December 31, 2006 In Transit – Vientiene, Laos

December 31, 2006
In Transit – Vientiene, Laos

Our bus pulled into the Vientiene bus station at 5:30. From there we squeezed into a song tao and headed for the city center. We jumped out in a location where there were numerous guesthouses. We were quite surprised to find that all of them were full. Slightly worried we continued wandering the streets in search for a place to stay. Every place we went to was full, even the expensive ones.

After more than half an hour of searching we found a place, a cheap one at that. We stumbled into our room and immediately fell asleep. I slept until 11:00 and then jumped in the shower. When I returned the other boys were pulling themselves out of bed.

Once everyone was up we decided to get some food. Spizz and I were starving because we hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before (B had a sandwich on the bus). After a large meal we started exploring town. Everything was closed! Apparently New Years is a very big holiday here and all of the shops, internet cafes, and travel agencies close for several days.

Not knowing what to do, we returned to our room. At 13:00 B and I headed for Pha That Luang (Spizz wanted to just chill), the most important structure in Laos. After a short tuk-tuk ride we arrived at the golden monument. We wandered all around the building and took numerous photos. Though it was smaller than I had imagined, it was magnificently shinny. The glimmering gold and perfectly blue sky made for a beautiful scene.

As we were leaving the temple we ran into two monks that spoke (some) English. We sat and talked with them for several minutes. They were interested in hearing about our trip and seeing some of the photos we had just taken.

On the tuk-tuk ride back to our hostel B spotted an ATM and I went to takeout some money. It was an interesting experience. I pulled out 500,000 (50 USD) Kipp and the machine gave me the entire sum in 1,000 notes. It was a ridiculously large stack of money.

We returned to our hostel a few minutes before 16:00. We met back up with Spizz and then decided to get massages ($4) because they were one of the only establishments open. After 1.5 hours of massage we continued exploring town and found a DVD store that was open. They had a large selection of movies, each one selling for the equivalent of $1.50. We stocked up on some entertainment and then grabbed some dinner.

After Pizza and Pepsi we returned to our room with a few beers. We spent the early part of the evening watching BeerFest and having a couple of drinks. When the movie was over we went out looking for a party. We jumped in a tuk-tuk and asked to go to the nearest New Years celebration. The driver drove us to the rivers edge where he talked to one of his friends. He then dropped us off about a block from where he picked us up and told us the party was just down the street. Slightly annoyed we started walking down the street in search of the party. Much to my dismay we ran into the Canadian girls from the bus and they joined us. Eventually we found the bar we were looking for. After some deliberation (I did not want to spend the evening with these girls) we all paid the fee ($8) and headed in.

There was lots of live music, alcohol, and white people. We had a few more drinks and got our faces painted. As we partied we met some nice tourists from all over the world. Just before midnight everyone was given sparklers to bring in the New Year. We left the bar sometime after 1:00.

On the way back to our hostel at group of locals beckoned us over to their table, where they were celebrating the New Year. They treated us to a couple of beers and we hung out with them for a little while. Eventually we decided that we needed to get back to our place and get some sleep.

By the time we got home it was 2:00. We started a movie but I immediately fell asleep.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

December 30, 2006 Luang Prabang – In Transit

December 30, 2006
Luang Prabang – In Transit

We woke up this morning at around 9:00. After packing some of our things we headed out to get some breakfast. We decided on a cheap spot near our guesthouse. We all had pancakes and fruit shakes. I tried to order a corn shake but were told that they were out. Maybe next time…

After breakfast we returned to our room and finished packing. We checked out and then set out for the days activities. B decided to visit the waterfall after hearing Spizz and I talk about how cool it was. Us Coos Bay boys made headed for the Pak Ou caves.

The song tao (which I have learned is really sawngthawe but I am going to keep referring to them as sang tao because it is more fun) ride was quite long. After about 45 minutes we arrived on the rivers edge. To our surprise we then had to pay for a boat ($3) to take us across the MeKong to the entrance to the caves.

The boat ride was intense because were on a small, unstable boat. Still, we made it across the river and began exploring the caves. The caves were slightly disappointing. They were nowhere near as large or exciting as the ones in Phetchaburi (see November 29 – 30).

When we finished exploring the small dark caves we headed back to the river and got back in our boat. We took the short ride back to the other side and then returned to our vehicle. It was another long, dusty ride back into town.

