tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31050412716771006452023-11-16T03:26:38.200-08:00WILL'S PLACEAn attempt to find out what makes me tick.Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-16777511176057297362007-10-02T01:43:00.001-07:002008-12-09T09:45:42.372-08:00Thanks for Reading!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBHqs3PO__UgLOIXY91k1wCIig_6MhvlT7v2005AGeIGAkQ0NeFQb_ICkQgwUPWkESqgFBJAWlYfaZ-fqjdSMUvk0O9Ktzbjv7pwFTIb79Ilz1G8QgXjiDq1bQfI2quPKkJdm2WwsFA/s1600-h/n81008539_34356499_275.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117118556716172594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBHqs3PO__UgLOIXY91k1wCIig_6MhvlT7v2005AGeIGAkQ0NeFQb_ICkQgwUPWkESqgFBJAWlYfaZ-fqjdSMUvk0O9Ktzbjv7pwFTIb79Ilz1G8QgXjiDq1bQfI2quPKkJdm2WwsFA/s320/n81008539_34356499_275.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>Okay first things first. I'm sorry I lied to everyone about when I was coming home. As you may have heard, I (hopefully) will make it home for thanksgiving, my plane arrives in on October 4th at 6:30pm. The whole thing is supposed to be a big surprise for my family, who still think I'm coming home on the 9th, (Honestly, did they really think I'd miss Thanksgiving?). I'm sitting here in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) Vietnam, it's 10:04pm and my flight leaves tomorrow at six in the morning. I just found out my sister has to work Friday which is perfect because it means someone will be at the house tomorrow when I get there!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Second thing. Thank you all so much for all your encouraging words and I'm glad that those who wrote me enjoyed reading my blog. I had a blast writing it but there were times when I felt I couldn't be bothered and then I'd get a note from someone saying they're waiting for the next post. So thank you. Coincidentally if anyone wants to start their own blog there are lots of sites out there, the site I used was <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">http://www.blogger.com/</a> but there are lots of others.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Third thing. My sister and her boyfriend and his house are planning a little welcome home party at the Stones Place on the 12th, would be great to see people there, open invitation so invite whoever you want! And yes I do realize that it's Queen's Homecoming that weekend and I won't be offended if you've made prior plans. But you still have to call me and take me out for beers to make up for it.......................By the way, Queen's University sent me an e-mail and when the Dean heard that I wouldn't be attending this year he called an emergency meeting to push the event back a weekend. So don't go making any travel arrangements quite yet.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I'll be up at my cottage this week, relaxing and contemplating what the hell I'll be doing next with my life. I have a rough idea that I'll be moving out west for the ski season come January and after that it's all up in the air. I do know one thing though. I'm not done traveling yet. Europe's calling my name and I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up there next fall. Probably blogging away as usual! Feel free to enlighten me with any insights you may have! (705) 684-9306. Oh and I don't have a cell phone anymore, my home phone is (416) 925-6869. I can't post this until the weekend so I hope you all have a great thanksgiving and I'll see you all soon!</div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Take 'er sleazy,</div><br /><br /><div>Will</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>P.S. Thanks go to Steve Hull for the pic of me last year at post-camp!</div></div> I will post one more blog with video's aswell, (bungey jumping, sky diving etc.)Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-18371220362808566412007-10-02T01:41:00.000-07:002008-12-09T09:45:44.479-08:00Singapore (Sept 30-Oct 2)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqOb0A7c3n74Mgif7kBpEmcUVCF5GxyR2wFLtR0Vay7iz3FDzk8PAPNXPqMStzFDtdgMgDWQFh_k1ZQDhXuRDg5sHiE3h1XGVEaiHSIPBSi8aWRqRQKSvDiFHbPdgrD9CSx7JxPM1vdI/s1600-h/willpic+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117029238576284226" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqOb0A7c3n74Mgif7kBpEmcUVCF5GxyR2wFLtR0Vay7iz3FDzk8PAPNXPqMStzFDtdgMgDWQFh_k1ZQDhXuRDg5sHiE3h1XGVEaiHSIPBSi8aWRqRQKSvDiFHbPdgrD9CSx7JxPM1vdI/s320/willpic+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I finally made it down to Singapore and met up with the girls that I'd met on that bus ride in southern Thailand. After a fun night drinking in Clarke Quay we were famished the next day. Singapore is the international hub of South-East Asia, renowned for its sky scrapers, central business district, shopping centers and gourmet eateries from around the world!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOtZP9fekMnbZErYxXktCKjefLKmhVtQ0f1NIctcZSHcj40S7Za07ALY8Xh7dh2IORYywOzdtC0fFBdxR8gOfszMoSm9NBMtOpZ7QWoNQc3N_c-gDCBHPzpwpiTQT93D2RxUjcgZIQQE/s1600-h/willpic+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117029264346088018" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOtZP9fekMnbZErYxXktCKjefLKmhVtQ0f1NIctcZSHcj40S7Za07ALY8Xh7dh2IORYywOzdtC0fFBdxR8gOfszMoSm9NBMtOpZ7QWoNQc3N_c-gDCBHPzpwpiTQT93D2RxUjcgZIQQE/s320/willpic+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So we went to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fuckin</span>' "Hooters." While I did feel slightly guilty about this we were so starved by the time we got to the Quay that we ate at the first place we saw. It is IMPOSSIBLE to get a taxi in Singapore, I've never seen anything like it!!! Even the cabs that are empty won't pick you up. Twice I had to get my hotel to call and order me a cab for an additional $2.50 charge and when the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cabby</span> got there he asked where I was going, shook his head and just drove off!!!!! Last night I wanted to go to the zoo and see one of the animal night shows and when this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cabby</span> heard that he just said "no take." I asked the guy at the front desk of my hotel what this was all about and this is the conversation that followed.<br /><br />Front Desk: "They're waiting until midnight so they can charge more."<br />Me: "It's 10:30pm."<br />Front Desk: "No, it's 10:25pm."<br />Me: (Biting my tongue.) "How far is it to the zoo? More specifically, how much money could they charge me right now to get there?"<br />Front Desk: "Sixteen dollars."<br />Me: And how much can they bump the rates up at midnight?"<br />Front Desk: "Two dollars extra."<br />Me:"...........let's figure this out together. It costs about four dollars to get anywhere in the city. You're telling me that a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">cabby</span> would rather run around trying to find four fares in under an hour and a half when he could make the same amount of money just picking me up, save on gas, and he'd still be done before midnight?" Front Desk: (Blank Stare.)......."You wait outside?"<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">RRRRRRrrrrrrr</span>!!!!!!What the hell is wrong with these people?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s0iYHmI__ZqS4mpPxpH5M96u1wadY7L3WJxjH3pxLDfoC6kSkvRZAZyMDNHjj_Ha7xqzCT_nS-oc_tWjCnZyuGEOYn1ThOdZBKbHww5FLVsKyjIgc0yk8H9OEzdRwPcxATzosj3BJ5g/s1600-h/willpic+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028834849358322" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0s0iYHmI__ZqS4mpPxpH5M96u1wadY7L3WJxjH3pxLDfoC6kSkvRZAZyMDNHjj_Ha7xqzCT_nS-oc_tWjCnZyuGEOYn1ThOdZBKbHww5FLVsKyjIgc0yk8H9OEzdRwPcxATzosj3BJ5g/s320/willpic+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My mind hurt from all the thinking I'd been doing so we decided to hop on the ferry cruise around Singapore.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgGXz2SwSo4ws4ObAb3YCwpqrJ_0pe3csHsATzuINeH9yDvgEd_I3yXJU4az1_BTdgsSOhulDVY7dwMLiZxGDwmxTvcij3bbNnXt5Rp6Mz5hkycZ7_6VsuVs4P_5ITQzNjsbZ1og1Y1E/s1600-h/willpic+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028847734260226" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgGXz2SwSo4ws4ObAb3YCwpqrJ_0pe3csHsATzuINeH9yDvgEd_I3yXJU4az1_BTdgsSOhulDVY7dwMLiZxGDwmxTvcij3bbNnXt5Rp6Mz5hkycZ7_6VsuVs4P_5ITQzNjsbZ1og1Y1E/s320/willpic+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Singapore is full of weird architecture.......weird, multi-colored architecture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoO5TcehVG2Joq7p0sLiDVH5Erzt1lGw4sFRvaOnPjqQBL7-AT9fr8Lfft2hx8B4mm6In1Yszc3CGGBNuvPHAEopdAhDcdcRHIXZBAqpqslgujxeGZKsFQYacY3a8YxDiBekxNBreFBQ/s1600-h/willpic+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028852029227538" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoO5TcehVG2Joq7p0sLiDVH5Erzt1lGw4sFRvaOnPjqQBL7-AT9fr8Lfft2hx8B4mm6In1Yszc3CGGBNuvPHAEopdAhDcdcRHIXZBAqpqslgujxeGZKsFQYacY3a8YxDiBekxNBreFBQ/s320/willpic+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It sort of looks like Miami Beach in the new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Playdough</span> colors.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LwvsAEni6fuGJrL78zc-i1FsDmR1J32U0efJf_v20DRRHvhbyQBcwDIXwwnyuAyahio6Q6T2Y1eYaAL6OlolXtB9la9L2vVPHy4fnCH5wO2iGeuuyk_yNBHvEP1d2RolczRm_MVJy6I/s1600-h/willpic+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028860619162146" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LwvsAEni6fuGJrL78zc-i1FsDmR1J32U0efJf_v20DRRHvhbyQBcwDIXwwnyuAyahio6Q6T2Y1eYaAL6OlolXtB9la9L2vVPHy4fnCH5wO2iGeuuyk_yNBHvEP1d2RolczRm_MVJy6I/s320/willpic+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The cruises coup-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">de</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">gras</span> is that the "captain" didn't speak English. He just drove the boat around and played a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">pre</span>-recorded message at certain points. The voice on the recorder sounded like The Crocodile Hunter on speed and coupled with the fact that this little twenty minute cruise was costing us fifteen bucks we felt like we'd been had.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTWyxVr3GE2b37jxpp-Wb1nVPThseHcwnL0OrftkxS8ek-G0eceZVGe083ttIxW9jwiXzLSkFyzUPmv3dZpYkkHYFxgGoVkNlwU5ad30kEgSLar_tJQf-26vjKDzwkbbg-53nYgfNNXU/s1600-h/willpic+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028860619162162" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTWyxVr3GE2b37jxpp-Wb1nVPThseHcwnL0OrftkxS8ek-G0eceZVGe083ttIxW9jwiXzLSkFyzUPmv3dZpYkkHYFxgGoVkNlwU5ad30kEgSLar_tJQf-26vjKDzwkbbg-53nYgfNNXU/s320/willpic+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Singapore means "Lion City." Apparently the guy who founded the city saw a lion on the shore and took this as a good omen. How this could be interpreted as a good omen I have no idea. The founder of the city then went on to form a city-wide taxi company who's corporate logic is considered by some to be a historic throw-back to the past. Westerners on the other hand, might refer to their business logic as "retarded."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoGTY7vUxqvYt29EWjDJV2rvqCafrzTGrADbriIXMOBgwwmDc89ZhcSzrRuaAL6NsG5zucaybXDdlV9QkVLDno_oQMxgRINLrVXMoYFS0Xz1pl08OxTlmGC8_3hQzBrgPBvVXyILncJY/s1600-h/willpic+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028246438838690" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoGTY7vUxqvYt29EWjDJV2rvqCafrzTGrADbriIXMOBgwwmDc89ZhcSzrRuaAL6NsG5zucaybXDdlV9QkVLDno_oQMxgRINLrVXMoYFS0Xz1pl08OxTlmGC8_3hQzBrgPBvVXyILncJY/s320/willpic+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That night the girls, (Kelly and Sam,) and I headed out to the Raffle's Hotel, Inventor of the famous drink entitled the, "Singapore Sling."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vxxGZNRdB9kfW2am8sqjttXyh3pJy3rYzJbYHbTP8DCM8SHTnNlZdSzTP-znIre7rJJAYigguR6i6Wwk0dKIEKFK3UATghefmJK4osyKcjFS0eaPmuLXvUdU8xi1Q0TKAlS_GpvkKc4/s1600-h/willpic+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028255028773298" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vxxGZNRdB9kfW2am8sqjttXyh3pJy3rYzJbYHbTP8DCM8SHTnNlZdSzTP-znIre7rJJAYigguR6i6Wwk0dKIEKFK3UATghefmJK4osyKcjFS0eaPmuLXvUdU8xi1Q0TKAlS_GpvkKc4/s320/willpic+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While the drinks were good, the two Asian men on either side of us and their "dates" for the night proceeded to paw at each other like a couple of junior-high school kids in the back of an auditorium. The men actually got so aggressive with these prostitutes that one of them had to physically remove the guys hands from her thighs. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">contempleted</span> throwing peanuts at them but I would have felt guilty if the girls scooped them up off the floor and put them in their purse to feed their children later that night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSiMxvGVKYVcI55P9vETJjue2OgqNONHiyQGo7q-gl4iqE45R-4J_0A3u4VQimWdLNbSdlC-p6Yjl3gungymq7BoooWLcR8ZDykh0eHtiwpFzoYKOuqX29DH9c1x1A99aAZCgaAIvM5M/s1600-h/willpic+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028263618707906" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSiMxvGVKYVcI55P9vETJjue2OgqNONHiyQGo7q-gl4iqE45R-4J_0A3u4VQimWdLNbSdlC-p6Yjl3gungymq7BoooWLcR8ZDykh0eHtiwpFzoYKOuqX29DH9c1x1A99aAZCgaAIvM5M/s320/willpic+039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cheers!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8H252Dpe6_LniS7Cet-Ek9OJNM2ZBBuu6khnXI7lPjoif76fMgKF2lUla7_eRiUJFtn1W46rxWKHt6h3gf4kHI_SRx7gj2yPzSEiaOapSSTsp4OyUGIXwW3PgYCm6NYed2nToiETHfA/s1600-h/willpic+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028267913675218" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8H252Dpe6_LniS7Cet-Ek9OJNM2ZBBuu6khnXI7lPjoif76fMgKF2lUla7_eRiUJFtn1W46rxWKHt6h3gf4kHI_SRx7gj2yPzSEiaOapSSTsp4OyUGIXwW3PgYCm6NYed2nToiETHfA/s320/willpic+040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now here's a story. Earlier that day when I was walking back to my hotel I was accosted at the front desk by two woman. They were pleasant enough I guess but they kept asking me questions and wouldn't leave me alone. They asked me where I'd been, what clubs I'd been to in Singapore etc. etc. I was pretty tired and finally I started to lose my patience. I was done with this idiotic chit-chat and as I tried to get by one of the girls she asked me for my room number. I thought I'd given her the wrong room number but apparently not. An hour later my phone rung and here was this Asian woman's voice cooing on the other end. I politely told her that I had a girlfriend staying in a nearby hostel and that I didn't want to be disturbed. Later that evening I was walking down the stairs when I ran into the front desk guy going the same way. "Look," I told him. "I think there was a bit of a language barrier a while ago. I'm sorry if I offended you with that scene earlier today. Let me explain. I DON'T want prostitutes coming up to my room, it was all a huge misunderstanding! If you see that woman again can you tell her not to bother me?" (Not only did I not want some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">skank</span> scratching around the hallway near my room in the middle of the night but I didn't exactly want to get thrown out of the hotel either!)<br /><br />The front desk man looked at me and laughed. "That no lady.......he gay!!!.......he gay!!!!!!.....he want to make business with you....ha ha ah ha!!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Woops</span>. I tried to keep my composure. "Look I don't want any prostitutes, dick or no dick, busting down my door in the middle of the night!!! Understand!?! He laughed and told me not to worry. We walked down to the front desk and I hung out with him for a bit until Kelly and Sam arrived to pick me up. While we were waiting, the guy showed me the surveillance monitor behind the desk that was linked to a camera in the hallway. This camera had a view of everyone walking down the steps towards the lobby. A group of women all primed for the night appeared in one of the monitor's. The front desk man leaned forward and smiled, "ladyboy.......ladyboy........ladyboy!" Boom. The door opened and three "women" walked out. I started to think this old guy was pretty funny. We waited a few more minutes before three more women came down. Again the night clerk cleared his throat and pointed at the screen "Lady boy......ladyboy.......