Sorry for the limited communications. I'm in L.A. now. I'll post an epilogue when the chemicals in my brain stop making the room spin (hopefully tomorrow).
Right now.
It's sushi time!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Vanilla Ice
We traveled up from Queenstown to Franz Josef today to hike to the glacier. We are running out of funds and cannot afford the $140 guided tour to actually climb around the glacier. Bummer. Still, here are some decent pictures.
Icy Hot Stuntaz
coincidentally, this was the 911th picture taken on my camera... I'm not joking.
Queenstown.
Queenstown again.
Franz Josef at night.
I caught Mike at the peak of his swing jump. More Dew dude!
Into the maw of the glacier.
Drive near Queensland.
En Zed.
Sheep.
This internet is expensive. I'll write more later.
Icy Hot Stuntaz
coincidentally, this was the 911th picture taken on my camera... I'm not joking.
Queenstown.
Queenstown again.
Franz Josef at night.
I caught Mike at the peak of his swing jump. More Dew dude!
Into the maw of the glacier.
Drive near Queensland.
En Zed.
Sheep.
This internet is expensive. I'll write more later.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Folly of Youth.
Well... I lost a 3 hour post. So, fuck.
In other news.
DO THE
DEW
Click the image.
edit: more pictures
Ankor approaching sunset.
More Ankor.
Cambodia is hardcore.
I've been craving a Thai bucket.
you guys keeping up with "Knife Show"?
Cheers
In other news.
DO THE
DEW
Click the image.
edit: more pictures
Ankor approaching sunset.
More Ankor.
Cambodia is hardcore.
I've been craving a Thai bucket.
you guys keeping up with "Knife Show"?
Cheers
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Town of the Queen
So. I'm in Queenstown at the moment. To quote Borat, "It is nice". The town itself reminds me a lot of staying up in Vail. The south island has been very, very pretty. Lots of hot sheep to stare at too.
Big plans, low funds. The trip is winding down. It takes a lot of effort for me to wake up every day and not run to apply for a workers visa and live here for a year.
I'm not really kidding.
K-Smooth's birthday was yesterday. We were some krunked out dingos at the bar last night.
Nothing else is really new.
Big plans, low funds. The trip is winding down. It takes a lot of effort for me to wake up every day and not run to apply for a workers visa and live here for a year.
I'm not really kidding.
K-Smooth's birthday was yesterday. We were some krunked out dingos at the bar last night.
Nothing else is really new.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Me Mah
It's St. Patricks day here. I've never celebrated St. Paddy's day with more Irish in my life.
Some of you may get a kick out of this
Catch you guys later. St. Patrick's Day, Pamplona style. Running of the Leprechaun.
Some of you may get a kick out of this
Catch you guys later. St. Patrick's Day, Pamplona style. Running of the Leprechaun.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Mt. Doom
So. We rented a car, and drove through the entire north island in a day. I drove on the opposite side of a car, on the opposite side of the road, on the opposite side of the world for about 4 hours.
I passed within 20 kilometers of Mt. Doom today, with Isildur's Bane snugly on my finger. I had an urge to drive through the national park, climb to the top of Mount Ngauruhoe, and throw it in. But I am a weak soul. It is my precious.
The scenic route traveling south on the 1 is truly amazing. New Zealand is fucking gorgeous, and we still have the entire south island ahead of us.
We arrived in Wellington at a reasonable hour, ate, and Mike and I ran to catch a 9pm showing of "Hot Fuzz". A thoroughly enjoyable, hilarious, film.
Queenstown and the worlds largest Bungi jump lie ahead. Wish me well.
I passed within 20 kilometers of Mt. Doom today, with Isildur's Bane snugly on my finger. I had an urge to drive through the national park, climb to the top of Mount Ngauruhoe, and throw it in. But I am a weak soul. It is my precious.
The scenic route traveling south on the 1 is truly amazing. New Zealand is fucking gorgeous, and we still have the entire south island ahead of us.
We arrived in Wellington at a reasonable hour, ate, and Mike and I ran to catch a 9pm showing of "Hot Fuzz". A thoroughly enjoyable, hilarious, film.
Queenstown and the worlds largest Bungi jump lie ahead. Wish me well.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Nearing Antarctica
Nothing to report, really. The same drunken debauchery. The same club songs every night. The difference is that we are amongst the Kiwis now. Auckland is a nifty city. Lots of rain, and it's a bit cold. We plan on renting a car, and somehow figuring out how we are going to get all the way down to the south island and back to Auckland by the 27th.
This afternoon I got my hair shampooed for free to help some girls pass an exam.
Seriously, the rest is just not noteworthy. Running out of money. Having horrible nightmares--I woke up crying this morning.
Weird.
This afternoon I got my hair shampooed for free to help some girls pass an exam.
Seriously, the rest is just not noteworthy. Running out of money. Having horrible nightmares--I woke up crying this morning.
Weird.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
1000 words
The S.S. Moheno at sunrise (I was still quite drunk taking this picture)
A Goana!
Sunset a few nights ago in the Whitsundays.
Surfer's Paradise.
Dingo go home.
Look, no hands.
Another of the Moheno, since I have time.
Our Fraser Whip.
Suzie took the best picture of us.
A few things. I jammed my left ring finger horribly yesterday (typing www really sucks), and I accidentally left my New Kids on the Block shirt in Arlie Bay. Tragedy. More later, obviously.
A Goana!
Sunset a few nights ago in the Whitsundays.
Surfer's Paradise.
Dingo go home.
Look, no hands.
Another of the Moheno, since I have time.
Our Fraser Whip.
Suzie took the best picture of us.
A few things. I jammed my left ring finger horribly yesterday (typing www really sucks), and I accidentally left my New Kids on the Block shirt in Arlie Bay. Tragedy. More later, obviously.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Durka Durka, Mohammad Jihad.
The "Atlantic Clipper" we "sailed" would make Dave cry.
The iron main sail was the name of the game for 90% of our entire journey around the Whitsundays. Not to say this made it that much less enjoyable, but it does begin to downplay the idea of terming it "sailing". Drinking, however, was not in short supply. We got totally out drank by some hardcore Norwegians who beer bonged till 3am and listened to Turbo Negro. We only brought goon. So that probably didn't help us much.
