WE ARE PHO. WE ARE BUN.

It was fun...

2005-09-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

and now a short message from heidi...FULL OF STEAM.

2005-08-02T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hi there guys.
Just got back from a long weekend here in BC...BC day. I've called MH to see about if they can get you confirmed on the flight Taipei-L.A. They've sent a message to their head office asking for your 2 seat requests to be confirmed. The new reservation number for MH is JIH*D. I recommend that you keep checking on your waitlist locally with MH. You'll hear about any change in status on that flight first from them. If you have a contact number in KotaKinabalu let them have it and they can call you on it. I hope things get confirmed for you.
Regards,Heidi Huwiler

I've got steam.
something needs to be said.
In Tioman, we've found the ultimate finish.
The trevally barbecue, the huts beside the beach, the bonfires in the late hours, the night swimming, the dead kittens, the sea urchins, the snorkel masks, the applying for art lasses, the mosquito bites, the monkey stare off, the monitor lizard feeding, the coconut smashing, the swiss, the duty free shop, Nazri's shitty singing, finding god amongst the godly.
sunset, sunset.
do it all over again tomorrow.
see you all very soon.

The new!

2005-07-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

Remember the Time?

2005-07-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

"THE BEER LAOS OLYMPICS"

SWALLOW THAT MEKONG DAWG!

WHAT FORM! WHAT GRACE! WHAT RIBS!

TEAM CANADA (is that laos laos?)

THE MEDAL CEREMONY

These pictures are courtesy of Meg Snell, without whom a Beer Laos olympics would not have been possible. She is an outstanding member of the canadian team, and just an all-round great person to chat with wether your at the greatest place in SE ASIA or not. Thanks Meg!

ELeVation anxiety

2005-07-23T23:12:00.000-07:00

ELevation anxiety indeed!
What highs, what lows.
The bueracrats have got us now.
We can leave but we don't know how.
Malaysia Airlines Welcomes you to...
beautiful
beautiful
beautiful...
Kota Kinabalu.

We've been living in the top suite of the 5 star (room by the hour) Malar Kinabalu hotel. What a view. and plenty of fresh towels to go with the fresh company. Knowing the streets of KK as we do now, the 7th floor isn't far enough from begging children, pickpockets, whores, and dadah pushers. So we climbed 4000 metres to the summit of Mt. Kinabalu, the highest peak in all of SE Asia, and we climbed the bugger like clones of Jon Krakauer.
There are muscles that have never been used before now.
There are things I will not share about this place, as I am too embarrased to tell.
All that needs to have been accomplished has been!
Now run away. RUN AWAY.

Get gay...it's picture time again!

2005-07-17T04:44:00.000-07:00

Existensial tobacco

2005-07-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

With less than three weeks left the Vacation mode is now in full force. There will be no better place to conclude this momentous journey than Sarawak and Sabah.
Today we saw the beautiful 'Man of the forest'...Oranagutang. In fact we saw 7 (including mother and babe)glorious examples of the borneo native feeding on bananas, coconuts, and Papyas (hopefully without any hormones)
In the Sewego red zone, 21 of these red giants ride the treetops only to join us for an afternoon snack. One cannot help but stand in total awe of this jungle safari for martians.
Tomorrow, we leave Cat city to Bakko. Where we will stay overnight amongst the probiscus monkey and hornbill. There is no possibilty of fully explaining the unbelievably odd species that live in this country.
For now the Anglicans have provided us with an amazing dwelling where we swill chinese moonshine, and chat with norwegian interns. God is smiling upon something somewhere, and Allah is just reclining cause heavens on earth.
Nietzche knew it.
The history of ASian pottery shows it.
The head hunter cab driver knows it.
The Anglican Janitor is taking a shower.
and I speak for both of us when I say this place is an addiction.

Borneo Fever

2005-07-13T23:15:00.000-07:00

So here we are -- the second to last leg of this trip. We flew in to Sarawak yesterday and entered a land of cats. The town here is called Kuching...which means cat. there are cats everywhere -- and one freaked out dog.

there are cat statues.
the people here carve wooden cats and sell them on the street.

umm...tis a little strange, but sometimes you just have to go with it
Just think of 'children of the corn' and replace the children with cats. and the corn with cats.

kinda strange.

THE BIRDS...LOOK AT THE BIRDS.

2005-07-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

tom cruise is hilarious.
and this K:L: is damned likable.
1.8 million friendlies.
yessiree the future would be wasted on expectation if we all just moved to KL.
My water weight is 56.4 percent of my body weight. and I know this because of KL.
...Where else will you find Dogs with two penises and six legs.
The monday funnies are actually very funny. No family circus for these cats no...
...Biometric locking devices on vehicles. Aww yeah!
...Kentucky fried chicken is a skyscraper...no really.
I will go on. but for now excuse me.
I am going to go drink a 5 dollar can of beer and nosh on some roti.

In th future you will not know who Jimi Hendrix is.

2005-07-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

It is confirmed...This does not bode well for these weary travellers.

Perhaps an update with a little less sweat. at least a little less cussin'
We managed to escape the oldest rainforest in the world this morning on a beautiful Jungle boat ride, part of which put this little camper into a hypnotic trance.
between the whirr of the engine, the blazing sunshine, the flowing river, and the call of jungle bearcats in the distance I could barely keep my lids from hanging way low.
We stopped in Jerantut with Christina from Maryland and had Pizza at Pizza Ria.
Here the serve chicken sausage instead of Ham, cuz pig is a filthy animal.
It's a bit like living in Canada...but in the future like.
imagine if you will, China taking over the planet. Due to the sun's rays everyone covers their heads, especially the women whom we wish to live longer. Everything is owned by a corporation.
On friday afternoons, we do not work, we pray facing east.
and Pig is still a filthy animal.
seems quaint. I could go on but c'mon I'm not trying to get all Juri Gellar on yall, you allready knew the future was going to be wicked!
Speaking of corporation owning everything, The worlds oldest rainforest is owned by a resort. You actually have to walk pat the check - in desk to enter the park. There is only one company that holds the means of your entry and exit from Jerantut (2 hours away.) The whole thing is very scary.

But enough of that, what about KL.
only pictures can tell you friends.
only pictures of Jimi Hendrix, and blank looks,

and the future...

Put your hands in the air and shout ALLAH...It's Friday dawg!

