Rugged, laid back, simplistic Laos

As the plane was landing in Vientiane, all I could see was green patches, the Mekong River and muddy roads. I knew I would love Laos.
It is rugged, simplistic and its people continue living in ignorance of your presence. And then they greet you "Sabai Dee".
I can eat a French loaf with vache qui rit here.
I love Laos.
My bank balance here is 11 million kips. :)

The 3000 that made us meet again

He was awarded the spy award. He shook my hand, and said it’s no point saying goodbye to anyone else, he’ll probably never see them again. He left quietly, people at the party wondered where he had disappeared. I thought it was the last I would see of this Thai-American who was referred to as being "half American and half normal"…
The next day, as I’m boarding my plane for Bangkok, I receive an sms from him saying "I remembered that I owed you money, but I also remembered that I put 3000 Bahts in your bag yesterday at the beach". Damn!
He would reach Bangkok to catch a flight to Chang Mai 10 minutes before I had to board my plane to Vientane…
The meeting point – the only food place at the Domestic Terminal of Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok.
15 minutes before I had to board, I receive an sms from him "Landing…"
And a few minutes later, I see the Thai guy (no he’s definitely not American) with his customary shirt and shorts and his usual walk… and we are both laughing our heads off as we meet once again in Bangkok. I tell him "I thought I’d never see your face again"…
"No shiiiit" he says…
3 flat tires, having covered the circumference of Phuket by bike, and the one who has introduced me to strip clubs… Zachary.

An ode to Aodan

I asked him how did the test go, and he gave me the biggest smile and shook his head. And it’s not for lack of effort. He captured all of us with his donkey story in his allotted 2.30 minutes. His humility, his genuineness, his love and joy of life completely enthralled me. A bus ticket collector in Rio de Janeiro, having worked more than 12 hour shifts in mines in Australia, played street music in a street band to make money, Aodan has only been in Ireland 1 year for the past I don’t know how many years. He even inspired a musician to put in a deposit for his first guitar. And when he plays the guitar he gets lost, lost in the music. So persuaded was the director of TEFL by his spirit that he’s been allowed to take the course next month for free. I would give away my 99 in an instant to have a bit of this Irish bastard’s incredible spirit. To Aodan, good luck…

You want boum boum?

Last Friday I had my first ever strip club(s) experience. Since the entry is free, my friend from the course and I ended up going to 3 of them. So much for a first time!

Pole dancing, ping pong show, blowing off the candle, and even a bird show… wow! At first I felt uncomfortable, I wondered if I should feel bad for the women, and definitely thought that men are perverted! But after a few beers, I learnt the art of objectifying women from my friend.

I got my first lap dance too! A striper came to me, sat on my lap and started moving her ass… and asked me “You want boum boum?”
I am not quite prepared to experience Thailand all the way…no boum boum for me.

The blue line

I stood over the edge overlooking the bay. I flew in a straight line while being astounded by my understanding of nothingness around me. For a million years, it all existed in some form and for a million years shall it all exist in a similar, but different form, adapted to the then future time. Do we walk beside time? Or through…time? Why the drunkenness? Why noise louder than thoughts to momentarily float? To momentarily reach a state of temporary false ecstasy? An orgasm? Isn’t it all in float? Am I not floating right now? Conspicuously looking out for our own skin… in search of acceptance by others… to belong. Isn’t the universe accepting of me? Am I not accepting of my self? Is my self not converging with the universe? Not because I have been made to smile by another, or because I feel loved, not even because I love endlessly and foolishly, or because I try to do good, but just because I am here? Am I not converging every moment I am here? Isn’t it the highest form of happiness? I close my eyes. I dream of peace and happiness. A tear rolls down my cheek and settles on my lips. A second tear rolls down, and stops flowing between my neck and my chest.