Yesterday morning at about 8am we were dropped off at Whitehaven beach when the tide was low. Look up pictures of it somewhere. Even they don't do it justice. I neglected my camera because I was scared it would get wet. This was both a curse and a blessing. I didn't get any pictures of Whitehaven... but where we negligently put our stuff, was soaked by the incoming rapid tide.
Joey (Curly) and I decided to make a low tide trek to one of the nearer beaches. The water only came up to, maybe, our hips, but in the shallow water around the rocks lurked lots, and LOTS of quite large sting rays. Fortunately, though, I'm smarter than Steve Irwin. Still, it was fairly unnerving watching the rays dart around your ankles as they notice your presence.
Snorkeling was shitty yesterday, but the beach they dropped us off at during the evening gave me many, many opportunities to fuck around with my camera. Sundown was simply stunning on the Whitsundays. Mike and I played a few drinking games with a room full of people, and soon gained the nickname "Team America", which prompted me to immediately do a few "durka durka, mohammad jihad"s. By the end of the night, there were rules among the drinkers that included everyone chanting "durka, durka, durka" whilst flailing their hands around like a marionette.
We watched 5 foot tiger sharks feed upon squid that were attracted to the light of the ship for a bit.
I slept on the top deck of the ship, looking at the stars after laughing my ass off with a truly gorgeous, innocent but fun german girl (pictures will be forthcoming) named Leo (pronounced like 'layo'?). She taught me "The Worm". Commando pembola. Commando Bock. Commando Flah.
Good times.
Today, I decided that to cure my now predictable hangover, I would snorkle out to the reef dropoff. The section of coral that goes from 3 meters deep to 20 meters, instead of a gradual fall. This is where the larger fish commonly congregate--sharks, turtles ect. My snorkle was crystal clear and the water was quite visible. I sat on the edge, staring into the dark blue abyss that meets the rainbow hues of coral cliffs. Schools of angel fish swam around me as I simply starred into the blue.
This was Queensland. There had to be some sort of wildlife that wanted me dead in the most painful way, out there. I want to see it. Just when I thought about swimming back toward the beach, I decided to adjust my stinger suit which required me to turn around, back toward the coral's edge. As I did this, I locked eyes with it.
It had soulless, lidless eyes. And all it did was stare. It was a clown fish. Fucking Nemo.
I have a massive desire to see some large marine life. Sharks, Turtles, Jellyfish, Squid, Krakken, the Loch Ness monster, Cthulhu. Hopefully my wish will come true in Cairns. We leave for there tomorrow.
...they are playing brent michaels over the internet PA. I need to leave before I vomit.
Bakalah, Mohammad Jihad.
The iron main sail was the name of the game for 90% of our entire journey around the Whitsundays. Not to say this made it that much less enjoyable, but it does begin to downplay the idea of terming it "sailing". Drinking, however, was not in short supply. We got totally out drank by some hardcore Norwegians who beer bonged till 3am and listened to Turbo Negro. We only brought goon. So that probably didn't help us much.
Yesterday morning at about 8am we were dropped off at Whitehaven beach when the tide was low. Look up pictures of it somewhere. Even they don't do it justice. I neglected my camera because I was scared it would get wet. This was both a curse and a blessing. I didn't get any pictures of Whitehaven... but where we negligently put our stuff, was soaked by the incoming rapid tide.
Joey (Curly) and I decided to make a low tide trek to one of the nearer beaches. The water only came up to, maybe, our hips, but in the shallow water around the rocks lurked lots, and LOTS of quite large sting rays. Fortunately, though, I'm smarter than Steve Irwin. Still, it was fairly unnerving watching the rays dart around your ankles as they notice your presence.
Snorkeling was shitty yesterday, but the beach they dropped us off at during the evening gave me many, many opportunities to fuck around with my camera. Sundown was simply stunning on the Whitsundays. Mike and I played a few drinking games with a room full of people, and soon gained the nickname "Team America", which prompted me to immediately do a few "durka durka, mohammad jihad"s. By the end of the night, there were rules among the drinkers that included everyone chanting "durka, durka, durka" whilst flailing their hands around like a marionette.
We watched 5 foot tiger sharks feed upon squid that were attracted to the light of the ship for a bit.
I slept on the top deck of the ship, looking at the stars after laughing my ass off with a truly gorgeous, innocent but fun german girl (pictures will be forthcoming) named Leo (pronounced like 'layo'?). She taught me "The Worm". Commando pembola. Commando Bock. Commando Flah.
Good times.
Today, I decided that to cure my now predictable hangover, I would snorkle out to the reef dropoff. The section of coral that goes from 3 meters deep to 20 meters, instead of a gradual fall. This is where the larger fish commonly congregate--sharks, turtles ect. My snorkle was crystal clear and the water was quite visible. I sat on the edge, staring into the dark blue abyss that meets the rainbow hues of coral cliffs. Schools of angel fish swam around me as I simply starred into the blue.
This was Queensland. There had to be some sort of wildlife that wanted me dead in the most painful way, out there. I want to see it. Just when I thought about swimming back toward the beach, I decided to adjust my stinger suit which required me to turn around, back toward the coral's edge. As I did this, I locked eyes with it.
It had soulless, lidless eyes. And all it did was stare. It was a clown fish. Fucking Nemo.
I have a massive desire to see some large marine life. Sharks, Turtles, Jellyfish, Squid, Krakken, the Loch Ness monster, Cthulhu. Hopefully my wish will come true in Cairns. We leave for there tomorrow.
...they are playing brent michaels over the internet PA. I need to leave before I vomit.
Bakalah, Mohammad Jihad.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Mojito Shipwreck
We just got into Harvey bay. We took an overnight bus from Rainbow Beach immediately after coming from Fraser Island.
What happens is. They give you a sooped up Toyota Landcruiser, with roughly 10 people inside. It's up to you to drive and go where you want. Drive up and down the east side of the beach, stop off at the various landmarks, setup camp and have a good time. We drove the shit out of our little bad boy. It was loads of fun.
