The Misadventures of Joey Tafuro

While I sit here in Bangkok escaping the insane heat (97F with a UV index of +10 bringing the feels like temperature to 116F) I ponder the length of my trip. I have made it halfway. 90 days and counting. At times it feels like 3 more months is a long time and other times it feels like it will fly by. Times haven’t all been good but they haven’t all been bad either. Maybe it is time to look back. This is my blog’s version of a clip show. Enjoy…

FAVORITE MOMENTS:

The first long distance trip in Ethiopia from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar where I got to see the countryside and felt like I had a true African experience.

Hanging out with the Australian guys in Bahir Dar and Gondar, Ethiopia.

Daisy and I missing our stop in Ruhengeri and having to hitch a ride on the back of a kids bicycle to get back into town.

Trekking through the jungle in Rwanda search of the mountain gorillas.

Hanging out in Ruhengeri and Gisenyi, Rwanda with Daisy drinking Mutzigs.

The day trip into Goma, DR Congo and getting to see UN, UNICEF and other aid organizations.

Smiling kids in DR Congo pointing and yelling MZUNGU!!!

Going to the drum and bass club in Singapore with Shawn.

Going to the top of KL Tower in Kuala Lumpur and seeing the view of the city with the Petronas Towers.

Wondering Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur.

Hanging out at Red Dragon Hostel in Kuala Lumpur watching movies and drinking cheap beer with other travelers.

Playing pool with Nadia in Georgetown, Penang.

Feeling the anticipation of the full moon party on the ferry from the mainland to Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand.

Meeting Apple in Chiang Mai.

Getting to experience a traditional northern Thai wedding.

WORST MOMENTS:

Realizing I didn’t have enough money to see all the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela and get back to Addis Ababa.

Getting sick in Lalibela.

Bus ride from Lalibela to Dessie, Ethiopia.

The realization that ATMs are not widespread in Rwanda.

The plane ride from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam.

Shawn busting his toe in Singapore and having to go to the hospital the next day.

Getting sick the day of the Beastie Boys concert in Singapore.

Hungover in Kuala Lumpur too many times.

The “accident” in Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand.

The after effects of the “accident” being felt for a full month after. Including infection, hygene and the inability to be in the sun.

Food poisoning in Chiang Mai.

SOME COOL PEOPLE THAT I HAVE MET:

Mick and Craig, the Aussies in Ethiopia.

Kid in Bahir Dar that gave me a free smoothie from his family’s shop plus his Ethiopian wristband.

Kid on the bus ride from Lalibela to Dessie and his friends who shared their food with me.

Dutch guys in Zanzibar.

The group of Canadians in Kuala Lumpur.

Apple in Chiang Mai.

Marisa’s family and friends at the wedding in Chiang Mai.

BEST SCENERY:

Seeing Ethiopians walking on the side of the street, hearding livestock, cooking out of their huts and waving to people driving by.

The mountains just south of Dessie in Ethiopia en route to Addis Ababa.

Just about every sight in Rwanda. The volcano national park and the drive from Gisenyi back to Kigali.

Virunga Mountains in the Democratic Republic of Congo outside of Goma.

Pongwe Beach Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Kuala Lumpur skyline with the Petronas Towers and the green throughout the city.

The drive from Penang, Malaysia north to the Thai border.

The drive from the Thai border to Hat Yai, Thailand.

Hong Kong’s cityscape.

Ok, I don’t have pictures up yet because this internet cafe doesn’t have USB cable but last night after the Rugby matches I met with a few Scots and English guys and we headed out to this pub for drinks. They were really cool but a bit rowdy. Some of the Scots even had kilts on. They traveled to Hong Kong specifically for the rugby event and the Scots got beat pretty badly by Fiji.

At about 1am we headed off to another bar and on the way there was a tattoo parlor. One of the guys had gotten a tattoo the previous year at the same place and said it was good. Most of you that know me understand that I don’t like tattoos but with the energy of the day and the excitement for traveling maybe my head was a little foggy. The 2-3 pints of Guinness probably didn’t help. We all went in and got different tattoos. I went with a half lion and half dragon on my right arm that has a tail that wraps up to my shoulder blade. I got the lion because I am a LEO and the dragon since I am in Asia, specifically China and it has a lot of meaning. I am the year of the monkey in China but I thought a half monkey half lion would look silly. I have to go back today and tomorrow to get it finished. It is really big but it looks pretty cool!!!! It surprisingly didn’t hurt too much but I’m not sure if that was the Guinness again.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh mom is gonna KILL ME!

I guess there is no point in regretting it now.

The first night in Hong Kong was pretty strange. I decided to move to a different guest house seeing as though there was a sign above the elevator on my floor that said "NO JEWS, USA OR UK" so ... [Continue reading this entry]

After a pretty rough 12 hour bus ride from Chiang Mai I arrived in Bangkok this morning around 6am. Luckily my stomach held up pretty well. It was supposed to be a VIP bus but they pretty much ... [Continue reading this entry]

The Thai government has declared Chiang Mai a disaster zone. Due to the burning fields near the border with Burma and Laos a thick haze crept into the valley that Chiang Mai sits in and has engulfed the city ... [Continue reading this entry]

I arrived in Bangkok last night. I wish I could say my excitement level was high but it just isn't. I stayed in the Sukhumvit Road area which is more of an ex-patriot and seedy part of the ... [Continue reading this entry]

There may be only 2 wall fans in the building, the occasional fly or mosquito trying to get at my bloody wound, and they may not wear shoes but the nurses were wonderful and gentle and made the experience actually ... [Continue reading this entry]

I don't have to wear the face bandages anymore so that is a relief. I was starting to feel like a freak. At least now people can see the scrapes and know that I am truly a hardcore ... [Continue reading this entry]

Just for an update. I headed back to my bungalow after I used the internet earlier and tried to lay down. The room was disgustingly hot with no a/c and a broken toilet. I asked for an ... [Continue reading this entry]

There isn't much to do here in Hat Yai. My guide book warned against this place as just a transport hub with no real charm to it. There aren't any sights and I'm tired of sitting at bars ... [Continue reading this entry]