Spent what has to be the laziest day of my life today. Maybe lazy isn’t the word or it’s exactly the word. I basically woke up, eat a gluttonous dejeuner and passed out in a bohio, woke up went to my room and passed out some more. At this point I eat a 3 course meal and then, you guessed it, passed out. I slept in numerous positions, in numerous places.
A major website of mine is getting bombarded with spam or some type of attack, I’m just sleeping it off as there is nothing I can do at this moment. I leave that to the gentleman I pay to take care of my hosting. I believe it’s an overzealous affiliate sending hundreds of thousands of junk traffic hoping, wishing, one would convert. Sadly that is not the case as garbage is garbage on the web. Not just the web really, if you think about it, life is about quality and not quantity for the majority of things with considerable worth and value, yes?
I’m going to start a budget plan, at the very least writing down daily expenditures to find where my money is going and over the long run be able to be mindful of my weak points while continuing my strong points. When visiting more expensive countries this will be even more applicable. Talked to a guy today who said “I must of been paying with 500’s for everything last night” trying to explain the concerning weight reduction in his wallet. That got me thinking and I thought, I must have 8,000 baht left, counted and only 6. Where does it go? I have an idea but if you do know, I’m all ears. That said, waking up in Thailand and asking yourself “what happened” is very different than say Las Vegas. Same same but really different.
The resort I am staying at is cool but next time I come, I will go further from the ferry into more “no mans land” and really get some “interesting” accommodations. Met this couple going to a place where you sleep in a boat, they also have tree houses there.
On the note of ingenuity, I’d like to say that I find the Thai people some of the most entrepreneurial I’ve seen. They put 95% of people who have the gull to consider themselves “salesmen” in North America to shame. They buy things and flip them the old fashion way like it is nobodies business. As a result I always try and buy things at the local “grocer” where it’s the same woman who works 7 days a week smiling doing business with you, no harm no hassle. Need to return? Receipt, who cares, she remembers you.
Off to Malaysia tomorrow, or very least Krabi for a night then Malaysia. I’m not sure if I’m getting ripped or not buying a ferry / bus ticket direct from Koh Lanta or I can swing less going from resort, buying a ferry ticket at the harbor, then buying a bus or train ticket, at the respective station. Both have pros and cons. If my experience from Koh Tao taught me anything, it is cheaper to take the deal, Bangkok was only 950… Then again it was 500 from Bangkok to Koh Tao… hmmm. That said if you bought alone it wouldn’t be any cheaper and the ferry is one of the most expensive components. They want 1400 baht from Koh Lanta – KL.
The thought of a visa run is simply out of the question. I want to see the world and it’s not going to happen getting waited on by some of the most hosipital people in the world on a remote island in Thailand. I also want to make my way to Phillipines before going, I dunno where. That said Tanzania is also in the cards. I’m pretty sure I’m going from KL (as the locals call it) –> Singapore. From there, whether it’s Indonesia or Tanzania is undecided. Australia is not even on the radar at this point. Too westernized for this character. I’m sure I’ll have a valid reason to go, I had one but I didn’t get around to planning this trip properly or it would of started there.
I digress.
I heard when in Indonesia, you hear about the odd “techo dance club bombing” in Bali. It’s typically places like that I’ve been told as the cultures and customs in Indonesia are quite different from your average western country. As a result if I do go to Indo, it will be more a tour through and or relax in some smaller places, beautiful islands. Make sense? I think too many people travel to far away lands without respecting the ways of the world. People do things different in differently places. Most are accepting and at the very least tolerant to different cultures and travelers but… Take heed and know how people get on there and what makes them tick. If not you could be in for a surprise and I’m not talking about getting what you really wanted for Christmas.
Tonight, I need to buy that ticket, find out when the ferries leave and all that fun stuff. That said, not really in the mood to leave but as the French would say, “c’est la vie”. It’s absolutely pouring outside again. Maybe it’s time for another nap before that ticket and some nourishment?
God speed,
Another great place for a nap
I’m so impressed with all of your spontaneous travels! I can’t wait to spend some time experiencing new cultures and being undecided on my next destination. Have a safe trip and I want to hear all about it when you’re back in the US.