Once back in town (13:45) we grabbed some lunch and then spent some time on the internet. From there we went back to our hostel and added some freshly done laundry to our bags. It was then time to chill out and do some reading. I finished “The White Masai” and then we cruised around town looking for a bookstore.

As we made our way into town we got sidetracked and instead visited the night market. While shopping we ran into B (who also loved the waterfall) and made a plan to meet back at the hostel at 18:00. Once Spizz was done purchasing some souvenirs it was almost time to go.

We all met back in the lobby of the hotel at 18:00. We grabbed our bags and caught a song tao to the southern bus station. We spent the next hour waiting for our bus. At 19:00 we loaded our stuff in the vehicle and piled onto the bus. Though everyone was assigned a seat, it was a sit anywhere bus.

I was optimistic that it would be a comfy ride because the seats next to me were empty. Unfortunately, just before the bus left the station two Canadian girls jumped on the bus and filled the seats. Even worse, they were incredibly stuck up and complained about everything. I found them to be unbearably annoying. The bus journey was no better. My seat did not recline and I had nowhere to rest my head. The road was so bad that even I was unable to fall asleep…It was a long, long night.

Things got better half way through the (9 hour) journey when the bus made a pit stop. Some people got off the bus and the Canadian girls moved to more comfortable seats. As such I had much more room and was able to get some sleep.

December 29, 2006 Luangprabang, Laos

December 29, 2006
Luangprabang, Laos

For the first time in what seems like forever we were able to sleep in. I woke up at 9:30. When I returned from my morning shower the other boys started getting up. Once they had prepared themselves for the day we set out in search of some food. We returned to the French café where we had dinner and treated ourselves to a nice breakfast. NOTE: We were amused by a beggar who entered the shop in a military outfit asked everyone for money and then left. He returned 5 minutes later in a totally different outfit and asked everyone for money again.

By the time we left the restaurant it was nearly 11:00. We returned to the room and grabbed a few things before setting out on the days adventure. B decided to stay behind and send a few post cards while Spizz and I went to check out Kwang XI Waterfall.

Spizz and I headed back to the main street in town in search of a song tao that would take us to the waterfall. Eventually we found a driver who would take us there for 5 USD each. On the way we stopped and picked up an Israeli couple. It was a surprisingly long drive (35 km) and took over half an hour.

When we arrived we had no idea what to expect. We purchased our tickets (15,000 Khipp) and headed into the park. On our way to the waterfall we were surprised to find a bear and tiger rescue center. Excited, we watched the black bears play in their enclosure. Next, we went in search of the tiger. We looked for quite a while before finding the large tiger hiding in a small building in his enclosure. When he spotted us he came to the edge of the fence to investigate. Fascinated, we watched the Tiger for a long time before moving on.

Eventually we pulled ourselves away from the wildlife and continued our journey to the waterfall. After a few minutes we came upon a beautiful swimming hole. The water was such so blue it looked as if someone had spilled food coloring into the pool. Obviously, I had to jump in.

We left the swimming pool in complete awe. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. A few minutes later we were shocked to find another large pool, even more beautiful. Again, I jumped in. After taking a number of photographs we continue on. We passed several more amazing swimming holes before reaching the main waterfall.

The main waterfall was massive. It came cascading down from incredibly high. We wandered around the base before finding a trail that went to the top. It was an incredibly steep hike. Halfway up we stopped at gorgeous viewpoint and took some more photographs. We then continue our steep hike to the top.

Exhausted, we reached the top of the waterfall. We looked out across a striking valley and waded through the river feeding the falls. After a short rest we started back down the mountain.

We got back to the swimming holes at 15:30. We then rushed back to our driver because we had planned to meet the Israeli couple at 15:00. Fortunately, they were not back yet either. As we waited for them we decided to eat an early dinner.

We all piled back into our song tao and headed back into town. Just as on the way there the road was quite dusty and we crossed over some rundown bridges. We got back into town a few minutes before 17:00.

From there we returned to our room and took showers to wash off the mud from our hike up the mountain. We then sorted through our photos for the day and told B how awesome the waterfall was.

A little after 18:30 we headed out to grab some dinner. We went to a sportsbar that had, get this, the exact same menu as the place we have been eating at since we got here. Everything was exactly the same, from the prices to the selection.

After dinner we headed down to use the internet before retiring to our room for the evening.

