i had to sit sideways, felt great on the neck... so there i am sittings sideways, flying down mountain passes... windows open, nice breeze coming in, waterfalls left ad right... clifs that made me nautious as we neared.. it was something else.. always an adventure! arrived in dangang at 4.30 or so...sick to my stomach.... but oddly enough, hungry (ive been a hungry boy on this trip)... spent hours trying to explain where i wanted to go next... what a pain.. i was so hungry, and i was being hassled left and right.. relentlessly... i was tempted to throw down with a couple of the motorcycle taxies.. they wouldnt leave me alone, i couldnt make it clear enough for him, i was temped to punch his face... time out i said, and got a bite to eat.. and a chilly pepsi, things got better fast.. found a taxi, got a beachhouse hotel.. ate again, im doing real well now.. on the way here, while looking for a taxi i whitnessed a man hit a cow... there was a heard of cows in the city, eating the grass that was inbetween the two highway lanes... i was in the center (this was in the city center, BUSY BUSY) and there are these cows! i walked to the center to cross, and they were walking towards me, but got scared, so they decided to cross too, BAM! i saw the bike smack the cow.. the cow went down... MOOOOOO, the driver didnt, he never even touched his feet to the ground.. he stopped, checked his bike, and took off, 5 seconds.. gone.. must be a daily occurence.. the vietnamers are loud little bounch.. quiet a change from laos, and esp thailand... things are cheap cheap though... the coffee here is amazing, sweet chocolate necter... its a local export... man is it good. they are insane drivers here.. honking like crazy, gets really old, really fast... left lane, right lane, they are anywhere their is pavement.. the horn is their friend.. not mine... anyhow, im tired, today has been very long. time for \bed. tomorrow its down to hoi an.. and from there... well, we will just have to wait and see... p

[highlights: arriving at our guesthouse, in one piece]

hello droogets.. momma took us to the bus station today, only to see that the next bus was leaving at 3pm (it was 10am) so, she being a little angeldoll decided to drive us.. she insisted... and woulndt accept a dime.. we tried, she would not accept... she took us right to the thai/laos border,k hugged us, told us she loved us, and we parted... walked across the border, payed the entry fee, and was on our way, we boarded a truck taxi, payed 1.50 for both, and away we went, picking up people along the way, 25 total.. in a small truck, pretty fun... its a lot rougher here than thailand.. more adventure, just what i wanted.. we are in pakse now, a small little town, close to the border of thailand... tomorrow we leave to attapeu, and hope to catch a bus into vietnam from there, we will see though, i think the busses leave early\, and we will miss it... so, probably a night in attapeu as well... then ocean!! cant wait to go diving! things are well, bellies are full, cant complain.. well, i could, but i wont! the weather is great, i love it, im sweating a lot.. getting ride of my minnesota winter fat!! bring on the sun and yum yum food!!! more soon! stay tuned... p

[highlights: free ride to the border!]

here are some pictures i tried to upload yesterday, click on them, descriptions are below once picture is opened... this lady is treating us like royalty, we awoke to chicken and meat bun/patties, coffee, sprite, yogart.. it was a feast, and she kept bringing it.. it looks like our pakse(lao) destination is not going to work.. just read online that they do not give out on arrival visas.. great.. just 10 minutes ago i read that they do.. i better get on this enjoy i am pabs

[highlights: the chicken for breakfast, it was so good, it was sick]

