Groceries.. part deux.

Took another trip into the village to pick up a few more items that I had forgotten the first time. I headed out about ½ an hr earlier this time, and 2 less morning coffees. Seemed to make a big difference. I didn’t overheat until the very end of the walk. Whereas, the first time, I was hot about 200m down the road. In addition to the forgotten items, I grabbed some more coffee, chicken and beer. I am supposed to get a delivery of ice today. So, with any luck, I should have the ability to keep this stuff cool later today. It looks as if a block of ice will last me 4 days, which works out well for keeping the chicken from getting funky. I now have a fairly well stocked kitchen and should be able to look after my eating needs. I sent off emails to my friends in Laos, so that they know all is well, and should expect to see me either the 9th or 23rd of March. I am really looking forward to seeing them. Once there, I will start to find out more about the fine points of trying to stay long term and doing something business wise with or without Jookky. She’ll be a great help as she can speak English very well, and seems to be well connected with people who can get things done for you in a hurry. My ice didn’t end up coming, so I thought I’d better cook up some chicken at dinner. I had picked up some flour, and had some eggs, so I made myself fried chicken in homemade batter with some sweet chili dipping sauce I also bought earlier. It was damned good. I had a few beers while listening to tunes when the generator was on. Hit the sack around 9p… what an animal.

Broken flip flops, and other life altering tragedies

I am trying(without much luck) to limit myself to 2-3 coffees a day now. Without all the caffine, I find I overheat less. Went for a 1.5 hr walk down beach and back this morning. On the way, I blew out a tire on the highway… my flip flop broke on the road. I had bought them 2.5 yrs ago in Ranong for 49 baht($1.5can), but it took me an hr of looking through boxes of them to find a size 12. At 37.5 cents every 6 months, I’d have to say that was money well spent. The tide line of the beach has odd things washed up from the storms at sea. Many of these are single flip flops. I took a look for single rights in a 12, but didn’t have much luck. Good thing I bought another pair this year in Ranong, the night before I took the boat. Got home from the walk around 9:30a. Took a look at my fruit and decided that I’d better prep and eat some of it. So it was a breakfast of fresh pineapple, orange, apple, and grapes with yoghurt. I totally gapped out in the “supper”mart and forgot some watermelon… oh well, next time. I really like having the kitchen. I’ll save a ton of cash, and can eat at my leisure. I can also eat something small, as opposed to a full meal at a restaurant. I went to the main house and ordered some more ice for tomorrow, then came home to charge the laptop and listen to some tunes when the generator kicks in at 11a. Getting over the feeling that I should be doing something with my time has been tough so far. I hope that I will soon realize that there is no timeline and that I should be treating this part of the trip as my “vacation”, not that there is really a LOT to do around here anyway. I guess it is just something that living in Canada causes you to feel…. Guilt, if you do nothing. I know this will pass… it sure did last time. Dana, I highly recommend this place post BKK landing. Maybe we can come down when you get here?!? Good medicine! This afternoon, I cooked another batch of food today, so that the chicken won’t spoil. Everything else should be fine, but I was informed that meats have about a 3-4 day shelf life in the cooler. This should work out well, as I won’t buy more that 500g, or so, at a time. Watched the last 2/3 of “RocknRolla” this afternoon when it was too hot to do anything. Pretty good flick, but exactly like Lock, Stock… and Snatch. So if you like those, you’ll enjoy this one too.

The day after...