Fraser Island is one of the most amazing places I've been (I'm sure this is a reoccurring motif throughout these posts). We spent 3 days, 2 nights driving around the Island, myself mocking the instructor (all in good jest) the entire time. I have many pictures of the S.S. Moheno (a few excellent ones that I took at sunrise while I was still drunk).
I was almost stripped on a beach by 2 English chicks. I learned Statue of Liberty and Chimney smoke using Sambuca from 2 extremely cool German dudes. I played drinking games with Irish, Sweed, Canadian, Swiss, German, Polish and numerous other people from more exotic nationalities--all at the same table. We were, once again, the only Americans on our trip with roughly 50 other people.
I chased off Dingos from our camp site. "Dingo, go home".
Lake Mackenzie is awesome.
Two nights ago, I sat out on the beach after getting quite drunk, and watched the full moonlight carry globs of clouds over my head. The way they were formed... they looked like Manatee in the sky, littering the entire horizon. The wind would blow them in quite fast... and I just sat, watching them spill over my head, turning from little fluffs in the distance to giant cruise ship sized blankets over my beach. I say my beach, because there are hardly any people on Fraser. So as I sat on the beach... I saw no other living soul. I saw no light of houses or buildings in the distance. Nothing. Just me, brilliantly lit beach, and the sound of the waves as the come in from as far as you can look out. Like I said, it was like nothing else I think I've ever experienced.
I had a "good time".
7 week mark is today. It's going by far too fast. It feels like it should be the end of January, and not March. Everyone we meet seems to be taking at least 6 months to do the Australia / South East Asia thing. We've taken this thing way to fast (I'm sure people back home think we've taken far too much time off). Oh well, there's always tomorrow.
Sailing starts tomorrow. We just missed the Cyclone. Good times.
What happens is. They give you a sooped up Toyota Landcruiser, with roughly 10 people inside. It's up to you to drive and go where you want. Drive up and down the east side of the beach, stop off at the various landmarks, setup camp and have a good time. We drove the shit out of our little bad boy. It was loads of fun.
Fraser Island is one of the most amazing places I've been (I'm sure this is a reoccurring motif throughout these posts). We spent 3 days, 2 nights driving around the Island, myself mocking the instructor (all in good jest) the entire time. I have many pictures of the S.S. Moheno (a few excellent ones that I took at sunrise while I was still drunk).
I was almost stripped on a beach by 2 English chicks. I learned Statue of Liberty and Chimney smoke using Sambuca from 2 extremely cool German dudes. I played drinking games with Irish, Sweed, Canadian, Swiss, German, Polish and numerous other people from more exotic nationalities--all at the same table. We were, once again, the only Americans on our trip with roughly 50 other people.
I chased off Dingos from our camp site. "Dingo, go home".
Lake Mackenzie is awesome.
Two nights ago, I sat out on the beach after getting quite drunk, and watched the full moonlight carry globs of clouds over my head. The way they were formed... they looked like Manatee in the sky, littering the entire horizon. The wind would blow them in quite fast... and I just sat, watching them spill over my head, turning from little fluffs in the distance to giant cruise ship sized blankets over my beach. I say my beach, because there are hardly any people on Fraser. So as I sat on the beach... I saw no other living soul. I saw no light of houses or buildings in the distance. Nothing. Just me, brilliantly lit beach, and the sound of the waves as the come in from as far as you can look out. Like I said, it was like nothing else I think I've ever experienced.
I had a "good time".
7 week mark is today. It's going by far too fast. It feels like it should be the end of January, and not March. Everyone we meet seems to be taking at least 6 months to do the Australia / South East Asia thing. We've taken this thing way to fast (I'm sure people back home think we've taken far too much time off). Oh well, there's always tomorrow.
Sailing starts tomorrow. We just missed the Cyclone. Good times.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Beach Boys
Who is this guy?
Surf Ninjas
In Rainbow Beach right now. Nothing new to report really. Except our ability to now out drink the Irish. AA awaits.
Surf Ninjas
In Rainbow Beach right now. Nothing new to report really. Except our ability to now out drink the Irish. AA awaits.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
When I think of Scissors, I think of you.
We just got in to Byron Bay after flying into the Gold Coast and traversing over to Surfer's Paradise.
I almost drowned yesterday when I attempted to battle waves whilst exhausted. It wasn't a real drown scene... just scared me a bit as I began to realize I was getting extremely tired, and the waves were pulling me further and further back and further and further under. Luckily, I had a burst of energy in me which allowed me to make a mad swim for the shore.
There was a kid who actually did drown on that beach yesterday, though.
The east coast of Australia is just fucking gorgeous. Though the tone of the beach seems to be different from, say, Koh Phi Phi. I love Koh Phi Phi. It's loads of fun here, though. Hopefully we will be learning to surf in the next few days. There is so much we are looking to do here. we've been on this trip 6 weeks now. 5 more to go. Our Europe trip would be about over by now. I'm just amazed that the time has flown by this fast. I dread the re-assimilation into the world.
We packed 4 people into a double room in the courtyard Marriott these past few nights. It was actually really cheap, and also much better than a lot of Hostel places.
We have plans to move on up to Rainbow Beach and go on a sailing / road trip around Fraser Islands for about a week. The boat we'll be taking out looks phenomenal (a mix between hands on, and luxury--fucker has a spa on the back). I'll probably be away from all lines of communication.
I really don't know what else at this point. March approaches, and it's maddening.
I heard "The Departed" won best picture. Well deserved.
I almost drowned yesterday when I attempted to battle waves whilst exhausted. It wasn't a real drown scene... just scared me a bit as I began to realize I was getting extremely tired, and the waves were pulling me further and further back and further and further under. Luckily, I had a burst of energy in me which allowed me to make a mad swim for the shore.
There was a kid who actually did drown on that beach yesterday, though.
The east coast of Australia is just fucking gorgeous. Though the tone of the beach seems to be different from, say, Koh Phi Phi. I love Koh Phi Phi. It's loads of fun here, though. Hopefully we will be learning to surf in the next few days. There is so much we are looking to do here. we've been on this trip 6 weeks now. 5 more to go. Our Europe trip would be about over by now. I'm just amazed that the time has flown by this fast. I dread the re-assimilation into the world.