(I took over at this point,) "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">LADYBOY</span>!!" I screamed. We both laughed our heads off as three more "its" came through the door. This entertained us for a good 15 minutes as we debated who had and had not been under the knife. At one point I suggested that perhaps he should changed the name of the hotel to something more appropriate. He replied, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">yah</span>.........the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ladyboy</span> Hotel.....conduct your business elsewhere!" This could have gone on all night but Same and Kelly showed up so we left the lobby and went out to Raffle's.<br /><br />Now something you should know about Kelly and Sam. The two of them have fallen into the habit of attracting an odd breed of people. Take for example their room at their hostel. On one side of their room, a nun continued to pray for what they told me was somewhere in the neighbourhood of eighteen hours a day. Then there was this hooker named "Rosa" (pictured above) that showed them around town their first night in and after that night she never came back to the room for more than a few minutes at a time and usually slept in her clothes. Rosa also started to hit on Kelly pretty hard, whispering in her ear, asking her if she was attracted to bisexual women <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">yada</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">yada</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">yada</span>.We ran into Rosa on the street one night and she came into a bar with us. We attracted quite a few stares and when the four of us sat down. It was at this point that my trained <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">ladyboy</span> eye happened to notice Rosa's Adam's apple and the fact that her hands were as big as my feet. Rosa then proceeded to tell us that because it was our last night in Singapore she didn't feel ashamed to tell us that she was in fact a transgendered lady-boy who had "the chop" (shudder) six years ago.To which Kelly replied straight-faced, "I really would never have guessed." Sam and I had to hold back the laughter. To top it all off, Rosa was constantly taking hormone tablets that were reacting badly with her immune system and were causing her tongue to turn black and fall out. She was also obviously was still attracted to women but had high hopes that Mr. Right would swoop into town one day and take her away to England to get married one day........Yeah.......... Right....... Keep reaching for that rainbow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">darlin</span>'!<br /><br />There were so many questions I wanted to ask:<br />"When you're really drunk do you ever forget which bathroom is the one your supposed to go in?"<br />"Do you ever have a dream that its grown back?"<br />"When someone tells you to go fuck yourself do you just stand there looking confused?"<br />"At this point in your life, is suicide sort of redundant?"<br /><br />But I chickened out. I just sat there and mumbled something about being so full from dinner. And then Kelly and Sam responded in turn with comments like......"Yeah.....lots of rice....." and "yeah.......rice with chicken." After about half an hour of conversation the four of us hopped into a cap and headed back to the hostel we were staying at which was in the Little India district.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4kKVnUXLp6yqjVxDPZyZSGUAy7aSlnT-lDuNfBs8Fws5uUEl5vbYJLlc7JTSzIIjHf28vy_yIpxiEOu-xjwzv3oLiM3tGPq3G5KN4rxyF9a9QL7lK0iT5CIYWJ186Ux5iJ-pMAkLP4I/s1600-h/willpic+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117028272208642530" style="" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4kKVnUXLp6yqjVxDPZyZSGUAy7aSlnT-lDuNfBs8Fws5uUEl5vbYJLlc7JTSzIIjHf28vy_yIpxiEOu-xjwzv3oLiM3tGPq3G5KN4rxyF9a9QL7lK0iT5CIYWJ186Ux5iJ-pMAkLP4I/s320/willpic+041.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At the end of the night, I had Sam and Kelly huddled in my bed, too scared to return to their room for fear that they would get molested by a six foot tall Asian transgendered <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">prostitute</span> thing with a complex that would make Oedipus Rex look normal. I need to get out of here.Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-63447492590250507732007-10-02T01:39:00.000-07:002008-12-09T09:45:52.572-08:00Kuala Lumpur/Kuantan/Tioman Island (Sept 24- 29)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBZ-_5Ut_t7MNG4EbX4dDQLkAhF0nn220uTtSTT3TDaV9FT9OY-ANkwhVU6pUNJ4XtJKIzLSGvpTNwTQA-1DX5XK3qjanHx5fx2KgnWUNVxnkZfVSfvnA5at-Fjg5lLSRgYgLoffalA/s1600-h/willpic+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117035466278864146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBZ-_5Ut_t7MNG4EbX4dDQLkAhF0nn220uTtSTT3TDaV9FT9OY-ANkwhVU6pUNJ4XtJKIzLSGvpTNwTQA-1DX5XK3qjanHx5fx2KgnWUNVxnkZfVSfvnA5at-Fjg5lLSRgYgLoffalA/s320/willpic+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After finally making it to KL, I was dead tired. In my haste to make a speedy departure from Thailand, I had accidentally left my passport at the reception desk in the hotel at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Raiely</span> Beach. Maybe it was because I hadn't been getting enough sleep. Maybe it was because I was hungover. Maybe it was because I smoked the last of my stash that morning so I didn't have anything on me when I did the boarder crossing into Malaysia. I don't know. But when I got near the boarder I figured out what I'd done and was not exactly pleased with myself. My friend Nick Ritchie who I hadn't seen in over three years had booked me my own suite in a five star resort through his company free of charge in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kuala</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lumpur</span> and I was going to miss out. To top everything off, I'd made friends on the bus with two lovely British girls who were on the way to KL and the whole time I was bragging about my accommodation and how my friend and I would love to go to dinner with them that evening. Sometimes life just isn't fair.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZZBlUZKzwckOwKdQNWrMZVuVHWBdMYMh6qVQ44FJk68-PgpBAERxDv1COdZQ7mQlGwDriLKkMiewA6808mUJSLhq36nxjZDxMxdO3UIfu_6Dd7DVbuKFVuVGlSyOyQP5W8q6-5K_xA/s1600-h/willpic+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117035470573831458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZZBlUZKzwckOwKdQNWrMZVuVHWBdMYMh6qVQ44FJk68-PgpBAERxDv1COdZQ7mQlGwDriLKkMiewA6808mUJSLhq36nxjZDxMxdO3UIfu_6Dd7DVbuKFVuVGlSyOyQP5W8q6-5K_xA/s320/willpic+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When I finally got to KL two days later, (oh yeah, Matt took my passport six hours north with him to the island of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Koh</span> Pa <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ngan</span> and then mailed it to the boarder town which is why it took so long,) I felt like shit. I snapped off a few quick photos of myself in front of the twin towers and the needle to make it look like I'd really got the KL "tourist experience" and then I hopped on a bus to the town of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kuantan</span> which is on the east-coast of peninsular Malaysia to meet Nick.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwpq5Y1sHLj7QCnmqs0mhAtyPY9yY5c_zjbPVBDfpmRjiP7BSQjUBxa9TE-kh6QoUANz6L8t5fSCnpkj3F14wPYCeaToBum22bUcyfizGCK8xc_oYswFVFU1pafR8Kvispq1Qjz6C8A/s1600-h/willpic+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034899343180994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwpq5Y1sHLj7QCnmqs0mhAtyPY9yY5c_zjbPVBDfpmRjiP7BSQjUBxa9TE-kh6QoUANz6L8t5fSCnpkj3F14wPYCeaToBum22bUcyfizGCK8xc_oYswFVFU1pafR8Kvispq1Qjz6C8A/s320/willpic+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ladies and gentleman, this........is Nick Ritchie! I have known Ritchie for years, we attended the same summer camp and clawed our way up the staff ranks together. He is a gem. This is his massage chair which he spends most of his time in when he's at home. I was told to be especially honored because normally he doesn't wear anything at all when in this chair. Thanks Ritchie.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iU1EQWzwNtSyyZFY_w7bGxoAb7IlM86wAqx0h5w_SVHd6hgB82FPPJQCC-jftdpNSC6SG-3SD8EsneC7_jdt6PZSO5sG_6JXu-Lle68pJkhHAbzlHPT4ghilRgN6WXD_mY3zDsYVpA/s1600-h/willpic+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034916523050194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iU1EQWzwNtSyyZFY_w7bGxoAb7IlM86wAqx0h5w_SVHd6hgB82FPPJQCC-jftdpNSC6SG-3SD8EsneC7_jdt6PZSO5sG_6JXu-Lle68pJkhHAbzlHPT4ghilRgN6WXD_mY3zDsYVpA/s320/willpic+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And this is his pad.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzVokxlFNdF1MHuAzU1OSrSSZV_AQalX23Ihe-uZSORjCjpRfh-jFrI_JQ_1EYwffMF3kyDKVJMJvY8p5BTZTEHvZzrmEIn74b7yFsJcVRP5NS7ZAQrihrn-rW9Pu8a7ylR2mt1MlXg/s1600-h/willpic+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034959472723170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzVokxlFNdF1MHuAzU1OSrSSZV_AQalX23Ihe-uZSORjCjpRfh-jFrI_JQ_1EYwffMF3kyDKVJMJvY8p5BTZTEHvZzrmEIn74b7yFsJcVRP5NS7ZAQrihrn-rW9Pu8a7ylR2mt1MlXg/s320/willpic+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's okay......... I guess.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmCsmLq_Zg83FGLiAxodAXRzyGd9VDkna3Mgb3U5DHMps0VJr0NbLdhxUvqUlpWP8hmiMRsRnJsIkz6HjBXP53S9cjnkFvxL23lr9tGIgu9f9S8iiU5J6J4sXfrjduh5iWXxFeNFHAg/s1600-h/willpic+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034963767690482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmCsmLq_Zg83FGLiAxodAXRzyGd9VDkna3Mgb3U5DHMps0VJr0NbLdhxUvqUlpWP8hmiMRsRnJsIkz6HjBXP53S9cjnkFvxL23lr9tGIgu9f9S8iiU5J6J4sXfrjduh5iWXxFeNFHAg/s320/willpic+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is Ritchie's beach. He has been living here for two years and assured me that one day he would actually visit the beach.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLCunpSGmpTEljSwuJ_v01pWH6HZXOnj7M0uz_AzagGlbAqIrBPatr5YmmerswWFLupQ62BRlUPRy9LCzPMaWgfrhADL41xgPmL78fkG1XAilSDEOBLCAKsV-Qbll3X6PWZfRxbGrvQ/s1600-h/willpic+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034985242526978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLCunpSGmpTEljSwuJ_v01pWH6HZXOnj7M0uz_AzagGlbAqIrBPatr5YmmerswWFLupQ62BRlUPRy9LCzPMaWgfrhADL41xgPmL78fkG1XAilSDEOBLCAKsV-Qbll3X6PWZfRxbGrvQ/s320/willpic+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is his pool.........is there a lot of money in the oil business or something?!? Ritchie is the manager for a Canadian owned oil company. I'd be lying if I could give you a complete job description but the gist of it is he's in charge of all the pipe coating for the lines that are run out in this area of the world. While I realized that Ritchie did still have a job to do for the first three days of the week, I really didn't give a shit and made him take me out every night. When we got back from our little outings, I would pass out on the couch and nick would flop into his bed. A couple of hours later, Ritchie would get up, shower, usually puke in the toilet, and then leave for work. He was a lot more fun at night. Right before he was about to head out the door and drive to the office, I'd usually drop a comment somewhere along the lines of, "Would you shut the fuck up?!? I'm trying to sleep!!!!" Or I'd do something like roll over on the couch, stumble into his room, flop myself down on HIS bed, throw on a porno movie and scream at the top of my lungs, "have a GREAT day at work buddy!" Like I said, Ritchie was more fun at night. We spent the majority of our evenings at this one little strip where we'd get wasted with his pipeline crew, (some of which looked like they ate thumb tacks for lack of anything better to do,) and usually ended up at a fast food joint before calling it a night. My favorite memory was when after about a dozen beers Ritchie threw up off the balcony of this one bar and then proceeded to drive us home in the company car. We made a quick stop at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">McDonalds</span> as Nick was a might peckish and 50 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ringget</span> later, (that's around $40 US,) we<br />lugged a garbage bag full of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">McCrap</span> up the stairs to his apartment.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ApfaqBfQbbIQk1iB72X-WkWkU5poT5wdBM3dNkAwHY-NGLSeMwBStpN6sqeXHICadaUtlSuiF8buGPRihllxJsVf3UNioZyFCKjis6sfzulUDzvQiUtabNbCXtbFgTjNV-Yg7e6_pA/s1600-h/willpic+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034212148413554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ApfaqBfQbbIQk1iB72X-WkWkU5poT5wdBM3dNkAwHY-NGLSeMwBStpN6sqeXHICadaUtlSuiF8buGPRihllxJsVf3UNioZyFCKjis6sfzulUDzvQiUtabNbCXtbFgTjNV-Yg7e6_pA/s320/willpic+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We'd ordered every sandwich on the menu because Ritchie insisted that I tried the Malaysian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">McDick's</span> sandwiches to better culture myself. Also 20 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">McNuggets</span>, two large orders of fries and two fountain pops. It would have been three fountain pops but I accidentally spilt one all over the hood of his car as I was getting out in the parking garage.The next morning even before I opened my eyes I knew I had the '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ol</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">McStomach</span> Ache. Thankfully I'd removed most of the debris and put it on the other side of the room the night before because I knew if I rolled over and got a whiff of that shit there would be an additional six combo meals for the maid to scrape up off the floor. The maid by the way, was none to impressed with me when I opened the door at about nine that morning scratching my ass, wearing only my boxers and smelling like a deep fryer. Ritchie decided to give her Saturday off anyway as we felt it was time to cause havoc elsewhere for awhile.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoYXFHQN_qt8IFG9gDfeSNgO0uibW1IM5x3Fm2xjLAA4p6dcYCpLIzX2QHMfuVU-gjPt9tws4KpiyBIP8z-b2btjDEh9WNFjdd0d5lIjRwcmT4lo5l9z6uB5MVWwHIKxZWwri3wiMsw/s1600-h/n676775887_199353_5708.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034237918217394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoYXFHQN_qt8IFG9gDfeSNgO0uibW1IM5x3Fm2xjLAA4p6dcYCpLIzX2QHMfuVU-gjPt9tws4KpiyBIP8z-b2btjDEh9WNFjdd0d5lIjRwcmT4lo5l9z6uB5MVWwHIKxZWwri3wiMsw/s320/n676775887_199353_5708.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On Thursday morning we threw some stuff in a bag and piled into the car.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_IqDcAoXGw7eEi6ckVO-4SuaqQEud_IZzmrBp8GPTVFsjT3v7mTH_6ukx0rCAQ7qrhMCSAfJ-aNx0aewASEH_1O0_GCHMKVlW8ii9-SZwCMCcfTiGaBkR13r9dpwCI54pWpK0LrHzg/s1600-h/n676775887_199354_6010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033572198286370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_IqDcAoXGw7eEi6ckVO-4SuaqQEud_IZzmrBp8GPTVFsjT3v7mTH_6ukx0rCAQ7qrhMCSAfJ-aNx0aewASEH_1O0_GCHMKVlW8ii9-SZwCMCcfTiGaBkR13r9dpwCI54pWpK0LrHzg/s320/n676775887_199354_6010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Road trip baby, YEAH!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1obnwkrw2wLtmS_6Tsp67Rexm4TUPlf02Zxn_kSvVb7ALK7RQyzhQPX7_VeFyT9jCklgnLkxXXLM5fN69Q6XRkJhP3YExoevfosAmG-wDgU_n7I-8on_JddG4eIQjM2qrmlZknKIyAA/s1600-h/n676775887_199355_6281.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033585083188274" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1obnwkrw2wLtmS_6Tsp67Rexm4TUPlf02Zxn_kSvVb7ALK7RQyzhQPX7_VeFyT9jCklgnLkxXXLM5fN69Q6XRkJhP3YExoevfosAmG-wDgU_n7I-8on_JddG4eIQjM2qrmlZknKIyAA/s320/n676775887_199355_6281.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We had decided earlier that week to head down the coast to the town of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Mersing</span> and catch the ferry over to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Tioman</span> Island. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Mersing</span> is like Hollywood........only not.