a few more snaps...

I like the one where I look like someone might take my noodles away...

That's j drinking her nightly warmed milk. She was cracking me up!

The feathery head dresses were at the big party. So fun sipping champagne and hanging out. Thank you to my HK pals for sticking with me until 5 am and getting me safely to the airport.

1/1/11

Today or yesterday, now...was quite busy. I woke up at the crack of dawn in Bangkok tied on my ratty old Converse and took the the streets again. I walked forever; discovering hidden treats along the way. I ate some more noodles, hustled over the another Wat, bought some fabric and sarongs and then took one last tuk-tuk ride...

Once I was back at the hotel I showered in their dreamy spa took a steam and another shower and dressed for new years in Hong Kong. I didn't have heels with me, so my yellow flats had to step in. I climbed into a cab and said goodbye to one of the most vibrant cities I have ever visited. It is like a video game...sensory overload. I found a smile on my face as I was being herded through the streets or when a cab driver would decline my business because it was too far. Nothing phased me in Bangkok. There was always something amazing to make-up for any of its shortcomings. I am so glad that I made the decision to leave the island and head to a city.

Once I arrived in HK it was a little crazy. I had to buy a train ticket and try to meet a, my friend at the subway station. I tried to stash my stuff in the airport lockers, but it proved too difficult with timing for my flight to Bali this morning. I lugged both carry-ons through the station. A was having me paged...it was kind of hilarious. I couldn't tell if it was my name being called over the loud speaker. She eventually found me and we sat and had a nice cup of tea to ring in the new year.

We then got the call from d & p to meet them at a fancy party. I felt a little shabby dragging my gear into such a swank venue, but i think everyone had been imbibing for so long that they didn't really notice and d & p did most of the schlepping for me. It felt good to not be carrying my bags for a bit. We stayed at the party for a while and then decided it was time to eat. Yes, it was 3 am, but that's what you do!

My local friends found a 24 hour joint and we slurped noodles and drank iced sweet tea. It was heaven. Such fun! You can see that I didn't have time to talk because I was too busy shoveling noodles into my face.

P & d put me in another cab and here I sit in the HK airport...I haven't slept in 24 hours...I did get to take a shower at Cathay's first class lounge. Who knew there were bathtubs in the airport!?

Happy New Year! I think it's going to be a good one. It's the year of the rabbit...and it just feels good already.

ShaBangkok!

That's my tuk-tuk driver, my pomegranate juice maker and my $1 dinner!

Grit's my thing...

I am feeling sooooo much better today, physically and emotionally. I don't think that I realized how sick I was. I just kept pushing because I didn't want to miss out. Apparently, this is called FOMS (fear of missing something.) Having FOMS in conjunction with a raging chest and head cold can lead to misery. Luckily, I have kicked both.

I was a little sad to be leaving Koh Yao Yai this morning. I got up incredibly early and ate by the pool and then laid by the pool and then took a walk. I spoke with the manager to let him know that he should allow people to leave the grounds more easily. I must say that my favorite part of Koh Yao Yai was the open taxi ride back to the speedboat. It was so much fun. It is the original hair dryer. I just took my hair down and let it blow around. It was very freeing.

I arrived in Bangkok this afternoon and was ready to go. I walked to the Sky Train and went over to the shopping district. There is some amazing stuff to be had...for a price. I stuck to t-shirts and locally made goods. I then took a tuk-tuk to Chinatown for some dinner and then another cab to a night market. The night market was a bit disappointing. Lots of backpackers and junk being sold.

Tomorrow I am going to try to see a Wat or two. These are the Buddhist temples. I visited one when I first arrive in Bangkok on December 24th. I am also going to try to do a little more shopping and eating. It feels so good to not have to choose from the same old menu on Koh Yao Yoi. I drank three coconuts and a fresh pomegranate juice tonight. My body is happy.

Tomorrow it's off to HK for New Years. And then to Bali for a nice long visit.

I have posted a bunch a pics from the past week. The pool and ocean shots are Koh Yao Yai and the second set is the city snaps from Bangkok. There is also one with my humidity perm...I am still kicking over here in the East.

Thanks for the notes from those who have been in touch. It's fun to check my email in the morning and evening and hear what everyone is up to. It's a nice long break and it sounds like lots of adventures are being had.

escape plan

I have hatched my escape plan from Koh Yao Yai...now nicknamed Iy Yi Yi...

