Status Update

Hello Everyone!

I have only 10 minutes to write this, because I have class at 2:00 pm. Here's a quick report of what's going on in my life.

First of all, let's point out the things I could go without here.  I can only think of one: heat!  It is so hot and humid here! Right now it's 86 degrees with 70% humidity.  There is no breeze, and standing in the sun is difficult.

That's it!

Everything else is absolutely wonderful.  I've been fortunate enough to make quite a few new friends.  We've shared numerous great times together; there are more to come!  My "dorm" isn't much of one, in fact, it's more like an apartment.  I have my own room.  There is a stove, fridge, microwave, sink, table, couches, and tv in the commons area.  I have access to a free washing machine, and the showers are rain showers.  Not too shabby, and it's less than half the price of where I lived last semester: 120 South Randall Ave.

Classes are going to be easy.  I'm going to have so much time to do whatever I want.  I only have one today: Pacific History.

Suva is said to be the New York of the Pacific.  There are endless things to do here!

Supplies have proven to be a bit pricey, but the food costs about the same here as it does at home.

This weekend there will be hiking!

Life is rough.

Sunset and Sunrise

In order for a new day to begin, one must end. To land in Fiji, I must leave Thailand. Unfortunately, I cannot be in both places at the same time. I knew the day would come, it was no secret to me, but knowing it wouldn't last forever hasn't made it any easier to accept that this trip through Thailand would, at some point, reach its end. Its mortality troubles me, and it is suffocating my ability to write this post.
Before my find my ability to complete this post utterly stifled and before my raw feelings evade me, I want to be sure I bring to light a very special person whom I've mentioned only briefly in a previous post.  Her name is Kitima Maleehom.  She is responsible for single handily stirring a radical change of heart within me.  Like I had noted in a previous post, she had given Anthony and I an excellent deal on a bungalow which was extended another night.  We paid a fraction of what she usually charged, but this first gesture was only the tip of the iceberg however, and I would soon realize the full extent of her genuine and kind nature.  I believe that typed words are truly incapable of describing Kitima; it would be an injustice to try.  The best way to understand what I'm blabbering about is to meet her personally; I wish this for everyone.  In fact, here are the details you'd need to do so.  The name of her resort is Banyan Bay Vila.  Its address: 292 Moo 2, Sriboya, Nueaklong, Krabi 81130.  Her mobile phone: +66 86 102 5248.  The website: http://www.banyanbayvillas.net/.  I may be able to describe properly the experience she bestowed on us verbally, so I'll have to wait to meet you in person to tell you exactly how I feel.  What I can do now, however, is describe the change.  Kitima's personality is shaped to "pay it forward."  Many times during the two short days we spent with her, in the midst of the thousands of thank yous Anthony and I had expressed, she kept reminding us how different the world would be if everyone would adopt the "pay it forward" attitude.  Her degree of "paying it forward," however, was unlike anything I had ever experienced.  Shamefully, I must admit that at the onset of her hospitality, I was a bit apprehensive; I wondered if she was truly genuine.  The proverbial saying "too good to be true" ran through my mind many times during the first couple of hours of our acquaintance.  Soon, though, I realized that she was 100% genuine and had only the purest intentions.  I came to this conclusion (it was further reinforced throughout the duration of our stay) because of her actions. Of which, as stated before, are best expressed verbally.  What she had indirectly helped me realize, in the end, was that I, like most people, approach others with a barrier (that I place) between me and them.  I speculate who they are as a person, what their intentions, and whether or not they are genuine long before it is appropriate. This barrier is has an equally ugly cousin which goes by the name First Impression.  These barriers are grotesquely unfair and limit an infinite amount of opportunities for each and every one of us.  I also use this barrier to give myself the impression that I am completely independent person, and that I can make things happen solely by myself and with little to no help from others.  Because of this barrier, I have (and always have had) troubles accepting help from others in whatever form it may be.  I stumble, for example, to graciously accept the groceries my parents so generously provide me.  There are no insinuations when it comes to parents buying groceries for their children. It is solely their duty they happily recognized and happily accepted when I came into this world: to feed me and help me grow as a person.  My delusion of independence began to secede when I realize that no matter how hard I planned this trip, no matter how much I read, no matter how much time I invested, there was absolutely no way I could have experienced what I experienced during my stay with Kitima solely by my own efforts.  It was her, not me, that deserves all the credit for such a wonderful time.  My independent efforts had nothing to do with it.