Cross hangover off the to-do list. I throw back a couple of Tylenol, hit the coffee, and start this blog. I cooked my first meal of the trip, Geng Gari Gai(Yellow Curry w/ chicken) with rice. It turned of really good. Something was missing, which I will try to determine, but overall I would say 8/10. I was pretty pleased. There was enough for 2 dishes, so I ate one for lunch and put the other one into the cooler for later. Overall, I am adjusting to the climate really well. Much quicker that I had expected. I know where to be and at what time of day to keep the coolest. My heat rash also under control. Now it’s just trying to stop anything new from flaring up, and trying not to itch what is there and starting to go away. Scratching it is the worst thing you can do. It wakes it up, and is almost like it never left at all. I finally uploaded some of this blog, so hopefully it is entertaining to some of you. I will wait to upload pics, as the internet connection is good and stable, but not as fast as back home obviously. I loaned my landlords a USB stick with some movies. I had mentioned that I had a “few” with me. I will use this a test run to see what the interest is like. It will be a good gauge for later on in Laos. At about 5pm, I hear someone calling to me from down my path. It’s a guy from Boston named Paul, and he’s taking a look at the vacant house to possibly book it for next year. I invite him in too look around at mine, as it actually has someone living in it. He’s pretty impressed. I offer him a beer and we have about a 2hr chat. Nice guy, and my first real interaction with a stranger… ha-ha! I have the last of my lunch for dinner and have a few more beer before showering up and trying to what “Rocknrolla”, Guy Ritchie’s newest movie. I made it about 45min before passing out… killing my batter for the following morning. I have generated power from 11a-2p, and then again 6p-10:30p, so it a real juggling routine to use something, then recharge to used on battery, then recharge again at night so you have power for later at night and the next day. I have almost got it down, and it’s nice to actually get some in the day. Mainly, you don’t see many places with daytime power. I think that because the big house has a freezer etc, they have to run power for 3hrs, 2 times a day to keep everything frozen and to give them comforts of home, as it is a proper house they live in.

Valentine's/Party night

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today I eat something other than noodles. I walked for 45min through the middle of the Island and into the village to shop for groceries at the “Supper”mart. It was pretty interesting to do my own shopping in bulk and have no major sets back etc. My baby talk Thai mixed with some English, got the job done. There was one funny moment when I was trying to find some chocken broth, and decided the best way I could ask for it would be to call it Naam Gai(chicken water). The guy just looked at me with a puzzled look on his face, until another Thai lady who spoke English piped up and said, “Ah… STOCK”! In the end, they didn’t have any, but I did grab yellow curry, fish sauce, coconut milk, chicken, rice, noodles, eggs, fruits and veggies, yoghurt, plastic wrap, jam, margarine,sweet chili sauce, salt/pepper, dish soap and scubber, loaf of bread, and of course a flat of beer. It all comes to about $40can, and with the plastic wrap and cooler, I should be able to make it all last before anything spoils. Cooking should be fun considering I enjoy it at home. I will let you know how I make out. I flag down a motorcycle taxi and we run it all back home. The entire round trip only takes me 2hrs, which amazes the Burmese staff. The cooler works out great, and I have not bought to much for it. At noon I head over to use the internet to file my taxes and reply to the many “Where are you”, “Are you ok”, and “Why haven’t you written” emails many have sent. Once those were out of the way, I lounged on my balcony sampling my freshly chilled beers until 6pm, and then got ready to go over to the party. It was a lot of fun, and a great way to meet a few new people as I am finally starting to feel somewhat social. There are 3 guys from Canada, 2 gals from Germany, Chiyoko and Chris, and the English guy who is the guest of hnor and is on his way the following morning. There’s a huge spread of delicious Thai foods, wine and beer. I have 2 helping as it is the first “real” food I’ve had in about 3 days. Tim, one of the Canadians, brings out his guitar, and Chris starts out on the harmonica. We have a “sing-a-song” to songs by the Stones, Dead, Beatles etc and things wind down about 11pm. I thank everyone for the hospitality, and head home to my first case of the bed spins in quite awhile.

Ice arrives...

Another early one with the coffee and the wildlife. At 7am, I took my laundry down to a resort on the beach and walked by the water for an hour before the sun was completely up. On the way home, I ran into Chris who is the other half of the couple I am renting from. I mention to him that I’d like some ice delivered so that I can head into the village and get some groceries picked up. He makes a few calls from his mobile and tells me it will be delivered some time today. Great! Food other than ramen and cold beer soon! Speaking of which, I dined on ramen yet again and had a few coffee before heading to the main house to use their internet connection. I am invited to a going away party tomorrow night at the main house. They have a friend who’s holiday is ending, so I’ll head over around 7pm and get chance to meet a few of the people who have been coming here for years and tend to stay for extended periods of time. After getting back to the house, Oka(the Burmese property manager) drops off my ice and I decide to whip down to the beach and pick up a few beers to test out the cooler. Once I have about 3 of the 4 beer put away, I realize I am pretty buzzed due to the diet of ramen and the heat, so I decide that I’d better run down and grad my laundry before I am flat on my ass. By the time I get there, it’s all ready to go, nicely folded and smalling much better than it did 12hrs ago. I pay my 120baht and hoof it home to drink the last lonely beer, shower and sleep.

Settling in.