Tonight I have one last massage and then it packing time! I have an 11 am flatbed ride to the 11:30 speedboat to the taxi to the plane to Bangkok! Hoorah! This doesn't seem daunting because soon I will be far from the children and their smoking parents and the leather skinned retirees. I saw a woman light up while breastfeeding her infant at dinner last night. This was a woman with 4 other children and I think she was French. She handed her cigarette off to her husband while she changed sides for the wee-one's meal. She then quickly took it back and inhaled some more. Whatever gets you through the day, I guess. Amazing. Then again, she was staring at me eating my prawns and drinking my wine probably wondering what a young woman was doing on her own at this silly resort. I was wondering the same thing.

I feel so much better now that I have a plan. I took a long swim in the pool and cleared my head. I was having some guilt about bailing on such a beautiful place, but it's not making me happy or relaxed. For some reason I find the prospect of Bangkok so much more appealing. It could be the anonymity that awaits. I like slipping into a crowd and eating street food. There is something that is soothing about that.

I will try to take a few more snaps of this place. If you ever have a herd of children and want to take a beach vacation and just chill this is the place...if you are looking for any adventure at all...even if it is just walking by a local house or popping into a market...mark my words, do not come here!

When I told the sweet woman at the front desk that I would be checking out early she informed me that there was a gentleman in 103 who is traveling alone and perhaps he and I could take a boat ride together. I wish I knew this yesterday! Not for anything romantic, just so I could see some darn islands! I guess the view from the pool will have to do.

I have a feeling that I will return to Thailand in the future...I don't know why...but, I will save all of my beach time for then. I had a great time in Phuket and Phang Nga. M was a great tour guide and I got to see so much. We just kind of tooled around, but his Thai helped tremendously. So cool that I have a neighbor who has a house here. We'll be catching up at the end of the bar in a few weeks.

Now, it's thinking about a party in HK and being reunited with some old friends. I packed a slinky little black dress...shoes? hmmmm...maybe I will find something in Bangkok. I feel as though I deserve a little treat after sweating out a fever for the past 3 days and enduring the sad stares from total strangers.

Despite being alone, I am not feeling lonely. I loved being able to make the call that enough was enough and F this island...I didn't have to consult with anyone, but my own guilt. She said it was okay and that I can see some beaches in Indonesia. Indo-freaking-nesia! Markets, ikat, elephants, yoga, biking, beaching and so much more...

Alright...getting chewed alive by skeeters...I bought some Thai ointment for just this occasion. I bought an extra for m and dd...I laughed to myself thinking of us on the deck in Fire Island slapping away the bugs. Not the most fun thing to bring back, but practical...I'll report back on it's effectiveness.

Until tomorrow...

Fever indeed...

I just saw that I double posted pictures yesterday...a bit delirious on this side of the world. I wasn't going to say anything, but since I got off of the plane in Hong Kong I have had maybe one of the worst colds that I have ever had. I have been drinking tons of water and I brought along some Alka-Seltzer Cold and some homeopathic stuff...which, I am now out of. I didn't want to complain while in paradise

Last night I decided it was time for the big guns and got out the Cipro. It was a last resort. Both nostrils were stuffed and I was coughing up ick and believe that I had a fever. No fun...The place that I am staying has a gift shop and when I asked for anything to help she offered me a menthol inhalant and Friend of a Fisherman cough drops. I took the inhalant and passed on the drops. After 2 hot outdoor showers, 2 doses of Cipro and liters of water I am starting to feel better.

Today I can breath! Today I also want off of this island. I don't think it is the island. I think it is the resort aspect of this place. There isn't a place that you can walk to see the the village or a taxi to take you someplace other than the gates...I tried to hire a long tail boat to take me to some islands and they informed me I had to be a minimum of two...

Okay, I am going to go and clone myself now...Maybe suck on some extra Friend of a Fisherman and lay in the pool for hours on end...or possibly they have a massage that will assist me in multiplying myself. Don't get me wrong, everyone is sooooo friendly and they want to help, but it does little good to tell a single gal that she can't go anywhere because she is only one.

I hope everyone is staying warm and safe on the east. I have been watching BBC and the footage looks rough. Now, I know they always make it out to be worse than it is...but dd send me a picture that she took walking to a closed Duane Reade...oofa! I'm not going to lie...it made me a little homesick to think of my new Bean boots standing by the door...I know, I know...paradise! I am here now...It is beautiful.

Island Fever

As promised a few snaps of the jungle and the pool/beach and some other stuff...