December 28, 2006 Pak Beng – Luang Prabang, Laos

December 28, 2006
Pak Beng – Luang Prabang, Laos

We woke up this morning at 7:30 and packed our things up in the cold. We checked out of our room and picked up some sandwiches (which we preordered) for the boat journey. We then made our way back down to the docks a little ahead of schedule to ensure that we would get seats.

We loaded onto the boat at around 8:15 (45 minutes before scheduled departure) and found some comfortable seats. Slowly the boat filled to capacity. Once again, more passengers loaded on. Just as yesterday the crew waited until the boat was much too overcrowded before agreeing to open up a second ship.

The whole affair took more than an hour to figure out. At 10:00 we pushed off and though we were going to be on our way. Unfortunately, we were just moving to a different part of the dock so that a passenger could load his motorcycle onto the boat! This was quite the endeavor and took another hour.

At 11:00 (2 hours late) we finally started heading downstream. The journey was very similar to yesterday. I spent the majority of the time reading. I aquired a new book (from B), “The White Masai”, and nearly finished it during the movie. I took a break from reading and watched Tombstone on Spizzle’s iPod Video. Other than that, it was an uneventful trip down the river.

We reached Luang Prabang at 4:45. We grabbed our luggage and headed up the ramp away from the river. When we reached the road a throng of tuk-tuk drivers offering to take us into town greeted us. After much discussion we decided to pay the cheap fare (5000 Khipp or 50 cents).

The driver drove us to several guesthouses, all of which were full. We circled back through the city trying to find an accommodation. After several failed attempts at finding a guesthouse we decided it would be easier to walk. To our surprise we found that we got off the tuk-tuk only a few hundred meters from where we had gotten on…

It took about 30 minutes to find a suitable accommodation. We ended up at a back road place with one room left. It was a two person converted into a room for three by dragging a mattress from the hallway into the room. Total cost: $3 per person.

After settling in we were hungry and ready for dinner. We made our way to the main road and found a nice restaurant. We had a cheap meal and then wandered around in search of the Red Cross (recommended by lonely planet for its saunas and massages). We traversed almost the entire town on foot before finding our destination.

We paid a small fee and then entered the sauna (the massages were all booked). It turned out to be more of a steamroom with the odor of sweaty men. Still, we were excited by the experience. We in our towels on small wooden benches and absorbed the heat. After so many evening of cold it was nice to feel hot again.

After an hour (and three sessions in the hot box) we decided we were done with the sauna. We dressed and headed into the night. Surprisingly, it was not at all cold (our elevation must have dropped a lot). We meandered around and eventually found our way back to the main street.

On the way home we made a short stop at a slow internet café. By the time we were all back in the room it was almost 23:00. We were all quite exhausted. I sat down and wrote my blog while the other boys immediately fell asleep.

December 27, 2006 Chiang Khong – Pak Beng, Laos

December 27, 2006
Chiang Khong – Pak Beng, Laos

We woke up this morning at 8:30 and packed up our belongings. B and I showered and Spizz headed up to breakfast. We joined them a short while later and ordered our food. After eating, we jumped in the back of a truck and headed 400 meters to the border.

We got our Thai exit stamps and jumped on a very small boat across the MeKong River. Once on the otherside we went through Laos immigration. It was a quick, easy process. We then headed back to the boat and grabbed our bags. We walked up a steep hill and loaded into a tuk-tuk.

The tuk-tuk ride was quite interesting. We had to dodge a crazy driver, sneak around a large piece of construction equipment, got sprayed with water, and had to wait for a flock of turkeys to cross the road.

Eventually we reached a different dock and a cluster of small stores. We loaded up on some supplies for our 7-hour boat journey and then headed down to the boats. By the time we got to the boat almost all of the seats were taken. We were forced to cram into seats with almost no legroom. Incredibly, we kept adding people. The boat got so full that we were only a few inches above the water. No one felt safe.

All of us passengers demanded a second boat. After an hour of sitting on the boat and complaining the crew gave in. The three of us quickly grabbed our luggage and made for the new boat. To our surprise it was much nicer. We claimed several cushioned seats and then chilled out on a flat area at the back of the boat.

