Diving Day 1
Classroom Activities:
Watch 4 videos. Learn that dying would suck while underwater. Make mental note not to die.
Take 3 quizes -- each 10 questions. Get two answers wrong from reading the question or answer wrong. Darn multiple choice.
Talk to the teacher about places to eat food. Figure out good lunch place. Re-emphasize that mistakes underwater are bad mmmmkay?
Go eat local thai food (some sort of chicken and rice dish that was quite good. And Rob would have LOVED the spicy sauce... three dishes of sauce. No signs and no way to find out which one was spicy. Dip your fork in each one and try. The one that looks like soy sauce IS soy sauce. The other two? The one with the chili peppers is mild. The other one? GAWDAMN! It burned going down the back of my throat).
Head back to the classroom only to quickly go jump in the car and head to the pool.
Pool Activities:
Try on gear on the way. Find out that the location their gear is in (their other shop) is in the "Gay Section" of town.
Go in the pool. Get good overall runthrough of practices on the ground. Suit up. Jump in.
Learn that it is OK to breath underwater. 29 years of swimming has taught me otherwise. But I taste oxygen when I breathe so I mentally just concentrate on breathing.
Perform all pool practices with only two minor hiccups. The first was the silly weight belt. It actually weighs a fair amount. It twists up on me and I spend a good 3 minutes trying to get it back on.
The second mistake was just me forgetting part of the lesson... sharing the extra breathing valve with a partner had more to it then getting to the partner and starting to breathe. (Duh).
Then the instructor randomly started having us do more things. Doing sumersaults in the water. He'd randomly come by and take off our masks. He had us practice nutral bouiancy (a word that I STILL can't spell).
End of Day 1.

So I'm still alive. I now know NOT to die while diving. That would suck. Tomorrow is into the deep water (known as the ocean) for us. Two -- possibly three dives if we do things well again today. The instructor seemed impressed -- but I think it was more that we're just used to more "extreme" sports and not screwing things up when our lives are on the line. But what do I know?

*yawn*
Oh yah -- we actually did skim/study/read the PADI book yesterday evening -- so the videos were quite repetitive and the quizes were quite a breeze. The math part is kinda driving me bonkers -- but their little dive table chart isn't the easiest thing to read either. Ah well.
Tonight we finished the fourth quiz, finished reading the remaining 2 chapters (and associated review written work) and took the final quiz. I *think* we are ahead of the game!

We are here in Phuket -- enjoying the rain (well not really enjoying it very much at the moment...). We had the longest train ride EVER to get down here. It turns out that the south has been experiencing a high amount of rainfall for the season -- so high that the train tracks were flooded at several points along the route... slowing our progress down to 2-5mph for a couple of hours. It was strange to wake up and look out the window (it was an overnight train) and see people walking through streets with water up to their wastes.

But we finally arrived in Phuket. Found our hotel. And are in the process of trying to decide what to do. The tentative plan at this point in time is PADI diving certificates here in Phuket where we have a room already paid for (paid back when we were in Bangkok the very first time).
Then it's off to Phi Phi Don island for some climbing and possibly more diving (depending on costs). After that we're off to Railey Beach -- near Krabi. Why? Climbing of course!!! Huge overhanging cliffs. With routes that are 2-4 pitches of 5.7 climbing... and rappelling back down through the empty space below you. A place where they warn you not to smile at the monkeys or they'll throw... well we just won't even go there.

After that it's another couple days in a National Park down in this area -- before turning around and catching a bus to the train to a plane. Yup.

Anywase, I'm off to go investigate places to sleep and scuba locations...
Catch everyone in a day or two!!

Did I mention it's raining right now?

Well... as usual for us, we are running late so I am leaving this rather abruptly. We picked around 60 pictures that we both liked and show a variety of the activities and experiences that we saw in Northern Thailand and Laos. Today we are off to Southern Thailand and the beaches and islands down that direction!!!

Pictures are here:
http://squeeek.com/brent/images/albums/2005-11-25_Northern_Thailand-Laos/

Just a quick email from here in Laos. We're not staying very long in this country as we are itching to get down to southern Thailand and get on some climbs and get our diving certs. Whats funny is that it feels as though we have only spent one actual DAY in Laos -- which would be a tipical Visa run. BUT -- we'll have been here for 5 days by the time we leave. See... we spent a couple days getting to Luang Prabang.

A slow wandering boat (did I mention it is slow?) took us from the border of Thailand to a small village two days ago. Yesterday we got back on the slow boat and spent another 8 hours getting bored out of our minds (I read an entire long book with several hours to spare) meandering down the river. Now don't get me wrong. The views were amazing. And did I mention the climbing possibilities? But still -- 8 hours on a boat that is about 10m long is just way too long -- epecially while we are cramped up with tons of other peoples. And do I mean TONS of other people. They were filling the boat so that there were people who had to stand. It was crazy.