2005-07-08T02:24:00.000-07:00

More can be said for the places that eachof these posts have been typed than perhaps for the material contained. there goes mymind again!
You see, my brain is sweating.
Brant and I find ourselves located in the oldest rainforest in the world (that being because the ice age never got here) Taman Negara. We treked through the muck of it in the bulging sweat inducing high sun of the day. WE saw big ants, and something growled at us sowe didn't stick arounf to watch.
I thought Iwas capable of telling youall about it in detail, but the truth is thattyping is making me sweatso muchthat ican't even think...Gaaaaaa

No need for alarm...No harm. Just Burned arms.

2005-07-04T04:57:00.000-07:00

I need to make an apology for raising the red flag.
My previous post was when things did look very dire indeed.
I do not take back my disdain for Thailand, which I have now happily left along with a very freaky burmese man.
After a long day of waiting in lineups on Canada Day in Bangkok (The embassy was rocking with Bikers, and ex-pats..all swearing and sweating through miles of paperwork...a celebration indeed) It was Carol Buchanan that answered the phonecall I most needed for a quick departure.
From 9 AM until 1pm I waited for Immigration...and from there I was off like a shot.
At 3pm I boarded a train bound for Malaysia, and at 11am the next Day I was free from the shackles of That horrible King's realm.
By 8pm I got to the Pehrentian Islands, and the second person I saw as I walked down the beach was my friend and yours...Mr. Brant Felker.

THE MARRIAGE IS BACK ON!

We honeymooned all day today in snorkel masks. We saw three Sharks, a gigantic sea Turtle, and More colourful Sea life than I new existed. I have 0 complaints, just a little burn on the back from fl\oating face down for so many hours.
Next...off to the Jungle, to see a leopard or some TAPIRS! YES WILD TAPIRS.
We're back on track, and feeling great.
So Bippy don't worry, I will not be an Island love slave after all.
Love you lots.
Ged.

I say 'Cameron' -- You say 'Highlands'...."Cameron"

2005-06-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

I will keep this short.
I have been in the mountains for awhile now. The Highlands here are stunning. I live in a tin can with a window but I step out to view the rolling hills that yield tea. I did a tea tour the other day. Its pretty much what one would think happens in the making of tea.
1.tea leaves are picked.
2.tea leaves are stuck in a machine that does stuff.
3.tea leaves are stuffed in bags.

and yes, I have been drinking tea here...not because I am trying to further destroy my stomache lining, but because it is actually cold here. oh and by cold i mean 18 degree. I think coming home will be a shock. I will be the guy at the beach this summer shivering in my sweater and wool hat.

I have also been walking in the jungle. I have seen funny creatures (well, rats) and leaves that change colour (green to another green). I have heard birds and think they might be monkeys (i have yet to prove this theory but mark my word...go on, mark it).

I have climbed to the second highest peak in this country...looked around...realized that if I could see through the trees and the storm clouds that were on top of me...the view would be incredible.

But all things must pass, and I am going back into the heat.

Tales of the Ko Samet Stalker.

2005-06-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

1. It's best to know a language in full before aproaching your victim.

Houston, we need Backup...I am so going back to Bangkok tomorrow, Passport or no. Like a flood of heavy realization (let's say I was blinded of Thailand's total lack of anything good) I learned tonight that Ko Samet is not safe. Not safe for this white male anyhow.
And you say...Backup Ged...do you need to talk? Just slow down and explain.
Allright...
As learned recently by the BTK (blind torture kill) serial Killer in Kansas, always keep your target at a distance, until that is, it is time to strike. Then You move into the second phase.
Dismemberment?
Everything was looking prime when I arrived here 4 short sunny days ago. I arrived at night with a band of british backpackers, four, and one lovely Isreali girl who has mysteriously disappeared.
Last seen two nights ago chatting with Thai Bartender (clue? Idunno.)
Since then, I have become the Isand mute. but that isn't a worry, since seeing my face is pretty rare as it is always buried in some nice fiction from the Book Borrowing Shabba at Naga.

Then tonight...My first conversation in 2 days...

2. When the urge to approach victim becomes unbearable. Wait until he is far from home.

So I went for a long walk tonight down the beach, and then to another beach to try the different flair they may have for curried chicken and Rice. As always I was burried in a book, and awaiting my dinner, watching out of the corner of my eye the conversation a seemingly Thai man had with the lovely hostess. After travelling a while, one gets a distinct feeling (like spider sense) when they are the topic of conversation of another tongue. I was clearly a funny topic.
I was startled then after a lengthy plot twist involving the novel's Heroine being drugged. A tiger tatoo on his left arm, he said Hi how are you.

3. Persistance is only good to a stalker from a distance.

That was nice enough...and since I was so funny to these people. The hostess looked on as he bantered with me about "where I was from" and all the bullshit I had been avoiding the last two days.
Now I'm no fool. The man I was talking to was Gay Gay Gay. Not a lady-boy. Not a pansy. Not event flamboyent. (well maybe he danced a little when Scissor Sisters came on but...c'mon that shit's a little catchy right?)
It was cool though...I was chatting.
He asked where I was staying... "Naga" I lied. I had moved from that trickpad 2 nights prior. and the conversation continued. blah blah blah. food arrived. I read.
After all was cleared from my beach table, Ton, as he introduced himself, came and sat with me again. I made every point that I was reading something so wicked I couldn't put it down.

4. Do not under any circumstances let the victim know he is being watched.

More lazy Banter. Ton apparently is from Myanmar, and I thought that quizical to ask a few mildly political questions (a tiptoe topic at best!) Then he asked where I had Partied the last couple of nights?
"Well I havn't been" was my reply; and I held up the book.
He asked, "Are you sure you stay at Naga?, because I think you stay at Toks" and then he proceeded to draw a map of where my current Guesthouse 'Toks' was, in relation to NAgA in the sand.

nothing can really explain how shitty I felt at that moment. I did know that I had to leave. After having the Visa and Passport stolen, I have been a little compulsive lately in the ways of security. This bust a door wide open.
There is no sheltering me now from the utter contempt I have for this country. I have remained very chill about it until now. Yet after travelling to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia ( all countries with far more poverty and seemingly less care for the tourism industry) Thailand, without any doubt, is THE worst place I have ever visited in my life.

I SEETH WITH THE WRETCHED TWIST MY GUTS HAVE BEEN LEFT IN.
...IT COULD BE BEING ROBBED FROM MY ROOM IN KO PAHGNAN.
...IT COULD BE THE ALLERGY I HAVE TO BANGKOK, WHERE I PEE OUT MY ASS FOR A WEEK.
...OR NOW, NOW IT COULD BE THAT I AM BEING STALKED BY A BURMESE MAN ON AN ISLAND I CANNOT ESCAPE FROM.

ok. I just needed to talk to somebody about that. Thank you for your attention. If you need me I'll be reading in my hut with the door locked firmly until my escape early tomorrow.