We packed 4 people into a double room in the courtyard Marriott these past few nights. It was actually really cheap, and also much better than a lot of Hostel places.
We have plans to move on up to Rainbow Beach and go on a sailing / road trip around Fraser Islands for about a week. The boat we'll be taking out looks phenomenal (a mix between hands on, and luxury--fucker has a spa on the back). I'll probably be away from all lines of communication.
I really don't know what else at this point. March approaches, and it's maddening.
I heard "The Departed" won best picture. Well deserved.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Sydney
Lots of drinking. Drinking with Sweeds. Getting hammered and swearing with a french couple (they taught me some silky smooth dirty words). It's been a bit out there. Or, "down there" I suppose. Tonight we have a flight leaving for Byron Bay. Aside from the beach here in Bondi, we haven't really done much but trek our way down to the Opera house, have a meat pie, and drink until our livers scream.
We are hoping to book a fairly expensive, but sure to be fun 5 day sailing trip moving north from the Gold Coast. Sleeping on a giant sailboat, drinking, meeting people. If it's anything like the trek in Chaing Mai, Thailand, it ought to be fucking awesome.
Aside from that, we have nothing really set in stone. A plane ticket from Cairnes to Sydney on the day before we leave for Auckland is it. So, somehow we have to make it to Cairnes by the 12th of March.
Anyway, no wuckin fories, bonza, g'day, steve irwin.
We are hoping to book a fairly expensive, but sure to be fun 5 day sailing trip moving north from the Gold Coast. Sleeping on a giant sailboat, drinking, meeting people. If it's anything like the trek in Chaing Mai, Thailand, it ought to be fucking awesome.
Aside from that, we have nothing really set in stone. A plane ticket from Cairnes to Sydney on the day before we leave for Auckland is it. So, somehow we have to make it to Cairnes by the 12th of March.
Anyway, no wuckin fories, bonza, g'day, steve irwin.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Alandownunder
Sawadee. Asia is now officially over. I am standing here at a free internet station in Singapura with a flight to Sydney that is boarding right now. The Tsunami damage was extensive on Koh Phi Phi and Phuket. The just never cleaned the shit up. I bet NO probably is in worse condition when you consider the Thai islands were never really major metropolitan areas.
Where you got dem shoes? You got dem shoes at Maya bay, Phi Phi, Thailand.
Charlie is no longer with us (moment of silence). He had to return to Nepal to go "help" people for the "U.N.". On the bright side, we've had some pretty tame nights in Singapura. The city is clean, modern, and fucking expensive. On that note, I did buy quite a bit of shit here. I plan on sending some back home to keep the weight of my bag down.
Well, fuck. It's pretty much all beaches from here on out. Going surfing... bunjee jumping... skydiving. It should be neat.
Gotta go... I think I hear my plane leaving. Catch you cats down under.
Where you got dem shoes? You got dem shoes at Maya bay, Phi Phi, Thailand.
Charlie is no longer with us (moment of silence). He had to return to Nepal to go "help" people for the "U.N.". On the bright side, we've had some pretty tame nights in Singapura. The city is clean, modern, and fucking expensive. On that note, I did buy quite a bit of shit here. I plan on sending some back home to keep the weight of my bag down.
Well, fuck. It's pretty much all beaches from here on out. Going surfing... bunjee jumping... skydiving. It should be neat.
Gotta go... I think I hear my plane leaving. Catch you cats down under.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Paradise City
We just checked out of our brown water bungalows here in Koh Phi Phi. A culture that encourages the concept of literally loading up a bucket with alcohol for consumption is a bad thing for the type of people that we are.
I have not had a remotely sober night in the past 10 days. I really wish we weren't leaving.
I type that out and fully mean it but I think the emphasis on how much I truly don't want to leave this place is lost. This is paradise. I think the tone of our trip is wrong for these types of locations. Places like Koh Phi Phi don't need to examined for 3 nights and then left. They need to be soaked in for weeks on end. Truly taken for the languid tone that they exude. My nails are dug into the sand.
Maia bay... a less frequented small bay on one of the off shot islands is one of the coolest places I think I've seen. Watching gorgeous parrot fish feast around it and then sitting in the sand for hours as the sun sets is pretty much how I would envision heaven.
My head is thumping... and I'm leaving this place for Singapore today. Australia is only days away. I guess this is my news. Joe is still loaded and it's noon.
I have not had a remotely sober night in the past 10 days. I really wish we weren't leaving.
I type that out and fully mean it but I think the emphasis on how much I truly don't want to leave this place is lost. This is paradise. I think the tone of our trip is wrong for these types of locations. Places like Koh Phi Phi don't need to examined for 3 nights and then left. They need to be soaked in for weeks on end. Truly taken for the languid tone that they exude. My nails are dug into the sand.
Maia bay... a less frequented small bay on one of the off shot islands is one of the coolest places I think I've seen. Watching gorgeous parrot fish feast around it and then sitting in the sand for hours as the sun sets is pretty much how I would envision heaven.
My head is thumping... and I'm leaving this place for Singapore today. Australia is only days away. I guess this is my news. Joe is still loaded and it's noon.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Beach, Redux
We are here in Koh Pei Pei.
Quite possibly the most gorgeous beach on the face of the planet. Certainly the most amazing I've seen. The nights in Phuket were a bit more than memorable in certain circumstances. Drinking till the sun comes up with Thai hookers on Valentine's day is one for the record books, I think.
I went to sleep last night at roughly 5am and still managed to catch a ferry here at 7. The water is the most crystal clear sea water I've ever seen. It radiates blues and greens that are simply stunning. We took a 4 hour boat trip around the cliffs of Pei Pei to snorkel and cliff jump. The snorkeling was awesome. Coral, sea urchins, parot fish, flying fish, jelly fish, angel fish, fishy fish. It was truly mind blowing. I'm sure when we hit the barrier reef my tune will be different... but for the moment, it's very fucking cool. Charlie claims to have seen a sea snake. I watched a large purple / blue parot fish kick ass on everything around a certain coral bed for 5 minutes.
