Krung Thep
Hello friends, I'm writing to you from Bangkok, which the Thai call "Krung Thep." So why is it called Bangkok in English? Unknown.
I'm assuredly back in a big city. I must assume every puddle I see on the street contains urine.
I spent my morning getting my Indian visa arranged and picking up my cash card/plane tickets which my travel agent was so kind as to send me. The Indian visa is a bit of a pain and I have to be back here to pick it up on the 7th. Rather than staying the night here, I'm going to catch a bus south and head to Ko Chang for about 4 days. It's on the Andaman Coast, right on the border with Myanmar. There are no roads, so it should be relaxed. I'm not sure if there's internet there, so you may not hear from me till the 7th. If you're looking for it on a map, note that there's a much larger Ko Chang on the East coast, to the south of Bangkok. I'm not going there. Then I'll come back to Bangkok and pick up my visa, etc.
I've parted from all my friends from Laos, and I'm feeling a little sad and lonely. 99% of the people you meet on the road are strangers and will always be strangers. 1% feel like home from the moment you start talking to them. I met 2 of those kind of people in Laos and it's hard to be alone again after sharing all the fun and hassle of traveling with someone else.
It's unbelievably hot here.
George, to answer some of your questions...
I think it'll be really nice to be stationary in India for a while. I'm actually really, really tired. For all the leisure time available to me, I seem to sleep very poorly when I'm in a different bed every night and roosters crowing wake me up at 4 am, etc. I took an overnight bus last night and will probably take one tonight also. This is exhausting. So, India will be a nice change. Also, I feel like I've seen and done a lot of stuff, but living in a place is a very different experience from traveling through a place. I'm interested to do that in India.
If the yoga is not what I expect in India, I'm planning to travel around Southern India.
The 3 months have absolutely flown by. I can't believe how fast. I'm feeling ready to move on from SE Asia and I'm excited to go to Nepal.
And Katie, the squash curry was always my favorite too! Crazy.
Here are some new photos for your viewing pleasure:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/laurenemilywinter27/
posted by Lauren at 12:00 AM
2 Comments:
Hi Lauren:
Thanks, once again, for taking the time to upload more photos to the Yahoo site for our visual enjoyment. Even though your verbal description is quite enjoyable and frequently quite graphic (murdering the scorpion with your shoe comes to mind) it enhances the travelog to be able to see pictures now and then. There is beauty in every part of the world, and the serenity of some of the places that you've "shot" brings that into closer focus. In particular, the pictures of the waterfalls (what a refreshing swim that must have been) and the scene titled "Vang Vieng" with the mist shrouded hills in the background.....lovely! And of course, the picture of you swinging like a gibbon on that OSHA approved wire rope trolley was delightful! I'd guess that provided a lot of comfort and assurances of your well-being to your folks......how high above the ground were you?
Hope that you've found some soliture and rest in Ko Chang. I DID find both Ko Changs that you referred to on the map. And I get some extra credit, too, because I have an old map that still refers to Myanmar as "Burma".
Peace!
George
3:59 PM
Hey Lorena!! How are you? I can deduce from your writtings that you are quite well. I think about about you often as we pedal along. Although, were taking a little respit from the saddle and being lazy in Dalat, and now Saigon. Soon we go to the Delta and then through Cambodia. I was thinking of what it must have been like for you to get off the plane in Vietnam as your first destination. Cause its nuts here. Bangkok is foul and dirty and crazy too, but the people give you some peace, and not everyone tries to sell you pot and follow you around, everywhere. Anywhoo, Cate says that Aesop is large and in charge (surprised?..ha,ha..)
Okay, so I jsut want to get a sense of what your deal is in India. You are at present heading to Nepal (awesome) and then you have 3 weeks in India? More? Are you going to the Ashtanga Insititute in Mysore? I know that you are super busy but Id love to know if there is a chance we might cross paths. I fly to India the 18th of April, a ways from now, but time flies. Let me know. Again, I carry you in my thoughts and heart so keep it up, your a kick ass chick!!
Love, Core
1:02 AM
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