Island shots...more to come.

2005-06-25T00:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Ged -- from Panang, Malaysia

2005-06-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

I stayed in the train station town for hours. After being somewhat forcefully booted out of the 'late night' resturant (c'mon...midnight is early), I managed to find a nice little waiting stool at the station. Apart from the akward conversations with a group of drunks trying to practice their english with me and somewhat forcefully trying to offer me whiskey and cigarettes (theme?), it was a slow part of my life. Arriving at the border and sorting through the form filling immigration process, I plopped myself back in my train seat as a large man with a moustache walked down the aisle towards me with what looked like a small walkie-talkie with a long antenna. Without a word or eye contact, the moustache (and man) stopped, turned, and pointed the nozzle of this star trek device at me. Being much to stunned to use my new 'elbow shatter' defense technique I learned by my swedish army friend the night before, all I could do was stare down the end of the barrel of the rod and wait for the obvious green laser burst to vaporize me (i've seen this sort of thing before on t.v.). The rod began to wobble and like a water finder stick, did a 90 degree shift down the aisle of the train.

Satisfied that I would not meet my end on this train by this moustache I relaxed The man packed up his device, walked to the couple in the seats behind me, pulled out his badge of importance, and started his interrogation. After searching through their scuba gear, he was satisfied that there was no...er...stuff on board and went off to his previous duties of playing checkers and smoking on the platform outside.

The train led to a ferry which took me to Georgetown on the north-west corner of this country. I mix of styles and smells, mosques and churches, and chinese indian and colonial architecture. I saw insence the size of my arm. I believe it is to make the deadly green tree snakes more dosile when they roam through the streets.

So I am off on a bus to Cameron Highlands. A place of hiking trails and tea.

Wish me luck.

Dear Brant:

2005-06-24T08:25:00.000-07:00

AGHHHHHH!!!!BURACRaCY SUCKS!
We were running a little behind. I arrived at 11:00 to the train station. A time when I was told the embassy would be closed, so the stress led to me running through Bangkok streets like a fool, skewering schoolgirls and business types with the guitar.I arrived at the Abdul Rammah building, where the embassy is, at 11:30...just in time for the friday fire drill. So as I ran up the steps Every person in the 30 floor building was escaping for their hypothetical lives. So I waited for an hour while the trucks showed up and they ushered everybody back in. I have a ten second video of the alarm.The funny part is that the people applying for passports beat the security and staff up the elevator...so we were all standing outside the "hrumph hrumph" very official embassy without a soul in our midst. I suppose I dunno what anyone would do to an embassy without protection, but It didn't look to good.Anyway after getting new pictures, and filling out 5 applications I'm back on my way to freedom.I showed her my Airline ticket that states I have to depart Bali on July 10th. This seemed to bear some weight. She made photocopies and I am to phone back on thursday to check for success.By the time all this was done it was 230 pm...so I wasn't about to get on the move... I'm sacked.So it was off to Khaosan. I'm staying at the Swasdee GH. the place where we actually enjoyed breakfast and the service. I'm in a closet with a mattress. and I will be leaving hopefully tomorrow morning for KO Samet.That's what your missing dawg.How's butterworth.
May I add, I ran into Meghan...you know CANADA 3. I showed her my gold medal, and she showed me her new Gigantic Kiwi Boyfriend. She says Hi. She's going home in twelve days...Breathe...don det.

Anything goes in Ko Pahgnan.

2005-06-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

Yes Anything.

do you?

We are in Ko Pahgnan.

2005-06-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

We are in Ko Pahgnan.

The glue gluxosmith-kline. Incline that is!

2005-06-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

We find the travellers far from Tapirs on the lower mainland of Thailand near Krabi.
"Realy?" you say.
"No Railay..." we reply in unison, as is our custom since we became symbiotic 6 short months ago.
We are rock climbers here. We are rich men. We are Rastafarian.
We wil dance
We will dance
We will dance....together.

After so much turmoil, and strife the fruits of our psychological labour have ripened to a multicoloured ocean lined beacon of hospitality. Yes Railay beach is really loverly.
We have a pool now, and a viewpoint vista to watch the sunset on the mountains we have toiled the day away climbing.
of course I can hardly type for the blisters on my fingers.
I miss you candy cane.

Buy the grace of God and Phuket.

2005-06-08T00:50:00.000-07:00

Here People!
I have some moments while Brant gets his Jawbone ripped apart, and the rain comes down...here is the sweat.
We are in Phuket now...which is very much like Kelowna (arguably the armpit of Canada.)
The difference is this ..in K-town the ex-pats rape children indoors.
Not here friends...hell It's even thought that the G.I.'s slipped Brant a little Nick Nolte last night at the Tiger club.
Needles to say that chill- out feeling hasn't kicked in yet ...
HEY, at least there is the memories of Uncle HO to keep us writing love songs...

Let's be clear...AFRICA IS IN NED.

and introducing...HO CHI CARROTOP!

and her namesake...UNCLE HO.

and turn your heads to the side because the real cute pictures are next.

Take the future...break my arms around my love.

COBRA 2: Back to Bangkok

2005-06-05T02:55:00.000-07:00

GAWD...How much Hanoi can you take?
We got into BKK at 11:00 pm last night.
One Big Nasty city to the next we arrived
just In time to stare at all the drunks,
spilling out onto Khosan road...
Goes to show you can leave but the circus is still in town!

Never worry, we're still spinning our tires, tomorrow by hook or by crook we're on the way to Phuket.

Herding Canadian Idols

2005-06-02T03:46:00.000-07:00

I was just saying to a young Viet-man today (who didn't understand a word mind you) that Hanoi will either kill me or I will kill it.
Plain and simple, we have spent more time here than is truly necesary, and still we hold ground awaiting a window of escape. I'll avert the details for now, as to not bore the faithfull reader to tears.
Instead I write today about the herding of sheep!
Yes we have just returned from a three day excursion to Ha long Bay. This quaint litle Unesco sight is now totally overrun by tour groups from Hanoi, making the only feasible way to see her beauty a little annoying to say the least. Itineraries are very important to these demons!

On the upside, yesterday we woke up on a quaint little ocean cruiser, we ate three square meals all consisting of rice, tofu, squid, and springys and we climbed a beautiful mountain in the middle of a rainforest, where I sweat more sweat than I thought this body could muster.
On the jagged mountain climb both Brant and I sustained minor finger injuries which means a major lack of Guitar playing...but we worship HO CHI CARROTOP like an idol even when not strumming her golden stringies.

TAKI! AChrohn!