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhl3SjQC_Ow0vaIz1ooEy0F02z8QZhQz204eF6Iwpnj-F3oEMXLpE8d1poUU7dz6uTElgHxTrPQcHFHhUQW9e0yv2aRJZX2yQF50bFKi5_OBNinnW0uTbBw2yTSZej1iSc5hM5eouvg/s1600-h/willpic+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034220738348162" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhl3SjQC_Ow0vaIz1ooEy0F02z8QZhQz204eF6Iwpnj-F3oEMXLpE8d1poUU7dz6uTElgHxTrPQcHFHhUQW9e0yv2aRJZX2yQF50bFKi5_OBNinnW0uTbBw2yTSZej1iSc5hM5eouvg/s320/willpic+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The boat ride was pretty uneventful. There were no girls on the ship and the air-conditioning system was set to "make snow" so we just hung out on the bow with the captain and the crew.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9hgYG4AfHxAAS3gx-E1G1YOLiJHKoO36oVOixHTzcGh369DsJwLqvSm6Kn4SrOvcPu_h9x5XCpp4A6EeTJn2WWEk_aigHZguOVcBnNsgxI5zOV_3fXtx32egHNaVVftF_9eRKNoHig/s1600-h/willpic+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034225033315474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9hgYG4AfHxAAS3gx-E1G1YOLiJHKoO36oVOixHTzcGh369DsJwLqvSm6Kn4SrOvcPu_h9x5XCpp4A6EeTJn2WWEk_aigHZguOVcBnNsgxI5zOV_3fXtx32egHNaVVftF_9eRKNoHig/s320/willpic+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And took pictures of our gorgeous selves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcF-YWrR4e8T-8ERAiCos-pikEAPdeAesMCi6n7SreXK7kmbquf5ettgbMbLWEGVKEUa5lFj_VfidODpibkMD3uFeajiVLMwtZT238Wf1ok1joo056zTWnqA7oWL5X3g00jZHwkwBRVw/s1600-h/willpic+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117034229328282786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcF-YWrR4e8T-8ERAiCos-pikEAPdeAesMCi6n7SreXK7kmbquf5ettgbMbLWEGVKEUa5lFj_VfidODpibkMD3uFeajiVLMwtZT238Wf1ok1joo056zTWnqA7oWL5X3g00jZHwkwBRVw/s320/willpic+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After we got to the island we had a quick bite to eat and then it was time to do some scuba diving!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcacmgpq4DZ2GNTUDYA46_T-aSI8iutAhtUFn9G9SHx7Fkc7vjdkrERWhMGB_O-ol7T3g9W6LzE3Q-9WYerbkR7IrrCVJGCx09bv72qn3O5K5ye2JcRD2lf6wN7t4-TNx3roBJmy_tw/s1600-h/n676775887_199360_7797.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033589378155586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcacmgpq4DZ2GNTUDYA46_T-aSI8iutAhtUFn9G9SHx7Fkc7vjdkrERWhMGB_O-ol7T3g9W6LzE3Q-9WYerbkR7IrrCVJGCx09bv72qn3O5K5ye2JcRD2lf6wN7t4-TNx3roBJmy_tw/s320/n676775887_199360_7797.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ritchie was all excited because a friend of his from work had given him all of his dive gear because he didn't use it anymore. Here's Ritchie checking his dive watch. A dive watch is a device that begins to operate the second it hits the water. It helps you time your dives and shows you things like depth and water temperature. Ritchie was absolutely enthralled by this device and would refer to it constantly throughout the trip whether he was wearing it at the time or not.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ARorLsY8FgREjUzJt1YTDivr7JH6NlCEbLAOGp86kg_pksoWTpPI9vzr2LpMdgQgM0JzIrH-9xWOBI6Ax3Abv0vJh-1ja_qRo7neXauhc0jn1eR9v-pRs54leKJhiH3sm1YSr2Z3JQ/s1600-h/n676775887_199363_8718.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033597968090194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ARorLsY8FgREjUzJt1YTDivr7JH6NlCEbLAOGp86kg_pksoWTpPI9vzr2LpMdgQgM0JzIrH-9xWOBI6Ax3Abv0vJh-1ja_qRo7neXauhc0jn1eR9v-pRs54leKJhiH3sm1YSr2Z3JQ/s320/n676775887_199363_8718.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After we went over a few quick instructions and a brief run over the hand signals it was time to plunge into the deep.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh86mftUN6u3-0cU8yOD6HOuGtmJvQdaRDlzdgE2BYdFV16MKvc-mn3SWa7d5W-NcSmGO1X_geIHGthzbAY3HilgJt6EhmFFBRJnIUAD0Kc4NOZBK5tHpSZby8qHCWt6JOKQPoFtBa1w/s1600-h/n676775887_199367_9860.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033597968090210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh86mftUN6u3-0cU8yOD6HOuGtmJvQdaRDlzdgE2BYdFV16MKvc-mn3SWa7d5W-NcSmGO1X_geIHGthzbAY3HilgJt6EhmFFBRJnIUAD0Kc4NOZBK5tHpSZby8qHCWt6JOKQPoFtBa1w/s320/n676775887_199367_9860.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sweet!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpEXYu-PgX3R-wcQCuoJuV8vZ9Vt3IUHY4e2X92McCba5HlTHpGrUVK5Rl8b4FZfN2DmWkGPI8ewV7KZMA2Vft-21ACtky3axHXL0IzKrZSG_bC6nUg80joAAZgZXgVmUN4hZoA-UHQ/s1600-h/n676775887_199368_166.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033202831098834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpEXYu-PgX3R-wcQCuoJuV8vZ9Vt3IUHY4e2X92McCba5HlTHpGrUVK5Rl8b4FZfN2DmWkGPI8ewV7KZMA2Vft-21ACtky3axHXL0IzKrZSG_bC6nUg80joAAZgZXgVmUN4hZoA-UHQ/s320/n676775887_199368_166.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH19TejLHcOyd6FUtNIzZltckl4IGoGib8C0vhRUDF6qrIQXQ8cnaMoezDQjJeJOMXBebVm4oCN98jUkSsl8IsAVGYLIDJOhPtukfD7UxRNIR4Mx9Dsz8b0M2nv3OrWW4LeLSKihaKEg/s1600-h/n676775887_199369_470.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033215716000738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH19TejLHcOyd6FUtNIzZltckl4IGoGib8C0vhRUDF6qrIQXQ8cnaMoezDQjJeJOMXBebVm4oCN98jUkSsl8IsAVGYLIDJOhPtukfD7UxRNIR4Mx9Dsz8b0M2nv3OrWW4LeLSKihaKEg/s320/n676775887_199369_470.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ritchie also managed to get a hold of a dive camera and between our sense of mischief and total lack of attention span we had an amazing time!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_lLJqLsj7go_ZVw89no11rfP786Qwfwi0OjXwlpxSGLUP73usP7N-GRcVzpVDztq98QvHrcaI7aX4fnAakrwzaDX7LxSIClXnrjEVzEqCsd6OPjTHApRsbBZKv59WDKsY86IE9gGIQ/s1600-h/n676775887_199370_789.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033220010968050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_lLJqLsj7go_ZVw89no11rfP786Qwfwi0OjXwlpxSGLUP73usP7N-GRcVzpVDztq98QvHrcaI7aX4fnAakrwzaDX7LxSIClXnrjEVzEqCsd6OPjTHApRsbBZKv59WDKsY86IE9gGIQ/s320/n676775887_199370_789.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Waqd_OM6RRHJivWYigsGDHD7raL0G5cFqtYHaUxW-Hu5EFFQWMghJWB2d-yjtWdh9-1oErP2bC0h7SnegaTqO9Z2edQGtAlPfC4HVYUXKivONeHAnfHuTExgS8h3JhNlh3ITz3Ec2w/s1600-h/n676775887_199372_1375.jpg"></a>Here's me enjoying a breath of fresh air underwater!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36V__FEegu4zKiWA2IZ92zJ9p28rWCOGQpAQtan9s_e2P3ImRA1mcA0Rlb5khtPoh85Q_QQBzyPDIWitccin1Szk2jMNMh-kbRQ94jEdmyqW4HZx4ZiG6qWK9ZlB8DHkD1zwfnD9X5w/s1600-h/n676775887_199383_4572.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032854938747826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36V__FEegu4zKiWA2IZ92zJ9p28rWCOGQpAQtan9s_e2P3ImRA1mcA0Rlb5khtPoh85Q_QQBzyPDIWitccin1Szk2jMNMh-kbRQ94jEdmyqW4HZx4ZiG6qWK9ZlB8DHkD1zwfnD9X5w/s320/n676775887_199383_4572.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ritchie checks his dive watch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-2vXpFmlc2H-1zTpS08TokVQ7bwOccKsS_4bFz0-lGiAGEHg6UcVtDI9McTp9k3shq2odCxQd_vCx8ZsZ0e6PXqXn-s40zIEaHKI6aWBOaD2zgCY1aCTnicHIpIVDHETySc51VXGAA/s1600-h/n676775887_199380_3691.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032846348813202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-2vXpFmlc2H-1zTpS08TokVQ7bwOccKsS_4bFz0-lGiAGEHg6UcVtDI9McTp9k3shq2odCxQd_vCx8ZsZ0e6PXqXn-s40zIEaHKI6aWBOaD2zgCY1aCTnicHIpIVDHETySc51VXGAA/s320/n676775887_199380_3691.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Look! A sea spider!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia85NCBFGfPXsZmJ5g3zxhi2QHsn-QTnlMlo6HhSik_TIMHVMzh21wJR0XQQlo3CCwtjxWwY6IWZdvyk_B6GE7DTjJap7D4wHVXyxtnjgUwA7yUl7x_Ad1mLkxtXkMB6YnT_WHTu1JyA/s1600-h/n676775887_199384_4866.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032859233715138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia85NCBFGfPXsZmJ5g3zxhi2QHsn-QTnlMlo6HhSik_TIMHVMzh21wJR0XQQlo3CCwtjxWwY6IWZdvyk_B6GE7DTjJap7D4wHVXyxtnjgUwA7yUl7x_Ad1mLkxtXkMB6YnT_WHTu1JyA/s320/n676775887_199384_4866.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ritchie checks his dive watch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtT_J2iRyGq-o3JP9yN07fsxwyKmYo64oticYXlcCG5HFVaMKm7OJ_3U7xEjXgcMLwkG_WXKnVNYkg2CPkTkhKYTD_dNCr-vU_PtLHPSjPi8ht95LIXQxVf9mXrgZKXiuV2gWNGxRo1g/s1600-h/n676775887_199382_4282.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032846348813218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtT_J2iRyGq-o3JP9yN07fsxwyKmYo64oticYXlcCG5HFVaMKm7OJ_3U7xEjXgcMLwkG_WXKnVNYkg2CPkTkhKYTD_dNCr-vU_PtLHPSjPi8ht95LIXQxVf9mXrgZKXiuV2gWNGxRo1g/s320/n676775887_199382_4282.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A huge school of fish!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPYdwaj3wW6rxJSfeEnTOqMdorntDGYvQ-P3dVzOZNoAG_pXKJmlFuVCoCxBzxnznsko0DVw1YB9YN_JKP1XYSgxbaKUkrex4VQwppFHRSh5niKf7wwlFFxkerR9x7U8U34zGk-QV3A/s1600-h/n676775887_199385_5168.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032455506789170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPYdwaj3wW6rxJSfeEnTOqMdorntDGYvQ-P3dVzOZNoAG_pXKJmlFuVCoCxBzxnznsko0DVw1YB9YN_JKP1XYSgxbaKUkrex4VQwppFHRSh5niKf7wwlFFxkerR9x7U8U34zGk-QV3A/s320/n676775887_199385_5168.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ritchie checks his dive watch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d-JzPq7X6gH_UMUoYdQyk7Mimil56mueUZL9GEG6OW-CcNeGJEgqHChvq-qEfPNSVJEuk2dte3x4fg5KZBkgHOwqDTEcHu8atP5ihPq4lgypwBLBJ7H-ewvmd_0Hw5TfL_k_4lfsWw/s1600-h/n676775887_199379_3407.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032842053845890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d-JzPq7X6gH_UMUoYdQyk7Mimil56mueUZL9GEG6OW-CcNeGJEgqHChvq-qEfPNSVJEuk2dte3x4fg5KZBkgHOwqDTEcHu8atP5ihPq4lgypwBLBJ7H-ewvmd_0Hw5TfL_k_4lfsWw/s320/n676775887_199379_3407.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Time for me to take a swim. And to contemplate how to drown Ritchie without the instructor noticing....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jkrXKwFM_jjk268ZibGeqKsW3NVOkeGXcyl8MnPyyBNKu_OSZP0dvLD_SKSGYz8qLDtWEjbDHeWi1qz58Joa27o82R2Qg72U2fzKcPUhpEuuDHrct5nkRWUSrhtFBndT8VEygPp2qw/s1600-h/n676775887_199377_2835.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117033228600902674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jkrXKwFM_jjk268ZibGeqKsW3NVOkeGXcyl8MnPyyBNKu_OSZP0dvLD_SKSGYz8qLDtWEjbDHeWi1qz58Joa27o82R2Qg72U2fzKcPUhpEuuDHrct5nkRWUSrhtFBndT8VEygPp2qw/s320/n676775887_199377_2835.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ritchie was signaling me for something here. It probably had something to do with his fucking dive watch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HtCRPRyESRczchtA-twEeC6gv6lqgKwNUAZ_f3I5o0zWqeoprE4h3pIpNaBSh62TL78qMlk7l-eK2ARCo0NW9ERUoJAW4GMh6r3FyHIh6Cn2x7j5T2pNiVh1VTDHMk1bZAeKAaZQ2A/s1600-h/n676775887_199387_5775.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032455506789186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3HtCRPRyESRczchtA-twEeC6gv6lqgKwNUAZ_f3I5o0zWqeoprE4h3pIpNaBSh62TL78qMlk7l-eK2ARCo0NW9ERUoJAW4GMh6r3FyHIh6Cn2x7j5T2pNiVh1VTDHMk1bZAeKAaZQ2A/s320/n676775887_199387_5775.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a few dives we were back on the boat and headed to shore.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY8QDFc6J1V7Sj6czFK0b2FfrSt4Eo2QsbSb4f0Y8m352DN3JXpHgtS8F1JBLusCt6vLE_x5Aa85PK86HVs-iyhHikkCk7FCAwSzT8TqO_JlEYC8JUWg763pgIoMjYp0yVj4O0uiL5w/s1600-h/willpic+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032519931298642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoY8QDFc6J1V7Sj6czFK0b2FfrSt4Eo2QsbSb4f0Y8m352DN3JXpHgtS8F1JBLusCt6vLE_x5Aa85PK86HVs-iyhHikkCk7FCAwSzT8TqO_JlEYC8JUWg763pgIoMjYp0yVj4O0uiL5w/s320/willpic+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These things were all over the island and helped keep the stray cat population in check. The only bad thing was that once in awhile a half-eaten cat would get away and occasionally it looked like someone was filming a remake of "Pet Cemetery" under your table while you were eating at a restaurant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0WucMLFrzasHmPt8_zXRl6GMGv069MQbPVgfIfaGc7RX1UV0gVRboKLXW4nMhLLLupXZ1NwRqYeg9BBiXdBtXJUbPjIrGoEGB-wK_G-OAV7dkjJRM93DlDB2pzFuOBxI8OeDWGJkVg/s1600-h/willpic+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032524226265954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0WucMLFrzasHmPt8_zXRl6GMGv069MQbPVgfIfaGc7RX1UV0gVRboKLXW4nMhLLLupXZ1NwRqYeg9BBiXdBtXJUbPjIrGoEGB-wK_G-OAV7dkjJRM93DlDB2pzFuOBxI8OeDWGJkVg/s320/willpic+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I had been so wrapped up in the momentum of travelling that I forgot to focus on the little details once in awhile, like funnelling beer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqWhbec1fknN_Nh1WB9OL6ovKBRBe-ZjiFB-TKbOFfflqMhMkf8-x7abZabRANNyzqLM8J9yRjGJlyNix8txK-RRzTNwvbhyphenhyphenX6V6nW1yiPHyPWy9sap85Z3Q_KHUqQtBqd48RBQj6MA/s1600-h/willpic+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117032562880971634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqWhbec1fknN_Nh1WB9OL6ovKBRBe-ZjiFB-TKbOFfflqMhMkf8-x7abZabRANNyzqLM8J9yRjGJlyNix8txK-RRzTNwvbhyphenhyphenX6V6nW1yiPHyPWy9sap85Z3Q_KHUqQtBqd48RBQj6MA/s320/willpic+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Nick had the record that night, under three seconds! That's the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Shanonator</span>" on the right. He was the dive master who was really cool until he started drinking and then he became a dick. You know those people who live on far away remote places, sleazily hit on girls, don't let the government know they're there, and probably are outrunning a rape charge back in their home country? Yeah, well this is what they look like at about forty-five years of age. I'm a strong believer in karma though, and when it comes back to haunt you it does so with a vengeance. The second night we were there he got hammered and ended up hooking up with this chick who looked like an extra from "Dawn of the Dead." I think my favorite quote from Shane was the following:<br /><br />"I haven't been able to make it home for the last four years so this year my mom's paying for my ticket....." (then he looks at Rob, Nick, and I and says with enthusiasm,"..........RETURN!" Note: If my mother is paying for my ticket home for Christmas when I'm forty-five years of age please kill me.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM4cJgLqLvE02NF_G0-sV1ZfvbxptUq5uVV1AW3KRDEh1g9yCDuBkdGLuS5lY4A3CwHv3J19KnA7f5lDcPYoNl8mS4ifJr39jbxUK9LXhUCcpRj88VsjiVJGyOgi2hUU8K5rlSDgdcNc/s1600-h/willpic+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117031081117254322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM4cJgLqLvE02NF_G0-sV1ZfvbxptUq5uVV1AW3KRDEh1g9yCDuBkdGLuS5lY4A3CwHv3J19KnA7f5lDcPYoNl8mS4ifJr39jbxUK9LXhUCcpRj88VsjiVJGyOgi2hUU8K5rlSDgdcNc/s320/willpic+020.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>This was the crew of people we partied with at night. That's Paula and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Maja</span> from Sweden and Alex from England. The first time we saw Team Sweden was the previous afternoon when they came into the Internet shack to use the computers but they were all busy. A couple of hours later it was dark out and we happened to see them hanging outside their guesthouse as we were biking by. I screamed out, "INTERNET'S FREE!!!" They jumped up with a start and had no idea who we were even though we'd secretly been eye-humping them all over the island. We biked down the path laughing out loud and promised ourselves to commence proper introductions the following morning. This night was a lot of fun, here are experpts from my two favorite conversations.</div><div></div><div></div><div>Ritchie: "Do you have Swedish Berries in Sweden?"</div><div>Maja: "What?"</div><div>Ritchie: "Do you know what Swedish Berries are?"</div><div>Maja: "No."</div><div>Ritchie: "They're delicious."</div><div></div><div></div><div>Crabby Bitch: "HEY!!! Don't throw your cigarette buts on the beach! Don't you know that one cigarette but can kill up to ten turtles?!?"</div><div>Nelson: "So you're saying if we ever have a turtle problem in Canada then I should just take up smoking??"</div><div>Crabby Bitch: "That's not funny!!! Those our MY turtles!" And he, (points at Ritchie,) shouldn't kill them!"</div><div>Nelson: "Yeah, but don't get so excited. When you consider how much oil his company dumps in the oceans each year then really those ten turtles are just a drop in the bucket aren't they?"