Just before 11:00 (2 hours late) we left the dock and started our 7-hour ride down the river. I spent almost the entire journey reading “The Life of Pi”. My only breaks from the book were to eat lunch and to examine some of the beautiful scenery. Still, the boatride was not as uncomfortable as I first though. We had plenty of room and were able to move around. Nonetheless, the bathroom left something to be desired. The ceiling was so low that I almost had to go onto my knees in order fit inside. I quickly dismissed this option because the floor was wet with urine…Every time I had to pee I had to work myself into a hunched over position and aim for a tiny hole.

Halfway through the boat journey we discovered that our boat would not be making it all the way to Luang Prabang (our destination). We would travel down the river for 7-hours, spend the night in Pak Beng and then have an additional 7-hours of boating the next day. This all came as a surprise to us. When we booked the transportation we were told that the entire trip would take 2 days. Still, we had no choice and did our best to keep up our spirits.

We arrived in Pak Beng just as the sun was setting (some time around 17:30). Just as the boat docked I finished my book. It was the fastest I can remember finishing a book. As we exited the boat we were accosted by what seemed like hundreds of locals. Every one of them offered us drugs (marijuana, opium, hash, cocaine). It was unreal and somewhat intimidating. We ignored their offers and powered through the crowd to our guesthouse.

Upon arrival the woman working the front desk said she had a room with three big beds. Excited, we entered our room. The beds were some of the smallest I had ever seen. They were just wide enough for my body (and I am not that large) and much to short. Nonetheless, we tossed down our luggage and wandered around the small town in search of something to eat.

Eventually we found a nice looking restaurant. We ate a quick dinner and then decided to do a little exploring. We meandered down the single road in town and found the only massage parlor around. We all agreed that we needed massages after such a long day on the boat. Unfortunately, we had to wait around for an hour until they could accommodate the three of us.

We spent the time meandering up and down the street. Spizz lost part of his newly acquired headlamp and some of the local children helped us find it. As a reward Spizz purchased some Oreo’s for them and they were extremely excited. We then settled around a small fire and waited to be massaged.

The massage was in an open roofed room. It was quite cold and nowhere near as satisfying as a Thai massage. Afterwards we all climbed back up the street to our guesthouse. We climbed into bed to escape the cold and drifted off to sleep.

December 26, 2006 Mae Tang – Chiang Khong, Thailand

December 26, 2006
Mae Tang – Chiang Khong, Thailand

B and I woke up this morning at 6:30. It was so cold outside that we stayed in our sleeping bags until the last possible second. At 6:45 we jumped out of bed and quickly packed our things. We met up with the others at 7:00.

Alicia borrowed an SUV from her school and drove us into town so that we could catch a white song tao back to Chiang Mai. Once we got into town we said our goodbye’s to Alicia and thanked her for letting us stay with her during Christmas. We quickly found a vehicle heading for the big city. We piled in and got what we thought were the last seats…Not surprisingly, the we continued to add people throughout the journey. Still, it wasn’t such a bad thing because the crowded atmosphere made it easier to stay warm.

We arrived in Chiang Mai at around 8:00. We then said our goodbyes to Lisa and thanked her for convincing us to stay and experience the holiday spirit. It has been fun to see Lisa over the last few weeks. I hope that we can meet up again while we are still in Thailand.

It was then just us boys again. We decided to grab some food while waiting for the internet cafes and post office to open. Breakfast took a surprisingly long time. We did not leave the restaurant until 9:00.

From there I hurried to the post office and sent a purse and wallet home for the Koehne girls. If there is one universal custom in the world it is that the post office will always be crowded and will always take a long time…

Since it was still Christmas in the USA I spent the rest of my free time making phone calls and wishing my loved ones a happy holidays. At 10:00 I had to hang up (with Jackie) and hurry to the M.D House for a tour pickup.

The bus arrived at around 10:15. We jumped in and then cruised around the rest of Chiang Mai picking up other tourists. Once the bus was full we stopped at an agency to obtain our Laos Visas (1,600 Baht!).

Everyone then piled back into the van and began our journey to the border. It was a long day in the van. We only had two stops during the 5.5-hour drive, one for lunch and the other for snacks. Not unexpectedly, I slept for the majority of the drive.

At 16:00 we arrived in Chiang Khong, a city right near the border. We checked into our pre-booked guesthouse and tossed down our things. The room was very simple (only beds and a bathroom) but had an awesome view of the Me Khong River.

After settling into the room the other boys headed to the restaurant to read their books and have a fruit shake. I decided to explore (the very small) town. I wandered down the street our hostel was on.