Thanks Dina, Thailand is incredible and the people here are extremely welcoming, love it here. Looking forward to catching up, most likely in Vegas.
Hello… Your website very beautifull mature. I love one fear . If you support , I become very happy .Be fastened list one place separate please…
Hi Rob. Like I said on Twitter, this blog is pretty cool, I’ll be sure to read more here and keep following it. I should have a blog like this myself.
Anyway, since Twitter isn’t well suited for ‘long’ drawn out discussions, here’s just a couple of more hints/tips for KL
1. Staying only 1 or 2 nights? That’s the common mistake people make, because they underestimate what a cool town KL has become. It’s a nice place to just hang out and be a part of in a sense – at least that’s how I personally see it. People do differ in tastes, though, so I’m not saying you MUST stay longer. But if you can, I think it’d be good. I like KL so much that I’m actually planning on renting a flat and staying for a good few months next time I go. I’d have done that already (even had my paws on a place for a while) if my music stuff hadn’t ‘gotten in the way.’
2. My experience with taxi drivers in KL has been somewhat bad. If you’re new to the place, be a bit wary about letting them know, as there are those that will be happy to take you on a ride around the whole metropolitan area and overcharge you like mad while only taking you to a place you could have walked to yourself in five minutes. Others are rude and pretty much tell you to sod off if they don’t want to drive to where you’re headed. MOST of them are not bad at all, but there are those that make you remember them for all the wrong reasons.
3. Since you’re short on time and (I’m assuming) will be going to see the Petronas towers (as it’s such a great building): Be there early or you could miss out. They only issue a limited number of tickets to go to the sky bridge each day, and when they’re out they’re out and you have to come back the next day. While regular visitors are only allowed to go as far up as the sky bridge, you COULD get to the top if you pull a ‘Catch me if you can’ and pose as a student working on a related project or something lol. I know there are people who have done that, but I haven’t had the heart to do it myself, though.
4. KL Tower is of course also a must see, and the view from up there is actually better than the view from the Twin Towers – plus, you get to actually see the Twin Towers themselves almost from up above, and the sight is super impressive. The fee to go to the top is well worth it, in other words. I once brought a girl there on a date and we were pretty much a couple by the time we left, so I don’t have any complaints personally.
5. There’s lots of great, cheap food to get in KL. If you like ‘coconutty’ things get a coconut curry laksa at some cheap place (I used to eat one every day at the food court in the Lot10 shopping mall in the Bukit Bintang area, where it was cheap and super, super tasty, however new people seem to work there all the time so I can’ guarantee success, only state that it’s very, very probable!
6. Batu Caves, a bit out of town but worth going to.
7. Little India is also worth seeing, although it really is pretty ‘little.’
8. It’s not easy to be impressed coming from such a superb place as Thailand, but Malaysia has it’s own things to offer, and much of what is great about Thailand you’ll also find in MY. And KL, compared to Bangkok, is much more pleasant IMO. What I also personally find really fascinating about Kuala Lumpur is the intriguing mixture of the very old and the very modern. That aspect of it is pretty cool. If you go about 50 kilometres south of KL you’ll even find a place called Cyberjaya, a fairly new planned town dedicated to high tech stuff. I missed it last time I was in Malaysia, so I’m not absolutely sure if it’s worth visiting (planned towns like that tend to be a bit dead in some ways no matter where they are situated – I went to Canberra and Brasilia and they are both like that), but it’d probably be an interesting place to report from to fellow bloggers and online/tech enthusiasts. At the very least it can be seen as a demonstration of Malaysia’s intent to really modernize itself while still holding on to much of its traditions.
Anyway, have fun and enjoy yourself!
Wow,
Thank you for such a comprehensive comment, it puts many bloggeries I’ve produced to shame!
I’m on no time limit, I have a friend who lives in Singapore that I’m going to crash at, just have to give him ~24-36 hour notice so I could be in KL earlier.
Haven’t heard much about it before so wasn’t sure what to think.
You’ve given me quite the list of things to look up, they all sound interesting and worthwhile. I am particularly fond of #4 though, and I can see how that would transpire.
Thanks for the comment and if you do setup a blog, please let me know, I’d like to start reading it.