As wonderful as my hosts are, and as colorful as Bangkok is, it's time to move on soon. With a few more thousand dollars at my disposal, and a stronger penchant for partying and shopping, I could probably really enjoy this city. As it is, it feels like New York City transplanted to Thailand, but with signs I can't read and no subway system. If I were staying at a hotel, I might feel more able to go exploring. As it is, I don't have a key to my hosts' apartment, nor do I feel comfortable about treating it like a hotel room where I can come and go as I please. I've more or less written Bangkok off as a waystation.

I intend to catch the overnight bus north to see my friends Jodi & Allyn soon. (YAY!!) With luck, after visiting them, I'll be able to drop in and visit two other friends of mine who are taking a permaculture course also in northern Thailand (go ahead, Google "permaculture" or check out http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/perma.html if you're curious!) Beyond that, I'm feeling pretty drawn to Laos - quiet, not a hot tourist destination, and from what I hear, incredibly beautiful. Ahhhhh.... the thought of a floating bungalow with nothing but a book, my journal and my yoga mat..... heaven!

It's funny to recognize the tourist stigma that I experience every time I travel. I'm sure many of you have as well. Like when you're at the market and you want to buy a tank top and the guy tells you it's 190 baht when everywhere else you know they cost 80 baht (pre-bargaining). And when you roll your eyes, laugh, and start to walk away, he acts like he's offering you a huge deal by dropping it to 170, even though he looks incredibly sheepish because he knows that you know that he's bullshitting you. Yeah, *that* tourist stigma. The money one that kicks off a shark-like feeding frenzy. Though now I'm finding it humorous rather than getting pissed off by it, as often happened when I was in East Africa and somewhat less in Istanbul.

I'm also developing an appreciation of what foreigners must experience in the States - being treated like an idiot because I don't speak the language, can't read the language, don't know how much things should cost or how basic things like the bus function. A three-year old Thai could function better than I could in most cases. But I'm not an idiot. Or maybe I am, relative to here. Relative intelligence, everything in context.

Hopefully in time I will have more interesting events and experiences, rather than just reflections on the nature of things. If you're reading this, it's probably for two reasons: 1) to check in on how I'm doing, what I'm up to, etc.; and 2) vicarious curiosity. However, for those of you who were praying for me, I am happy to report that I have had firm stools since arrival. I'm sure that is exciting news. (And, Kim, of *course* everyone gets to hear about my bodily functions. Some of that is inherent to travel in places where your stool is an important weathervane for your health, and much of that is being a Carey.)