There was not much to see. The only thing that was of any interests was a soccer field where a large party was going on (it seemed as though all the soccer fields we passed today had lots of activity). I walked to within 200 meters of the Loas border and then headed back to the guesthouse. I grabbed my book and joined my boys.

We relaxed at the restaurant reading our books until sunset. After a quick dinner we returned to the room and got into our beds to escape the cold (19:00).

We will probably spend the rest of the evening reading and might watch a movie. We are getting up tomorrow morning and heading up the river to Laos.

December 25, 2006 Mae Tang, Thailand

December 25, 2006
Mae Tang, Thailand

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Thanks for the money Mom, Pat, and Dad! Ill put it to good use. Thanks for coming to visit me earlier this month Jackie! Sorry I couldn’t send more presents home but the post here is super expensive…It really is sad to be away from friends and family during this time of year. It would be even harder if I didn’t have some good friends her with me.

B and I woke up this morning at around 8:00. Not having a tree to go to or presents to unwrap, we stayed in our sleeping bags and were in and out of sleep for the next 1.5 hours. I spent most of the time reading my book…

A little before 10:00, Lisa came into our room and joined us. We recapped the events of the night before and then decided to go wake up Spizzle Stix. Once everyone was awake Alicia led us to the dinning area for some breakfast. The only thing that sounded appetizing was butter (melted in the microwave and spread with a spoon) and toast.

When the bread ran out we made a trip back to Julie’s house (minus Alicia who had to go teach) and helped her clean up. Once the house was in order we relaxed around the TV and watched Elf (for real this time).

By the time the movie was over the day had gotten quite warm and it was time for lunch. We returned to the school, reunited with Alicia, and had a strange Thai lunch. When we were done eating we made a trip to the computer lab and read some Christmas emails. Having spent so much time on the computer yesterday, it was a short computer session.

At around 13:30 the girls went into town to get supplies for Christmas dinner. Spizz, B, and I made a trip to the basketball hoops. Although the hoops only went to about 8 feet high and they only had womens balls, it was fun to shoot a real basketball for the first time in what feels like forever. We shot around and then played a few games of H-O-R-S-E (Spizz won one and I won two).

We returned to our rooms at around 15:00 and relaxed for a while. I spent some time blogging, sorting through photos, and reading. Everyone reconvened at Julies house at around 17:00.

We then cooked Christmas dinner together. Because of our Irish ancestory Spizz and I were designated as the potato peelers (for mashed potatoes). Everyone contributed and we soon had a large Christmas feast. As we ate we watched A Christmas Story and got into the holiday spirit. I ate more than I have since leaving home more than 4 months ago. When the movie ended everyone was so full that we could not move. Even so, we forced down a small desert (for some it was a piece of cake and for others a small chocolate coin).

Just after 20:00 Spizz and B returned to their rooms for an early night. I hung out with the girls for a little while longer. Someone made mold wine (like Glug), which is red wine warmed up and combined with fruits and juices. After one cup I was ready for bed. As I said my goodbyes the rest of the people at Julies house started watching a DVD of a Thai music concert (making me glad I was tired…)

It turned out to be a more festive Christmas than I thought we would have. Still, I miss everyone back at home and wish I could have been with my family!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

December 24, 2006 Chiang Mai – Mae Tang (Sp?), Thailand

December 24, 2006
Chiang Mai – Mae Tang (Sp?), Thailand

I woke up this morning at 8:00 and headed to the travel agent (in an attempt to change our tickets to the day after Christmas). Unfortunately, the office was closed. Not knowing what to do, I returned to my room, took a shower, and packed up my things.

At 8:45 I made another trip to the travel agent. Once again, they were closed. After a quick breakfast, I made on last effort to change our tickets. This time they were open and very helpful. Changing the date on our ticket to Laos was not a problem.

Once all the new details were arranged I called Lisa and told her we would be spending Christmas with her and Alicia. I then returned to my room and attempted to fall back asleep. After 15 minutes I have up and we chilled out in the room and watched some more Entourage (for some reason it is one of the only DVD’s that is working in my computer right now).

Shortly before 10:00 B came over with this things and was excited to hear that we would be celebrating Christmas. We then all made our daily pilgrimage to the internet café. We spent a long time on the internet sending out Christmas emails and communicating with friends and family.

