June 21, 2009
Another year and we are back in Southeast Asia and as always I am super happy to be here. When we landed in Bangkok we were surprised by good weather, which means less than 100% humidity and under 90 F. I don't want to bore you with the same details from other years so I have decided to share a few things that have come to my awareness before but I really never paid much attention too. First off things have changed a little in Bangkok, prices have gone up and quality down, I assume this has to do with the economic crisis. The backpackers don't look as "hippy" as before and have changed their fisherman pants for jeans and summer dresses. The traffic is just as congested as before on the busy streets but I realized that no matter how long you can be stuck in a traffic jam very few people are honking their horns or becoming upset. Another funny thing is that the Thai's love their menthol scents. They sometimes use a balm and dab it under their nose, which I assume avoids bad smells or getting car sick. But this year I realized that many also use the menthol in a stick which you can jam up your nose as frequently as you like and inhale. Some for more convenience just leave it stuck in their nostril, assuming you have the right size nostril, not too big or too small, and cruise around town with it sticking out of their noses, breathing in the fresh menthol air of Bangkok. I promise you before I go I will try this, assuming I have the perfect size nostril.
Yesterday we left Bangkok and flew to Bali and here we are in Kuta beach, surfer paradise. Here in Bali people instead of handbags or ipods they carry around surf boards. I thought I would do the same but my size surf board, made for beginners only or a two year old, and 3 times my size is not so easy to drag around plus you definitely do not look cool with it. I love being back in the sun and hanging at the beach. The Balinese have a very refined culture and are very hospitable. We are planning to go to Flores from here, which is one of the eastern islands of Nusa Tenggara. We haven't decided if we are flying or taking a bus/ferry trip, which would take like 3 days, to get there. Actually I think Antonio has decided but is amusing me by saying he will go to the bus station to check times and prices.