well here i am my little droogs.. sorry it took me so long... i am here, alive and well... my goodness was it a long flight.. over 23\4 hours.. not including a painfully long car ride down to the cities... this computer sucks big time, im going to have to keep it short... spent two days in bangkok recovering from some nasty jetLAG... thought i was going to die a couple times.. did some quick last minute shopping, got me some sexy sandals and other odds and ends ok, i can bea\lry type on this tihng.. i got a coffee the other day with jist and teye.. and i was sucking on my straw when all of a seudden something very uncoffee like went in my mouth.. i spit it out.. and it was a narly pub hair.. thick, curly, with a little white root on it still.. nea5rly barfed, thought of my dad right away.. he loves hair in food/drink.. this topped it all, black, crusty pub got the vietnam visa! party on, so im in ubon ratchathani right now, very eastern part of thailand, can see laos, heading over there tomorrow, (hopefully, i just read that the border we are crossing doesnt issue visa on arrival visas.. so great.. we will play it by ear. i am staying at this little old ladys house, my little angel momma, she saw us on train, we were talking for like 5 minutes, when she said in broken english, "tonight you stay at my house" i thought maybe she had a guesthouse or something... but no, it was her house, with her sister and mother.. she keeps feeding us.. and its goood food too, she has lots of friends in this town, she likes to drive.. so i have been riding around with her in her car, and efveywhere she goes she is stopping and saying hi, buying me coffee and interesting thai candies/and sweets (unlike ours) very unusual these treats are.. custardy like things with unions in it.. fish in some... took a night train here last night out of bangkok.. 12 hoursa.. had a sleeper car, but did little sleeping in it it was jerkin like a buckin bronko.. it arrived here in ubon ratchathani at 7:55am.. the lady took us to this national park.. it was aquiet a drive.. and i had some bad gass, i was in a world of pain.. i was goin gto upload some pictures, but of course this computer cant handle my camera.. so, it will have to wait.. things are going very well, this little lady we are staying with is just a saint! sweatest lady i have ever met.. me and melissa had about 12 pictures of us taken today by strangers.. ones with just us, us and them, me and one of them, me and both, just the boyus, just the girls, girls and melissa with peace signs.. the w\eather here is just great, nice and hot, 90's very humid.. sun at full power, feels so good on my bones (and syratic head) tomorrow the little lady is going to try to get us into laos, and from there we will make our way to vietnam.. ill post more again soon, this has been difficult to wite, the computer is givin me lip.. the pablo has landed

[highlights: the juice]

what an ordeal!! thailand has changed its laws regarding visas... if you fly into the country you have 30 days... if you cross over via a land border you have 15... (it used to be 30 for air and land)... when i was there in 05/06, i crossed into burma once and another time into malaysia in order to renew my stamp/stay... now that wont work! well it will, but for 15 days! more hassle than its worth.. that is their intentions as well.. so, i had to send off my passport (scared) and am applying for a 3 entry visa.. (allowing me three separate entries into thailand, with each entry renewing my stay by two months.. so, i could have a maximum of 6 months... get me? good... so, we will see how that goes... i leave here the 26th of jan.. if i don't get my passport back by then, oh my oh my... lets not talk of such things... my plan is to stay a couple days in bkk, recoup and at the same time apply for a vietnam visa.. (they do not issue visas on entry, by either land or air for vietnam.. so, if i flew there.. they would deport me right out... bad.. so, i need to apply for one as well.. i will do that in bkk.. its faster, and cheaper than doing it from here... that was the whole ordeal.. i wanted to goto vietnam straight after landing... but i would kill my 30 days for thailand by doing it.. when i entered back into thailand my 30 would be shrunk to 15.. anyhow all will be well if i get the 3 entry visa! so, if all goes as plan.. bkk until approved for vietnam visa.. up to hanoi.. and down the coast to saigon.. through cambodia.. back into thailand.. make my way down to malaysia... into singapore (for a little, i hear it is spendy wendy)... then into indonesia! motorbikes here we come! beaches... juicy.. 17,000 islands, i find that very hard to believe, so i must see them! and touch them all, then i will believe! i got my padi card packed, ready to do some heavy duty diving! oh ya! got a nice new backpack for christmas.. (kinda sad, i will retire my other bag, i have used on allll my trips europe/asia.. change, its scary.. it wasn't mine anyhow, my sister lent it to me, bless her heart) so, new bag, new year... new tetanus shot.. (sat on a rusty nail... i was overdue for one anyhow, perfect timing) anybody have any thing they would like to recommend i bring along on my trip? one single item, that i will most likely overlook... that you couldn't travel without? tell me!
phd pabu

[highlights: ]

merry christmas to all and to all... a good night! PHd pabu

[highlights: waking up to -20 F... its time fo SEasia baby]

just testing out some things... added a way for me to add pictures/thumbnails while on the road, pretty slick huh... im going to give it a whirl now... see how she works... ta ta pj

[highlights: loading the woodstove]

it is i, the doctor droog... i have purchased a ticket to thailand once again... are you ready? i am... time to party.. i depart jan, 27th 2009! and return end of april... dr.p