The 40 foot cliff jumping was pretty mind blowing. The jagged rocks to climb to the top only made it worth a single jump, though.
We came back... drank Chang Beer as the sun set... and had a fantastic meal. I'm now here in an internet shop, 4 beers deep, whist I realize "The World" is just waking up to go to work. I fucking love Thailand. It's Europe's vacation spot.
Quite possibly the most gorgeous beach on the face of the planet. Certainly the most amazing I've seen. The nights in Phuket were a bit more than memorable in certain circumstances. Drinking till the sun comes up with Thai hookers on Valentine's day is one for the record books, I think.
I went to sleep last night at roughly 5am and still managed to catch a ferry here at 7. The water is the most crystal clear sea water I've ever seen. It radiates blues and greens that are simply stunning. We took a 4 hour boat trip around the cliffs of Pei Pei to snorkel and cliff jump. The snorkeling was awesome. Coral, sea urchins, parot fish, flying fish, jelly fish, angel fish, fishy fish. It was truly mind blowing. I'm sure when we hit the barrier reef my tune will be different... but for the moment, it's very fucking cool. Charlie claims to have seen a sea snake. I watched a large purple / blue parot fish kick ass on everything around a certain coral bed for 5 minutes.
The 40 foot cliff jumping was pretty mind blowing. The jagged rocks to climb to the top only made it worth a single jump, though.
We came back... drank Chang Beer as the sun set... and had a fantastic meal. I'm now here in an internet shop, 4 beers deep, whist I realize "The World" is just waking up to go to work. I fucking love Thailand. It's Europe's vacation spot.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Phuket Dude, lets go bowling.
Sorry I've been such a fucktard with the blog. I just haven't really had anything too terribly significant to report. We are leaving Saigon today for the white sandy beaches of southern Thailand. Unfortunately there will be no actual full moon parties to partake in (our schedule simply wouldn't allow it), but I'm sure that there is still plenty of party to engage in.
Mustache Friday is this friday. We all plan on wearing aviators, Lacoste (knockoffs hopefully), and shaving to just a mustache. There is a lot of consensus in the group that I need a mullet with lightning bolt on the side to compliment Mustache Friday. There is a large possibility that this will happen.
"When you're done, you can just shave the party off"
Our days and nights in this city have been interesting. The other day, we went to the Chou Chi tunnels (insert joke here) and sat around eating ice cream and firing automatic weapons. At night we found a little makeshift bar that served 2 liter pitchers of "drought" beer for 8,000 dong. That's roughly 50 cents. It did taste like a mixture of stale day old bud light mixed with metal and water. I was glad to move on to a bit more expensive liquid entertainment.
I can't say I won't miss Saigon. The city itself has a dark blood to it that really isn't very comparable. Flight leaves in 3 hours. This is the end.
Mustache Friday is this friday. We all plan on wearing aviators, Lacoste (knockoffs hopefully), and shaving to just a mustache. There is a lot of consensus in the group that I need a mullet with lightning bolt on the side to compliment Mustache Friday. There is a large possibility that this will happen.
"When you're done, you can just shave the party off"
Our days and nights in this city have been interesting. The other day, we went to the Chou Chi tunnels (insert joke here) and sat around eating ice cream and firing automatic weapons. At night we found a little makeshift bar that served 2 liter pitchers of "drought" beer for 8,000 dong. That's roughly 50 cents. It did taste like a mixture of stale day old bud light mixed with metal and water. I was glad to move on to a bit more expensive liquid entertainment.
I can't say I won't miss Saigon. The city itself has a dark blood to it that really isn't very comparable. Flight leaves in 3 hours. This is the end.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Safe to surf this beach.
Saigon is everything I could have hoped for, and more. The city itself is an amazing piece of clockwork chaos. The driving philosophy is that, if you have a horn, you don't need a traffic light.
I've been here in Mui Nei, a gorgeous little town on the southern coast of Vietnam. The four hour car ride through impoverished villages along the highway forced me to keep "The End" on a constant loop on my iPod as I scoped the scenery. Upon arrival we immediately scoped out our bungalow beach community. It was safe to surf.
That night, I probably saw the most amazing shooting star I've ever seen. We were talking to these Norwegian chicks on the beach--of which, I came up with the best pickup line ever ("so, did your country bomb the shit out of this country too?")-- and this thing, as bright as a flare shot down almost reaching the horizon.
On the motorbike ride hope (ridding on the back of a vespa) I successfully bartered a $10 ganja purchase. Is that illegal enough for you? We spent yesterday lazily lounging, quite stoned, along the beautiful Mui Nei beach. Life is hard.
The sunsets on this beach are dreamlike. More than anything I've experienced. It feels like I've walked into some postcard while watching them, and can't believe how truly breathtaking they are.
Oh, also, I think I had the best beer I've ever had in my entire life yesterday. And it was a Fosters. Amazing?
We stopped off at this knockoff mexican place called (I shit you not) Montezuma's. We ate chips and salsa (which was incredibly shitty... but, it's mexican in vietnam), and K-Smooth and myself ordered Fosters draught. It was the coldest, most delicious thing I've ever tasted.
SE Asian internet is incredibly slow, and resizing the pictures is a bitch, so I try to only upload the very best ones.
I've been here in Mui Nei, a gorgeous little town on the southern coast of Vietnam. The four hour car ride through impoverished villages along the highway forced me to keep "The End" on a constant loop on my iPod as I scoped the scenery. Upon arrival we immediately scoped out our bungalow beach community. It was safe to surf.
That night, I probably saw the most amazing shooting star I've ever seen. We were talking to these Norwegian chicks on the beach--of which, I came up with the best pickup line ever ("so, did your country bomb the shit out of this country too?")-- and this thing, as bright as a flare shot down almost reaching the horizon.
On the motorbike ride hope (ridding on the back of a vespa) I successfully bartered a $10 ganja purchase. Is that illegal enough for you? We spent yesterday lazily lounging, quite stoned, along the beautiful Mui Nei beach. Life is hard.
The sunsets on this beach are dreamlike. More than anything I've experienced. It feels like I've walked into some postcard while watching them, and can't believe how truly breathtaking they are.
