Backpacking in Southern Thailand

PHUKET
Swarming with people from around the world, Phuket is tourist central.  A typical beach town with a roaring nightlife, Phuket does have many perks to offer.  The beach is ok, good by any US standards, but not exactly Thailand paradise.

There are several day trips you can take from Phuket.  Elephant treks are possible, but nothing compared to the day treks in the north.  I suggest trying out John Grey's Sea Tours.  They are pricy by Thailand standards, but well worth the money.  You start off with an hour or so boat ride to a series of Islands that look like they are from Lost or Jurassic Park.  Then the day is spent canoeing with a guide through out sea caves and hidden lagoons. And they are spectacular! Really amazing rock formations and luscious greenery surrounding crystal clear water.

Then after several hours of canoeing through out caves, one of which is filled with bats!... you then get to make a floating offering for the sea gods with the help of your guide.  After enjoying a delicious dinner while watching a magnificent sunset, you canoe into one of the lagoons to light your offering and set it in the water.  

Then my favorite part, you get to see the glowing plankton in the water.  That seems to sparkle as you run your hand through the water.  Simply Magical!!

The nightlife in Phuket is definitely poppin.  But definitely on the sleezy side.  The main street is mostly all bars, however only one seemed to have more then just old white men picking up Thai women, and that bar was called Kangaroo.  Weird to be in Thailand, drinking at an Australian bar. Haha.  But the bar tenders there were the best part.  Awesome girls who will play games with you for shots and are truly entertaining.  There is also a club called Seduction that seemed to be where most of the travelers went that weren't interested in picking up Thai women. 

KOH PHI PHI

There are also days trips to Koh Phi Phi which I strongly suggest if you can't take the time to stay on the island.  During these day trips you visit a bay in Koh Phi Phi Leh which was the set for "The Beach".  It is truly a beautiful beach... a paradise.  However its beauty is somewhat anti-climatic due to all the people visiting the beach.  The small length of sand is filled with people like San Diego on the 4th of July.  But still something to see.

Then you get to see some lagoon that was in a James Bond movie... also beautiful.  The water, like the picture above... is like nothing you have ever seen.  It seems to almost glow vibrant shades of blue and green.  You also get to snorkel for an hour and see various types of tropical fish in some of the clearest water in the world.  

Next, lunch at Koh Phi Phi Don and time to explore the enchanting little town.  Tons of shopping available and little cafes to stop in.  

Finally you are taken to an island that is so remote and small it could be referred to as a sand bar.  You get to just hang out there for the rest of the after noon and enjoy the sun.  It is definitely a great day, and great way to see the major spots of and near Koh Phi Phi.

Riots in London

And the British think we Americans are the ones that love violence.  At least when we protest, riot or result to violence, we have a reason.  Usually one that people feel so strongly about that they have to have a voice and express their opinion.

These riots in London are almost funny.  Reports say that the cause is unknown...

"The rioters appeared to have little unifying cause — though some claimed to oppose sharp government spending cuts, which will slash welfare payments and cut tens of thousands of public sector jobs through 2015.

But many were attracted simply by the opportunity for violence. "Come join the fun!" shouted one youth in the east London suburb of Hackney, where shops were attacked and cars torched."

I mean really? Just burning up buildings and creating havoc just for the fun of it? I think some people have issues across the pond.  If you're going to do something like that you need to have a reason, have some sort of goal you are trying to achieve... otherwise it is almost like laughing in the face of places where riots are necessary to reach a peace.  Its undermining their causes... that are real and life threatening.  This is just a case of rebellious teens who see the riots as "cool" and want a piece of the action.

Something that started as outrage over a death in a small poor community has spread to the entire capitol to people who no longer know exactly why they are rioting.  Ridiculous if you ask me.

However I do have to give props to the youth of Britian... using modern technology and social networks to organize and out smart the cops.

"Youths used text messages, instant messaging on BlackBerry phones and social media platforms such as Twitter to coordinate attacks and stay ahead of the police."

This aspect, and this alone from these events, gives me a sort of pride in my generation.  We may be a little ignorant of what matters in life, a little self indulgent to believe our petty feelings of the cops justifies burning down the shops of innocent, hard working civilians... but my God are we savvy!

AMAZING Photos of Abraham Lake by Emmanuel Coupé

Watch out for those Moms!

Sometime in the future you might find yourself wondering when exactly did the Mom's rumor mill start working faster than ours?  Well my friend, that sad day in the world of gossip was yesterday.

