Down to the Wire

All right then, today is the end of the August and that means I've got one more month left in the country. Or as Noah says, four weeks. Apparently we're not counting that last week due to our hectic schedules. So there we are, four weeks.

I have to admit that August was a pretty dry month. I didn't write quite as much as I should have and I placated you all with media. I hope you didn't notice. This month, however, things will change. I will have to write something nearly everyday if I want to come away from this experience totally satisfied. That means some of you will get more emails from me. That's okay, I'm assuming you read these posts and that you won't mind the clutter.

I'll get started now.

Today was payday and nothing makes teachers more giddy and more tolerant than getting their monthly salary. Students aren't quite as loud, co-workers aren't quite as annoying and there's somewhat of a bounce to your step when you walk to the ATM. The first thing I spent my hard earned money on today was a massage. The ones I like run a little expensive, about 850 baht for an hour and a half for the full body oil. I can only do a couple a month and then I have to chill. But today it was nice to lay out and have someone erase my stresses away with hands trained at Buddhist temples. Nothin' like it.

Once I left the spa, my world slowed down considerably. I walked like a local. Usually, I walk at a break neck speed, angling around pedestrians, hopping off the sidewalk to avoid running into old ladies. This evening, however, I just strolled. I grabbed a bite to eat, met up with my friend Cindy and chatted with her over a cheese danish, and then shopped.

I'd like to say that I'm roughing it out here. It's far from the truth. Living in Bangkok has it's frustrations, but very rarely could I go to the spa in America, and eat, and shop, just because I could or had the money. I'm really going to miss this part of living out here.

Okay then, I'm going to prepare for bed and tomorrow, I will continue the week as best as I can. I've got four more to go!

Weekend in photos

Here's the plan:





Sunday Session four, featuring our friend Larissa.



Fish feeding frenzy at the pier!



Toilet stall sign that needed to be captured

outside of Rama 5's palace

Hanging out at the Marble Temple

Marble Temple bridge

Bangin' the drum.



A quiet moment to meditate

No class!

Dear Miss Susannah Roderick (part II)

How are you doing these days? Well, I hope. Are you taking in a lot sun and fun this summer? Things are going well on this end of the globe. It's hot, there's a lost gecko in my bathroom; but I'm fine nonetheless.

I wanted you to know that I had wonderfully accidental luck on the elephant tracking. I nearly walked into one on my way home last night. It was a very cute baby elephant being cared for by a couple of trainers. It looked healthy and pretty happy. I wanted to stop it and talk about you: "Susannah Roderick wants to know more about Thai elephants; can you tell me what it's like to be a baby elephant? Do you really like eating peanuts? Are you really afraid of mice?" I didn't get a chance though. It looked like it was in a hurry. But I did take a couple pictures for you:

No Sea Turtles Were Actually Released Today.

But that's okay. I don't think the military men who stood by watching, were too trusting of us to do the right thing. And they were right to have their suspicions, because I was awfully close to pocketing one of those baby turtles. They were sooooo cute! Just splashing around, totally unaware of the arduous journey that lay before them in the cruel sea.

Sigh. Noah, I now want a rabbit and a turtle when I get home.

Here's what they look like:



I can't say that the whole trip was full of frills. The bus ride there was a little dangerous, what with the driver taking chances on a two lane highway in a double decker bus. I feel like the tip over rate in those things is incredibly high. If it wasn't the driving, it was the students and their horrible club music pumped through the buses speakers. I can't believe the driver would allow The Blackeyed Peas to be blasted in his ear while he drove. This lasted for about two hours. I got an incredible headache, the kind that seems unfathomable.

When we got to the Naval Base, we stopped to look a ship. But that's all us foreigners could do, was look. On the outside. Apparently, the military has a rule about farange being on the ship. That's okay though, I didn't come all the way to Chom-Buri to see a ship. Here are pictures and video though:








After that we saw the turtles:

That's someone's mom!

This might be why the navy men were eyeing us so suspiciously, we're not really supposed to be handling the turtles, but look at them! They're soooooo cute! I was quick.

After all the turtle watching, we went to the beach where I took a lot of pictures and chilled. It was probably the best part of the trip.

Those are the girls of 2/8 and they are having a bit of a free day today. The truth is, I don't have much planned for them and they're up for a field trip on Friday. They're not in the mood to learn anything. Anyway, I thought they could be introduced to you.




So hot in. . . so hot in huurr.

Finding Music in Thailand

It's a pitiful substitute, a beer and D'angelo singing a cover of Smokey. Serving me the oldest line known,
music is made for love
It really is and I imagine music driving us, two forces with reckless steering.
I should have kissed you. . .
I've switched to something more somber
and for good reason,
it's a pitiful substitute, this song and these memories.

It's a first in a while,
listening to Bread. Of course, everything
they say is familiar and sensible
D'angelo and his gravitas is for another warm evening

I've created a useless and incredible jumbled
soundtrack to accompany this lonely night.
How hard is it to justify the placement of
Rogers and Zapp?
Damn hard. But like I said, it's a lonely night,
no need to explain it to anyone.

Other Videos

Eating with Tip



That infamous trip to Pattaya.



Sliding around the subways

Weekend in Videos

Shoes!



Park!