We also managed to stay in the best of our hotel rooms yet, I can't help but think that when I lisped we would like an ocean view to the angry little bellboy that he thought it would be some torture to give us what we wanted.
So, following yesterday's awesome news (re: ged's future (re: Old school life)) we sat on the fifth floor balcony overlooking the fishing boats in the Bay, while the sunset over the mountains with a rum in one hand, and a cigar in the other.
makes up for the constant barking and bossing of some very unclean Vietnamese tour-boys. I see your ladies underthings Tuan! and don't think we aren't still going to hand in the survey that you were so displeased with reading and tore out of your little man purse.
Canadian Idol threats are still very threatening.

Scooter Trickles

2005-05-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

Hanoi in the rain. They aint kidding.

There is something very unique about a hot downpour. Not in the Vancouver rain sense -- but something more intimidating. The alleys become streams -- the roads, rivers. We escape this by finding higher ground. Gor-tex is just another layer to weigh you down from running from the rain.

Northern Vietnam is bittersweet. It means that we are drawing a close to this part of the journey, and yet we have not been run over by scooters -- which is a feat which warrents a prize.

A bus took us inland from river town of Hue to Hanoi in 14 hours. We arrived to a rain and it has stopped a few times. In between the storms, we have managed to find quite a crazy little city. We are in the old town district which like much of the rest of Vietnamese towns has a french feel to it. (by that i mean that it feels like it is french...as in if i were to close my eyes and feel hanoi...i might think i was feeling Paris, or Nice...or at least Montreal -- well the french part of Montreal. It definatly doesnt feel like Cannes though...which is strange, because Cannes is about as french as it gets...being in France and all.)

The roads here all have a theme. There is the shoe road, which only sells shoes; a bag road which sells bags; a hat road...

Ged found the masking-tape road today.

We will be here for a bit..then go somewhere else.
That's how it goes.

On a personal note...my thoughts go out to all the crazy hooligans out there who have lost a dear friend...I am truely sorry and saddened.

Peace
Brant

Jungilist Massive.

2005-05-26T22:28:00.000-07:00

We have been dirty, and sweaty, and muddy, and bloody.
but noone would know it after our GQ trip to Hoi An...In four short hours (of which B and G were found on the most beautiful beach with Guitar and Larue in hand) The kooky ladies at Bich My fashioned some tailor made outfits to get us back to what matters...LOOKING GREAT.
There aren't nearly enough mirrors in this country for such a vain young man, but just looking at the Brant, I know our whole dynamic has changed. Watch out Hanoi...we're going to break your neck.
In a warehouse, in 40 degree heat, one hundred seamstresses busily put ideas to fine linens, and cottons.
The prize in my collection (Easily the coolest clothing item I have ever owned!) I could describe for you...but I think it words could not compliment it enuf! we'll all just have to wait for the next round of pictias!

Now we sit in Hue awaiting a treacherous 13 hour bus ride to the big city.
Lets hope the driver stays awake, and Uncle Ho guides us Safely through his land.
Big Peace to all of your nations.

Na Trang Me! Na Trang You!!

2005-05-21T06:02:00.000-07:00

We are salt -- we are sand.

We have settled in to a little city on the South Vietnam -- er..East coast. It is about the size of Victoria with a few more children selling gum. We have managed to spend a few days roaming the beach like Relic. A boat tour of some of the nearby islands, a snorkelling run through a coral reef, and seeing the squid harvesting (and squid harvesters) have been some of the things that one does in this area. We have.

Full moon countdown...
We are heading to a tailoring town next.
Ged wants shoes.
I am thinking of a ninja suit.

Until then...CHECK THIS OUT

signed,
phobun

"Fairy Spring" : the Seashell collector's Guide.

2005-05-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

Crazy spend in Vietnam...time that is. We've managed to get less than a quarter up this behemoth South China oceanside. Yet we can't help but feel proud of the progress.
From Ho Chi Minh we departed on a cramped night bus with the TM Brothers for Mui Ne. With the entirety of the people aboard moving on, it was by sheer luck we didn't end up in Hanoi.
or was it?
Mui Ne is a resort town for Lovers and rich folks, and Rich folk lovers. It is totally beyond my belief that such a beautiful beach sits there untouched (Literally we saw less than 100 tourists on a 2km stretch of sand.)
We whiled yesterday away with some very good friends. Chris and David, They're from Sweden and Kate! Kate's from Albequerque . The new guitar, and beer and rum gave us much good cheer. I caught a sand crab, and we all collected the coolest shells.
We crammed today full with a tour of The Sand Dunes...white and red and that freakin Fairy Spring that Keith's pictures made seem so damned appealing. It was a cool trip, in a rugged old Jeep...but The stench of rotten Coconuts, and Fish made the trekking less than awe inspiring. I think Brant was nearly swallowed by a dirt avalanche...that would have really sucked I think.
At midday we arranged to hop on the bus bound for Nha Trang, which is where I sit in the Blue Star Hotel, after feasting on three courses of fresh shrimp and squid.

breath dude. just breath.

DIG DEEP AND SMILE COMRADES!

2005-05-16T02:49:00.000-07:00

Hail Ho Chi Minh. You da man.
Today it was a 1/2 day at Cu Chi tunnels, chillin' with Kahn (a southerner :-( ) who informed us on how to defend ourselves from total annihilation by the Red, White and Blue. Sure it seems all a bit subjective, but it's a subjective world...and a one-sided war at that. It just goes to show that when Canada is the last bastion of oil in the world we can always dig...DIG DEEP AND SMILE COMRADES!
It's been humorous ebb and flow of our tourist undertaking thus far in Vietnam. Point and fact, the War Remnants Museum that we visited yesterday was once named something along the lines of "The American attrocities Museum" but due to the influx of tourism here by said Superpower Titles are taking a more liberal view of the whole matter. The joke quickly stops there...I only need to see one two-headed fetus in a fermeldahide bottle.
Check another vulgar tourist sight off the list.
I was 6 feet under ground today and crawled 90 feet through a hole maybe 20,000 people onced scurried though to defend their land. Big fun, and Big Hot. Brant spent a third of that looking at my ass...Brants funny, I got a picture to prove it.
I guess the crappy part (besides like all the War and stuff becky) is that the Beer here su---ux. And everything is E--expensive. So we leave tonight for Mui Ne, That's right MORE BEACH, Byotch.
Perhaps we'll re-nact our entire jouney for you with plastic army men and an Ant Farm when we return...

If we return WAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
Hmmm I smell lucious Art.

It is O.K. to not remember what has yet to happen

2005-05-13T01:38:00.000-07:00

ANGKOR WHAT?

The road to Cambode!