</div><div></div><div></div><div>She left the bar at that point. Nothing pisses me off more than some eco-friendly, smart-ass, hypocritical tourist who runs out of money and decides to "be one of the locals" by getting a job for a few months. Just because your loud and broke, it does not grant you the god given right to claim that you grew up in the third world. It's called reality whitey, get used to it. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvot799DMg0l3Irf_pcJRGLVxfqXb3-dov80Lw1dx62nPVfsSvMCKrQzEGZ7XLbB9FE5rdifpl9hG5B38ndm7afC5y0qqV_XN-dK86CY9046NDmZcYcURwg-awerbk5blUC24YJmk8Ppw/s1600-h/willpic+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117031081117254338" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvot799DMg0l3Irf_pcJRGLVxfqXb3-dov80Lw1dx62nPVfsSvMCKrQzEGZ7XLbB9FE5rdifpl9hG5B38ndm7afC5y0qqV_XN-dK86CY9046NDmZcYcURwg-awerbk5blUC24YJmk8Ppw/s320/willpic+021.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>Apparently Ritchie claims these ladies are coming to spend a few nights with him in Kauntan............I would be lying if I said I didn't want to at least film it from a nearby closet.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-I7HzKcCVRM51DWEZw4TiQS2vOxJGU15KtfLD0sEfLXjs147YzWAqnlCA8iU6ksAa5SVXRsyx1GYqWC2gpbj_HYOJNXwHKB25hEq7AetrtSEjbqt2U7FNV6OOrYsnu8To97XNCZwpFE/s1600-h/willpic+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117031094002156242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-I7HzKcCVRM51DWEZw4TiQS2vOxJGU15KtfLD0sEfLXjs147YzWAqnlCA8iU6ksAa5SVXRsyx1GYqWC2gpbj_HYOJNXwHKB25hEq7AetrtSEjbqt2U7FNV6OOrYsnu8To97XNCZwpFE/s320/willpic+022.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>We didn't want to over exert ourselves so the next day we decided to cancel the diving session when Ritchie's friend Rob arrived and to go deep sea fishing instead.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTTyEEPUYBRvtGhM3Yxl1b822-Nv119JJWB0GHicgtQLgyDrtVDtIGtxz84u-QN_Pb8fLzg-BixXtwIF2jLOsZWWAR4dvRlUXUY8RAgoM34vBzds7xuCzQQKc45-mmUaMqHQC_PWpBjQ/s1600-h/willpic+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117031098297123554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTTyEEPUYBRvtGhM3Yxl1b822-Nv119JJWB0GHicgtQLgyDrtVDtIGtxz84u-QN_Pb8fLzg-BixXtwIF2jLOsZWWAR4dvRlUXUY8RAgoM34vBzds7xuCzQQKc45-mmUaMqHQC_PWpBjQ/s320/willpic+023.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>We didn't catch anything except a couple of red snappers in short-shorts.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEPhQVbETkumI8D1dw160HIzImD70Y3efUrZLJD4UuxJOSf2tdEp_AVaxOeZGWjt28zEqnzXCzQhL4z9SRlCDdAwgXBkZu4hMvVl8Mf718vsJWx2cLSz8GUqPWDu6xNZDLs7JWHb4Wb8/s1600-h/willpic+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117031106887058162" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEPhQVbETkumI8D1dw160HIzImD70Y3efUrZLJD4UuxJOSf2tdEp_AVaxOeZGWjt28zEqnzXCzQhL4z9SRlCDdAwgXBkZu4hMvVl8Mf718vsJWx2cLSz8GUqPWDu6xNZDLs7JWHb4Wb8/s320/willpic+024.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>This is the bait. It helped me get my line so tangled with Ritchie's that we couldn't fish for half an hour.</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SwhRS8SP56dz53dlZvv4oZJJgG5tQN2Ytaf9ywhq3OP69o0worKUWyu_mw3__ikDPhzv_7Wey4-vR5bu3eDiiL0yFMk4KRUJIN1EsTuYlXQhViieUztNZboq3OyEwuWVaU5MyoIxYcI/s1600-h/willpic+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117030488411767394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SwhRS8SP56dz53dlZvv4oZJJgG5tQN2Ytaf9ywhq3OP69o0worKUWyu_mw3__ikDPhzv_7Wey4-vR5bu3eDiiL0yFMk4KRUJIN1EsTuYlXQhViieUztNZboq3OyEwuWVaU5MyoIxYcI/s320/willpic+025.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>This is why Nick Ritchie and I our such good friends. Look closely at that picture folks.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZJaZD2EzoroGeS4KoFTsv19TxngVQhie6i6PY0BiimIfvEHdX00DRJDM8wdUXdvpSNnJNO1V6IOtzBbsht-_Z5NcUJSny4TJDcdvzme9AuyIIakJbs2qORnFxP4O-r-XekxzP4nFmfo/s1600-h/willpic+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117030497001702002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZJaZD2EzoroGeS4KoFTsv19TxngVQhie6i6PY0BiimIfvEHdX00DRJDM8wdUXdvpSNnJNO1V6IOtzBbsht-_Z5NcUJSny4TJDcdvzme9AuyIIakJbs2qORnFxP4O-r-XekxzP4nFmfo/s320/willpic+026.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>Finally, it was time to say good bye to Tioman.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iUhZMMRChjxu5oJuyEGD8gN7nufQvaCvjLLxocLS-n22IZVd-HkL2e3pd6fsKpsMbfY8PXHRk1smtxCsKbEgHhG5vIAzV-YwH_qOQoA4CthPgOhH8QT46JOHFGIl053FPc7NwU7GbUw/s1600-h/willpic+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117030509886603922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iUhZMMRChjxu5oJuyEGD8gN7nufQvaCvjLLxocLS-n22IZVd-HkL2e3pd6fsKpsMbfY8PXHRk1smtxCsKbEgHhG5vIAzV-YwH_qOQoA4CthPgOhH8QT46JOHFGIl053FPc7NwU7GbUw/s320/willpic+028.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>Nick and I were easily the most recognized/hated people on the island by this point so we felt our job was done and our presence was known. You could almost hear the whole island sigh with relief as our boat pulled away form the harbour.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPtd89ULXX11gJ4VlUEFtV31IkqrqHzTA-vQXaQ7m9c6_FturIe2AuQoYMT5cg-YxMnzOuQiQWvyZXbcDFmluoNJgF1Z4cC9h_IUTLD8ofrAjdUKZyZrso13u-zpm_En6_NBWLuNtdpE/s1600-h/willpic+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117030514181571234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPtd89ULXX11gJ4VlUEFtV31IkqrqHzTA-vQXaQ7m9c6_FturIe2AuQoYMT5cg-YxMnzOuQiQWvyZXbcDFmluoNJgF1Z4cC9h_IUTLD8ofrAjdUKZyZrso13u-zpm_En6_NBWLuNtdpE/s320/willpic+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Rob, Ritchie, and I parted ways at the boat terminal. Ritchie said he was going to church on Monday and that he was going to start concentrating on work and not drink so much. I told him to stop being such a pussy. He also said he had never been more glad to be rid of someone than me but I think he might have been at leat partly kidding. I caught a bus down to Singapore to finish the last leg of my trip and my final country!</div></div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-75735651294503374012007-09-21T04:07:00.003-07:002008-12-09T09:45:55.502-08:00Railey Beach (Sept 19-21)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58I4ECB99_oCBtEtDebvTd7v-35iwug5BGNM2uPNoM-_GEiUbcv1ImO4VvozBp3RarktbDFh3e3z_Gx73AIYhjeKufyE5CIgOGDa99m6tvzkGGmrESRhyphenhyphenhOvUX1NDcb8SB4v0HE3Ocb4/s1600-h/willspics+080.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112654250826927458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58I4ECB99_oCBtEtDebvTd7v-35iwug5BGNM2uPNoM-_GEiUbcv1ImO4VvozBp3RarktbDFh3e3z_Gx73AIYhjeKufyE5CIgOGDa99m6tvzkGGmrESRhyphenhyphenhOvUX1NDcb8SB4v0HE3Ocb4/s320/willspics+080.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After finally shaking off the Koh Phi Phi Curse, (see previous blog entry,) Matt and I headed to Railey Beach near Krabi to do some serious rock climbing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMwbFbVfalGdngb32EouGps9nGxZXMHCLMJ7mFHAYyEGUVsKcmwwvLTyeG1MVgMSo3b_zd6esqenjjnDve0S8T2Mlys2RBtu5fUCtHrtbtoMiUj7ybfMbavk5uikLQkVmqeJ4cYnq4d4/s1600-h/willspics+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112654250826927474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMwbFbVfalGdngb32EouGps9nGxZXMHCLMJ7mFHAYyEGUVsKcmwwvLTyeG1MVgMSo3b_zd6esqenjjnDve0S8T2Mlys2RBtu5fUCtHrtbtoMiUj7ybfMbavk5uikLQkVmqeJ4cYnq4d4/s320/willspics+081.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This double sided stretch of beach is lined with limestone cliffs that stretch hundreds of meters into the air and overlook the stunning coastline.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QIpHUV2HmgkyYjXwUKn47fxl9g1p6mPcOjV2me8xIplAHRZ8SZ0EWkbH-Xu7axYP8_MTef0oN9n0QMiErx5HH-QnIfATzY7zq-hYK32jms_hZIp3BK_CLLL7eQhrWoG3XhlEr-MwQ3E/s1600-h/willspics+082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112654255121894786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QIpHUV2HmgkyYjXwUKn47fxl9g1p6mPcOjV2me8xIplAHRZ8SZ0EWkbH-Xu7axYP8_MTef0oN9n0QMiErx5HH-QnIfATzY7zq-hYK32jms_hZIp3BK_CLLL7eQhrWoG3XhlEr-MwQ3E/s320/willspics+082.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In order to prepare ourselves for the assent, (and since we didn't see a single girl in sight,) we decided to gorge ourselves on seafood that night. I have never in my life eaten that much sea food in one sitting. For around $15 US, I was able to procure 200 grams of mussels, 200 grams of clams, 400 grams of prawns, a baked potato, corn on the cob, and four beers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUHXQrZkpCHWEv0e8UovCcbljGlI6-dCsp8JT3ZiwJyyQkZbSmmkgoKNPJffewZlUs5hXEUvNrN-ijjFVS5xxSeK_0YqX5-G27yfHoF9Vrc5dcYoqmbdccFYIrr6ROli5QkDCb_OIKKE/s1600-h/willspics+083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112654255121894802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUHXQrZkpCHWEv0e8UovCcbljGlI6-dCsp8JT3ZiwJyyQkZbSmmkgoKNPJffewZlUs5hXEUvNrN-ijjFVS5xxSeK_0YqX5-G27yfHoF9Vrc5dcYoqmbdccFYIrr6ROli5QkDCb_OIKKE/s320/willspics+083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was heaven. We didn't move for two hours.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZyk2uvZtVFzLxj4cs4awlDvvZJAvBGCMikStmnJh6AYO8oF4WeLHY29mOuPfNIcu1ELFsb-YnnVRPvMHvUh7zGIKJMdrI59q3DXPP_xWFewYeCDoxIoirn2HYpWljgAB4rt5fXyissE/s1600-h/willspics+084.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112653022466280706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZyk2uvZtVFzLxj4cs4awlDvvZJAvBGCMikStmnJh6AYO8oF4WeLHY29mOuPfNIcu1ELFsb-YnnVRPvMHvUh7zGIKJMdrI59q3DXPP_xWFewYeCDoxIoirn2HYpWljgAB4rt5fXyissE/s320/willspics+084.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We were so full that it was all we could do to drag ourselves to the bar closest to our guesthouse and play a few games of connect four. Matt beat me by about eight games to two, but I smoked one more joint than he did so I say we were even.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWCSfOLnHQzbM4SAJE2ckB_hNkKEtfE2F9Mx1lozhGznP-89VQoyiq8DDhsygGcSI1Smbjy5EbJRRINMQw_68IosEke2rXR4_Q8SIXx-z-fOT3ColKdExlq34J0PB8PC33SyAkQ5TnzU/s1600-h/willspics+085.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112653026761248018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWCSfOLnHQzbM4SAJE2ckB_hNkKEtfE2F9Mx1lozhGznP-89VQoyiq8DDhsygGcSI1Smbjy5EbJRRINMQw_68IosEke2rXR4_Q8SIXx-z-fOT3ColKdExlq34J0PB8PC33SyAkQ5TnzU/s320/willspics+085.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We woke up the next morning to find that at some point during the night we had accidentally transmorfed into a pair of cats!! Why Matt was in my bed is something that I still can't explain...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRvgX97wUUuid07PRg0x1sHlItSdG1Odp8yPdpd5igRFJ4jEI-bKigB0527K4ggUIp6k8LmXO53JrpCdiZa3vpeBZNnI1fFwlQ-_0PV9bDyX2VitijR1__C3ZFerBEdpedCUm3pWEzzw/s1600-h/willspics+086.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112653026761248034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRvgX97wUUuid07PRg0x1sHlItSdG1Odp8yPdpd5igRFJ4jEI-bKigB0527K4ggUIp6k8LmXO53JrpCdiZa3vpeBZNnI1fFwlQ-_0PV9bDyX2VitijR1__C3ZFerBEdpedCUm3pWEzzw/s320/willspics+086.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a few more hours of sleeping, we awoke at the crack of 11:30am and decided that if we were serious about this rock climbing business then we'd better hop to it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFQkktZoPuWogJvHhs0WBuowsYpztbGhRFccl0zto5CzvkPcTmPatyP16T7VgWYWNUCIGavRGr9piW-6m1NVeB4yYfOHaYe6-fCK76E_5OLyGyCYO7r7gaamjXw2iGc1qW-cF-7M6_1M/s1600-h/willspics+087.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112653031056215346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFQkktZoPuWogJvHhs0WBuowsYpztbGhRFccl0zto5CzvkPcTmPatyP16T7VgWYWNUCIGavRGr9piW-6m1NVeB4yYfOHaYe6-fCK76E_5OLyGyCYO7r7gaamjXw2iGc1qW-cF-7M6_1M/s320/willspics+087.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This was without a doubt the BEST rock climbing I have ever done!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtZo0ZvCq6V7KARjrimchpXUoEUNm7I7WEYHc-hKOhReoyObamYqDL7IlDirYDQ28rA6Ap7yAjRqw9B6noCzRU9A1qocKTQ2rST7FbFt2npY1l8Lko2bSNvu4QtfDMbHoe0bfhw7UnJM/s1600-h/willspics+088.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112653035351182658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtZo0ZvCq6V7KARjrimchpXUoEUNm7I7WEYHc-hKOhReoyObamYqDL7IlDirYDQ28rA6Ap7yAjRqw9B6noCzRU9A1qocKTQ2rST7FbFt2npY1l8Lko2bSNvu4QtfDMbHoe0bfhw7UnJM/s320/willspics+088.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The guide realized that Matt and I were intermediate climbers so he led rope well up to the thirty meter mark and away we went!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYUxiKdY_MLPHfm1XbUvjmwFUO6uiQs4RO5QJdqSpSU2_9yzUt9n5ow0r1qu-y2DEKxoMlVWcBlyv_Xj6I91usfF-A_nwH56GR8n9b6KqzxYTljYg8tWWogfkSRqv3h5XGRwEmUV8jRM/s1600-h/willpic+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117020124655681906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYUxiKdY_MLPHfm1XbUvjmwFUO6uiQs4RO5QJdqSpSU2_9yzUt9n5ow0r1qu-y2DEKxoMlVWcBlyv_Xj6I91usfF-A_nwH56GR8n9b6KqzxYTljYg8tWWogfkSRqv3h5XGRwEmUV8jRM/s320/willpic+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Woah.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehQyNVHr0z-FPVTa8kZfzoU-5m1lj5yltxG1XgiVV1KHPxWioihX9lblD6TAh-5-WP9qjLyKqqFCRvVIgAT_CtvifIWY2nI3fLSGZEho9jJv0lXd3O_7GVJogUM4o_bt2dehjBY-GDrM/s1600-h/willspics+089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112651270119623858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehQyNVHr0z-FPVTa8kZfzoU-5m1lj5yltxG1XgiVV1KHPxWioihX9lblD6TAh-5-WP9qjLyKqqFCRvVIgAT_CtvifIWY2nI3fLSGZEho9jJv0lXd3O_7GVJogUM4o_bt2dehjBY-GDrM/s320/willspics+089.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGUtao405B_HhpFzWHE1Lq6VyRjnFuHcPedijn6suAjPdj3loNl_nBaS9_104K-UoJgN1GqXdPzL2ZA5UfXdFM-oXrietRMbDrouZvbPBBgxySKk0v3eQXEFxMcLITpXgOMZqwHaaeXs4/s1600-h/willspics+090.jpg"></a><br />This picture is the same as the one above it but zoomed in, otherwise you wouldn't see me at all from the ground!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GCd4dPmESvZSE7gYTaLIcbk5F8fpRykG6YSO6aC5bXs6CSN9NIoybO3HQ-fVrh9DjqgVsMUFRgFCL0p0xdxYlB79hKWyZlL4NLR_IXnQF90dyA0JltxfEIuzkBTIx3FCmTUWby3RCVk/s1600-h/willspics+091.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112651278709558482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GCd4dPmESvZSE7gYTaLIcbk5F8fpRykG6YSO6aC5bXs6CSN9NIoybO3HQ-fVrh9DjqgVsMUFRgFCL0p0xdxYlB79hKWyZlL4NLR_IXnQF90dyA0JltxfEIuzkBTIx3FCmTUWby3RCVk/s320/willspics+091.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once you finally made it to the cave after the first big assent, it was all you could do to pull yourself into the opening and chill out for awhile.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMD6hpXTNkF_rn71JN9HTR0vmypd4aMSKS1FJCK-vfpCMW5zCUgWI4_PCakCiziGLXlrJzyFxa0OXTaDsFuQ68FfO2HmRkpyj-35F1yGeOYAeUQ5uu_b4b7RGveAv-l1xr5b3I7G2gkHQ/s1600-h/willspics+092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112651278709558498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMD6hpXTNkF_rn71JN9HTR0vmypd4aMSKS1FJCK-vfpCMW5zCUgWI4_PCakCiziGLXlrJzyFxa0OXTaDsFuQ68FfO2HmRkpyj-35F1yGeOYAeUQ5uu_b4b7RGveAv-l1xr5b3I7G2gkHQ/s320/willspics+092.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here was what awaited you at the summit!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp6nvhWpG-LhwIum3eECGB4eTPRierMMb7CVsoMlDf1rifoqtqIUgiq9wppm-WLiDggUhTccYqDGjFNhC51R1SeteSbMxYsHEtPNhxwULcSivT83OeCSsxEVRXY4J7XTgbmsRwGo6yDo/s1600-h/willspics+093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112651283004525810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcp6nvhWpG-LhwIum3eECGB4eTPRierMMb7CVsoMlDf1rifoqtqIUgiq9wppm-WLiDggUhTccYqDGjFNhC51R1SeteSbMxYsHEtPNhxwULcSivT83OeCSsxEVRXY4J7XTgbmsRwGo6yDo/s320/willspics+093.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bob Marley here was our rock climbing instructor. He only let me fall twice and I only hit the ground hard on one of those falls, thankfully I wasn't to high up at the time. It wasn't his fault though, he's not good at multi-tasking and he was trying to figure out which song to play on his MP3 phone and belay me at the same time. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was my bad!<br /><br />That night, we promptly went right back to the seafood restaurant, (we were a huge hit with the staff by this point,) and substituted the baked potato from the previous evening for a 400 gram shark steak! It was cooked so well that it didn't even taste like fish. After dinner we roamed the island, (which we had nicknamed "Couples Hell" at this point,) determined to locate some people who liked to have a good time. After much perseverance, we located these individuals and resorted to doing what we do best.Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-4514219170976045972007-09-21T04:07:00.001-07:002008-12-09T09:45:56.957-08:00Koh Phi Phi (Sept 14-18)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK6ArYDoIWYMgn6fi3d2U3uPm0SRwne1WuaOI7hxZXwIj40AniBJW1DKwdKNjhRkeg57UkqtgdOyMmUQAzxyrze6HUIpjnb0y_1dc38ZCOW8mNPjVHus9Ncfpo3t4-h9O9PU6R7KgF2s/s1600-h/willspics+070.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112649822715645042" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMK6ArYDoIWYMgn6fi3d2U3uPm0SRwne1WuaOI7hxZXwIj40AniBJW1DKwdKNjhRkeg57UkqtgdOyMmUQAzxyrze6HUIpjnb0y_1dc38ZCOW8mNPjVHus9Ncfpo3t4-h9O9PU6R7KgF2s/s320/willspics+070.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Koh</span> Phi Phi!!!! For those of you who don't know, this island is located in southern Thailand on the west coast. I know what you're thinking. "Will..........let me get this straight! Does that mean you're SKIPPING the full-moon party on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Koh</span> Pa <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ngan</span>? YOU? The biggest party in the area and you're not going? WHAT THE HELL!?!" Let me explain something to you. I'm tired, I'm broke, I helped invent Queen's Homecoming so 10 000 people really doesn't impress me all that much. AND I spent a week in Cancun Mexico so I've done the beach party thing before. Plus I found out that a good friend of mine who I haven't seen in over three years lives in Malaysia so that just seemed like a better option. Plus I will tell two stories in this blog that made me extremely scared to place myself at the mercy of the full-moon party.<br /><br />Oh and as a bit of a side note!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Koh</span> Phi Phi was one of the worst hit places during the Tsunami of 2004. The island is famous for scuba diving, (some say even better than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Koh</span> Tao,) and during my stay here a longboat tipped over and a bunch of tourists were killed, there was a tsunami warning, and a budget airline went down where 88 people were also killed. Thankfully I didn't know anyone on that plane but I'm starting to wonder if maybe God is trying to send me not-so-subtle hints that perhaps it's time I headed home? Either that, or these next two stories are a result of what I have dubbed........"The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Koh</span> Phi Phi Curse" (Editor's note: Sorry Mom, but some stories have to be told, I love you and will always be you're baby boy! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">xo</span>)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuAwthZPITd4F3Sqpd6O67XZYkSo-jPknYUIrwssTkH66EEypRjvkWO9cbd5O2qMLKy-sPtONdFt2kFQm_yahqy77ybuqaQDOx3eEiG-vq2-Wf7z1tOV0DeT3G4zGOCXOokSfiRcPTk4/s1600-h/willspics+071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112649822715645058" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuAwthZPITd4F3Sqpd6O67XZYkSo-jPknYUIrwssTkH66EEypRjvkWO9cbd5O2qMLKy-sPtONdFt2kFQm_yahqy77ybuqaQDOx3eEiG-vq2-Wf7z1tOV0DeT3G4zGOCXOokSfiRcPTk4/s320/willspics+071.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>The First Story:</strong><br /><br />On the boat ride over, Matt and I chatted up these two girls and I thought we were off to a pretty good start! When we arrived on the island, we got scammed into taking a longboat to, (ironically as it were,) Long Beach. There are three beaches on the south side of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Koh</span> Phi Phi and out of sheer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">suckerdom</span> we were staying in the guesthouse that was farthest away from the main drag. Now, let me paint you a picture for you. It takes 45 minutes in broad daylight to walk from the first beach to our hostel. <em>Uh oh</em>. On the way, you have to crawl along slippery rocks that are continually being pounded by the surf. <em>Oh no.</em> In between the three beaches you have to hike through the jungle and over a complicated path that in some spots is so steep that there are rope railings. <em>Will, are you kidding me?</em> The path is not lit, and obstacles that dot the way include intricate root systems, dense brush, and mud that got worse and worse from the torrential rains began to pour around 4:00pm that day. <em>This is actually getting kind of funny.......we'll call this alarm bell#1. </em>To top it all off, I hadn't been out drinking in a little while, <em>(alarm bell#2,)</em> we were at a new island that was notorious for it's partying scene, <em>(alarm bell#3,) </em>I was trying to pick up this girl, <em>(alarm bell#4,) </em>I thought it was going well, hence I thought it was inevitable and that I was invisible that night! <em>(alarm bell #5.) </em>DING DING DING!!!!! WE HAVE A FULL BLOWN FIVE ALARM NELSON CATASTROPHE JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMxPatDueq_CobFNOBcWcFyys5tjlfgQ8iQl46NmAYIfdAljCWDjyNHlRodsia7wu69ss7jokSR2SGmQ1h5rai4odGKe2-hDYdCCD0ssJ4hyphenhyphenWCw3xoTom9NoVKmCrABQuYcxkKRMjJyc/s1600-h/willspics+072.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112649827010612370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMxPatDueq_CobFNOBcWcFyys5tjlfgQ8iQl46NmAYIfdAljCWDjyNHlRodsia7wu69ss7jokSR2SGmQ1h5rai4odGKe2-hDYdCCD0ssJ4hyphenhyphenWCw3xoTom9NoVKmCrABQuYcxkKRMjJyc/s320/willspics+072.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(No I didn't set myself on fire that night, this is a fire show.) Right before we left our guesthouse I turned to Matt and said, "hey man.....do you think I should bring my flashlight?" His reply? "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Naw</span>, you'll be fine." Sometimes my friends and I are so dumb it's simply amazing! The two girls, Matt and I finally navigated out way to a bar on the main strip and met up with a few of our friends who were already on the island. And then we proceeded to drink.........hard. I'm sure I've mentioned buckets before but I think I'd better go into them in detail. "Buckets" as they are referred to are simply that. A child's sandcastle bucket filled with a mixture of ice, coke, syrupy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">redbull</span>, and about 12<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">oz's</span> of whiskey. Between the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">redbull</span> and the coke, you can't really taste any booze and you usually drink about three in an hour..........let me rephrase that...........I usually drink about three in an hour, before I realize my mistake and by then it's too late. I have never had a bucket night that has ended well.......ever!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rzs-hv37UT7vEarOb_aeKOCpajR3mBPvqxkT3R8hqH3rq5kWeXxk_a1yHHFh8ojge6ytiPxMx3ku1CK-qycN4ZFBfl06DEBFXNawfUQ7BGGuza6G0modLrJ0AZ-VwYnSrx3Aqzi1Vzk/s1600-h/willspics+073.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112649831305579682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Rzs-hv37UT7vEarOb_aeKOCpajR3mBPvqxkT3R8hqH3rq5kWeXxk_a1yHHFh8ojge6ytiPxMx3ku1CK-qycN4ZFBfl06DEBFXNawfUQ7BGGuza6G0modLrJ0AZ-VwYnSrx3Aqzi1Vzk/s320/willspics+073.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Where was I? Oh right, so I'm drinking excessively, watching the fire show, chatting up this girl, playing drinking games, telling all my funny jokes, (well at least I find them funny, I think a girl actually called me feral at one point.....as in a feral cat? She wasn't really hot anyways so I didn't care all that much at the time.) But seriously, I was on!!! Everything was coming up Nelson! Then the booze started to hit. Then the booze started to hit harder. Then the booze ran over me like I'd just been hit head-on by a dump truck. I have no idea what happened but at around 10:30 I lifted up my head, looked around and realized that I was all by myself. Well.......almost by myself. Somehow I'd engaged this guy Jim in a conversation and he was going on about something that I couldn't understand. Plus I was so many sheets to the wind my vessel had capsized somewhere around 9:45. So what did I do? Did I call it a night? Did I admit defeat? NEVER!!! "Well screw everyone then!" I screamed. "If they don't want to party then I'll party by myself!!" I ran into Jim the next day and he said that when I finally stood up, (with his help,) and uttered my rallying battle cry it really sounded like a kid with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">down's</span> syndrome quoting Plato. So I went to the bar and ordered another personal whiskey bucket. BOOM! I was done!!!<br /><br />I have no idea what happened for the next half an hour or so but at some point the bartender came up to me and suggested that perhaps it was time for me to leave. I don't know how drunk you have to be to get kicked out of a bar in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Koh</span> Phi Phi, (or anywhere in Thailand for that matter,) but apparently I had achieved this end. I finally figured out which direction my guesthouse was and I sauntered off. It was tough going. The rain was pouring so hard that the rocks were like big boulders of black ice and after a couple of steps I realized that seeing my feet leave the ground and sail over my head would be a common occurrence on this trip home. At one point I looked down and saw that I'd cut one of my ankles up and that my clothes were so dirty I looked like a fisherman turned hobo. The wind was also whipping the salt water up into my eyes and burning them to add to my displeasure. By some act of God I made it to the first beach and found three people that out of sheer pity gave me a giant beer to share with them on the beach. Thanks assholes, that's what I really needed at that point! After I assured them I knew where I was going, (which I didn't,) I meandered over to the second section of rocks for another assault on nature. After what felt like an eternity of walking and climbing I turned around and realized that it was pitch black and I had no idea where I was! I was cold, soar from falling, and wet from the rain and sea water. For some reason I remember taking a little rock and carving something on one of the boulders, maybe as a marker or perhaps I was making a tombstone, I don't know. I lay down and fell asleep.<br /><br />I awoke what felt like a few hours later and I was not happy. I was cold, wet, and still ever so drunk. I remember thinking that I had to get off these rocks, pronto as they weren't really doing anything for me or my appearance. So I turned around and plunged into the jungle. After a few minutes my heart leaped as I saw a light! And not just a light, a cabin!!! I stumbled onto the porch and collapsed in a heap, content just to be out of the rain and I passed out again. My sleep was interrupted however, as around what I later figured to be about 6:00am, I bolted up right and projectile vomited all over the flower arrangement that adorned the area right in front of the porch. At this sudden <span style="color:#ffff00;">burst</span> of noise, the cabin door opened and out stepped this little haggard old Thai lady. I guess she didn't pick up at the bar either because she was NOT in a good mood. Either that or for some reason was not happy to see a hulking, dirty, vomiting tourist on her front porch as the sun was just beginning to rise and chased me off into the jungle. Great, I was now right back where I started.<br /><br />I kept walking until I eventually found some sort of road. I continued to follow the road back to town where I surveyed my surroundings. Memories came flooding over me and I realized by my calculation that in my drunken stupor I'd overshot my guesthouse by about three and a half kilometers. I did the 45 minute trek back to our guest house where I screamed and yelled until Matt and the two girls came out. I was pissed, (literally and figuratively,) and I couldn't believe that they'd abandoned me at the bar!!! "What the hell are you yelling about!?!" screamed Matt. "We were at the bar until two in the morning, where the hell did you go?!?" I recounted my little camping trip and much to my annoyance all three of them thought this to be absolutely hilarious. I made a resolution when I woke up at 4:00pm that afternoon. No buckets for three days. And that my friends was the first story of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Koh</span> Phi Phi Curse.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9k9n6hSPCwYoiuBXU_LKE3bG7AY0i26TwKuTlDZW0cmT4QOW54cq6Y0YOovzjAA3iY2pCFmK9bU3crovYTMLKiIYeO9eANoG1k6yOSBNAK5zvw6meLmMieviw_qJb0xyTyuzBLPtSw4/s1600-h/willspics+074.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112648899297676306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9k9n6hSPCwYoiuBXU_LKE3bG7AY0i26TwKuTlDZW0cmT4QOW54cq6Y0YOovzjAA3iY2pCFmK9bU3crovYTMLKiIYeO9eANoG1k6yOSBNAK5zvw6meLmMieviw_qJb0xyTyuzBLPtSw4/s320/willspics+074.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As soon as I woke up the next day I demanded that we move guesthouses. As far as I was concerned, Long Beach sucked and I'd rather amputate my now-infected left foot than go through that Japanese death march again. We found some hospitable accommodation and for the next few days Matt and I laid low and got our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">PADI</span> scuba diving certification.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAe9m64Chw8LsrYSsyccOt2g_m2_gq_xa47zdSZ20Nb_0PqxfGSCzilG7X8Hj3x0Xrl4FF-RA9bR-fuPt1D-5YmiCUh8FAdgrHzci4zxTuwupOJIU4HLBEswNR2SJoZ93O2zwfA8igV4/s1600-h/willspics+078.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112648916477545554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAe9m64Chw8LsrYSsyccOt2g_m2_gq_xa47zdSZ20Nb_0PqxfGSCzilG7X8Hj3x0Xrl4FF-RA9bR-fuPt1D-5YmiCUh8FAdgrHzci4zxTuwupOJIU4HLBEswNR2SJoZ93O2zwfA8igV4/s320/willspics+078.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately I couldn't bring a camera out on the boat as it's expressively forbidden when going for a certification but I will promise you that we had a blast, saw tons of sea life, (sharks, turtles, fish, etc.) and the instructors were phenomenal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rBndE5Z0rgrDhHyaAx4IuGkh3bykY95cdwzxCyaV0TdUEqvl0rhHAPf1apMmOqylshMkHyfk_aQyVuF43P5dmjwdgKT_AZilB3LAK-ufljEMhq7IuUcIPwds4Jwe2HlVqFNBqrrvVfM/s1600-h/willspics+076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112648907887610930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rBndE5Z0rgrDhHyaAx4IuGkh3bykY95cdwzxCyaV0TdUEqvl0rhHAPf1apMmOqylshMkHyfk_aQyVuF43P5dmjwdgKT_AZilB3LAK-ufljEMhq7IuUcIPwds4Jwe2HlVqFNBqrrvVfM/s320/willspics+076.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the afternoons we hung out on the beach, got a tan, read a lot and just chilled out. It was great. Then on our last night, we decided to go out on a bit of a bender. I mean <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">c'mon</span>, we hadn't gone out in like four nights, our guesthouse was close by, what could possibly go wrong?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluY51vr19DHisAN-3-bFNwzAatqezKK_w0pfhWVqP8mSd8XwSq_pP_rfd2dnamGqSsnGA2triYB9EnGvki4XpGMNMNkJ15A3cw_MPmlkUGQK5jtrW-2ti3XaV7I72gXI-5vubMmBgSPQ/s1600-h/willspics+077.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112648912182578242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluY51vr19DHisAN-3-bFNwzAatqezKK_w0pfhWVqP8mSd8XwSq_pP_rfd2dnamGqSsnGA2triYB9EnGvki4XpGMNMNkJ15A3cw_MPmlkUGQK5jtrW-2ti3XaV7I72gXI-5vubMmBgSPQ/s320/willspics+077.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><strong>The Second Story:</strong><br /><br />Matt was roaming around the island taking in the scene and I was lying in my bed reading when there was a knock at the door. I opened it up and there was "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Candypants</span>" the girl from the first night and since it was both our last nights on the island she was wondering if I'd be up for going for a drink. Hot chick wants to drink with me? This one's kind of a no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">brainer</span>. What I didn't know until I'd finished my forth beer is that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Candypants</span> wasn't ordering any alcohol. Fine, whatever. Eight beers later I find Matt, say goodbye to the girls and then Matt and I decide to go for dinner. We hit up one of the restaurants, ordered some food and looked around for some prey.......I mean.........someone fortunate enough to accompany us to a bar that night. We had a few more beers and eventually these three girls sat down at a table behind us. All we needed was a line. And I had one.