Oh, also, I think I had the best beer I've ever had in my entire life yesterday. And it was a Fosters. Amazing?
We stopped off at this knockoff mexican place called (I shit you not) Montezuma's. We ate chips and salsa (which was incredibly shitty... but, it's mexican in vietnam), and K-Smooth and myself ordered Fosters draught. It was the coldest, most delicious thing I've ever tasted.
SE Asian internet is incredibly slow, and resizing the pictures is a bitch, so I try to only upload the very best ones.
Monday, February 5, 2007
Smokey, this is Nam, there are not rules.
It's a league game at this point. We have a flight into Ho Chi Minh tonight, or Saigon for those of us who like to live in the reality that we can still win this thing.
I don't know why, but I have such a desire to wallow in a dimly lit hotel room in the middle of the city, with a lone ceiling fan keeping what's left of my sanity pinned to the ground. Oh eight hundred hours. How long had I been away? How long had I been back?
Bottles of whiskey, a 9 millimeter, a broken mirror.
Every minute I spend in here, I get weaker. Every minute Charlie spends squatting in the jungle, he gets stronger.
In brighter news, Angkor Wat was pretty fucking amazing. We watched sunset, and lounged for a day around the temples. Here, I'll just load up some pictures and shoot them into yesterday.
Billboard here in Siem Reap. A bit blurry, Tuk Tuks don't stay very still.
Before you use your floatation device... you see the ring.
Sunrise in Pekbang, Laos
Art shot of the rope on the slow boat. Mekong River.
Whisky Lao.
Inside a temple.
... and one final one since SE asian internet is slow, and we are pressed for time.
Ouside one of the less grand temples.
I don't know why, but I have such a desire to wallow in a dimly lit hotel room in the middle of the city, with a lone ceiling fan keeping what's left of my sanity pinned to the ground. Oh eight hundred hours. How long had I been away? How long had I been back?
Bottles of whiskey, a 9 millimeter, a broken mirror.
Every minute I spend in here, I get weaker. Every minute Charlie spends squatting in the jungle, he gets stronger.
In brighter news, Angkor Wat was pretty fucking amazing. We watched sunset, and lounged for a day around the temples. Here, I'll just load up some pictures and shoot them into yesterday.
Billboard here in Siem Reap. A bit blurry, Tuk Tuks don't stay very still.
Before you use your floatation device... you see the ring.
Sunrise in Pekbang, Laos
Art shot of the rope on the slow boat. Mekong River.
Whisky Lao.
Inside a temple.
... and one final one since SE asian internet is slow, and we are pressed for time.
Ouside one of the less grand temples.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
The Youth in Asia
Just got away from Veing Vien. I haven't posted since Luang Probang, mainly because I've been a bit under the weather. And by under the weather, I do mean everything that can be ejected from my body was forced to do so in liquid form. That was a fun two days... especially considering I was in some of the most beautiful country in the world.
About 2am the other night, I lay on the floor of poorly lit Laotian tile. My guts on fire, I wondered what I had ever really done to Montezuma, and why he had decided to get revenge half way around the world.
This will probably be one of our last nights in Laos. I woke up this morning to purchase some water from the guesthouse manager and it hit me. This 60 year old woman, who surely lived through, or was affected by absolute devastation, had such a kind smile toward me. Kup Jai!
On the bright side... I was able to catch a lot of Premiere League highlights while in bed. I need a knockoff Peter Crouch Liverpool jersey SOOO bad. Hopefully I can find one in Phuket.
About 2am the other night, I lay on the floor of poorly lit Laotian tile. My guts on fire, I wondered what I had ever really done to Montezuma, and why he had decided to get revenge half way around the world.
This will probably be one of our last nights in Laos. I woke up this morning to purchase some water from the guesthouse manager and it hit me. This 60 year old woman, who surely lived through, or was affected by absolute devastation, had such a kind smile toward me. Kup Jai!
On the bright side... I was able to catch a lot of Premiere League highlights while in bed. I need a knockoff Peter Crouch Liverpool jersey SOOO bad. Hopefully I can find one in Phuket.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wiskey Lao
We have gotten into Luang Prabang, or however you pronounce / spell it. We've met a few really interesting people here and gotten beer lao / food extremely cheap. There is something so cathartic about flushing your own toilet with the bucket / bowl combo.
The slow boat was amazing. A bit cramped, but the view of untouched (or rather post bombed) Laos is amazing. Like, seriously, amazing. I'll send pictures the next time I can. I don't know how specific I can really be at the moment. We spent the day riding mountain bikes around the town and drinking beer lao. The relaxed atmosphere is a nice change of pace.
Oh yeah, I took out $150 today... which is the equivalent to 1,444,000 kip. I took "gangsta pictures" to show how hood I am.
I honestly don't know much else. This portion of the trip is fairly hard to translate. It's like zen. The more I attempt to encapsulate it into words, the more the actual experience fails to be conveyed. I guess we are doing nothing... but we are also doing everything. I guess all I can really say is that I am really enjoying myself.
Oh yeah, my eye infection seems to be completely cleared up, which is great news (I was kinda freaking out as my eye felt 2 times its size and was leaking pus like a motherfucker).
Yeah, I'm sure my parents are listening, but I also believe that they might have a bit of an open mind to the experience. I really don't mind informing them that I'm smoking opium with the hill tribe people. As long as it's not ice.
I also spent most of the slow boat really stoned. Adam and I also bought a bottle of moonshine with the makeshift label "whiskey Lao" over a ketchup bottle. Whiskey Lao treats us good sometimes. She can be a cruel mistress.
There is a debate over skipping Cambodia and not seeing angor wat. This doesn't sit with me at ALL. I may have to break off with the group before we fly down to Phuket if they REALLY don't wish to see the most significant thing in SE Asia.
The slow boat was amazing. A bit cramped, but the view of untouched (or rather post bombed) Laos is amazing. Like, seriously, amazing. I'll send pictures the next time I can. I don't know how specific I can really be at the moment. We spent the day riding mountain bikes around the town and drinking beer lao. The relaxed atmosphere is a nice change of pace.
