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Jim's Trip Wrap Up
After a fun stay in Bangkok, Koh Tao, Phuket, and Bangk again, our brave adventurer is on his
way home. See all of his updates below for details of his trip or click here to ask him a questions
about how things went.
CLICK HERE to see the photos
Jim took in Thailand. They've all been posted on one easy to view page. |
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*Sunday, May 21th, 11:30am EST - The Final
Entry
After another 20 plus hours of traveling I'm back at my Brooklyn Apartment.
I loved Thailand but it's good to be back in the States. I think that I will
definitely go back there again, not that I know what to expect. Maybe even
work there. I was offered a job teaching English for a private company.
I've never taught before, however I am quite good at speaking English, I've
been doing it all my life.
What did I forget to write about. A couple of things.
First of all, the dogs. They're all over the place. Expect to see some real
mangy canines when you're there. They really don't bother the people,
however, but I did talk to one guy who got bit.
Second of all, the Tuk Tuks. They're three wheeled motorcycles and will
taker you anywhere you want to go in the city. If you take one of these,
demand that they take you where to go, unless they'll take you to fabric and
jewelery stores.
Last, I'd like to say hello to all of the people that I've come across in my
travels. Nitaya, Paul, Frank, Alex, Rebecca, Claire, Alex, Mark, Dave,
Claudio, and Michael, just to name a few. You guys know who you are, and who
knows, we may cross paths again sometime. Thanks to all for making my trip
something I'll look back fondly upon when I'm in my seventies lying in a bed
with tubes coming out of my nose. Later.
*Friday, May 19th, 9:15am EST
Well, this is it, my last day in Bangkok. Spent most of the day buying souveniers for
various people. I'm stocked and almost out of cash. I leave at 5:00 a.m. for the long
journey home.
Did I have any eye opening experiences? Yes.
Did I learn more about world culture? Sort of.
Did I see any wildlife? Not really. The only wild things I saw aside from diving were some
lizards and a smear in the road that used to be a snake.
Would I do this again? In a heartbeat.
Did I make any new friends? Yes, even some "special" friends.
Would I recommend this trip to people traveling alone? Sure. When you travel alone you're
on your own agenda. If you want to stay in a place a couple of more days or leave early,
it's up to you. You do get lonely at times, but you meet many other people who are
traveling by theirselves, and people tend to be more outgoing and personable.
How were the women in Thailand? Beautiful. They are very outgoing, have wonderful smiles,
and they speak in this lilting, almost childlike tone. It's very disarming and warm.
Did people try to take my stuff? No, but I have heard from others that it's happened. The
bottom line is that if you have money, people are going to try to take it from you, no
matter where you are. This place is just as safe as anywhere on the planet, it's just a
matter of keeping your eyes open.
Will I come back? probably. But You really need more time. Most people that I've met have
been here for a couple of months or more. Next time I'd like to go to Cambodia, Singapore,
Bali, and Vietnam.
Anyway, it's been a hell of a couple of weeks, but I think I'm ready to get home. I
brought a couple of bottles of Thai Whiskey, however, I hear that customs won't allow it
in the States due to its amphetamine content. I'm trying anyway. The worst they can do it
confiscate it.
Hey, who wants to pick me up at the airport? My flight arrives at JFK at 6:25 p.m. JAL
airlines.
Mike, it's been real. I look forward to your party and I'll fill you in on some of the
details that decency laws would not allow on the internet. Later dude.
*Thursday, May 18th, 3:22am EST
I took the tour of the infamous Bridge on the River Kwae today. It's in a
place called Kanchanaburi, and that's where most of it happened. The bridge was built by
POW's during WWII andf claimed about 100,00 lives, ninety per cent of which were Thai
nationals. The bridge has since been rebuilt and now the train only carries tourists. I
rode it. I felt guilty knowing a tourist attraction was built on the lives of so many
people.
The original bridge was bombed by the RAF in December 1944 and every year there is a huge
party comommorating that day. The Thais have no love lost for the Japanese.
I took a Longboat tour of the river and went into the jungle to ride an elephant. I didn't
see ant wildlife other than some butterflies and a couple of birds. That and mosquitoes.
As for the infamous Thai nightlife, I really can't comment without this website being shut
down. I'll just leave it at this. I saw stuff that would make Larry Flint blush.
One more day and I'm still holding up.