ROBOT MASTER A6 IS YOUR GUIDE...BOOOYAKASHAA!

The head and the Mind are equal in most respects.

Sunrise over Angkor...I woke up at 5am for this yall.

"Angelina Jolie wuz here"...is carved into the roots

The base of the terrace of the leper king. look close they are all in the act of self-copulation. speaking of....

Birth of Brant, Angkor stylez

Birth of Ged, Angkor stylez 2!

No seriously though, check out the cover of Lonely Planet Camodia...Here's Johnny.
We got his signature Mad styles...He's 90 and lives in a cave from the 11th century so it looks like the writing of a 2 yr. old child...but c'mon people put ya damn hans-up!

Happy trails friends...We'll see you in Vietnam.
The Land of Pho and Bun.

An ode to a tooth...and six beautiful strings...No not floss.

2005-05-11T05:23:00.000-07:00

Let me just quickly tell you how awesome my new Italian sandals are...and Sihanoukville, well Brant put you all in tune for that. I'll tell you the truth though, about 5 minutes ago I looked inside the abyss that remains where his 1/2 tooth once roold the roost. And that pretty Cambodian nurse left him with a 25th the smile that once set on these shores.
Yes surely these are times to slow the pace and take in some Hunter S. Thompson for a little guide book for the weeks to come. His sentiments could not compile my feelings more, as I argue with a 10 year old child for 2 hours over the price of fruit fruit fruit.
Goodbye to Grahame as well, great man that he is. Will we ever have a frog shack with which to stretch our brains upon like leather in the old west. Did they even do that?

Krazy as it sounds we'll be leaving all this in a short while
Oh, yes it's been nice, but truth be told my utterances have regressed to grunts
To Ho Chi Minh where we can make sense of the world again. Yes. History, Work
Every man and woman is only a pupil to the environment he/she keeps.
Reclining in a Hammock on the waterfront does not an intellegent human make
Only the strong will survive, and by this I mean in the heart of darkness
Let's all take a moment to consider the very real possibilty that this is a new day.

But not more than 5 days in a row.
may I also introduce to you an addition to our two person PARTY. Yes, today after we wrenched part of Brants face off, we treated ouirselves to a beautiful new Acoustic Guitar. For a measly 22 dollars we are now like Nelson, or Extreme, on our 2005 Cambodia tour. Hell they even threw in a travel bag. some strings and gigantic japanese picks. Now lets hope I can remember that Ewan McGregor ditty for all these fat Dutch travellers to consume.

We love you all, and we sing songs about the good times only.
Sorry no Swear words, we just go oooooooon!

Life is a beach...no really.

2005-05-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that things are very good. I say this not because we have been living on a nearly deserted beautiful beach on the South China sea in Cambodia for free -- in a thatched roof attic above a beach resturant nontheless-- but...er...damn..thats really why I am saying this.

Anyways...

The days have been spent in a truely stunning environment. We are beach bumming in every sense of the word (well not every sense, but it is a saying). The people here are exceptional -- and by exceptional, I mean evil (just kidding -- well, except for Dana -- who just wants to sell you fruit, and has a daily feud with the good captain.) We actually have spent much time hanging out with cambodian children who want to make you braclets and sell you lobsters (yes YOU meghan) I dont know what i was doing at aged seven but i definatly was not balancing a ten pound fruit basket on my head.

And then....

The storms are coming....the wet season is colliding with the dry season right now which is the cause for some amazing lightning effects. The rain and wind cools the place down to the early 30s! (sweet relief).

The days have been spent in a bit of a pharaseutical haze though. The unfortunate of this part of the journey is my tooth has cracked and crumbled into chunks. And although I do need some dental work, a quick visit to the small town's cambodian dentist's office (kitchen) has reaffirmed my desire to just numb the pain until I hit a big city with...er...dentist equipment...oh and a professional dentist. But fortunatly for me the drug store is like walking down an ally in east van...anything goes. Ged and Graeme have helped me test which drugs (or combinations) are most effective...and we all agree that with these cocktails, i am probebly good for another month here...in fact i am sure i can run straight into a wall and not feel a thing.

The final part:

But all things must pass and we are heading on our merry way towards Saigon. I hear Vietnam is very hot this time of year and i dont think we want to mess with our tradition of following the heat around.

Until the Vietnam,

Peace

P-NOM PEN and FULL POWER

2005-05-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

Well Hello...Another bender in the big city.
GAAAWWWD. Who brought Beer Lao into this country
We got some shopping in yesterday, At the central Market, Which is this Older than Canada looking dome contraption. There we bought Hammocks, and T-shirts, and headphones, and almost got suckered into a Gameboy Advance...Alas the bartering got the better of us.
There is no accounting for the consumate Bartering our daily lives consist of , We've just come from our guest house (OKAY)that enlists the services of about twenty tuk-tuk drivers to do small tasks like serve coffee, and turn on the dvd player. In return they get to hound the guests at all hours with the repetitive four word slander "Where you go?" At times this works in our favour, for instance by haggeling with three people at once yesterday, I believe we got the best price in all three cases as our time was short for each person. So we succesfully bought a hammock, shot down a 5yr. old bookseller, and got a ride to our guesthouse all at the best rate.

Today we go check out some genocide at the killing fields and S21. We'll just see if shooting AK-47's (a regular tour stop) is in the cards after a long day of learning Cambodia's bloody history. Somehow with a head full of hangover, The prattle of gunfire may get to this old boy woozy. Oh yeah and WE'RE GOING TO A MUSEUM ABOUT THE KILLING OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE maybe not.

Pictures by the bucketload are on the way.

The Road to Cambodia (or why I should take it easy today!)

2005-04-30T00:44:00.000-07:00

So yesterday started off well enough, We were swimming in a pool with our lovely english travel companions after a night of Karaoke debauchery. Brant has taken to
the Diving board with some "Mad Skillz" a one-and a half flip... Unprecedented!.
I'm sticking to working on my dive...

- a note here...I have taken very seriously of late to jumping from dangerous heights! It began at the waterfall in Luang Prabang...and continued on to the "Beer Laos Olympics 2005" in Don Det. Beer and Lao Lao does not a Greg Lougainis make! oh hi meghan/Canada 3 you are an inspiration.
TAKE ME TO THE TALISMAN CENTRE...I WANNA GET REAL HIGH. -

...and so at breakfast the londoners broke the news they would not be going to Cambodia with us as was the original plan. This, I think is where our day took a very serious turn for the worst. At the bus Station in Kohrat, after two days of non-stop travel from the 4000 Islands to the middle-class billboard wrought Thailand, we said our goodbyes.