At around 13:30 Spizzle and I took a break from the computers to get some lunch and wander around town (B stayed on the computer for 5 hours straight!). After trips to the post office (closed on Sundays), bookstore, and craft store, we returned to the internet café to kill some time (we were not meeting Lisa until the late afternoon).

At 16:00 we had all had enough of the internet and decided to head to where we were meeting Lisa (Thapae Gate). We spent the rest of our waiting time chilling at a small restaurant, sipping fruit shakes and reading our books (I started The Life of Pi).

Just before 17:30 Lisa showed up at the gate. The four of us jumped in a song tao and headed to a large market in Chiang Mai. At the market we found a special white song tao (the others are red) that goes to Mae Tang, where Alicia lives.

We piled into the white song tao and started the journey. Not surprisingly, the driver crammed as many people as possible into the vehicle. We probably had about 20 people crammed into the back of a pickup truck (7 of them were hanging off the back). Throughout the 45-minute drive we added passengers.

We finally arrived in town at 18:45. We met up with Alicia, put our things in the back of her car, and then grabbed a quick dinner (fried chicken). Next, we made a trip to the convenience store to get some supplies for the evening.

Once all of the business was take care of we got back in the car and took a short drive to the school where Alicia lives (and teaches). It was an incredibly nice school! In fact, it is an old resort that has been converted into a school for orphans. The grounds are complete with swimming pool, tennis court, basketball hoops, and putting green.

We tossed our bags into the rooms where we are staying and then went to Julie’s house (one of Alicia’s coworkers). By the time we arrived there were 3 other farang (white people) there. We celebrated Christmas Eve by drinking some beverages that would enhance our holiday cheer, listening to Christmas music, and just hanging out.

At some point in the evening Julie got out some fortune telling cards and told gave us a glimpse into our futures. We all had a good laugh and then partied the night away. Toward the end of the evening we put in Elf (one of the greatest Christmas movies). Unfortunately, everyone was quite tired and B was the only one that managed to stay awake for the entire film.


At some point in the evening someone woke me up and we all made the trip back to the school. B and I (sharing a room) fell asleep as soon as we got into our beds.

December 23, 2006 Chiang Mai, Thailand

December 23, 2006
Chiang Mai, Thailand

I woke up this morning at around 7:30 and lay in bed for about an hour and listened to a band playing outside (it was so loud it seemed like they were performing in our bathroom). Spizz woke up a few minutes later and we packed up our stuff. The Eagle House was booked for the evening and we had to move hostels…

We left the guesthouse at around 9:30 and headed back to the more upscale M.D House. We shelled over 750 baht for a two-person room and then asked them to start a load of laundry for us.

After settling into our new room I headed to a nearby café to get some breakfast and use the internet. I sent a few emails and updated my blog as I sipped a iced green tea and munched on a brownie. As I was reading through a few emails I got a new one for B. He had arrived in Chiang Mai and was at the internet café across the street. I ran over and found him and then we returned to the café where I had my things.

A few minutes later Spizzle showed up and the three of us were together for the first time in quite a while. We used the internet for a while and then headed across the street to talk to a travel agent.

We spent the next hour discussing what to do for the remainder of our stay in South East Asia (about 30 days). After a long discussion we booked a boat into Laos for tomorrow morning. We will spend Christmas Eve on a boat and then arrive in Northern Laos on Christmas day.

Once we had ironed out all of the details we were hungry and ready for some lunch (12:30). We strolled down the street and come upon a Mexican restaurant. Having not eaten a taco, burrito, or enchilada in more than four months, I was craving the food I grew up on. The meal turned out to be surprisingly authentic and incredibly delicious.

After lunch we decided to chill out for a while. B headed back to his hostel while Spizzle and I returned to our fancy room at the M.D House. I decided to get one last Thai massage before leaving Thailand. I wandered around the corner and found a nice establishment that would give me a one-hour Thai massage for 200 baht.

When I was finished with the massage I returned to the room and had a shower. I then got cleaned up an then tried to get a hold of Lisa and confirm that we were invited to the Christmas party at her school. Unfortunately, she did not pick up. We decided to head to the school anyway.

After a short song tao ride we arrived at Chiang Mai Gate and then walked to Lisa’s school. When we arrived the Christmas party was in full swing. We sampled some traditional Thai deserts and even sang Jingle Bells on the karaoke machine. A short while later Santa Clause arrived! I was a little disappointed that it was not an Asian Santa. Somehow the school had managed to find an old white man that spoke perfect Thai to play the part of Santa.