*Tuesday, May 16th, 8:36am EST
Just got back from a Thai boxing match. Thai boxing is a discipline in which
every part of your body except your head can be used as a weapon. Legs, feet, elbows,
knees, it's all fair game. I saw five fights. One guy had to taken out of the arena in a
wheelchair. I'm an idiot for not bringing my camera, however, I was told that you couldn't
take pictures. I was told wrong. The boxers wore regulation gloves, however, in northern
Thailand they go bare fisted. You've probably seen this boxing before. You know, when
taken to the extreme these guys wrap there knuckles in gauze, then dip them in wax, and
then glass. The loser is the first guy to wipe blood off of his body. Going to river Kwai
tomorrow so I have an early start, about 6:00 am. Later.
*Monday, May 15th, 8:36am EST
Phuket was dead, nothing going on. The season ends there at the end of April, so I
hightailed it out of there. The bars that I saw in the day were just as empty at night,
except for some extremely desperate bar girls. There were about six at one place I happend
to walk by.
"Hello, you come in, we talk."
"About what?"
"Are you American?"
"Yes, yes I am."
"I know American because American men have hair on face."
"Yes we do, and some of our women too."
"America number one."
"Yes, yes it is."
"You come in and we talk."
I just couldn't do it, but more on that later. I have a connection that I've made through
a friend in Brooklyn. I have to see more of Bangkok, what better way to do it than through
an expat.
THAI MASSAGE.
I spent a half hour getting twisted and turned in various positioned in what is called
that Thai massage. It's a stethching thing and it's suppose to get all of the toxins out
of your body. (Six hours please). She started by saying a prayer before she started on my
feet. I would have said a prayer too. I've been wearing the same shoes for the last week.
Throw in a hail mary while you're at it. At the end, my body was free of toxins, or so I'm
told. Now I have to go and get them back in. Later.
*Saturday, May 13th, 5:45am EST
The wildest thing that I saw so far is englishmen falling down drunk.
The other night on the beach and there was this Thai boxer taking on all comers. There was
a line of drunken Australians lined up. He put them down with kicks to the back ot the
head each time. I was going to kick his ass, but I had to go on a dive the next morning
and I was tired. I have a feeling that tonight it's going to get a little crazy. I've been
scoping out some places near my joint and there are definitely some interesting locations.
I spent the last 20 hours on either a boat or a minivan getting to Phuket. I should have
known I was in trouble when I asked the lady selling me my ticket if there was food on the
boat. She just laughed.
I found out why when I stepped on. The boat was an old barge and conisted of one upper
room for about 55 people. It took nine excruciating hours just to make it to the mainland.
By contrast, the speedboat that I took to get out there took just a little over an hour.
Once there, we were transferred to a minivan, where it took an additional nine hours. On
the way, our minivan ran over a very large snake. It really didn't bother me. I'm going
for a swim in the Andaman sea right now, and I'll report tomorrow.
*Friday, May 12th, 2:41am EST
If it's one thing that can get anyone talking it is these two words. The Simpsons. Brit,
Afrikaner, Dutch, German, and even the French are all familiar with the show. I spent
about two hours yukking it up at this bar last night just talking about Homer Simpson. It
will lead to further conversation and it's a good ice breaker.
Another hint for the single male traveler. Bring a smart book with you. You know, the ones
we were supposed to read in high school. This shows that you're not only adventurous, but
also intellectual. I brought Chaucer with me. It can be excruciating to read at times, but
placed well enough (on a bar, or holding it high when reading it), can open a lot of
doors. I thought that I inevnted the idea, but, apparently, other guys have caught wind of
it and are doing it too. Use words like, "Aaah!" as if in discovery. Even if
this doesn't work you actually might even learn something.
Tonight I'm taking a slow boat to Surathani, which will then take me to Phu Ket. Last
night I was exposed as a bad dancer on yet another continent. Each bar here takes turns in
having a big party, last night it was the place where I'm staying at. I was doing my usual
dances, the sprinkler and the lawnmower, however, people didn't think that it was very
noteworthy. Retreating back to the ouside bar, I was pulled into one of those dance
circles, where everyone takes a turn showing their moves. Hoping for a quick escape I was
pulled into the middle. I did the only thing I could think of, the Curly shuffle, laring
on the ground spinning in a circle yelling, "Whoop Whoop Whoop." I thought I did
a decent job, however, when I was finished I was only met with blank stares. On that note
I called it a night.
I found out that there are more Jersey folk than I originally anticipated. I just had to
get them to admit it.
Next report will be from Bangkok. Happy Mothers Day MOM!! Your son is alive and well.
*Thursday, May 11th, 9:40am EST
I've only been here a week, but it seems so much longer. I mean that in a
good way. I just returned from diving a coral reef and lots of strange creatures. A
grouper the size of a couch, puffer fish, eels, and much more. One thing that's really
cool is that when you cut yourself when your down more than 30 feet, your blood is green.