Another 7 hour journey to the Thai-Cam border at Poipet, and I had heard "major leagues"by Pavement one to many times. We met some great Canadian kids on route- a blessing since we had heard that the Cambodian crossing is best to do in numbers. Everything went swimmingly (high-dive pun here) across the border, as the Thai anthem played the sun set and we met the poorest children of our journey thus far.

Then we got on the road to Siem Reap. A supposed 3 hour journey, and to my delight in A white Toyota Camry. No one can fully explain just how horrible a road we got on. I have spent a bit of time on logging roads in Northern B.C. but even they have been maintained once since 1961. Not so in the case of the Cambodian highway. The guide books all write about a bumpy ride, but after twenty minutes of white knuckling the holy-shit handle and the ominous threat of motion sickness affecting Tiffany beside me in the backseat...I began to realize this was not fun.

Then the torrential downpour which turn the black sky into and onslaught of falling drops, and the dirt pothole road into mud. I have never seen so much lightning, period. It continuosly lit the sky for the next hour. Remarks were made about how and what would God throw at us next, crammed in our little Toyota.

2hours later -*POP*-

Now you would think that even in a country that wishes to do nothing with it's heaviest thouroughfare, that the people would be ready to deal with something as little as a blown tire.
No. not really.

We drove on the back tire''s rim to the closest hut and woke up the family of Ten that resided there. The back-up tire of course was also blown, and so we had to go about the task of removing by sheer man-power the tube of one tire, and putting it in the blown one. Our driver, who recieved probably only a portion of the 10-dollars per person fee, was beside himself. As the " proffesional" tire remover got to work of dancing around the rim.
Needless to say after many hours (It was 12:00 am)of dancing, and beating of rims, no tire was removed. We had all settled to sleep on the dirty ground beside The worlds worst highway...and then our driver like a ray of light who had left to Siem reap on a motorcycle came back with a brand new tire.
We set off and bumped along the highway again for another hour and a half, Arriving in Siem Reap at 2:30 am.

As I went to sleep last night, I could here tiffany wretching in the room next to us. I couldn't help but think it a fitting end, and yet I wish her a very speedy recovery, God knows it could have been anyone of us that got the Touristo set in by such a journey.
A credit to all involved...We kept our spirits high throughout, what was easily the worst part of our journey thusfar. Now I sit in Siem Reap, and I am happy to sit in the A.C. looking at a screen and only hope there is a diving platform in the very near future for which to cast off such a bad-case of tire-luck.
HERE WE COME ANGKOR WAT.
SHABBA

a one way ticket to cambodia (if we ever get there)

2005-04-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

We are in a space themed hotel. Most likely in the Hawaii Five-O era. There are three kareoke bars within an earshot -- and that is not including the poolside bar and er....kareoke..um...bar.

We have spent some time now in southern Laos...on a little island of Don Det. It is an island on the Mekong river -- which is home to rare dolfins (we saw 5 of 10-15 that are known to exist) Sandy beaches and thatched huts have been the style. Electricity comes for a few hours by night by generater -- long enough to cook some food.

It was an amazing place and difficult to leave (literally -- we had problems finding a way off it a few times)

but now we must find our way to cambodia and look at the temples.
we are still trying to find our way there. but after two days of busses i believe we are only one more day away...

more to come, including pictures of Ged's lovely rendition of moon river from last night's kareoke party.

peace.

PHOBUN EVIDENTLY ARE ALIVE WASAAAAAA

2005-04-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Ged and Brant have been Kind enough to supply some Footage of the trip in progress. I have added these pictures as a Tribute to them, and if you want the full size pictures, they can be found here

Ayuthaya
brant - "we met other great canadian travelers on our trip!"
ged- "yes, and I was so hot I put my pant leg on my head."

brant - "we are actually holding this buddha up with our forheads."
ged - "yes, and we are working very hard to make other canadians proud!"

brant - "ged is trying to bring the international sign of Canadian rock anthem to the people of thailand."
ged - "yes, and in fact you will notice that I am also squishing your head!"

ged - "I can remember just nearly taking my eye out with Aviary chains...the birds cannot get out I can! The Buddha has granted them an awesome gift but not to get through chains"

brant - "I dunno...I dunno"

ged - "Sunglasses...I love these sunglasses. This picture took a considerable ammount of skill...It's 40 degrees in Sukkothai old city!"

"Good night friends...shabba the sunset!"

P.S. Can anyone tell us how to say Mayonaise in Laos, Cambodian, and Vietnamese!!!
This would help us immensly...thank you.

Thank you Mr. O you really were as hospitable as I've been told.

2005-04-16T03:07:00.000-07:00

How about a vacation from Vang Vieng allready. I must apologize for that last post, the pillbox was a minibus, and I was on it, or in the sun for much longer than my limit for capable typing.
To be honest I'm not to much better for words here today, but I'll inundate you with updates for the sake of keeping the records in line.
It occured to me today, and I don't want to expound on the matter to heavily, that at home I was a beast trapped within my mind, and within the confines of regularity. I had a schedule, no matter how loose, and that schedule was met. Now throw that mindset into the hyperreal travel scenario...
Like the mouth of the most beautiful cave or a float down a river surrounded by trees and life you have never before thought real...
well, It took a month but this is sinking in.
I must say that in Vang Vieng I have experienced many wonders of such ilk...but the hangover was setting in fast, and now we run for the 'big?' city with 25 dollars owed to a motorcycle rental, and a lost beer laos shirt...it was pink, and now its green at the bottom of a river.
The streets are still lined with thousands of water warriors, truckloads of up to 30 children throwing sandwich bag water bombs, every personal possesion is double wrapped in cheap market baggies...we three are completely drenched in Vientiane.
The bus keeps haulin along too, tomorrow morning at sevan a.m. we part for Savankhett with the only money we'll carry until Cambodia.
teatime...cheers.

KIND OF BUT NOT REALLY...

