Aimee’s World Tour

Wow. Let me just say that the world has become so much smaller and I want to see it all.  I can’t believe here I am in THAILAND.  THAILAND!!!  It’s really amazing.  And Melissa is even cooler than her emails which is pretty much impossible.  We’re instant friends.  Her friend Mike, originally visiting for 10 days, has been here 2 months.  They both came to pick me up at the train station around 7 this morning.  But they’re friends with Sara and so of course they’re awesome!  Thanks Sara.  Sell that house and get out here.

There is so much to tell you.  Last night I bargained down a cab but then found some guy who was even cheaper.  When I arrived at the train station it was packed with people.  I think my pictures will be quite helpful.  A guy from England sat down at my table while I was killing time and then I ended up talking to a couple other Brits. 

When I showed the train conductors my ticket pointed and said, “Long way,” which in Korea could be Wrong way since they can’t say L’s to save their lives.  But basically it was a LONG WAY to my car… the last car rather. It took me a few minutes to walk from the front to the back of the train.

I lucked out and sat with a nice guy from Germany who spoke pretty good English but with a heavy accent.  The Brits were pretty badass with their English as well. haha der her.  Just some Aimee humor to lighten the moment. 

Germany’s name was Klaus and he told me how he got a fake certificate and plans to teach diving in Bali.  He’s sick of working with computers.  Quite the change but whatever works.  I got a good night’s sleep in my top bunk which had two straps to keep me from rolling off.  I don’t know if they would actually work if I were to, well, roll over…

Once I got off the train I started filming a video of the station and taking a few pictures.  I’ve seen quite a few of the Buddist monks in their orange garb (is that how you spell that word? hmm – maybe that’s not even how you use it.)  As I finished my little snippet a guy came up to me and asked me if I was Aimee.  I figured he had to be Melissa’s friend Mike and so I was like YES!  YES I AM!!  Melissa was a little further down but ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug like EVER!  She’s so sweet and talkative just like me.  We’re like BFF’s.  =0)  Mike is also, as he would say, a pretty “cool cat”.  THey are both so open-minded and enthusiastic.  THis is gonna be an amazing week. 

We went and had some rice porridge thing that was really quite good.  Mine came with an egg that they cracked and poured on top.  Since the broth is so hot the cooks itself.  (I feel like this blog has the worst version of English any of you have seen in a long time.)

Melissa is staying with a woman named P E in a sort of “jungle house”.  P is used to address older women and E is her nickname which actually has nothing to do with her real name.  In Thailand people take on one syllable nicknames.  I thought it was ironic that she’s called P E because his is also the abbreviation for physical education.  (Side note – I remember being so confused in third grade because in the place of gym it said phys ed and I had no idea why.) 

P E is an amazing runner and her collection of trophies is quite impressive.  She currently belongs to a 10 person running group and is the only female.  I know she’s won first place in a number of races.  Melissa and PE told me about one race she had done with people who hadn’t heard of her.  (Normally people prefer NOT to run against her.)  The men insisted she have a headstart but little did they know who they were up against and she won the race.  She also told us of this amazing run she did after the country lost many people to a mudslide.  I apologize that I cannot pinpoint the geography but as she ran through this area she collected money for those families who had been affected.  Pretty amazin, eh?  To my delight Melissa does aerobics and yoga and likes all that stuff.  We’re going to work out later on. 

Next week is Melissa’s last week teaching out here.  When she’s through she will studying yoga on the island of Koh P… something with a P, the same island we’ll be on for New Year’s.  It costs 4 thousand bucks but she wants to become a yoga instructor so this is perfect.  She’ll be living in a bungalow and doing all this meditation as well as the yoga itself.  How have some of you NOT left New Jersey?!  Get out there people!!!!  The world is yours if only you take a chance. 

When I was at the airport in Korea I came across a case of 5 bottles of soju for $4 so I bought it for Melissa.  She was missing her soju.  I had already purchased two bottles back in Migeum but am giving one to Melissa’s friend Gen when she gets here and also gave one to Mike. 

Not only are these people from the US but they are all from NEW JERSEY!  I am so happy to be among my own kind!!!  The idea of hanging out with Americans is like heaven.  And quite fun and interesting ones at that.  I’m not going to have a dull moment out here. 

We got lunch at a restaurant (outdoors and a little “shanty” but that’s how things are) where I was able to try some new food.  Thai food is delicious and hopefully I’ll be able to upload that video on here. 

Speaking of videos and pictures, I lost HALF of mine.  I may have picked up a virus on my card at the computer lab yesterday.  Grr.  But it certainly beats losing my passport.  Crap – I may not have wanted to say that. 

Melissa left lunch early because she had to go teach for 3 hours but we’ll be meeting up with her later.  Right now I’m at a local computer lab with Mike hoping to be able to do something with my pictures! 

Tomorrow we are heading to Koh Samui for two nights (??) and then to Koh P…something for New Year’s.  This trip is gonna go by way too fast! 

Cheers.

Aimee

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