The best course of action now, for me, is to keep honing the new found ideas and better myself as a person. I challenge you to join me in letting your guard down a little, and (if comfortable) maybe get rid of it completely, and let life happen.  It worked well for me, and I'm betting it will be the same for you.

I end this post with higher spirits then when I started.  I have written down how I feel, and because of that I can now fully recognize it and return to it whenever I feel I'm misguiding myself.

For me, Thailand's sun is setting and it's nearly dusk.  Its dusk, though, will allow for a new dawn which will give birth to a new Fijian sun soon.

I've only started.

Anthony, Kitima, and I on the deck/sitting area of her wonderful restaurant

Krabi. Reflections on Koh Phi Phi

We did our research on Koh Phi Phi, and we were aware that it may be expensive and that it may not necessarily be the place for backpackers. "How bad could it be?" we thought. We decided to leave beautiful and pleasant Koh Jum for Phi Phi. Soon, after arrival, we learned that it probably was, in fact, one of the most beautiful islands in the world. The water was a bright and vibrant blue. The cliffs were towering, and the jungle was thick and jungly (if that helps at all). However, the beauty was completely overshadowed by the development and the mass amount of tourists: suitcase tourists. Immediately after stepping onto the pier you heard loud electronic music blasting, and a man's voice through a megaphone who made sure you knew that you had to pay 20 baht for the island's "clean up" fee otherwise you were not allowed to enter. There were people everywhere! Tourists were being shouted at by the locals who were trying to fill their guesthouses' rooms or fill spots in their day treks (snorkeling, sightseeing, etc...). Shops, stands, restaurants, bars, and guesthouses (which seemed to be plopped on top of bars) we're crammed into the area between the north and south beaches of Ton Sai. It was crazy, and not the kind of place we were looking for. Sure, with of group of friends and in about 5 years (since we were much younger than the average person there), Phi Phi could provide a great time. If you're into partying everyday on an expensive island, look no further. We had to leave Ton Sai, though, because we couldn't stand it. Long beach was to the east and within an hours walk, so that's where we headed. Enroute were a couple of high points; from them you could see most of Phi Phi. Despite the over development, it was a sight to behold. After making it to Long Beach, we realized everything was really clean and nice, but definitely out of our price range. To confirm this, we stopped by a reception counter and asked how much a room ran for: 4,500 baht. Remember, 30 baht to 1 USD. At that moment we realized we should've believed what we read. Phi Phi really wasn't for us. We did manage, though, to find a "cheap" room in Ton Sai, and we did enjoy great Indian cuisine that night, but we both knew we didn't belong there, so we made plans to head to Krabi the next day.

So here we are in Krabi, and with great satisfaction I can tell you that it is wonderful. The people, locals and tourist, are really nice and down to earth. The food is cheap, and so are the rooms. As I write this, I am sitting in an clean AC room that costs only 600 baht. Sure, it's not as pretty as Phi Phi, but, at the moment anyway, I'd stay in Krabi before Phi Phi 9 times out of 10. Without a motorbike, Krabi could prove to be dull, but we each have one and we've been bumming around everywhere with them. Yesterday we went to Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, which contained a beautiful 11-tiered waterfall. At its very top, we were able to enjoy its crystal clear and refreshing water. That was the destination, but everyone knows the journey is usually better. Indeed it was. It took us about an hour to get there, we missed our turn several times, found ourselves on a dirt trail through private rubber plantation, then soaring next to gigantic cliffs that shot out of the ground. It was (as Jeremy Clarkson would say) proper fun. This is probably why I like Krabi so much. Unlike Phi Phi, where you feel like you're a sheep in a herd, in Krabi you have independence and can create your own adventure. You could find yourself in the wrong place on a motorbike, or realize that someone is hurdling towards you on the wrong side of the road. In summary, Krabi let's you know that you're alive, unlike in Phi Phi where you may find yourself paying big money to saturate yourself with alcohol, whither, and die away in the sun.