2005-04-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

In a pillbox for six hours and I think e've all had time to take in Laos enough to translate it to you, the good working folk from around the planeta.
This party has begun, we're talking new year, and there are farang wondering the streets at this, 7:30pm (such a late hour for our newfound communist love country)
As everything, including light in most cases, is shut down by midnight, we're really trying to make the most of our days.
The odd bit is the day makes it for you.
consider our latest guest house "the otherside" (thanks keith although, it did take quite a while to seek out, the new huts they've built are shitacular.) No picture can really ammount to our backyard in this place. We back onto what I believe is called a karst, which is much akin to a mountain, but it juts out like a dagger from the earth (I considered the reasons for so many earthquakes in the region by the sheer awesome display these mountains lend to foreign eyes)
There really is so much catching up to do...and my pen can't write whilst rumbling down the rocky swaying roads from Luang Prabang to here.
To be brief...
Luang prabang was THE most beautiful city we've been to yet. and the company we've kept all the way from Chiang mai to today has been par excellence.
For anyone travelling to Southeast Asia and looking to spend only a short while, like our dear cousin Darold, we have to insist (and we would not have considered it earlier) that Laos is soo gooood! I would have bypassed Thailand almost completely for this country.
Mom, I've seen the best Waterfall in all creation. The group of us took turns singing, and diving into it's crystal pools...and that at its heighest pool some 50 meters above the bottom pool. Kuang Xi Waterfall just outside of Luang Prabang...YEAH.
I should sign off...and go get soaked in the street by another supersoaker 120000. I hope you are all wet reading this as I am writing it. If not...shower off you dirty dirties.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE DUDES.

Loatian station

2005-04-12T04:35:00.000-07:00

yes we are alive.
in fact we are very much alive in a place where i am quite surprised i am able to send a post.
however.
this is only a short greetings to all those wondering and waiting.
the generator runs from 6pm to 10pm.
yet everyone has a satalite dish.
laos is my new best friend.
a long post of our travels with boats, and waterfalls, and monkeys will follow.
until then...
peace.

Am I hungover or is that Darold?

2005-04-03T23:06:00.000-07:00

So after a good two nights of the Singha, and a storm last night that kept us indoors and drinking with young german frauline...we were awaiting Visas for Laos.
Knock Knock Knock.
Have you ever opened a door in thailand, and there is a good buddy standing there with a big grin saying "hey!"
yeah well as far as I can tell Darold has arrived, and now he wont leave us alone.
not until we get to the ocean anyhow.
We're off to Laos then tomorrow, our bus ticket is zipped up and ready to rolly polly. It'll be a long trek, so we won't be chatting again real soon.
We'll exchange all our singhas for beer laos...and the true test of asian beer.
Gute reise, vielen gluck!
tchuss!

Superstar condition...(making up for days lost)

2005-03-30T01:59:00.000-08:00

SO the christians freed me nearly three days ago now.
My lord children, was I a sorry bloke! 7 pounds lighter, whiter and whiter...and all the while consuming nothing but aqua. My stetson therefore is tipped to the great Thai nurses at Chiang Mai McCormick hospital who set me up with a grand place of lodging and got this oy a decent nights rest (did I mention they had MTV)

Look at me now. And how we've been catching up on those two wasted days. After one day of farting around, we rented some scooters from Julie Guesthouse ad learned to maneover our hogs through the bustling streets of Chiang Mai. There is no better way to learn that craft then to start on the left hand side of the rode and try to avoid the other 4-5000 scooters ahead and behind you. This is the town to scoot!
We got to the highway by midday, and headed to the Doi suthep mountain, where apparently a white elephant croaked in the 1500's. But more importantly, where sister Meg married her handsome beau Kent...I should mention there are 306 step to get to the Chedi at the top, so all you wedding planners go for a short train, and maybe remember NO shoes!
Then to Chiang Mai zoo, where we set our eyes on our first Tapir...who just so happens to adorn our Phobun banner at the bottom of your screen. I've given up on the sloth now...for sure the Tapir is my favorite animal. That is not to take away from the Pandas, something I have not seen since the hay day Calgary 88. Ahhh...I can hear that olympic song playing as I type. Thanks David Foster.
after I had overheated my bike (who knew you couldn't leave it in fourth gear to go up a mountain) the scooter gave me a little tattoo when I leaned the exhaust pipe againgst my calf. It's a good looking burn...not too bad, but story worthy? we will see.
Now that was an excellent day but it really didn't match with the last two. WE arranged to go on a two day trek to the Lahu village, and the Mae tang river. After five gruelling hours of trekking up and down red dirt paths in the 30 degree heat, and swearing (ask brant) that "I'd stay in the shade and read a book next time" the fruits of our labour fell before us.
It happened at a waterfall, which today is about a 10th the size of what it is during peak season, but big enough to shower in and bowl us over. Then to an encampment where our very "loose cannon" leader Mok, entertained us with stories of opium dealers in Lahu village (one was shot down there ust yesterday by the DEA) and his penchant for honey which nearly got the five of us with more than mosquitos to worry about.
Then this morning, my birthday. I woke up in a jungle next to a swimmable river, ate some salty eggs (as prepared by Mok) and went for an hour log elephant ride, which I would suggest only to those who can
a)stand mild cruelty to giant beasts
and B)get compeletly covered in snot and dust...
we were on a heffer who had a penchant for snorting towards it's occupants, and her baby came along for the ride. I must say you haven't seen quite anything until youv'e seen a baby elephant bathing in a cool river. He literally would stand and fall over sideways into the stream...JOY.
But enough water for elephant, what about Us???
Yes, we thought it might be nice to get on a raft and hit a little class 5 white water rapids (more like 1 or a half) got drenched and mosied down the rest of the river on a calm bamboo raft.
that more or less catches us up to right now.
Back on track and in fine birthday condition to enjoy a bottle of bacardi (that i smuggled all this way from victoria) on the rooftop bar five stories over Chiang Mai.
I do believe I'll be spending the rest of this day with one of the finest gents in the business...My life partner Brant, without whom ( and I must say this) I would have been in sorry condition some 4 days ago.
He's really grrreat you know.

not as great as Mok, but he knows that.
Oh yeah, and I know you must all be wondering after reading the last 1/2hour drivel wether we survived the recent Earthquake ot not. NEVER FEAR ALL IS SWELL!

all roads lead to chiang mai -- well, not really

2005-03-27T20:19:00.001-08:00

So here is how the story goes...

Chiang Mai has been a bit of a resting stop for us. Not that I need any more rest but it is a bit cooler in this town and it is a good base for much of Northern Thailand. Lots of outdoor activities to get involved with.

No major event have warented a particular exciting blog entry. I will perhaps leave that to Ged when he feels fit.

The town does however lead one to really examine this fragile environment and the role we have played in destroying the very system that facilitated our existence.

well, not really.

but it is relaxing -- and all the burning of the fields do make the moon rise a fiery red.

bUn

The great wizard of Oz.

2005-03-22T23:40:00.000-08:00

Rented some bikes today and rode around the ancient ruins of Sukhothai. Saw a temple which had 'the singing buddah'.

A King before battle took his men to the buddah and the legend goes the buddah spoke to the men and encouraged them to fight bravely.

Much later a secret staircase leading up the back of the statue and into the mouth of the buddah was found.