It started out like any other day.  Wake up.  Feed the dog.  Drink some coffee.  Check email... etc.  But around 1pm it took a dramatic turn of events into uncharted territories that could never have been foreseen.  At first it was just idle chit chat, and even when the bomb had been deployed from my Mother's mouth, I did not yet realize the implications.  It festered in my head like an annoying tic.  Irritating, but not destructive.  This means something... but what?!?  Why did that statement bother me so?

And then it hit me... the Moms have overtaken the primary gossip channel!  They have strategically maneuvered and positioned themselves to receive and relay information about our generation... faster than our generation!  Like professional spies, seemingly innocent and benign, in truth are ruthlessly conniving to the point of pure art.  We have been conquered and must admit defeat... for no longer will secrets among us remain privy to our generation alone. No. The Mom's will now not only know those secrets, but know them before us.  Oh the tragedy! Oh the humility! To have to go to your mother for information about your friends?!? your classmates?? your high school crushes??  What has the world come to?!?

The event that lead to this realization was a piece of information my Mother said to me yesterday at lunch that was so monumental it should have circulated among all the former female graduates of Northgate High School within a matter of minutes.  It is so devastating, and yet so... juicy, that anyone with this knowledge could do naught but pass it on... if by nothing else then a moral courtesy to our fellow members of the female gender.  But alas, this information is yet to be discovered by the women it will most certainly effect... it is now known solely to the Moms.  A secret they are keeping to exploit at the right moment.  A secret weapon, if you will, that could bring our generation's female hearts to a stand still.  A shock that will shake our very core and extend to the four corners of the world leaving a devastation path of shattered hearts.  We have lost a true idol ladies.  A God among men.  It is a sad sad day indeed. 

What singing for God really sounds like....

I have never been particularly fond of Carrie Underwood.  Not that I don't like her... I think she is a perfectly good country singer, however I never thought she had the vocals to be an American Idol winner.  Especially one that people continue to compare to Kelly Clarkson, now there is a powerhouse!

But after watching this chilling performance of Carrie belting out "How Great Thou Art", I might have to rescind my previous opinion of her.  This might be one of the best performances of this song I have ever seen.  She is vocally perfect, and more importantly sings from the heart.  You can really tell she is singing every word for God... and from the audiences reaction... they felt it too! UNBELIEVABLE! CHILLS CHILLS CHILLS!!!!

2012

Is anyone else getting a little wary about the impending doom of 2012?  Not gonna lie... I'm worried.  Major earthquakes, crazy tornadoes, sink holes all over the world, mass animal deaths, floods... kind of sounds like armageddon to me.  I'm not saying I believe the Mayans and Nostradamas... but I'm not saying they are a joke either.

A few days ago there was an article about a study that predicts mass extinctions in ocean life...

"Life in the oceans is at imminent risk of the worst spate of extinctions in millions of years due to threats such as climate change and over-fishing, a study showed on Tuesday.

Time was running short to counter hazards such as a collapse of coral reefs or a spread of low-oxygen "dead zones," according to the study led by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO).

"We now face losing marine species and entire marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, within a single generation," according to the study by 27 experts to be presented to the United Nations."

Just saying... everyday it seems there is something in the news of some natural disaster, fire, or mass animal deaths, I'm getting a little nervous over here.

Humiliation & Forgiveness

I will say right here and now, that I have a major problem with forgiveness.  I have never been able to master that virtue.  I don't know how to get pass being betrayed or hurt or heart broken by someone I once trusted.

Recently I was faced with a situation where I thought I had grown as a person and learned to forgive a friend that had humiliated me.  Maybe the circumstances of the humiliation are key.  I was ditched and left to spend what was suppose to be an awesome night alone with the revelation that these people who I believed to be good friends, in fact did not feel the same way about me.  That all the poking fun and teasing, was not just innocent fun and games, but underlaid with truth.  It was like a ton of bricks hitting you right in the chest.  Utter humiliation.

Later, I got a relatively genuine apology where the ditcher said it was unintentional.  After several "I'm sorrys" I forgave him.  And I really thought I had.  I continued the friendship via phone calls and text.  However, the next time we met and hung out, just seeing him brought everything back.  It was like his mere presence made me feel that humiliation, hurt and bitterness all over again.

If you continue to have those feelings everytime you see that person, how do you make it to real forgiveness?  How do you get back to the friendship you once had?  How do you reach peace with that person?  I am at a loss.  And I fear there is nothing that anyone can say to me to help.  It will merely have to be something I work on with God Himself.  Hope and pray that He can provide me with some guidance.