I learned this first hand when I was holding a sea urchin and one of its spines lodged in
my thumb. They told me not to worry, however I'm keeping an eye on it.
I found the right places to go and now my take on the island is much more favorable. Going
to Phu Ket tomorrow and get a glimpse of the seedier
side of the place that I heard so many good things about.
*Wednesday, May 10th, 12:40am EST
I took the day off from diving and I'm checking in to the local scene. This island is
about five square miles and there are 42 dive shops. The competetion is fierce, which
bodes well for the customer.
On first inspection the island is a paradise, however the local sanitation department
isn't up to snuff. Garbage is everywhere, even on the beach. The crowd here is really the
rave, tree hugging kind of crowd. I told people that I was from New Jersey and I was
ostracized. I thought about changing my story, saying that I worked for the Sierra Club
and that I was from Oregon, but I couldn't do it. I'm from New Jersey, dammit, and If they
don't like it then that's their problem.
You have to know where to go in order to find the crowd on this island. Last night I ended
up in a nightclub where it was me and the bartender. Tonight I'll ask around before I
choose a place.
I think I'm heading to Phu Ket on Friday, then back to Bangkok, where I'll go on a two day
trek arounf the Bridge on the River Kwai, in honor of the late great William Holden.
*Tuesday, May 9th, 7:53am EST
I am now a certified diver after doing a short course in what can only be
called something out of the discovery channel. Parrot fish, anemonies, you name it. The
kind folks at Asia divers gave me a break and let me take just one dive to get certified
for PADI.
I'm staying at a bungalo on the beach for $ 5.00 a night. There's a party going on tonight
right next door and I'm ready for action. More later.
Click here to see the questions
posted for Jim and his responses.
*Monday, May 8th, 12:17am EST
I've spent the last three days in an area of Bangkok known as
Banglamphu. Rooms are cheap (about $10.00 a night for a room with A/C
and a shower, and the food is extremely cheap as well. You can feed
yourself from a street vendor for about $2.00. This includes a chicken
leg, spring rolls, and some watermelon. They also have such delicacies
as fried scorpions and maggots. Funny, but that cart wasn't doing that great a business.
Since this area is centrally located, it seems that this is an area of
transition. Either people just came from somewhere or are waiting to
leave. This involves a lot of drinking and watching T.V. I can get
ESPN over hear and even saw some highlights of the Flyers game.
Next leg of the trip involves me going to a small island by the name of
KOH TAO. It's in the Thai gulf and it involves
a seven hour bus ride
plus a two hour boat trek. I was talked into going diving by people who
had just gotten back. Apparently, whale sharks are being sighted this
time of year. If I chicken out and decide not to go diving, the only
thing I'm out is ten bucks. I can live with that. I don't know if
there's internet access on the island, but as soon as I get back I will
correspond. Send Lawyers guns and Money!
*Friday, 8:45am EST
"I made it. 20 hours on a plane can do wonders for
the human spirit. I mean, how many times can a person watch "Bicentennial Man"
without going insane. But I'm here in Bangkok. No what I thought it would be. I spent the
night in a hotel by the airport. Decent place, however, within 100 yards of the joint
there was, a Seven Eleven, a Mcdonalds, a KFC, and a bowling alley. There was also a bar
called Buckaroos, kind of a Thai country and western motif. If it weren't for the tiger
pelts on the walls I would have thought I was in Clevelend. Anyway, I'm situated more in the center of town, so tonight I'm going to do some
of the nightlife thing. More on that later."
Click here to see the questions
posted for Jim and his responses. |
*Message from Jim before departure(5-3):
A lot of people have been asking me why I chose Thailand for a vacation spot. My
general answer is, WHY NOT!! After considering numerous locations I decided on Thailand
for a numerous of reasons. 1. It's halfway around the world and I've never been there
before. 2. It's very cheap to go there ($750 round trip for airfare, $12-15 for a decent
room per night ). 3. From numerous sources, I hear that Americans are treated like kings.
I'll find out if the last one is true for myself and report back. I'm on a fact finding
journey for you, the slackers. I hope you all realize the sacrifices I'm making. I'll
spend about 20 hours alone just getting there. But for the greater good of humanity there
go I.
*What's this all about?
This page contains exclusive ISBW coverage of my college pal, James Lynch, on his
excursions abroad during his current trip to Thailand. As of now, his plans begin in
Bangkok and range from treacherous(?) safari elephant riding in Chang Mai to soothing on
the beaches of Phuket. Maybe we can even schedule a live Q and A chat session with the man
himself. Who knows what will appear on these pages over the next few weeks, but it should
be alot of fun for all of us.
The adventure has begun.
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