The King had no comment.

Ged sleeps.

I am in search of fruit.

Elephants ages 3mo. to 89yr.

2005-03-22T04:27:00.000-08:00

We'll have a hard time beating the elephant kraal in Ayutthaya, It seemed a surprise to the very butch volunteer elephant keeper Eva that we found the place at all. In truth if you mention Elephant to any tuk tuk driver in those parts as we did, they quickly usher you to some sort of roadside elephant tour...hmmm chained baby elephants. We were not impressed, we can go shriner at home if we want that.
But the Kraal...UNBELIEVABLE. They house 80 elephants there and throught the tutelage and very kind guidance of Eva we were ushered to the Oliver stone wall (of shame if you ever saw Alexander, I did not, but we met the stars just the same) and off to meet the oldest and youngest habitants of the litter.
We met 89 year old Dokma, and got a good rub of her snout...and then to the 3 month old, whose name never really stuck (it was in thai after all) I don't know about you gang but I have never touched an elephant let alone feed one, and play with it's baby. Great pictures to follow.
Brant and I agree if something beats the elephant petting zoo (and something prolly will) we will be sure to exclaim some crazy codeword...(word has yet to formalize.)
Now we're in Sukkotthai...half way between Bangkok and Chiang Mai...the illness has all but dissappeared which was by the grace of god after 6 hours on a 2nd class bus today with babys asleep on my lap...

well that was sincere enough wasn't it/bUn.
your turn Brant.

anyone for an MRI or perhaps a rendition of "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN"

2005-03-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

So...now we're in the midst of it.
We're staying at U.P. Inn for 200 baht a night. private shower. private room...which is great because....
Ged's seen the worst of this trip, he prays. He had to cast my Union Jack boxers into the tampon dispenser some 24 hours ago due to a very messy wake up call...be assured he's as content to post it since bedwetting has never been a problem b4 now. Just the same there has been no reason to raise the alarm, he's on the road to recovery in sleepy Ayutthaya, a word we've repeated a zillion times to get the inflection just right. It goes I--TIYA...we believe. WE went to the best damned wat yet last night and became minor celebrities with the tourbus teenagers from Bangkok, and surrounding thailand. After the 12 some pictures we had to find a way out.
There was an in depth article in the Bangkok Post today about Canada's flailing health care system, and would you believe Ralph Kleins heroed attempts to save it...I read the thing straight through...There was even a picture of an MRI machine in a Calgary independent medical office...I\ll steal the article later today so when I'm feeling homesick later in the journey I can strip off all my clothes under a cool fan and stare at the MRI machine...believe me I'll be thinking of every one of you when I'm looking at the nurse control that machine.

There is some debate between Brant and myself as to how we will post on this thing, I started in the third person which seems to fly, after all brant doesn't want to be mistaken for someone who shits his pants. But I'm sure given the nuances of our writing styles you'll figure us out.
The ring two sucked big apples. It was cool though, because in Thailand you stand an honour the King after 30min of ads and before the movie...also the projectionist got the reels mixed up so we watched the first part, then the third, then the second, and then the Biting conclusion...If it wasn\t such a crap movie we would have complained to the people who wouldn't know what we were saying.
Everything is gravy in Ayutthaya...we're off on a wat journey.
shabba.

SOMEWHERE IN THE MALL OF AMERICA!!!

2005-03-17T23:18:00.000-08:00

Time to take a break in the MOST and LEAST westernized location on earth. Every floor of this interconnected 4 mall mega-plex provides PHo and BuN hours of candy for the eyes and ears. Can't say Ged's feeling top notch and so we are Air conditioned and totally relaxed. If we came here the first day, we would have stayed until now. It's a good thing then that we didn't cause our dark olive skinned tans are getting real SPANK.
Brant is a JU-ON.
Punks in Bangkok are clean.
The night ladies on Koshan wore green last night..."lucky lucky four leaf clover"
WE met a drunken Scot, who informed us he was married, and since getting to Bangkok weeks ago had been with many "prairie girls". Brant responded..."are we your priest?" and he walked on...
Next stop Ayyuthya. 2 hours North.

MaH BOKYEEONGG!

Its getting hot in Here (how hot?)

2005-03-17T01:15:00.000-08:00

Tuk Tuk.

It is a great word to say-- and provide for a very interesting experience. The last few days have been consumed by wandering through the streets of this city...looking at a map...and wandering more. I do feel green in the travelling world. And Bangkok is as crazy as you might think. (f you thought it was crazy of course)

The luggage came a day later. It was like Christmas morning opening up the bag. I had almost given up any hope that I would see it again.

We went to the kho san road...packed with westerners buying beer t-shirts and sunglasses. It was worth the site but the heat forced us to escape the crowds back to the sleepy neighborhood and guesthouse.

Today we took the boat along the river to Chinatown. We saw turtles and snakes in buckets -- not to be sold as pets. We talked to a man today that told us why most of the cats are missing their tail. He actually has two theories:

1. The cat is seen as a perfect creature...too perfect for this world. Therefore, the tails are broken off when born as to make them more suitable for this reality. or:

2. Cats are too good of a predator and with missing tails, they are more likely to go after the rats on the ground rather then the birds for lack of balance.

Both make for good stories..the man was on novacane.

Today:

It took roughly 5 minutes to get completely lost and the good part of the day was spent most likely walking in circles. But we managed to find our way back. It is the little victories which make it all worth while. We are thinking of heading north in a couple days to try and get out of this heat. My theory is that the mountains might present cooler nights. I hope I am right.

Until then...

bUn

Bangkok...day3

2005-03-15T04:06:00.000-08:00

We have been in a plane for 20 hours or so, only to find no baggage in bagkok.
Only a very freindly Thai man who promises us closure on the issue by tomorrow at this time...we're anticipating he is correct.
All is well though, this place is VERY DIFFERENT. If it weren't for our clouded minds we would have easily lost them.
No ammount of reading or prep could make you feel anything but out of your skin.
a few observations thus far...
We have seen alot of cats without tails.
Sometimes the strange man watching you try to figure out a pay phone really just wants to help and lend you his cell phone.
Sometimes the taxi driver really does get lost.
we must go now and find some clothes at the night market.

Leaving Town

2005-03-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

It is just hours until we leave and I am still tying up loose ends here in Victoria. Ged has gone to Vancouver where we will meet for some last minute sushi and nalgene hunt. The plan is that we are flying out on Sunday via LA to Bangkok. We should be there on Tuesday.

And from there...well, we shall see.

What we are.

2005-03-10T16:06:00.000-08:00

We were Ged, and Brant...
No we are PHO, BuN.