<br /><br />I approached their table and even though I was swaying a little I leaned in and said, "excuse me ladies, my friend over there is drinking a bottle of water, and we couldn't help but notice that all of you are made up of around 85% water, so we were wondering if we could join you and drink some more water?"................you're not going to believe this...........it worked!!! They bought it and all laughed and invited us to join them! The night progressed as nights usually do, we all ordered rounds and rounds of drinks, I focused my attention on one particular lass and we traded stories about stocks and bonds. (Sex and booze stories.) Things were going great! Finally one of the girls, (I forget who,) suggested that we move to a more livelier location. We all agreed and headed down to a bar called Apache that had music and a dance floor.<br /><br />We started horsing around, dancing, yelling, laughing and then we all met up at this one table to order more drinks. "Hey!" one of the girls yelled. "It's two-for-one buckets," do you guys want to get some?" <em>Oh no.</em> "Um..........I don't think so, you see I think I'm getting kind of drunk so maybe I should just stick to beer for awhile!" <em>Did I actually just say that?</em> "Oh <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">c'mon</span>," she said, "don't be such a pussy!" (You know in the movie "Back to the Future" when Buck calls Marty a chicken and he completely overreacts? That's what happens when someone calls me a pussy, especially if my manhood is called into question over the consumption of alcohol.) So we ordered some buckets. And some more buckets. We were all getting really drunk when the girls screamed because some god awful top ten song that they just loved started up and they dragged us onto the dance floor. As we were approaching the dance floor I leaned over to Matt and asked him for a piece of gum. This ladies and gentleman, is what sports announcers refer to as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">TSN</span> turning point!<br /><br />All the girls wanted a piece of gum too and then the group of us hit the dance floor. All those buckets and beer started to hit me really hard and the euphoric feeling of the hunt filled with me with such a sense of lust that I really wasn't paying attention to what I was doing. Without thinking, I walked up to my particular interest that evening and started to grind with her from behind. She was pretty into it so I thought I'd turn the flirt level up a notch. I leaned in and nuzzled her neck ever so softly. What I completely forgot is that I still had a piece of gum in my mouth and when I opened my mouth to kiss her gently the gum dropped out into her hair............................ <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">ooooooohhhhhh</span>, the quarterback drops the ball!!!! Let's see if he can recover?!? </em>I quickly turned her around and looked into her eyes as I pretended to try out a new sexy dance move that involved me stroking the back of her head, all the while feeling around for the gum. Feeling around.........feeling around.........almost.........almost............got it! I gently tried to extract the gum but I wasn't' having much success. This called for drastic action! I figured, (in my drunken stupidity,) that the only way to get it out was one good hard yank, just like a band aid right? I leaned her forward and then as the music was reaching it's climax I pulled..........hard. "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">AWWWWUUGH</span>!!!!!!!" she screamed! Thinking quickly I retorted, "Oh my god I'm so sorry your hair got caught in my bracelet!" This seemed to satisfy her and after we joked about it we went back to dancing. At this point I realized just how screwed I really was. There were five of us, everyone was chewing gum except me, and one of us, had gum in her hair. I'm not Sherlock Homes or anything but even a three year old could figure this one out. Fuck!<br /><br />I left "gummed-up-the-works" and danced over to my buddy Matt. "Dude!" I yelled. I think I'm in trouble!" Matt looked at me curiously, "why, what's wrong?" I explained the situation. Matt looked at me like I was crazy, gum in your hair sucked but it couldn't be that bad. He promptly turned and danced over towards the girl and slowly gyrated towards her back side. All of a sudden his searching eyes focused on something and he stopped dancing. His eyes went as big as dinner plates and his hands went up to his mouth that was probably making one of those, "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">wooaaaaaa</span>," noises. He didn't dance back, he marched back briskly like a soldier going into battle, looked right at me and yelled over the noise, "What the fuck did you do?" It's smeared all over the back of her head!!!!" "What are you talking about?" I yelled back. "It's just in one spot!"<br />I danced back over towards her and looked closely. Oh shit. You remember my brilliant plan to just haul the piece out of her hair in one fell swoop? In the failed removal attempt, I'd stretched the gum into one long strand that was now intricately wrapped around several locks of hair. I ran back to Matt. "Dude.....what do we do? Should we just bolt?" (This by the way is what any sensible person would do, but as I have clearly demonstrated I am anything but a sensible person.) Matt's voice of reason kicked in. "Of course we run........ you think going to stick around for this?!? Let's just go!" I don't know why I didn't listen. Maybe because part of me was starting to find this whole situation rather amusing. Maybe because part of me, (the wasted part,) thought I still had a chance to recover and get some ass that night. "No I can fix this!" I yelled back. All of a sudden Matt started to smile and then he began to laugh. He knows me well enough by now that he can see when I'm about to crash and burn and he knows that hilarity usually ensues.<br /><br />Quickly I formulated a plan. "Give me your packet of gum." I took a piece of Matt's gum out of the package and popped it into my mouth. Then I went up and ordered another bucket. Matt and I then went over to the group of dancing girls. "Hey, I've got an idea!" I yelled over the music to the Stay Puft Marshmallow Head. "Let's have a chug off, just you and me!" She was up for it so we started drinking, only I had about three chugs before I stopped and just pretended to keep chugging, thus I delibrately made her drink all the rest of the bucket. This is like having 7 drinks in the span of about 30 seconds. I looked over at Matt who was beside himself and still didn't know where I was going with this. I waited about five minutes for the alchol to kick in before I walked over and started dancing with her again. Then I dropped the bomb.<br /><br />"Hey what's this in your hair?" I shouted above the noise. She stopped dancing, felt around and a look of disgust crossed her face. Her friends came over and took a look. One of them pipes up, "it looks like gum!" (Thanks for helping derail my runaway train toots!) This called for drastic action."No....I don't think it's gum," I said while looking up at the roof of the bar. "I think it's ceiling wax!" (At this point Matt was trying so hard to keep from bursting out laughing that he was having convulsions.) The girls tried unsuccesfully to remove the gum from her hair for a few minutes before someone said, "hey......this really is gum, it smells like mint!" <em>Busted!.......or am I?</em> "Well don't look at me," I said indingalty, "my piece is right here!" And I innocently popped open my mouth to reveal to all that I did indeed still had my piece of gum They tried again for a few minutes to remove the gum but to no avail. It really was awful. The oringal piece had split into about eight sections that were all streaked down a few inches to her neck. She sort of looked like some weird version of a fucked up rastafarian with snowwhite dreadocks. Finally, (I think to lighten the mood,) one of the girls jokingly suggested that since it was gum we should try chewing it out.<br /><br />I don't know why I did what I did. To this day when I look back, it still baffles me that I would do something so weird and depraved. It went against all forms of common sense, self-preservation, and public convention. Even all the alcohol I'd consumed that night isn't an excuse for this one. But I did it anyway. I picked up a wad of her hair covered with gum and plopped it into my mouth and began to chew away. Her friends just froze. Matt's face was a mix of sheer terror and bewilderment. Luckily by this point, (largly due to the bucket chugging,) the playdough porcupine was so drunk that she didn't react at first. And I just kept chewing, mashing more and more of her hair into the gum. Finally after about ten seconds, during which time everyone was compeltey silent, I removed her hair from my mouth and stated, "well..........that's not working.......but it's definatley gum and not ceiling wax........it tastes like gum." No one moved. No one spoke. Everyone was so shocked they just stood there staring at me. Slowly, as if a dawning comrehension was thrown over our little circle like a blanket , the girls all looked at one another and then at me. While they couldn't prove it, I think they started to suspect that I had something to do with the gum in their friends hair.<br /><br />Eventually one of the girls finally piped up and said something. "I guess we could try burning it out, I've got a buitaine lighter." <em>Oh boy. </em>She grabbed her friends hair, pulled a large chunk out and set fire to the back of her head. It burned away pretty qickly and then for some reason they all turned and faced me. Here was this girl who was so bewildered she wasn't even upset, standing with her friends, (one of which is holding a clump of gum-hair the size of a baby's fist.) Even with that piece of gum gone there's still gum matted in about a half dozen other places, these girls are pretty sure I'm the cause of all this and now the whole bar reeks like burnt hair. The situation had turned tense. They stood there and stared. I stood there and stared back. No one was giving in. After what seemed like an eternity I finally thought of something to say. I looked right into the eyes of the girl who by this point was doing a pretty good impression of Cameron Diaz's character in "There's Something About Mary."<br /><br />"Hey...........that's a good look for you!" Matt imidately grabbed the back of my shirt and hauled me across the dance floor. We tore down the steps, out onto the beach and ran up the path towards our gueshouse laughing hysterically and trying to breathe while we wipped the tears from our eyes. I can't believe that chick still hasn't called me for a second date.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvUqZZKMGu6Gxztld_gzbvGIHGB_4TIdwz7iGS0dbW21UMtgUFH7HrwvFuD8KZCmfQhWRGbyK2kUAGJcmdHG3eg98RkRWMZEfDT1ZKoshs-KSVE9DvOx6qHyPmTeO0xkc6U-dYwkpVHU/s1600-h/willspics+075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112648903592643618" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvUqZZKMGu6Gxztld_gzbvGIHGB_4TIdwz7iGS0dbW21UMtgUFH7HrwvFuD8KZCmfQhWRGbyK2kUAGJcmdHG3eg98RkRWMZEfDT1ZKoshs-KSVE9DvOx6qHyPmTeO0xkc6U-dYwkpVHU/s320/willspics+075.jpg" border="0" /></a>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-61129637412401094702007-09-21T04:06:00.001-07:002008-12-09T09:46:05.997-08:00Bangkok (Sept 8-13)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHskzpeTg2t_DsTjTfPvFcIwhwCQel5hBZt-iJ8MA8Kqu__T7eqQyEapCw4AsDkH8dJ9XporgWbAVDZBhM8nDJm5I-N_A5wXU1cm80jr9UssMubxGXyQPQqdSXcwMot0X95ieESFg_38I/s1600-h/Imagen+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646226277728418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHskzpeTg2t_DsTjTfPvFcIwhwCQel5hBZt-iJ8MA8Kqu__T7eqQyEapCw4AsDkH8dJ9XporgWbAVDZBhM8nDJm5I-N_A5wXU1cm80jr9UssMubxGXyQPQqdSXcwMot0X95ieESFg_38I/s320/Imagen+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ah finally! On the way to Bankok.........where the party never stops and the women have cocks. After a tiring journey, Matt, Damian and I made our overnight train and settled down for a good night sleep. Or so we thought.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aJ8PRsKFhRp08hmoMDQuAlkYEwoTLtx7GLR1htygXVIAWZst1lWv6l8Smo26wxduNIF2W6-GIElQWnZ6Vb8xtRSQQYjhjCOhpqlR-iniC0HU8yGYUjDr44A7wU99E1hNWRjB3MMwJcw/s1600-h/Imagen+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646226277728402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aJ8PRsKFhRp08hmoMDQuAlkYEwoTLtx7GLR1htygXVIAWZst1lWv6l8Smo26wxduNIF2W6-GIElQWnZ6Vb8xtRSQQYjhjCOhpqlR-iniC0HU8yGYUjDr44A7wU99E1hNWRjB3MMwJcw/s320/Imagen+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />God damn it!!! Why did there have to be fun people on the train?!? Fun people who also got kicked out of their car for making too much noise and then helped us start drinking games in the diner car!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgwUmHRp9RfeOa6m2PgyxX2agNkWr0GtzKn3LgKT6ltimJea9vKJnzwev7-3HxeGFZfgsgwCtk3Cr87ZtM9MfkDSCP-3HioofZcfZMyHHULxtrH_Ljkk3Zfrg5boYQTgvqPS8rHXerNs/s1600-h/Imagen+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646226277728386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgwUmHRp9RfeOa6m2PgyxX2agNkWr0GtzKn3LgKT6ltimJea9vKJnzwev7-3HxeGFZfgsgwCtk3Cr87ZtM9MfkDSCP-3HioofZcfZMyHHULxtrH_Ljkk3Zfrg5boYQTgvqPS8rHXerNs/s320/Imagen+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At one point Matt decided he was hungry but rather than actually pay for food he just nestled up to some local Thai's and started to pick away. Nice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlMg6ng8wJhQmccnkPagjuqKmpa_8cEtxxCpdPyUdcLGSL8liQ0QD3VfYaUj66OQPGziH6AibMhmfM_CtDPQbD20a9xEF5JmBKvJhkjDhRN8R8SCCy3e6udvemMXoSjRW2CS0YeYX1G0/s1600-h/Imagen+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116648043048894786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlMg6ng8wJhQmccnkPagjuqKmpa_8cEtxxCpdPyUdcLGSL8liQ0QD3VfYaUj66OQPGziH6AibMhmfM_CtDPQbD20a9xEF5JmBKvJhkjDhRN8R8SCCy3e6udvemMXoSjRW2CS0YeYX1G0/s320/Imagen+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />He was very proud of himself for obtaining a free meal that evening. What a dick!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13PcVe04Aent_l5ndaf-wwgABi0DlME3Ad2DheSLgYfRV6AiIj46oZr-hOVRY-IQLcyt-Iat6QRGJroRDkd3p5SBn8-NB56_Jaz-nKzd1YzLvk23R1G9V7dIBZ9SKoLhFCaPLZjfyeYs/s1600-h/willspics+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112647520613174226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13PcVe04Aent_l5ndaf-wwgABi0DlME3Ad2DheSLgYfRV6AiIj46oZr-hOVRY-IQLcyt-Iat6QRGJroRDkd3p5SBn8-NB56_Jaz-nKzd1YzLvk23R1G9V7dIBZ9SKoLhFCaPLZjfyeYs/s320/willspics+028.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>I arrived in Bangkok with Damien and we met up with some friends , (Jay, Jamie, and Jason)from Vietnam as well as Jenna, Caley, and her boyfriend Matt...........oh yeah.........and this girl I met on the train down from Chang Mai..........that's not a story for this PG-13 blog however. The evening started with dinner and a few beer towers. (That's one on the left side of the picture.) How these things haven't taken over the world is beyond me!?! </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdj_3QVHGTJ5fY6GtIrDcsuJo9mo3OfUnIke0FhS1bzjHVEpBrm98C8i-UJA3CZN0LyjhEqFbIseVMswcfyde33S79yHDuDuyjsoFrd-2kfYXF5zie7MdpD5Tl_SSJ_moS_tiAfP3fKM/s1600-h/Imagen+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116648043048894754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdj_3QVHGTJ5fY6GtIrDcsuJo9mo3OfUnIke0FhS1bzjHVEpBrm98C8i-UJA3CZN0LyjhEqFbIseVMswcfyde33S79yHDuDuyjsoFrd-2kfYXF5zie7MdpD5Tl_SSJ_moS_tiAfP3fKM/s320/Imagen+015.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Three litres of beer served in a chilled tube that you are free to pour at your own leisure........