Koh Tao

Well. I was most definately planning on writing a blog sooner than now. And there is much more to say than will be said here. Mainly because I can only spend so much time in an internet cafe, when looking out over a beautiful beach on a Thai island:)
Koh Tao is the name of the current island.
My journeys have taken me through 9 days in CAmbodia with Alex. We spend a week in Phnom Penh, having quite a party, and a blast needless to say. One day we decided to go looking for teaching opportunities, but the heat, exhaust, and amount of work it seemed to be to convince these people that we were seriously looking of rjobs (or was it convincing outselves that we were looking for jobs that needed convincing) led us to giving up quite quickly, and resorting back to our holiday mode. Teaching english should fall into your lap, and driving around in search of it, and communicating with people that themselves speak quite terrible english is not what I want to do on vacation.
After the week in PP, we went down to Sihanoukville for a couple days. Wonderful place. We went out to Bamboo island and found that the beach on the backside of the island is a paradise. super clear water and no people and lots of peace.
We then madeo ur way to Thailand. Alex and I ended up on different buses, but we were beside eachother the whole way because we had to catch ferry crossings. On the last ferry crossnig it started to pour, and our bus had been parked under the shelter, leaving us in therain. brilliant. The crew made the best of it, and it was just an experience that was easily overcome.
The border was easy, and I was on my way to Koh chang. When I turned aroudn to scope the bus. I saw Alex again. Somehow we managed to beo n the same bus. He eventually got off and caught his Bangkok bus. And I went to Koh Chang. Which is awesome. The second biggest island in Thailand. it's mountainous and wonderful. I spent 3 days here, one of which was spent snorkellng in some really nice coral areas. it was wonderful.
then i went to the zoo called Bangkok. It blew my mind. Mostly because it was way more ... developed thatn I expected. Comng from Saigon and PP, this place was a modern city. Highways and big skyscrapers and lots of people. Lots of cars. crazy.
i met up with Jesse Egger in his pimp apartment with his co worker Natasha. We hung out several nights seeing the sights of BKK. Met up with Alex and his friends, finally hanging with some Thai people. One day we went to a buddhist 'temple' (Chay-dee, the biggest one in the world).
The next day was Dave's arribval. And he did arrive, though his baggage didn't. I was waiting, and so was he. but luckily we were flying out of the same airport that evening, making it easy to pick up his bag. We were flying to Koh Samui, to catch a boat to Koh Phangan, to go to the Full Moon Festival. A massive beach party that has been famous for 20 years.
It was exciting and entertaining and enjoyable beyond belief. Dj's on the bech, and partying until the morning. The last few days havebeen spend recovering and enjoying the tropics on the beaches.
Now it's just Dave and I out to have a good time. We'll see what happens.
peace
Brandon.

Unhappy

Unhappy

My trip has started. A new adventure begins. So much to see.
Why then must it start off on the wrong foot?
After a glorious last weekend in Vung Tau, Adam and I took the 12:30 boat up to the city to meet Alex. The plan was to play a round of golf, then go to the Canadian Thanksgiving party and then see what happens. When we got in the cab, despite the language barrier, we thought we had translated the Saigon South Golf Course. Only one golf course can be called that right? As we found out later, our driver only knew a couple courses. So we ended up at the wrong one. The boy working knew a little english, and we thought we had then solved our problem. Well 20km later and realizing we were at a posh resort, we bailed on the plans and enjoyed this golf course with a beer from the fancy resaurant.
We then fandangled a free ride with some Taiwanese richies, and the van driver dropped us right at the front door of the Canadian Thanksgiving Party. This was quite a success, with great food, some prizes, and meeting up with a bunch of other young Canadian expats. We then went out on the town as expected. It was another wonderful night out. Until we walked home.
Adam and I went home around 4 I think. Not 50 steps from the hotel, one of the ubiquitous ‘taxi girls’ approached us. Even though she got the quick brush off, she followed. It always makes for a fun chance to joke in Vietnamese. So I did. Then we parted. What I didn’t realize, is that she had managed to distract me enough and reach into my pocket and take my phone. By the time we got to the hotel andI realized this, she was gone.
After a hectic hour of me raging around De Tham area, including talking to the ‘police’, who, as far as I am concerned, have no business being called such. Of course they were no help, and the more I think about it the more sure I am that it would be of no use in any country anyway.
So why did this have to happen? Things were spectacular. I had all my information for travelling, all the people I’ve met, a camera and my music for my entire trip tied up in that electronic piece. Is this one of those “you need to get back to yourself” moments. “What’s important is your life”. “It’s only a phone”. And yes, it is only a phone, except that it had all my music and a camera on it.
And so ends another stupid incident. I severely want to leave this country now.

The ‘not having a phone anymore’ thing became a major pain in the fact I was supposed to meet a girl for a date the next day. Using other peoples phones and waiting in the hopeful correct spot is just very confusing. When finally it came together, it was an enjoyable time. We met several of her friends at cafée, and when we were just about finished, a massive storm came. We waited it out for a bit, but we were getting pretty wet. We eventually decided to head to a restaurant for dinner, despite the rain. And it was a good idea. We ate at a fancy seafood restaurant somewhere in district 3 (I don’t really know what that means, but I’m learning). My body began to tire fram the night before. And so it was home time. Loan and her friend had to go study anyway (at 10 pm??? Until 1 or 2… what a crazy life). Whereas I went straight to my room, and straight to sleep.
And it was a great sleep… until 5 this morning when they cut the power, which left the worlds hottest room, even hotter because I was lacking the dual fan action. And so I am awake at 7 am in Saigon, craving to leave this place.

“If what I am is what I have, and what I have is gone, who am I?”
Peace.