Sprang out of bed at 5am again. Made some coffee around 6am and sat on the balcony listening to the Roosters crow, Gibbons howl, Secedas screech, and watching the Hornbills gather in the trees. It also became apparent that my Southern Thailand heat rash decided to come out of hibernation. There were only a few areas starting to flare up, but I realized last time that it is better ,to jump on it pronto, rather than let it consume you. If you have ever had the shit, you know what I am talking about. I got a prescription before I left Canada, so if I follow the same regime as last time I should be ok after the first week or so. Wake up, shower, powder, cream, wash affected areas at noon and apply cream, shower at bed, powder, cream, sleep… REPEAT! I even read in a Blog that using mint toothpaste helps with the desire to scratch. I may try this as well. Today was spent in a coma trying to get used to the heat and humidity. I was anti-social and isolated. What the hell… it’s only day one here.

First morning...

Morning comes early around here. By 5am, the roosters and the dogs are letting me know the day has begun. I gather the bags I will be leaving at the guesthouse for 1 month, and deliver them to the owner. I have a shower and meet Michael at 8am for breakfast. He fills me in of some info about Q, who was the gal who ran the bungalows I stayed at for 2 months last trip to Koh Chang. Seems there was some family dispute and she has chosen not to run them any more. The Uncle now runs the place and I am sure it has lost its appeal. Breakfast wraps up and I head back to my room to get my bags and head to the pier. Once there, I say goodbye to Michael, and board the boat to Koh Phayam. It’s a 2hr trip with great scenery, so I relax and take in the views of the Islands, wildlife, and fishermen at work. The boat is not completely full, which may have something to with the drop in Thai tourism since the December political disturbances at the Airports etc. Also the fact that the Thai govt. decreased the length of a free Visa by 50%. You were able to stay for 30 days each renewal, now it is only 15. This means if you are on the Island, you must leave by boat and travel to Ranong, arrange a Visa run to Burma, go to Burma by boat, pay them the $10US to get a transit stamp, turn around, visit Thai Immigration and get you 15 day stamp, get back to the pier by 2pm, get a ticket for the last return boat to Koh Phayam/Chang. This process can take an entire day and the better part of $50US. Considering that many of the people that come to these two Islands are long term and/or entire season renters, this can mean 8-12 of these trips. Anyway, my boat pulls in right about on time. I get my bags and hit the pier looking for my landlady Chiyoko. About half way down I see her. We introduce ourselves and hire a motorcycle taxi for my ride to the house. My driver is a young guy and we head out in Koh Phayam’s small road system. They are made of concrete, about 5’ wide and tend to be in a state of disrepair, as Ranong Province is Thailand’s wettest during the rainy season. All this water washes out most roads on any type of slope. It takes us about 10 min to make the trip and Chiyoko is waiting for us at the house. We go over some formalities and I ask some questions about locations of the market, laundry, and other need to know services. I tell her I will see her in an hr or two, and start to unpack my shit. The house is great. It has it’s owm small kitchen, balcony off the upstairs bedroom, shaded sitting area under the bedroom and is set in the “jungle” surrounded by nicely planted grounds. There are mango, banana, cashew, coconut trees, and the whole place is set in a working rubber tree plantation. There is one other house on the way in, but other that, you feel like you’ve been dropped in your own little pocket of the wild. I take a couple of hrs. to relax and realize that I have come to the end of traveling for a while anyway. At about 2pm I head up to see Chiyoko at their own home. Down the path, onto the roadway and up about 200m. We go over a few things and I sign a rental agreement , while she copies my passport etc. I ask her some questions and I head back to the house. I had heard that Lek, the woman I had spent 3 months with last time, had started to work on this Island and I decided to take a walk down the beach to see if she was working at a bar owned by a friend of hers. We had stayed there one night after a reggae show in 2007. I headed towards the beach about 7pm and walked the stretch or bars and bungalows for about an hr, trying to recognized the place. On my way back, I saw “Lazy Bar” and realized that this was the place. I went to the bar and asked the girl working if she knew Lek. She said that she did, but that Lek was no longer working there and had gone home to Ranong. With that information, I headed back to the house a little deflated, but it is probably for the best as things went really sideways trying to say good-bye last time. As my plans are to be in Laos within 45 days or so, we would probably have a repeat performance of that show, and we could both do without revisiting that… no matter how much fun was to be had in between.. Got home, hopped in the shower, baby powdered up and hit the sack at 9pm.