Oh yeah, I took out $150 today... which is the equivalent to 1,444,000 kip. I took "gangsta pictures" to show how hood I am.
I honestly don't know much else. This portion of the trip is fairly hard to translate. It's like zen. The more I attempt to encapsulate it into words, the more the actual experience fails to be conveyed. I guess we are doing nothing... but we are also doing everything. I guess all I can really say is that I am really enjoying myself.
Oh yeah, my eye infection seems to be completely cleared up, which is great news (I was kinda freaking out as my eye felt 2 times its size and was leaking pus like a motherfucker).
Yeah, I'm sure my parents are listening, but I also believe that they might have a bit of an open mind to the experience. I really don't mind informing them that I'm smoking opium with the hill tribe people. As long as it's not ice.
I also spent most of the slow boat really stoned. Adam and I also bought a bottle of moonshine with the makeshift label "whiskey Lao" over a ketchup bottle. Whiskey Lao treats us good sometimes. She can be a cruel mistress.
There is a debate over skipping Cambodia and not seeing angor wat. This doesn't sit with me at ALL. I may have to break off with the group before we fly down to Phuket if they REALLY don't wish to see the most significant thing in SE Asia.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Dycycline Dreams
So, we have just arrived back from our 3 day trek through a few mountain villages to the north of Chiang Mai. We are absolutely filthy, but in some of the best spirits of our lives. We met some fantastic people and I got fucking maggoted on Australia day (I got to be an honorary citizen knighted by Rowan). I guess I could go through some of the details, but mainly what I've realized so far is fuck europe, go to Thailand. Sleeping in village huts, playing drinking games under the gorgeous mountain stars. Smoking mass quantities of Opium and banana leaf with the locals... it's pretty fun.
We went with some great people as well. Rowan, this great fucking Aussie. Nicole and Shirley, two Londoners who were both kicks in the pants. And quite a few more who were all exceptional human beings.
The activities were all just great. I actually got to drive (and was commented as the best driver) the lead elephant in a pack of 5.
I now know lots of new phrases (get involved), and lots of new drinking games (eyes on the prize). We have yet to actually really meet any Americans on this trip, and I must say, I like it that way.
I think I was possibly the most fucked up I've ever been in my entire life last night (in honor of Australia day). I drank a lot of this Thai village moonshine... had 4 beers... smoked a joint... and then went back with Mr. Kei for 2 pillow-talk sessions of opium smokage.
Well, shit. Gotta go book our shit to Laos. Here are some pictures...
Once again, I know blogger is going to crop these... right click -> view image. BONZA!
Edit: here are a few more pictures.... I'll just hotlink them.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3410/temple2sa6.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4720/bigmantl2.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1537/templers7.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3410/temple2sa6.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1103/hillpeoplezy3.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8919/thedogkj6.jpg
We went with some great people as well. Rowan, this great fucking Aussie. Nicole and Shirley, two Londoners who were both kicks in the pants. And quite a few more who were all exceptional human beings.
The activities were all just great. I actually got to drive (and was commented as the best driver) the lead elephant in a pack of 5.
I now know lots of new phrases (get involved), and lots of new drinking games (eyes on the prize). We have yet to actually really meet any Americans on this trip, and I must say, I like it that way.
I think I was possibly the most fucked up I've ever been in my entire life last night (in honor of Australia day). I drank a lot of this Thai village moonshine... had 4 beers... smoked a joint... and then went back with Mr. Kei for 2 pillow-talk sessions of opium smokage.
Well, shit. Gotta go book our shit to Laos. Here are some pictures...
Once again, I know blogger is going to crop these... right click -> view image. BONZA!
Edit: here are a few more pictures.... I'll just hotlink them.
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3410/temple2sa6.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4720/bigmantl2.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1537/templers7.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3410/temple2sa6.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1103/hillpeoplezy3.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8919/thedogkj6.jpg
Monday, January 22, 2007
Rock Star Trek
When I said that Thai hookers cost roughly 3,000 bhat, I was wrong. When evening rolls around on the beach town of Pattaya, the streets surge with hookers. I don't think I can keep count of how many times I have been called "sexy man" and groped while walking down the back roads going to and from the beach.
Pattaya is a town spawned from GIs taking leave here. The sex industry (and when you walk down the assembly line of hookers, you really do really realize it's an industry) was spawned merely 30 years ago and looks as if it's not going anywhere. Needless to say, after a "foam party" at one of the nicer hotels, Adam and I decided to "mingle". We stayed up till roughly 4am on a ever increasingly deserted street drinking Tiger beer, talking to a couple from Manchester and desperately being solicited for sex. There was also a Thai transsexual hooker at the bar that spoke surprisingly good English and--secure in my masculinity-- was a pretty hot manchick. We drank till drunk on 40 bhat Tiger bottles and waltzed home with a line of "friends" that wanted a sleepover for the low low price of 500 bhat. Adam continued to barter, suggesting that maybe they should be paying HIM for such propositions. Unfortunately this concept, like us, was foreign to them.
Pattaya is dirty.
Today we are leaving for Chiang Mai to go on a 3 day trek which includes riding elephants, river boats, and apparently a gorgeous landscape. I don't expect much access to a computer.
Pattaya is a town spawned from GIs taking leave here. The sex industry (and when you walk down the assembly line of hookers, you really do really realize it's an industry) was spawned merely 30 years ago and looks as if it's not going anywhere. Needless to say, after a "foam party" at one of the nicer hotels, Adam and I decided to "mingle". We stayed up till roughly 4am on a ever increasingly deserted street drinking Tiger beer, talking to a couple from Manchester and desperately being solicited for sex. There was also a Thai transsexual hooker at the bar that spoke surprisingly good English and--secure in my masculinity-- was a pretty hot manchick. We drank till drunk on 40 bhat Tiger bottles and waltzed home with a line of "friends" that wanted a sleepover for the low low price of 500 bhat. Adam continued to barter, suggesting that maybe they should be paying HIM for such propositions. Unfortunately this concept, like us, was foreign to them.
Pattaya is dirty.