</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnSJ0IrJuY4hSIOmwN-f29XWt-f_mYtYH3uuNi08PmRTXxftl6m-WgEFuWj6dVMSyYZfktU874rf2cD9TnkQwbXAHdxOCghp-Tt-0Gk3veat3YjAVuxjF1pAbZwPaE4naagoDS8BDpMQ/s1600-h/Imagen+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116648043048894770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnSJ0IrJuY4hSIOmwN-f29XWt-f_mYtYH3uuNi08PmRTXxftl6m-WgEFuWj6dVMSyYZfktU874rf2cD9TnkQwbXAHdxOCghp-Tt-0Gk3veat3YjAVuxjF1pAbZwPaE4naagoDS8BDpMQ/s320/Imagen+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Disaster, thy name is beer tower!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxilAAuu4ByDcYFALO4nQi-XK84rQgCfItEId04KJubjf8HHGbz9ZJQ34n2Zupn1zoc3jPCBpECOP7dyBxH-KS1-tojErRJhjwQSMhF1BOZG3phyphenhyphenHiXXjrnfuy_fNiMH045Vx6KyXNEaQ/s1600-h/Imagen+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116648038753927442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxilAAuu4ByDcYFALO4nQi-XK84rQgCfItEId04KJubjf8HHGbz9ZJQ34n2Zupn1zoc3jPCBpECOP7dyBxH-KS1-tojErRJhjwQSMhF1BOZG3phyphenhyphenHiXXjrnfuy_fNiMH045Vx6KyXNEaQ/s320/Imagen+021.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br />For some unfathomable reason, I decided to impress everyone (read: Sandra, the girl from the train,) by ordering a really spicy dish that night. Because after all I am "the man" and "the man" will always try to impress people at the cost of his own personal dignity.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDQX6vJ7MNjQG64tZeA2kQNBEu5hsHjdOxpPprr9YhXnSc_e0ZkcgYxaBuwG40il8d4UN1F2Up9DEWyoYJUPu9E_4ZFVDmgxoELcheo2Jg8RGIgpm3wWiNtr0K0kWNXOSv0Ti8CJjPQ8/s1600-h/Imagen+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116648584214774098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDQX6vJ7MNjQG64tZeA2kQNBEu5hsHjdOxpPprr9YhXnSc_e0ZkcgYxaBuwG40il8d4UN1F2Up9DEWyoYJUPu9E_4ZFVDmgxoELcheo2Jg8RGIgpm3wWiNtr0K0kWNXOSv0Ti8CJjPQ8/s320/Imagen+014.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>The dish was so hot I almost threw up in a half-empty beer tower. I had to run to the bathroom and chug tap water until my taste buds started working again. As soon as they did, they started tasting Bangkok tap water and I almost threw up again. My favorite part of the meal was when I was in the bathroom and this guy approached me and asked me how I liked Bangkok. "It's okay I guess," I replied. "How do YOU like Bangkok?" The man straightened up and thought it over for a second. "Patia's way better," he said with a grin. "There's a way better selection of women and they're MUCH cheaper." Then he winked at me. For once in my life I couldn't think of anything to say, something along the lines of, "hey pal, do me a favor and don't touch anything else in here before I leave okay?" would have been appropriate but alas, I was flabbergasted and couldn't think straight.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWcsfbm-y_nzhrp0exoWX3JeiDcJ5CGPbRKttKdYbJg6G17sNk2vgLn242brcHmZaS8ALUyoFl0m8lAwsyjOg1QlohYhU4fuNMOKpn5HWDCSvOOYYCvV8GrJWCrpqI5T0fL2u_j-iFwY/s1600-h/willspics+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112647524908141538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWcsfbm-y_nzhrp0exoWX3JeiDcJ5CGPbRKttKdYbJg6G17sNk2vgLn242brcHmZaS8ALUyoFl0m8lAwsyjOg1QlohYhU4fuNMOKpn5HWDCSvOOYYCvV8GrJWCrpqI5T0fL2u_j-iFwY/s320/willspics+029.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Right, as soon as dinner was over and we felt we'd consumed enough liquor, it was time to head to a dance club. I think we were the only non-Asians there and as such, we felt it was our duty to get everyone up on the dance floor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYfMtFvN2k4K65YHlm8J65LD4QUkkyGn7XcHdgSoR4Lhj9B_1Z4z-A3DpyhXXYpOcunfiw6x9KVohXrMWr4rlUjfq6ySckyPk3uWAcrk_XUEzrhQgFaallATkWaIOz-Fc6X9sihY01Zs/s1600-h/Imagen+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646221982761074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYfMtFvN2k4K65YHlm8J65LD4QUkkyGn7XcHdgSoR4Lhj9B_1Z4z-A3DpyhXXYpOcunfiw6x9KVohXrMWr4rlUjfq6ySckyPk3uWAcrk_XUEzrhQgFaallATkWaIOz-Fc6X9sihY01Zs/s320/Imagen+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Actually Caley's boyfriend Matt and I decided it was our duty to buy each other shots until we were so drunk we couldn't see but everyone else apparently felt like dancing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFYeAuuFXaxIj1jqpi3R0RDyHke3w_KrUJAGdn0Ai7kI0sjlUWc5wgFW9C7HScR5eUAcsZ1Ol1-EhrAJwAJpJ_zX25Q1rLCrkNWB1EjaQJJpU6NRhlaJnodWUzOZgHsTTfgQV-pgDzSs/s1600-h/willspics+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112647524908141554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFYeAuuFXaxIj1jqpi3R0RDyHke3w_KrUJAGdn0Ai7kI0sjlUWc5wgFW9C7HScR5eUAcsZ1Ol1-EhrAJwAJpJ_zX25Q1rLCrkNWB1EjaQJJpU6NRhlaJnodWUzOZgHsTTfgQV-pgDzSs/s320/willspics+030.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day Damian and I decided to take in some of the sights. All we managed to see was the MBK center which is this massive mall that's about ten stories high. The movie theaters are amazing, for about $8 you get your own 12 seat theater and you can order food brought right to you........sweet!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNQ3_MjrGEYyP9rCHMMqRqb449vn0QS2yjVzj_vGOSiFUR6KjYO0z6BAZwPO5AiGgwtijJBau5JAza3eDuLtTbKXVSIgQfDBAywcQkkN1L4wrU5YYT8t7sBD6yOqkl8o8sBlc794Xaic/s1600-h/willspics+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112646262187756418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNQ3_MjrGEYyP9rCHMMqRqb449vn0QS2yjVzj_vGOSiFUR6KjYO0z6BAZwPO5AiGgwtijJBau5JAza3eDuLtTbKXVSIgQfDBAywcQkkN1L4wrU5YYT8t7sBD6yOqkl8o8sBlc794Xaic/s320/willspics+033.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The next morning we decided to fully immerse ourselves in the Thai culture and join up for a kickboxing class. I decided to post this picture of Caley since she was the only one that could actually kick properly and make it look cool. Then I remembered that Caley's taken years of kickboxing and that I'd better be careful teasing her because one of those kicks could probably split one of my nuts in half like a car running over a pumpkin.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd-dSg12R7Tj90ln-CilskyscXZCtgYnpoCaMMsmDl9_gEJFGzFXiEzGw40nuaaGuyNcY9_xNcBhcCeWr_ReUbG0srsx0lS8NvD0YBqJm-TC6SOSENF5n7JWjXamTz0ZtnriQj1xceFQ/s1600-h/willspics+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112646266482723730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd-dSg12R7Tj90ln-CilskyscXZCtgYnpoCaMMsmDl9_gEJFGzFXiEzGw40nuaaGuyNcY9_xNcBhcCeWr_ReUbG0srsx0lS8NvD0YBqJm-TC6SOSENF5n7JWjXamTz0ZtnriQj1xceFQ/s320/willspics+034.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Matt and I pretending to look tough. What we were really doing is trying hard not to throw up.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O5Vebe0NbXtTmcrHbQuQR3QAuPcxP0fjuF-jVbCfHAg0LzZajqc2w72Hv1uiSoIE_DNukZYNhyJpURJ125nZL6auh0_egZk3jAVLhgGRoxGcA62HQWsKSS9FhYRu9XaZlT_izs81ae4/s1600-h/willspics+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112646266482723746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_O5Vebe0NbXtTmcrHbQuQR3QAuPcxP0fjuF-jVbCfHAg0LzZajqc2w72Hv1uiSoIE_DNukZYNhyJpURJ125nZL6auh0_egZk3jAVLhgGRoxGcA62HQWsKSS9FhYRu9XaZlT_izs81ae4/s320/willspics+038.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Muay Thai Boxing is much easier when no one's hitting you back.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrJVlZd8B2iZ5jbNBJ2ptWzq9-09dhsEcz59OuaakMbGBLn8lhdd3yLOSRrh-lsop8I8OkH-fDO3_Tmsy4iXJVVxwgxyI_4aQEkN6MmjoE5L4nqpGOwYmYR9WBpmHfRSotE34G_VdFwo/s1600-h/willspics+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112646270777691058" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrJVlZd8B2iZ5jbNBJ2ptWzq9-09dhsEcz59OuaakMbGBLn8lhdd3yLOSRrh-lsop8I8OkH-fDO3_Tmsy4iXJVVxwgxyI_4aQEkN6MmjoE5L4nqpGOwYmYR9WBpmHfRSotE34G_VdFwo/s320/willspics+039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Team grease.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Tg59tZGPOXPj3lnIlMdE8SjSKgrRKKHMmEdnBD2An1zmMvpuraEQL6-zJDsMCBPYXgWNZiil0n6WdbgC4ufRCgoR6BkdrqJZkxQfWyFccjdAaoxT_8GWdoHSaa0gNPgFWsXFum0EebM/s1600-h/willspics+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112644793308941090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Tg59tZGPOXPj3lnIlMdE8SjSKgrRKKHMmEdnBD2An1zmMvpuraEQL6-zJDsMCBPYXgWNZiil0n6WdbgC4ufRCgoR6BkdrqJZkxQfWyFccjdAaoxT_8GWdoHSaa0gNPgFWsXFum0EebM/s320/willspics+040.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After doing battle with Quantas the next day, I exited the airline center and saw a sign that said, "Snake farm." All the whiskey in Ireland wouldn't have prevented me from going in!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHByf6ec9I8v-4XSJ3En_eLGPQJDnoRJQ-i1GhjyNEVCE4qRzr-pLJVVk-eGHk-zG8STedMISCniKqaeNyyQtTZ9dsbOyGr6_GaW2RKZHLiaimPVVdAzp1tA1YwcgDQ3PnZgEfuFy2M8/s1600-h/willspics+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112644793308941106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHByf6ec9I8v-4XSJ3En_eLGPQJDnoRJQ-i1GhjyNEVCE4qRzr-pLJVVk-eGHk-zG8STedMISCniKqaeNyyQtTZ9dsbOyGr6_GaW2RKZHLiaimPVVdAzp1tA1YwcgDQ3PnZgEfuFy2M8/s320/willspics+041.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The guide informed us that all the people who worked at the farm had been bitten by a poisonous snake at least twice............."look ma, no hand!"</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcavkAjcYqXbUThmn2mbWwnisPpuvagVw3ZVmBnxpNWgyynH3IhKGDW345a9Jl1yMRD0D_RXIeC5kVpTEXT7FzEDtmR3X89ArHJXc6GADo1fcyjwYYgdkLww2h_w7RRxszPatnm0a8Eg/s1600-h/willspics+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112644797603908418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcavkAjcYqXbUThmn2mbWwnisPpuvagVw3ZVmBnxpNWgyynH3IhKGDW345a9Jl1yMRD0D_RXIeC5kVpTEXT7FzEDtmR3X89ArHJXc6GADo1fcyjwYYgdkLww2h_w7RRxszPatnm0a8Eg/s320/willspics+042.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The best part of the show was when one of the guides got bitten by a tree snake. He tried to cover it up and walk casually out of everyone's view but I was standing on the side and got to watch two people try and stop his arm from bleeding all over the floor!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VvdhMP9k-VtmT21rtxyjIvShczAXrgiKk_PruhyNsmnXKeqnlrjs_LQX-sW8B9NDkM58U5HOQubxeyXYFqbOVmSidq9gPyTpUiFq74hekI86erFXKPgQlwSV-3aBRr806EtXhQ8O72w/s1600-h/willspics+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112644797603908434" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VvdhMP9k-VtmT21rtxyjIvShczAXrgiKk_PruhyNsmnXKeqnlrjs_LQX-sW8B9NDkM58U5HOQubxeyXYFqbOVmSidq9gPyTpUiFq74hekI86erFXKPgQlwSV-3aBRr806EtXhQ8O72w/s320/willspics+044.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This little girl was to scared to go and hold a snake up all by herself so her dad went up with her. This is probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen in my life!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoAP4qwCQI6hY7Ppo1YpIUkbMBlwYRxikJMumk6isonit6J8FL1bgOUD-javNrwjUFEYmI1IYf7K2_94LErBK5EbFLBA6U0ToWPbQMfn2rA5ZR3t9-HM3MlYkfsAGaT2S328a-nTTLWc/s1600-h/willspics+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112644801898875746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoAP4qwCQI6hY7Ppo1YpIUkbMBlwYRxikJMumk6isonit6J8FL1bgOUD-javNrwjUFEYmI1IYf7K2_94LErBK5EbFLBA6U0ToWPbQMfn2rA5ZR3t9-HM3MlYkfsAGaT2S328a-nTTLWc/s320/willspics+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The whole center is run by the red cross and the experience was pretty educational. Did you know that the anti-venom is mixed with horse blood? Well now you do!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr66WrDryKmEQ56IGerB2jy9I6Imdz3MtTwipfH7lX7Qu7S785UmYZdRLYSOAXFF6Q7NSe-dKhyphenhyphen0jXGbUbhrMQj7QWewBE5of44cUorzETh7r8s3SFSwnjIQ1ue03svEijFp2H8t6qJWo/s1600-h/willspics+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112643453279144706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr66WrDryKmEQ56IGerB2jy9I6Imdz3MtTwipfH7lX7Qu7S785UmYZdRLYSOAXFF6Q7NSe-dKhyphenhyphen0jXGbUbhrMQj7QWewBE5of44cUorzETh7r8s3SFSwnjIQ1ue03svEijFp2H8t6qJWo/s320/willspics+049.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>That afternoon we headed over to the infamous Jim Thompson's House.</div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OTbvjnyRwo5LiaLhcsrbDKMBiqnO1iZ7iokYuKmmBdtCXnWYijcciSuEVfVdDiMyzIuKTyPU4lzKl1BkOiP3SV8zVIdL_tshS1CU3WVly1JrUk_7J5h1MzKptDYBsD8iavsQh_6fXCc/s1600-h/willspics+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112643444689210066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OTbvjnyRwo5LiaLhcsrbDKMBiqnO1iZ7iokYuKmmBdtCXnWYijcciSuEVfVdDiMyzIuKTyPU4lzKl1BkOiP3SV8zVIdL_tshS1CU3WVly1JrUk_7J5h1MzKptDYBsD8iavsQh_6fXCc/s320/willspics+046.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>This guy basically made the Thai silk industry what it is today. He was a bit eccentric and all the different parts of his house were imported from all over the world.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnXkFRKArk-XI_u9nddEIqk1ZQvF53o1ruSU46UCc3__e8DfR8MUE-aWfE-Ug-Lu4dnpWtPsvd1jVTrKNWjmsYnYnTnbEUo5s-kIAI8tyAKfu3Dov8PeF4V1qO58T0LhDfkUNLJv8kWQ/s1600-h/willspics+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112643444689210082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnXkFRKArk-XI_u9nddEIqk1ZQvF53o1ruSU46UCc3__e8DfR8MUE-aWfE-Ug-Lu4dnpWtPsvd1jVTrKNWjmsYnYnTnbEUo5s-kIAI8tyAKfu3Dov8PeF4V1qO58T0LhDfkUNLJv8kWQ/s320/willspics+047.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>He also devoted his life to collecting all sorts or antiques.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaeekQ8mDRSOi-Y7SkYFgAVEj6ZkPHUpJ77grR7pd5JNWv_pkHdwcyyCLHbKVcn-krRiXbSoJje8S8YOPjLj69ddYOnThcAzjBgDscLzYpj_B7xSp_MxA3NXgS_l77P9XanlImHiTwYk/s1600-h/willspics+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112643448984177394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaeekQ8mDRSOi-Y7SkYFgAVEj6ZkPHUpJ77grR7pd5JNWv_pkHdwcyyCLHbKVcn-krRiXbSoJje8S8YOPjLj69ddYOnThcAzjBgDscLzYpj_B7xSp_MxA3NXgS_l77P9XanlImHiTwYk/s320/willspics+048.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>In 1967 he mysteriously disappeared and no one has heard from him since. There are many different theories but no one knows for sure what happened!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuAGPEx6TbAFaP0161xNGFpTMy6uUcPnvlGvkCPMsdMgGAmesNsnFsDj-dlItX_3v3oGBpY9yguPKLNPnleuTdqi2nz3KpqU6EnUqH4STTRnlDenyfyq8pXWdOXDdEVDPh6RUkvespnc/s1600-h/willspics+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112643457574112018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuAGPEx6TbAFaP0161xNGFpTMy6uUcPnvlGvkCPMsdMgGAmesNsnFsDj-dlItX_3v3oGBpY9yguPKLNPnleuTdqi2nz3KpqU6EnUqH4STTRnlDenyfyq8pXWdOXDdEVDPh6RUkvespnc/s320/willspics+050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And what night would be complete without a Thai boxing match?</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuyMLdJJXEBe8trh_L0q-zeMm6vMLOO9pQmY5dSR6pADAp4HcBEvQwiqszYGlXbmz7Eeg-ZJ_dJiUzoqUrsqBW3Dtl5bhYTkdOenzb-P349S0XGXAiNmYP1_ORa9aelq7fF0b_RrEHY8/s1600-h/willspics+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112642353767516802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuyMLdJJXEBe8trh_L0q-zeMm6vMLOO9pQmY5dSR6pADAp4HcBEvQwiqszYGlXbmz7Eeg-ZJ_dJiUzoqUrsqBW3Dtl5bhYTkdOenzb-P349S0XGXAiNmYP1_ORa9aelq7fF0b_RrEHY8/s320/willspics+052.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>The next day we headed to the Royal Palace. After Cambodia I thought it would be a waste of time but man was I wrong!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRF6fLpZbVvKJX7JDYWKfyUO8TuHT4jYnvLThCJeNZli7Gs-c9vBmz_-Gfj256LtiV4E4CHtQKhAymVcB28K1uX6Vfc1ydtSBLMjur-Ncmpbz63TTmxnQwCvDGYIa5BDub9hxK6er0TZs/s1600-h/willspics+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112642358062484114" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRF6fLpZbVvKJX7JDYWKfyUO8TuHT4jYnvLThCJeNZli7Gs-c9vBmz_-Gfj256LtiV4E4CHtQKhAymVcB28K1uX6Vfc1ydtSBLMjur-Ncmpbz63TTmxnQwCvDGYIa5BDub9hxK6er0TZs/s320/willspics+053.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This place was incredible!!! Here's a picture of all the different Stupas that have influences from all over the region. You can clearly see here the difference between Sri Lanken, Thai, and Cambodian architecture.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6n3su0Ada7eJwdlFEUKrL6xsXGlwDaRSMX8e24rViTHjoqX0Npkds8NiMRoWkLmjo3CfDO5AcY2PdYujIsW7d8diJTmkMwl9lN51t66WHMNH89cWzrr-kS_Xpji3CWBT_W8iuSu_Wd7c/s1600-h/willspics+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112642362357451426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6n3su0Ada7eJwdlFEUKrL6xsXGlwDaRSMX8e24rViTHjoqX0Npkds8NiMRoWkLmjo3CfDO5AcY2PdYujIsW7d8diJTmkMwl9lN51t66WHMNH89cWzrr-kS_Xpji3CWBT_W8iuSu_Wd7c/s320/willspics+054.