But tomorrow we start our slow trip back to bangkok. We should be there on Wednesday morning if everything works out the weay it should. That'll be 9hrs on a bus tomorrow to Vientenne, a 30min taxi ride to the border, a 5 minute walk across the bridge at the border, a 20minute tuk tuk ride to the train station, and an overnight train back to Bangkok -- hopefully arriving at 6:30am (meaning we'll arrive in Bangkok around 8am or so).

Then it's on down to the islands of Thailand!! Where we'll sit around on beaches being lazy and doing nothing (or climbing or diving...) -- but it'll be by choice!!

Laos is definitely an interesting country that should be explored -- only with bus and boat as the only forms of transportation, and a limited amount of time, we just can't see a whole heck of a lot of it. Ah well... that'll have to be the next trip!!!

I've had a couple people ask me what our plans are upcoming -- so instead of replying to each one individually here is a global update:
Tomorrow (11/12/2005) - Bus to Chiang Mai
4 nights in Chiang Mai -- climbing and festival of the lights.
11/17/2005 - Bus to Laos boarder.
11/18/2005 - Slow boat into Laos
11/19/2005 - 11/24/2005 - Travel in Laos
11/25/2005 - Fly (?) back to Bangkok. If not flying then we'll leave Laos earlier as it's a 3 day trip back to Bangkok.
11/27/2005 - Travel down to souther thailand and go climb around the islands. Phi Phi island, Phuket Island, etc.
12/15/2005 - Travel back to Bangkok
12/18/2005 - Fly home (*sigh*)

Some things are still up in the air but thats the tentative plan at this moment -- hopefully 3 weeks in souther thailand. We'll see!!

Close your eyes and imagine this...
Wandering through a dense jungle with a rainforest canopy above. Turn a corner and suddenly you are confronted with a mysterious limestone formation with a large hole leading deep into the bowels of the earth.

You head down with a headlamp on that weighs a couple kilo's and are amazed at the stalagtites and mites that line the floor and roof. You go deeper and come across strange mysterious spiders -- with legs fully extended you know they are the size of your forarm in length. Bats chatter above you as you disturb their upside down sleep. The footing is slightly slick from the bat guano on the floor and you just don't want to imagine what your hand is touching as you descend farther into the darkness.

You reach a small cavern near the rear of this pit of eternal darkness and your guide gestures to flip the switch on your light. You and the others you are with do so and are plunged into pitch black.

Your eyes strain to adjust to the darkness. Well your brain strains in the hope that your eyes will adjust. But your conscious brain is telling you that there is NO light down here. There is nothing to adjust TO. You wave your arm in front of your face. Knowing that even in the pitch black "back home" you can make out the movement.

A blacker shape moves in front of your eyes -- your arm? Or just your imagination making up a blacker shape... you realize it's the latter and that there just is NO adjusting to this pitch blackness.

Finally after everyone is quiet for a few moments -- just taking in what it must be like to be blind -- the guide flips his switch and you all slowly make your way back out of the cavern. As you approach the opening you pause to wonder at how blue the sky is. How green the foilage is. How bright the sun is.

-----------------------
For the past couple days we have been near Soppong, Thailand. Staying at the Cave Lodge. We got to meet John -- an Australian who runs the place -- and his friend Steve who also helps in where he can. Plus John's wife and the other staff that kept the ship running smoothly. It was amazing how beautiful it was there -- and the people that visit the lodge were all of the same breed -- adventurers. The food was great -- the tales John told were amazing -- and the caves were spectacular.

We even managed to attempt to find one on our own and got completely lost in the jungle (well we knew how to get back -- but now how to get to where we wanted). A tangle with "Communist Weed" -- a thorny plant which liked to live it's small thorns in your skin and clothing -- was something everyone should experience (NOT!).

Two young Australian women joined us for the walk through the jungle to the two caves and they were both a blast to have along -- Kate had joined us the day before for our adventure and gettling lost in the Thailand Jungle experience (soon to be a major motion picture). But we didn't have to result to cannabilism so I think she enjoyed the adventure -- even if we all ended up looking like mud monsters at the end (it was pouring rain on us -- and the trail was quite slippery).

Now we are back in Pai -- trying to decide what we want to do for the next day or so. Hot springs are on the menu -- and we HAD planned on helping teach at one of the local schools. That is until we realized that today is friday -- meaning tomorrow and the day after that are... you guessed it ... Saturday and Sunday. No school. So I'm not sure what our exact plans are at this point. Possibly heading back to Chiang Mai if nothing else arrises that peaks our interest.

I think that is about it. Hope all is good back home -- don't forget to email and/or call!! It's good to hear from everyone!!