The children all went crazy for St. Nick and were given large stuffed animals. Lisa, Spizz, B and I all watched in amusement. At 17:15 we all started eating. We had everything from German sausage to noodle salad (even getting no-bake cookies and coconut ice cream for desert). While eating Lisa told us of her plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas day and convinced us that we should try to stay.

We left the school a little after 18:00 and attempted to change our tickets. Unfortunately, the office was closed. As an alternative, we returned to our rooms and relaxed for a while. Lisa, B, and I then met back up at 20:00 at Johns place for a few beers. On the way there I passed by a large weekend market and purchased another “flowy” shirt.

After a few beers and some fun conversations we decided to call it a night. I made the 10-minute walk back to M.D House and walked up four flights of stairs to the room I was sharing with Spizz. I was surprised to find that the door was locked. I knocked a few times and waited for Spizzle to answer. He did not come to the door. I tried knocking again, still no luck. I then knocked harder and harder. Eventually several neighbors came out to see what was going on. I explained that I was trying to wake my roommate and that they could go back to sleep. After a few more knocks I went downstairs and told the concierge that I was locked out of my room because my friend had locked the door and fallen asleep.

The concierge (a little old man) walked with me to the fourth floor of the hotel and brought all of the spare keys with him. He tried the key for room 419 (our room) but had no luck! I was amazed that the key for our room was not working. Instead, he started going through every key on his key chain (of which there were about 100). I sat there and watched him for the next ½ hour. Finally, after 98 other keys, the key for room 317 worked on my room. I entered and was prepared to bitch out Spizzle. To my surprise, and embarrassment, he was nowhere to be found.

Since the rooms here require the key to be placed in a small holder for the electricity to work (and I did not have the key) I was forced to wander around the room in complete darkness. I entered the dark bathroom and prepared for bed without any light. I then sat down on the bed and prepared to write my blog. Alas, I could not find my computer anywhere. It was then that I realized that Spizz had probably taken my computer to the internet café.

I tracked him down and made him return to the room with me. After writing my blog we put on some Entourage and fell asleep.

December 22, 2006 Pai – Chiang Mai, Thailand

December 22, 2006
Pai – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Before I forget I have to mention that last night Spizz and I both had our matching flowy outfits on and an Australian girl made fun of us. And, when I got on to use the internet, Jackie was on! Apparently, she had not yet adjusted to PDT and was up at 4:00am, much to my delight!

This morning Spizz and I woke up at around 7:30 and packed up our stuff. We moved slowly in the cold and didn’t get out of our room until after 8:20. We put our packs on our back and jumped onto our vespas.

We cruised a few hundred meters to the rental agency and returned the vehicles. From there it was only a short walk to the bus station. We got onto the 9:00 minibus back to Chiang Mai.

As usual it was packed to more than capacity. The man sitting next to me and the lady in front of me had children on their laps. Still, it was nothing compared to the ride into Pai. Even nicer, it took only 3 hours (instead of 4) to get back to the big city.

We arrived at the Chiang Mai bus station (Arcade) at 12:00 and hired a tuk-tuk into the touristy part of town. After paying our driver 60 baht we checked if the Eagle House (popular hostel in town) had an vacancies. Luckily, we got one of the last rooms.

We tossed down our stuff and decided to get some lunch. Spizz knew of a fun café nearby and we both decided to get cheeseburgers (for the first time in a long time). After lunch we decided it was time to figure out a plan for the next couple of weeks. For the first time so far on the trip we have absolutely no idea what to do.

First, we checked out a couple of tour agencies and looked at what they had to offer. Most of their packages involved trekking or rafting (which we have already done). Still, a boat trip into Laos caught our eye. We decided to get on the internet and do some research.

After checking the Laos situation we continued playing on the internet and communicating with friends back home (I got to chat with Jackie again). At around 15:30 I returned to the room.

I finished the book finished the funny book Lisa gave me (called something like “On the road less travled…there isn’t any TP”) and then starting learning how to juggle.

At 17:30 I jumped in the shower and changed cloths for the first time in almost a week (well at least since a day before Jackie left). I then decided to give Lisa a call and see what she was up to. Unfortunately, she was busy for the evening but we did make plans for tomorrow.

