On my way to the school, the houseowner was in the garden doing some work in his cute little skirt.  He said "Hello" to me with a huuuuuge smile and I replied "Sa wat dii kha?" (Hello) afraid I made a mistake on my accent so ended up with squeaky question mark.  He just started laughing and I didn't know his smile could get any bigger. Sweet guy.  Tomorrow I'll challenge myself to say Good morning "A run sa wat" and also Thanks "Khawp khun kha" KKK is Thanks.  So far it's been scary not to understand when they speak to me in Thai.  I'll have to be courageous to speak back little by little, and eliminate my fear of making mistake, because of course I will.  Reminds me of studying abroad in Chile.  I'll have to be comfortable feeling uncomfortable and go beyond my comfort zone.  Wasn't expecting to learn Thai, but might as well take advantage while I'm here for 2 months. :D

Second day in a row with no wind.  We tried going to cable park but on the way found out they are under construction.  Went to go check it out in Hua Hin and sure enough, the man made lake was dug up, and a new building for check-in was under construction.  A few hundred meters away, they were developing a few houses.  This is in the middle of nowhere, about 10 minutes from Hua Hin.  Apparently a Swedish owner of the golf courses was building the cable park, spending a good million bucks on it.  I don't know how they would profit since this area has foreigners that are 60+ white haired dudes with Thai girlfriends.  

Going to go try to check out cable park in Phucket with Karla. Phucket starting Sept 27
No kitesurfing today.  Just studying the workbook and DVD. 

They are making the road in front of the school wider and just put cement in front of the school.  Jans went to go write in it. I didn't want to leave my name so wrote Sushi, the can'ts name in Japanese.寿司 with a little tail.

There are so many stray dogs.  A puppy was making itself comfortable on the beanie couch as I was at school in the dark past 7pm.  I secretly gave some of my coconut biscuit and a little cat food. I wander where Sushi, the cat went.  I wander if the puppy will be there tomorrow.

 
First day out.  Jans drove me to school on his motorbike and I rode behind him.  Last time I rode was with Luis M behind his bike 3 or 4 years ago, so this is my second time.  Scary, but exciting 3 min ride.  Instructor Jay got my gear set up although I won't be using my gear for awhile, I'll be using the school's gear. 

Learned half day on trainer kite.  Then half day on 6 m kite.  Not so hard.  Learned how to set up strings, terms of bridle, strut, wind direction, pump air in.  Learned how to control kite, right, left. Tommy, another Swedish guy helped me relaunch kite when I fell.

Lunch at nearby. Mango shake yum yum.  Squid rice.  Jans got watermelon shake. Mine was thicker, his more like Mexican juice.

Rented a motorbike for 3000 baht per month.
Fiore in blue and orange. 

Followed Jans to Tesco market about 20-30 min out on my bike.
On way back, made U-turn in front of Tommy's house and made a spill.  
A few scratches on the bike, next day Jay said it would probably cost 500 baht. (which ended up 1400 baht) About $40

Enough excitement. First day of kiting & motorbiking & falling.......enough adventure in 1 day :D


Day 3 Sept 19
I wanted to pay for school and had 25 man yen in traveler's check.
I didn't feel comfortable carrying a wad of cash so asked Jans to drive me.  Rode behind him and he busted 80, then 100 km/hr. Ahhh
Went to one bank but they wouldn't do traveler's check so drove 20 more minutes to another bank. Bingo

Got 97,350 baht for 25 man yen.  38 baht to 100 yen.
 But 2% conversion rate to traveler's check in Japan which was 5000 yen
 So here is conversion
255,000yen (included 5000 fee from 2% conversion @ Narita aiport)= -97,350B
 262yen-100B
786-300B
1310-500 B
2620-1000B
7850-3000B
98,000 for school  
 1000 for sunglasses
 3000 for motorbike

Nuu Thai instructor from Hua Hin school taught us today.  We did body dragging and I loved it!  Ate Green curry at the bar in front of the beach.  The grandma and the mom just loved flirting with the boys.  Thai women seem to love flirting!  


Only did half day since rest of day the winds were not right.
 