Today we are leaving for Chiang Mai to go on a 3 day trek which includes riding elephants, river boats, and apparently a gorgeous landscape. I don't expect much access to a computer.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Goodbye Pattaya
I don't really have much time to type anything right now, so the amazing (and they are amazing) stories of Pattaya will have to wait. I have a few pictures uploaded, but this computer is probably the most annoying piece of machinery on the planet.
^-Very gangsterish.
^- may be a bit dark...
^-- that probably encapsulates Joe better than any other picture on the planet. Khao San Joe is kind of one of my favorite people at the moment.
^-Very gangsterish.^- may be a bit dark...
^-- that probably encapsulates Joe better than any other picture on the planet. Khao San Joe is kind of one of my favorite people at the moment.
Friday, January 19, 2007
The Beach
After a mind blowing night last night I now know a few things I didn't before. 1. Johnny Walker is, aparently, the shit in Thailand. 2. A Thai hooker costs 3,000 Bhat. 3. Muai Thai kickboxing is surprisingly fun to watch.
I have some pretty nifty pictures so far. I have yet to run across some Internet service that will allow me to USB up and upload them, so it may be a bit.
On Wednesday we decided to catch a Tuk Tuk over to the Kickboxing stadium, pay 800 bhat, and stand in the outer ring, soaked in sweat, drinking warm beer, and soak in the rabid betting spectacle that takes place. The first few bouts, the fighters couldn't have been older than 14 years old. This of course led back to the Khao San ghetto bars where we proceeded to drink with other Anglo looking entertainment seekers.
Last night, as you know, I ended up back at one of these bars, playing on their free internet. Not always a good idea... but not entirely bad, either. Anyway, we stuck around Khao San for the entire duration of the night. Ate some overpriced (but still incredibly cheap compared to west Europe) food and stumbled around to a few clubs. Basically, we all just got pretty faced. Adam and I ended up down an alley off Khao San and found a full on rave about 2 floors underneath this place. It was packed with the grime of backpacker culture. Dread locked Aussies "moving" to the bass line. It was awesome.
We finally ended up back at that bar, where I met a Dutch chick, whom after talking to a bit, really wanted to know the price of a Thai hooker. So, I immediately found one and asked. We all then ended up back at our pool, located on top of our building overseeing the polluted horizon of Bangkok. Oh, and Charlie, at about 4am, opened our room door and "fire extinguished" us... our room was coated in fallout.
Today, we are at the Beach, feeling quite hungover.
I have some pretty nifty pictures so far. I have yet to run across some Internet service that will allow me to USB up and upload them, so it may be a bit.
On Wednesday we decided to catch a Tuk Tuk over to the Kickboxing stadium, pay 800 bhat, and stand in the outer ring, soaked in sweat, drinking warm beer, and soak in the rabid betting spectacle that takes place. The first few bouts, the fighters couldn't have been older than 14 years old. This of course led back to the Khao San ghetto bars where we proceeded to drink with other Anglo looking entertainment seekers.
Last night, as you know, I ended up back at one of these bars, playing on their free internet. Not always a good idea... but not entirely bad, either. Anyway, we stuck around Khao San for the entire duration of the night. Ate some overpriced (but still incredibly cheap compared to west Europe) food and stumbled around to a few clubs. Basically, we all just got pretty faced. Adam and I ended up down an alley off Khao San and found a full on rave about 2 floors underneath this place. It was packed with the grime of backpacker culture. Dread locked Aussies "moving" to the bass line. It was awesome.
We finally ended up back at that bar, where I met a Dutch chick, whom after talking to a bit, really wanted to know the price of a Thai hooker. So, I immediately found one and asked. We all then ended up back at our pool, located on top of our building overseeing the polluted horizon of Bangkok. Oh, and Charlie, at about 4am, opened our room door and "fire extinguished" us... our room was coated in fallout.
Today, we are at the Beach, feeling quite hungover.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
On the Khao San Road
Yeah, I'm reading Jack Keorack right now, and I'm in Alex Garland's Backbacker's ghetto, Khao San Road. The epitome of tourism and capitalism in Thailand. To be realistic, though, it's still extremely cheap and incredibly entertaining.
I'm a bit lit right now, I'm in a club at about 1am taking advantage of their free enternet. I think it's about noon back home. Crazy.
Anyway, my bowels are doing fantastic when you consider some of the sketchy places we've been eating. 20 bhat for a meal if you leave Khao San. Talk to you guys in a bit.
I'm a bit lit right now, I'm in a club at about 1am taking advantage of their free enternet. I think it's about noon back home. Crazy.
Anyway, my bowels are doing fantastic when you consider some of the sketchy places we've been eating. 20 bhat for a meal if you leave Khao San. Talk to you guys in a bit.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Chasing the Rising Sun
I have but a few minutes to jot down some feelings. We have entered Bangkok after following the afternoon sun for nearly 10 hours. Tokyo's airport was a nice jolt of culture shock, and the arrival in Bangkok hit me well.
Surprisingly, a 17 hour plane ride didn't effect me as much as I thought it would. Anyway, I'll have to catch up a little later, this internet cafe is quite expensive.
Much love to those back home.
Surprisingly, a 17 hour plane ride didn't effect me as much as I thought it would. Anyway, I'll have to catch up a little later, this internet cafe is quite expensive.
Much love to those back home.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Anxiety and plastic.
The last few nights have been a swarming fog of placated laughter, forgotten faces, and marred memories. It feels good to be running from this city right now. I've been running on rocket fuel and it's begun to burn my eyes. Onward and upward.
Though it's snowing outside, I have a flight today at 4:50pm to the city of Seraphs. From there, the rest will all be unique. Stepping into the unknown is making my heart race, but it's good.
This is my blog for the trip. I'm sure I will post in various states of mind. For authenticity's sake, everything I post (and hopefully everything you respond with) will remain untouched.
Catch you kids later.
Though it's snowing outside, I have a flight today at 4:50pm to the city of Seraphs. From there, the rest will all be unique. Stepping into the unknown is making my heart race, but it's good.
This is my blog for the trip. I'm sure I will post in various states of mind. For authenticity's sake, everything I post (and hopefully everything you respond with) will remain untouched.
Catch you kids later.
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