From there Spizz and I decided to head back to the Night Bazaar. On the way I stopped at a street vendor and got some delicious Pad Thai. We did not realize it was Friday night and were surprised to find the Night Bazaar packed with people. Still, we managed to maneuver around the crowd and do some shopping for a few ladies back home.

We returned to our room a little before 9:00 and decided to watch a few DVD’s as we fell asleep. Alas, we had some DVD issues and the only ones we could get to work were the Entourage DVD’s…

December 21, 2006 Pai, Thailand

December 21, 2006
Pai, Thailand

Spizz and I woke up this morning at around 9:00. It was so cold outside that we stayed in our warm beds and read for almost an hour. A few minutes before 10:00 we decided to brave the cold and head into town for some breakfast.

For the first time in months I felt like some eggs. Even more strange, I also had some tea (which I almost never drink) to warm up my body. After this strange breakfast we returned to our room and got ready for the day. It was almost 11:00 and the day had started to warm up. I threw on some shorts and Spizz (still feeling sick) put on his flowy outfit.

We wandered back into town and found a place to rent a couple of vespas (mopeds). After selecting our vehicles and grabbing our helmets we were driven just outside of town and given a crash course on how to drive the things. The first time I started mine I lurched forward. After that, everything was a breeze, even for Spizzle.

After a quick stop at the gas station we set out for Mo Paeng Waterfall (9 km northwest of town). Driving the Vespa was much more fun that I had anticipated. I absolutely loved it cruising through the Thai countryside on the motorbike. Still, I found it quite strange that on the way almost everyone we ran into offered to sell us marijuana and opium (we refused).

With a little help from the Thai military (directions) we made it to the waterfall. The waterfall was composed of several tiers and was the centerpiece of a beautiful area. We climbed up the rocks and headed upstream. We reached a flat area and came across a meditating monk. Not wanting to disturb him we took a few pictures and headed back down. After taking a few pictures we headed back to our vehicles. NOTE: not much water was flowing through the waterfall. I imagine in the rainy season that it is much larger.

We then made the short journey back into town and stopped for some lunch. We finished our meal at approximately 2:00 and then made our way to Tha Pai Hot Spring (9 km southeast of town). In was a fun, curvy road that took us past several elephant camps and over a couple of bridges. In all, it took about 20 minutes on our vespas.

When we reached the hot spring gate we were shocked to find that there was a 400 baht entry fee. Still, we forked over the money and started hiking toward the heated water. We followed a small creek up a hill for about 10 minutes before reaching a pool with water that was 80 degrees Celsius (or 176 degrees Fahrenheit). Knowing that this was much to hot we followed the path. We were slightly disappointed to find that it started looping back to the beginning of the creek.

It was then that we decided to feel the water temperature of the creek. It was perfect! I threw down my backpack, took off my money belt and shirt and got in. It was the temperature of a hot tub (a little over 100°F). Spizz and I chilled out in the creek until 3:30 and then decided that we better get home before it started getting cold. I grabbed my backpack and my shirt and we returned to our mopeds.

We leasurly cruised back into town and decided to stop at the bus station and purchase our tickets back to Chiang Mai for tomorrow morning. It was then that I realized I left my money belt at the hot spring. In total panic I jumped on my vespa and took of like a bat out of hell (sorry mom…). I pushed went as fast as the motorbike could go and flew past all other vehicles. I desperately wanted to get to my valuables (credit cards, IDs, money, tickets) before anyone else. I got back to the hot springs as fast as is possible on a bike with an engine of only 125cc (whatever that means?).

I quickly parked the bike and ran up the trail. To my great relief I saw my money belt sitting in the exact place that I had left it. I scooped it up, put it on and slowly walked back to my vehicle. I then started the 9km journey home. I’ve always heard that speed is a drug and I must say that I found it quite hard to return to normal speed on the way home. But, for the sake of those who worry about me, we can pretend that I went very slowly and cautiously.

When I got back to the room I found Spizz hiding under several layers of blankets. In the time since I had gone back to the hot spring the temperature had taken a severe dive. It was feeling quite cold again. Feeling quite clean from the hot spring water, I decided not to take a shower and instead put on my “flowy outfit” and then played on my computer.

A little after 6:00 we grabbed dinner at our hostel and then headed up to use the internet. The rest of the evening we are planning on taking it easy and getting a good nights sleep.