| Karen
writes...
November 17 -- Bangkok, Thailand
This place is so incredible:
the people, the food, the sights. Everyone's so warm and friendly.
I don't even mind that they're trying to rip me off left,
right, and centre. Got to get better at haggling, though...
November 20 -- Bangkok, Thailand
I'm
having a blast, have met all kinds of people--and I mean,
all kinds--and will leave Bangkok in a day or two or three.
I don't know where I'm headed, and that's the best part.
November 23 -- Bangkok, Thailand
Bankok's wearing me down.
Traffic. Pollution. Hawkers. I'm on overload. My system's
in shock from total change in diet and activity. I'm really
sick. I think it's from some squid I ate yesterday. I can't
keep anything down (not that I want to even try). I tried
some of the diarrhea medication the doctor gave me, but it's
just making it worse. Things to remember -- don't eat street
vendor seafood in Bangkok. Don't get in a Tuk Tuk. Take water
wherever you go.
December 1 -- Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thought for sure I'd die
on the back of that motorcycle. We had no helmets. I was stupid
to put my life in the hands of a testosterone-driven guy.
Pierre was going so fast (120 km/hr!!) I couldn't even keep
my eyes open. At times we were airborne for whole, long, seconds.
Resolved I would die and calmed down a bit into a rather peaceful
death trance, the wind thrumming a rapid-fire dirge in my
ears. I still can't believe I'm all in one piece. I won't
be doing that again. Other than that, though, it was a great
day. I rode an elephant!
December 4 -- Mae Hong Sa, Thailand
I can finally see why people
love travelling so much. I suspected it would be mind-expanding,
but never knew the heart would grow so much, too. I miss my
music, though. A couple of times I've wept into my pineapple
juice when the ex-pat radio station's played a favourite old
pop song. My senses are heightened beyond anything I've known
before.
December 12 -- Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand
My dreams are changing.
The landscape, the breadth, the subject matter, all expanding.
December 14 -- Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand
I've never been so sick.
All at once. I'm throwing up. I have severe stomach pain and
diarrhea. I have a cold so bad I can hardly breathe and my
throat hurts so much when I cough my eyes shed tears. I went
to the pharmacist on this island and she said I have an infection
in my throat. She gave me some antibiotics, and no sooner
had I taken the first two when I remembered my doctor telling
me NEVER to take antibiotics over here --they'll affect your
stomach. Too late. I threw them away but my stomach, which
was already really hurting, has got me twisted into an agonizing
position that sleep can't creep up on. Plus I have the worst
period cramps I can remember and I put my back out somehow
(how?). Walking around helps a little, but I'm stooped and
quite often I find myself cursing out loud. If it weren't
so darn painful it would be utterly hilarious. I'm not laughing.
December 16 -- Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand
Feeling better, mostly.
But nobody's heard of Joni Mitchell here, and it's killing
me.
December 20 -- Ko Lanta Yai, Thailand
It's nice to have a clean
washroom, and I only have to kill a few bugs and spiders.
The geckos and praying mantises do the rest.
December 25 -- Ko Lanta Yai, Thailand
Last night, Christmas Eve,
we had a huge party, farangs [foreigners] and Thais. Seafood,
games, fireworks, presents, and even a funny little Christmas
tree, Charlie Brownish, stuck in the sand. Friends got me
to emcee the games, the Thai dancing, and the gift exchange.
So much fun, my face still hurts from non-stop laughing and
smiling.
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