I arrived in Bangkok and my backpack popped out right away at baggage claim, so I have a good feeling about Thailand.  I ask the information lady how I can get to Southern Bus Terminal and she said by taxi or bus, but the bus you have to wait a long time. It was already around 8pm with a 3 hour ride to Pranburi.  I asked another information desk and the guy said Bus terminal is an hour away, best by taxi for 400 baht.  Or I could take the train, blue line until the end and then take taxi.  So I did that.  Amazingly the trains are modern and very efficient running above the city.  I noticed there are no advertisements, simple and clean.  The last stop came after about 30 minutes and I follow the people get off the train, and get on ground floor.  I grab a taxi, but the guy doesn’t speak English and doesn’t know Southern Bus Terminal. I let the taxi go.  After another 5 minutes I grab another taxi, a younger gentleman probably in his late 30s and he doesn’t know either.  I say “Bus, bus” repeatedly and show him Southern Bus Terminal in writing.  Finally he gets it.  It should have been an hour from airport, so I assume it’s a good 30 minute drive.  It was long.  I drift in and out of sleep, wandering if its ok to trust the taxi driver.  We pass many little temples, and a gorgeously lit big temple.  We drive for what seemed an hour and finally get to the termianl. About 220 baht.  I am greeted by a fellow who speaks to me in Thai.  No entiendo...I walk past him and another younger guy greets me.  I say Pranburi.  He motions to follow him.  I follow him into the building, upstairs to a booth.  He introduces me to another guy.  I get a ticket from the lady behind the booth.  I’m skeptical as wether they really understand Pranburi or if they just took my 200baht. So I follow him back downstairs, and I said I need to make a phone call.  He gives me his cell but out of credits. He buys 100baht worth of credits from 7-11.   We rush back outside and after 3 minutes of skepticism, the bus arrives.  A 2nd story bus but everthing is dark inside.  The guy I followed jumps in the driver seat and another man escorts me to the very back seat and gives me a blanket. Too dark to see the scenery outside, I fell right asleep.  We stopped for a rest stop, but I couldn’t leave my belongings, and didn’t need to use the restroom so fell right back asleep.  The man who escorted me to the back of the bus taps me and says Pranburi.   I pack everything and my backpack was stuck since the man in front of me was leaning his chair back.  I yank as hard as I could and I hear something fall....I search the bottom and nothing. I continue packing, clumsily put on my shoes and rush to the front seat.  The earlier guy who helped me get the ticket was still driving and he said  Pranburi. We passed the city sign and I see a bench, where the bus stopped.  All shops closed, no one around.  The bus takes off.  I have a 5 baht and 10 baht coin and try the public phones to call Jay.  Nothing. Doesn’t work.  I see I’m near Phakoot Hotel....I try again, nothing. I’m scared to walk alone, so I cross the street to Phakoot Hotel, where I ask if I can use the phone.  The lady looks confused, I point to her cell.  She calls a Thai man....who speaks little English. I have no idea why she called him.  She hangs up and calls J’s number.  Jay picks up and I am so relieved to hear his interesting English accent. (Later I find out he's from Sweden.) I fell bad it’s so late, but have no idea what time it is. I wait for Jay while being bit by mosquitos, reach into the pocket to see if I can offer the lady some money and fuck.  My steel wallet I just bought at HK airport from Mujirushi is gone. I had about 1800 baht. I feel so mad, as I felt I lost an mp3 ipod nano earlier.  ERRRRR. If I’d lost that much I could have taken taxi for 2500 baht. dammit. Negativity negativity....but it's only money.....and an mp3 that can be replaced.....I've been mugged before in Brazil and money and mp3 can be replaced, safety is important, lives cannot be replaced....I fight my thoughts. 5 minutes later Jay comes picks me up in a Toyota car.  It’s good to see some modernity. I feel relieved, that I made it.  It was pas 1am.  We drive a bit, dodging many stray dogs and finally get to a house where greeted by the house caretaker.  J shows me to my room, where there are 4 rooms total and living room.  Shared shower and bathroom with Jans, a Canadian-Jamaican who lives in Korea. 




I hit the bed and turn off the lights, I toss and turn and good night Thailand.

 
I traveled in Brazil with a duffel bag and a backpack, probably 60+L in total and definitely brought too much.  I wanted to make this 2.5 month trip to Thailand a simple, lighter load, since I will be carrying back with me a huge gear of kitesurf.  

I plan to carry on my backpack and not check in anything, which means I cannot carry liquid.
Bag size is here.
Shit. My Osprey is 
13 x 26 x 14 inches (W x H x D); 4732 cube
Cathay allows
23 x 14 x  22= 7084 cube

So cubic size, it's alright.  If I take out my laptop and carry on two items, I think it'll be fine.

Liquid
All items of Liquids, Aerosols, Gels (LAG) must be stored in 100 ml containers* which fit comfortably within a re-sealable transparent plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding 1 litre
  • Osprey Sirrus 36L
  • 3 small hand towels
  • 10 undies
  • 5 shirts
  • 2 Tom Sawyer pants
  • 1 shoes
  • 1 sandals
  • 1 rain jacket
  • 2 long sleeve
  • Toileteries
  • flash light
  • pocket knife? Can I carry on?
  • digital camera & chord
  • laptop & chord
  • ipod & chord
  • 1 book
  • 1 journal
  • Contact lenses
  • Glasses & case

    To Buy in Thailand:
  • Shampoo, rinse, body soap
  • Sunscreen
  • Muhi
  • Bug repellent
 

To Do:
1. Travel Insurance-www.hokende.com Google 検索
2.  Check if I need virus, immunization for Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, India
3.  Check out massage schools 5 days-1 week
4.  Check out hostels/CS to stay in Hong Kong and first night at Bangkok


To Buy:
1.  Macbook protection case.
2.  Thai converter
Found Awesome Travel Site
SEA Backpacker.com

Thanks to Chris's Travel Hack, I got 40k miles worth Alaska Airlines free!!! Of which I can use 25k roundtrip from Japan to Thailand for $100 in tax & ticket fee. woohooooooo

My travel partner in crime will be my Osprey Sirrus 36L backpack I picked up from Rappie, outdoor sport shop in Hakuba.
Tested it out on the staff trip to Shizuoka & Nagiso for 3 days and it's super light and comfortable with the mesh rack.  The mesh rack could be used as a pillow too. Also cute color :D  Most of all, I love the rain sheet cover that is hidden inside the pocket, a secret zipper where I could perhaps keep my important documents.  Check out my new buddy below! The price was pretty reasonable at 12,000 yen ($150).  But exchange rate was at about 78 yen to the dollar, and I was getting paid in yen.  





Learning Thai language
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