Well -- we did a 3 day trek in the jungles of Chiang Mai and survived the mosquitoes and the crazy people we were trekking with (lets just say that beer and a machette don't mix well) -- and today we acted like the tourists that we are and went to see the "village" (very disneyland-esque) that had the long neck tribe, the big ear tribe, and the black teeth tribe. It was amazing to see the people -- but at the same time the village was just a bunch of their shops set up so you could gawk like a hungry seagull. But I did get some good pictures.

Tomorrow we head off to Pai which was recommended by Brad -- will probably spend 3 or 4 days exploring that area before heading back to Chiang Mai for the light festival. We've definitely met some interesting people along the way -- and done some shopping at the night bizarres. In fact I can say that I am the owner of the Corpse Bride on DVD.

We stopped at a cave along the drive out to the village today -- and that got me super psyched for the caves near Pai. I've never really been into caving -- my thrills coming from exploring the outside rock formations. But these caves were like nothing I've ever been inside of before. 80ft tall caverns linked together with small passageways. The one we visited today had buddah statues inside which were odd --you'd turn a corner and there would be buddah -- sleeping. Just eery since we would just randomly come across them. But it's got me super psyched to see the caves that Brad described. And maybe we'll even rent motorbikes and go drive around. Now isn't THAT a scary thought? Me on a powered two wheeled vehicle? In control (I hope)?? CRAZY I say!

Anywase, I think thats about it from my neck of the woods. Oh wait! How could I forget to mention the butterfly farm? It was pretty awesome. They had everything from monarchs fluttering around to huge ones that had wings that were the size of both of my hands -- they were HUGE. Ok -- thats it from me for now. Catch ya'all in Pai.

Well...
Off on another adventure.
I'm kinda in a funk -- the train ride up here was fun but I did not sleep well. Too many other sounds that would wake me up and as of recently if something wakes me up at 2am or 3am or whenever I am wide awake... laying there for a good 30-45 minutes before falling back asleep. I wish I could get over that and be a sound sleeper once again but it just isn't happening yet.

We are in an honest to goodness hotel -- probably the nicest we have stayed in yet. All though the one in Kathmandu was really nice as well. We have a 3 day trek coming up -- we meet the guide tonight and tomorrow we leave. We will be riding elephants, taking a bamboo raft, and exploring the local jungles. It should be awesome! However I know that we got very spoiled with our "private" guide and porter while in Nepal -- sharing a guide with 10 other people will be quite difficult.

After that we are going to see the "long necks" and then from there it is on our own for a week or so. We plan on 3 days in 3 spots... here in Chang Mai to go climb, 3 days in Pai to just explore at the recomendation of Brad (who gave me great advice on Nepal so I'll trust him again) and then 3 days somewhere else (yet to be decided). These are the times that I will probably enjoy the most -- getting out on our own and exploring. Not that the trek will be bad -- any time you get to ride an elephant it's going to be fun. But getting out and exploring things is a great way to experience the local culture. Heh -- look at me -- I sound like a seasoned traveler. But still...

Then it's back to Chang Mai for 3 more days for the light festival -- then a 3 day (?) slow boat ride up to Laos. I'm not quite sure how long we will spend in Laos -- nor exactly how we get back to Bangkok yet. But hopefully that will all fall into place before too long. I'm thinking that if prices are decent that we will just fly back -- saving us 2 days of travel by bus/train. That gets us back and down south a little bit quicker -- possibly 4 days which would be enough for us both to get our divers certs so we can go diving -- one of my goals for the trip.

OK -- on a completely unrelated side note... I was just reading a travel-blog about going to Laos to find out what city we end up in -- and how to get to their international airport from that city... the lady mentioned that Laos food is cooked with a lot of MSG -- and it makes her feel woozy. Well here I am sitting here with a headache going yah -- I kinda feel the same way -- I wonder if breakfast was cooked with Mono Sodium Glutinate (or however it is spelled) when a lightbulb went off in my head. While in DanRaj and Ravy's village I learned to make Dal Baht -- they added this white crystal "spice" to it and after going to the local store I wrote down in my journal, "White Spice = Mono Sodium Glutinate". Now -- over a week later -- it dawns on me -- they added MSG to every part of Dal Baht EXCEPT the rice. Hah! I wonder if might be what makes me not sleep well...

Anywase, I'm off for now. We have a "complimentary" (free) tour of Chang Mai starting at 11am today. I need some caffiene and I'll be all set to go!

Ok -- so there aren't many -- and once again we are out of time and running late to get off on our next adventure. But here are about 30 or so pictures from Nepal. Not really the best of the best -- but a good range showing some of the stuff we did. Hopefully we'll have more time when we get back from Northern Thailand to actually go through and post more pictures. But for now, enjoy!
http://squeeek.com/brent/images/albums/2005-11-01_Nepal/