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>And everything was made of 24-carat.....gooooooooooooold! (Said to the tune of "Goldmember.")</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUpfBiXk9vGu-38ZXBoPHu7EgD1nE3PPuKBb51UXkP19puayOgKYhsz2rgugsEUKVkrldzEas56T8XqeNk70pU3Yrf2lveP_1ZPmEU2RZGu5xK_wbY0x7NU2QIhl7ZewhqWpNRetzuLY/s1600-h/willspics+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112642366652418738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUpfBiXk9vGu-38ZXBoPHu7EgD1nE3PPuKBb51UXkP19puayOgKYhsz2rgugsEUKVkrldzEas56T8XqeNk70pU3Yrf2lveP_1ZPmEU2RZGu5xK_wbY0x7NU2QIhl7ZewhqWpNRetzuLY/s320/willspics+055.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>Seriously, would you look at this place?</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHyaJyon66dTJC_m6xMKvf07S7MVbgovejL89iR-OkMzc3AyM8UOQUILUNsES8yehJlPR4Hkqz8z5B-03x42_1pBjowtMZ5qeAkXfAnJPUNgOXE-3NDkmqxH92buPGXXcT5uqR1r73B4/s1600-h/willspics+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112642375242353346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHyaJyon66dTJC_m6xMKvf07S7MVbgovejL89iR-OkMzc3AyM8UOQUILUNsES8yehJlPR4Hkqz8z5B-03x42_1pBjowtMZ5qeAkXfAnJPUNgOXE-3NDkmqxH92buPGXXcT5uqR1r73B4/s320/willspics+056.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This woman is repairing one of the monuments. Every 50 years there is a huge restoration project that takes place. First they have to cover everything in this tar-like substance before repainting the whole building in.........you guessed it.........24-carat....gooooooooooooooold!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPqR_3udLmvzO8ci8VPdseBOrN3O4fCwb5syeJWliz0LZq5Z7eVl_nVtunDQ-_TTNgLPEnmh90iQsScjusC8GVPx4ZdcdAEY3u1c_Wo9jUmBHr1HteHmt2CHCIMtRoVyZ8yR8RPpdZyc/s1600-h/willspics+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112641060982360658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPqR_3udLmvzO8ci8VPdseBOrN3O4fCwb5syeJWliz0LZq5Z7eVl_nVtunDQ-_TTNgLPEnmh90iQsScjusC8GVPx4ZdcdAEY3u1c_Wo9jUmBHr1HteHmt2CHCIMtRoVyZ8yR8RPpdZyc/s320/willspics+059.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LfyoD8N1KxmerZXJy2E3ha-kUGJQZsQDFC3fuSaqgrOqp_GObHhTfYi8v1mp4aXKMVOSzkTMDUye82hHNxz1Frm7qeCgKlcG-AqTacU-fJGGgMUg9113dyLKGPzLMAYcDtDYu6DeQmw/s1600-h/willspics+057.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I tried to find out, but no one had any idea how much this place is worth. Or how much the upkeep is. I'd guess somewhere around half a cottage in Muskoka.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMxWE1dCVIa6fkTnzivcRHbnACOo9xTFg6faz7ZQJ_6y7l2i8rKsMVeNVrXGCzRmXvbh7RxnretBTFYo1-CMd4J1a5__cefeNoBvP5fxKAra1uHsuhEYqt8f2dmiwUCjmfzwahQuyo0E/s1600-h/willspics+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112641056687393346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMxWE1dCVIa6fkTnzivcRHbnACOo9xTFg6faz7ZQJ_6y7l2i8rKsMVeNVrXGCzRmXvbh7RxnretBTFYo1-CMd4J1a5__cefeNoBvP5fxKAra1uHsuhEYqt8f2dmiwUCjmfzwahQuyo0E/s320/willspics+058.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Typical Nelson.....just typical.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VYji_3XGPEwDBGy3Jxg_YbcpdgLAX2j2JnghmdP9DQEN-qxUW_Et_NL-xHBYpbIe8YZRXZD7IpZCYwea-3ReW5M0wCy3u_FXqDPaq1i7WRsucvm-EqNcsjJ1NVQu_vgNNz5FN32oADQ/s1600-h/willspics+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112641060982360674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VYji_3XGPEwDBGy3Jxg_YbcpdgLAX2j2JnghmdP9DQEN-qxUW_Et_NL-xHBYpbIe8YZRXZD7IpZCYwea-3ReW5M0wCy3u_FXqDPaq1i7WRsucvm-EqNcsjJ1NVQu_vgNNz5FN32oADQ/s320/willspics+060.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlBwCZImaDEmPqhEGZ1MOv1_j5ntHp69OKKImBt1QKw6nnKnq0GY85A57mMQd4LEVPVVgQAJxAsjYrR5a72ZrH4IDVQBf6dr7NYVWbgfndTsjenaU9Y7Y2OWMYy2Bo1g9LHieKM4V5vk/s1600-h/willspics+061.jpg"></a><div>This is the jade Buddha. You're not allowed to take pictures inside the Wat so this was the best shot I could get! Supposedly lighting struck a temple in some village town and split a Wat in half. When the villagers looked inside they saw a Buddha image and upon further examination it was believed that under all the dust and grime it was made of jade! The image was brought here and is now of such esteemed importance that when a Thai person goes to court they swear on the jade Buddha!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBOXY_8ZzvLH-O690oZhPlsRlxyUY8OAgXvNXtOf1wGCtd8Cfzbnpa6SPnXODPHDpO-se4URWsKirHGpJj0CG2YEZrn_PuQtpcLpeXlY7j4OI2p71zeVf4j6VKbXcK7iSEe40xNboX_I/s1600-h/willspics+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112639987240536562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBOXY_8ZzvLH-O690oZhPlsRlxyUY8OAgXvNXtOf1wGCtd8Cfzbnpa6SPnXODPHDpO-se4URWsKirHGpJj0CG2YEZrn_PuQtpcLpeXlY7j4OI2p71zeVf4j6VKbXcK7iSEe40xNboX_I/s320/willspics+063.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /></div><div>My new drinking buddy.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rwYmh4XH-pZdMd3S93DMYaXZotl8pY2xBB3gXWldC6pcWuwvd5Xlq8-HQ-K1-QnCh0gSojas_dV1_57mi2g59dIhQk6ihm5fZ76DsrixzKEhzjvhXl0tXXFoSkLI_joKBmNv_q9OcSs/s1600-h/willspics+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112639991535503874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rwYmh4XH-pZdMd3S93DMYaXZotl8pY2xBB3gXWldC6pcWuwvd5Xlq8-HQ-K1-QnCh0gSojas_dV1_57mi2g59dIhQk6ihm5fZ76DsrixzKEhzjvhXl0tXXFoSkLI_joKBmNv_q9OcSs/s320/willspics+064.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the royal guards, and some dude in a white suit and hat with a gun.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozeT1ZS1NELXB_mygSh_worZ2A8pXOKB3qYpP-dlZ3iOpACSKxe0tTu4vAcbhOk7cIPfu1-udr_eQvaJHah7gQJZtE3erCcWMYf5JKZDtGPgyrs02xU6mIh8EwoWrwSy4palSP76s0xI/s1600-h/willspics+065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112639991535503890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozeT1ZS1NELXB_mygSh_worZ2A8pXOKB3qYpP-dlZ3iOpACSKxe0tTu4vAcbhOk7cIPfu1-udr_eQvaJHah7gQJZtE3erCcWMYf5JKZDtGPgyrs02xU6mIh8EwoWrwSy4palSP76s0xI/s320/willspics+065.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>Seriously this place was unbelievably beautiful!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHp6MHrZs1OIz5NIA4PFyRgizMkf39B3kAN4YGy7KiPBRuuEMJ3RWVEGP_uLJgPk8BOXjsF3FIs6Ea47DlaJIWEe_FE8Kd53-idPuF2tqdVswvzbQ1QltkhWwVV6cKkRKWNxvZKAO7Gvw/s1600-h/willspics+067.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112639995830471202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHp6MHrZs1OIz5NIA4PFyRgizMkf39B3kAN4YGy7KiPBRuuEMJ3RWVEGP_uLJgPk8BOXjsF3FIs6Ea47DlaJIWEe_FE8Kd53-idPuF2tqdVswvzbQ1QltkhWwVV6cKkRKWNxvZKAO7Gvw/s320/willspics+067.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Take your breathe AAAAaaaaaWWWaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAyyyyyyyy!!!! (Sung like the theme from "Top Gun.")<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia637jBOaVy8pzbDyHzzDCBO0_R9TEs2gmdAWzKAD63jA0hN06IlG21Fw3dJqiLAiLNGfQI2SPWbkaRwv0AmtaLZqFz_8hRFc7XLjBwxDJrAqRZjCx-aYsZIG027HL1oQVsO6AYCXjpOA/s1600-h/willspics+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112647529203108866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia637jBOaVy8pzbDyHzzDCBO0_R9TEs2gmdAWzKAD63jA0hN06IlG21Fw3dJqiLAiLNGfQI2SPWbkaRwv0AmtaLZqFz_8hRFc7XLjBwxDJrAqRZjCx-aYsZIG027HL1oQVsO6AYCXjpOA/s320/willspics+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That night Matt and Damian and I decided to party it up again on Koh San Road. We drank a lot, started horsing around and trying to pick up girls, had drinks with the locas and basically acted like a complete bunch of assholes. My favorite point was when we got the Ping-Pong Show guys to go up to a group of American Girls and start making popping noises and rudly gesturing with their fingers. The girls were so disgusted that they ran off screaming down the street and the three of us broke down laughing on the sidewalk with the Ping Pong Show guys giving us high fives!!!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic8B_73QGeuVFQ8G_MCYEzE9h2NETxbcrvRR6FnN4NgUBIb1tBD70FJj97UldkoCQzfIe92szQwJgGxm7epuC3SFLnaQKpCHWHo_ZX-iLtJUaTCa9cp5AlLz8ZUSxQZ9fqraZ0mz8VA8/s1600-h/Imagen+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646836163084498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgic8B_73QGeuVFQ8G_MCYEzE9h2NETxbcrvRR6FnN4NgUBIb1tBD70FJj97UldkoCQzfIe92szQwJgGxm7epuC3SFLnaQKpCHWHo_ZX-iLtJUaTCa9cp5AlLz8ZUSxQZ9fqraZ0mz8VA8/s320/Imagen+057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At one point during the night we decided to see how badly we could creep out passing groups of female tourists. Who wouldn't want to get hit on by these two beauties?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U0BAQZSD3vmy7H4dSkQBbCj7Gz2i2GBpGLbU7PW0AqfBKMLuDnvRkuXzUSsobnOuuS18wkuQj2vG12pSGdBMqZzTLJeSqCbXpRmK4LxCrZKbwQwXWyVhzqZXZkBynaW7FcCeAHACkp0/s1600-h/Imagen+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646836163084514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5U0BAQZSD3vmy7H4dSkQBbCj7Gz2i2GBpGLbU7PW0AqfBKMLuDnvRkuXzUSsobnOuuS18wkuQj2vG12pSGdBMqZzTLJeSqCbXpRmK4LxCrZKbwQwXWyVhzqZXZkBynaW7FcCeAHACkp0/s320/Imagen+056.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Even Ronald thought we were pretty funny although he wouldn't let us into the kiddie pen to play with his balls.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbNvmiNszjokAzLG1B86WES8K7SBKblZY16LiYaYX4mCB4_uerai9pJY4hyphenhyphennSPgSiye_D6jCQYmNB-7dnDMVXd-KoTawWx5APvfNkvo235lR0xzj5SLdzYP3j9tkQWtBEFCZLXcN3LqY/s1600-h/willspics+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112646257892789106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbNvmiNszjokAzLG1B86WES8K7SBKblZY16LiYaYX4mCB4_uerai9pJY4hyphenhyphennSPgSiye_D6jCQYmNB-7dnDMVXd-KoTawWx5APvfNkvo235lR0xzj5SLdzYP3j9tkQWtBEFCZLXcN3LqY/s320/willspics+032.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div>This is what happened when "Pimp My Ride" decided to do an episode on tuk-tuk's.</div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Jzg2jZznKaprNe2Gq4alSJd44VBbChm5tlEUtaQIto6ch23gSkPGEsx9UfY1EMHglA56ZZbTXuIuQu3w_VrH_-7Px_XS1GjpGju0wYGUfwKOjmNMxUZg2M5iOxD-bSI6PFudHCPw054/s1600-h/Imagen+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646831868117170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Jzg2jZznKaprNe2Gq4alSJd44VBbChm5tlEUtaQIto6ch23gSkPGEsx9UfY1EMHglA56ZZbTXuIuQu3w_VrH_-7Px_XS1GjpGju0wYGUfwKOjmNMxUZg2M5iOxD-bSI6PFudHCPw054/s320/Imagen+060.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Okay so here was the deal. As the night wore on, the three of us made a bet that if we got offered to go to a Ping Pong show more than 15 times doing one circut to the end of the road and back, we'd go. I think the tally was 21 times but I'm not sure. (By the way if you don't know what a Ping-Pong Show is then visit this link <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping_pong_show">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping_pong_show</a>.) Hence, around midnight we found ourselves in the red-light district, After the show was over, we left the.....um.......theater.....and proceeded to make our way back to our hotel. The picture above is of one particular lady-boy who took a shining, (with a little prompting from me I might add,) to my buddy Matt.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ57F1bn_natFTNMGbYbiL-pKx39-mofPWIWJx1mzt4rW8Lw8PkgaVp_CNfG9ab_FXneCjzcnsdDoQ8PDGTZYR8k1k8olhBV-X6aomPvwpsbRaYF3X7pwSy8RvS5MPPitRFMHJ5agoG8/s1600-h/Imagen+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646831868117186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZ57F1bn_natFTNMGbYbiL-pKx39-mofPWIWJx1mzt4rW8Lw8PkgaVp_CNfG9ab_FXneCjzcnsdDoQ8PDGTZYR8k1k8olhBV-X6aomPvwpsbRaYF3X7pwSy8RvS5MPPitRFMHJ5agoG8/s320/Imagen+059.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>Matt's a pretty smooth talker and he's also a jerk which is how he managed to throw this right back in my face and why I enjoy hanging out with him so much.</div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWFBru3Vmjrm3CSpbgd245oPuBG6gJk2a27aTKIrwRHKREXP8io0dlO9AQJ1kQFygweXDmm7ZbkwB9H2CbRzhKVNqxjd22K5Z2DwVEIpsn-UB5kXA08ZgU1X7-mGef7J01PntPNDcB3M/s1600-h/Imagen+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646836163084530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWFBru3Vmjrm3CSpbgd245oPuBG6gJk2a27aTKIrwRHKREXP8io0dlO9AQJ1kQFygweXDmm7ZbkwB9H2CbRzhKVNqxjd22K5Z2DwVEIpsn-UB5kXA08ZgU1X7-mGef7J01PntPNDcB3M/s320/Imagen+044.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>While I don't remember this picture being taken I do know it was taken in the wee hours of the morning. I haven't the slightest clue as to what I was doing, where I was or what goal I thought I might be acheiving.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVikbjjnZvKYBUZVDmB9WCNkzUEpu6jgiLCdeOOGIBBrCabrZY82gR1QUyPaYBux_4da9YrF2lSzyhrcCr7yliPX2mu1ivd99iV-goSP1HrZITxJfPul-4ZlArtoZyNhxiFq3JYLdmdeI/s1600-h/Imagen+148.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116646977897005314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVikbjjnZvKYBUZVDmB9WCNkzUEpu6jgiLCdeOOGIBBrCabrZY82gR1QUyPaYBux_4da9YrF2lSzyhrcCr7yliPX2mu1ivd99iV-goSP1HrZITxJfPul-4ZlArtoZyNhxiFq3JYLdmdeI/s320/Imagen+148.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>This picture of the three of us in the morning is pretty blurry but then again, so was our vision. I kind of realized that after you stay on Koh San Road for more than a week you cease being a "backpacker" and start to become "part of the problem." We left shortly after and headed south.</div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-48237248923688534632007-09-06T20:26:00.001-07:002008-12-09T23:36:44.399-08:00Pai (Sept 5-7)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcjQ6HD47R4Fbvk8BhKXGR4mOwLx_-liMnGRy187zcaWJl_XPqR791uGyLO_jzPcctFE_yASTalc79M1dgZLM45j3ErRVpEWL9Q6aadFEM7e3dZNiu3wLnWzsLSsMbGqYWJJ9RFrRKRk/s1600-h/willspics+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112637139677219186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcjQ6HD47R4Fbvk8BhKXGR4mOwLx_-liMnGRy187zcaWJl_XPqR791uGyLO_jzPcctFE_yASTalc79M1dgZLM45j3ErRVpEWL9Q6aadFEM7e3dZNiu3wLnWzsLSsMbGqYWJJ9RFrRKRk/s320/willspics+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Being a camp counsellor, I have dealt with some pretty disgusting things before. But even when a kid is about to throw up he knows it's coming and you usually get some sort of warning. Not so on the road to Pai. This stretch is notorious for being the windiest route in all of Thailand. On the way up, the guy who was sitting two seats over from me got car sick and let loose all over the window. This is a man who is at least thirty years old and really should have known better. This is a small van and after we'd finally got him all cleaned up, his girlfriend decided she'd join the party but at least she managed to get a plastic bag under her mouth. It was pretty obvious that the two of them had just scarfed down some Thai street food right before they hopped in the van, and as the smell of egg noodles and Pad Thai permeated throughout our vehicle, I couldn't help but hate these people. Worst of all, they kept throwing up, they just didn't stop! I went from being sympathetic, (well no....not really but let's pretend I cared for the sake of the story,) to mildly disgusted, to completely shocked at the volume that was erupting from their oral cavities at regular intervals! It was like they decided to go to an all-you-can-eat buffet and tried every single tray! But the best part is when we stopped for gas, all their little bags of vomit were hung from the back of a seat like some sort of demented bulimic Christmas tree! And they didn't bother throwing them out!!! They just grabbed more bags and hopped right back in the van! What the hell were they doing? Saving it for later? Starting a collection? What the Christ is wrong with some people?!?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN_2pCSQ-mRuaTpcABwu0VZpfCZvJcM9tVWcf2j3PmC89r8OEWh9vGkAFvy5W2hEWQWXz_Ki22GHcRkPmmG6YsfAFOimEeaoB6w_J97HjxZXlC2153CQzzBsLegxueZgKyc392cWVmbc/s1600-h/willspics+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112637135382251874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaN_2pCSQ-mRuaTpcABwu0VZpfCZvJcM9tVWcf2j3PmC89r8OEWh9vGkAFvy5W2hEWQWXz_Ki22GHcRkPmmG6YsfAFOimEeaoB6w_J97HjxZXlC2153CQzzBsLegxueZgKyc392cWVmbc/s320/willspics+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />"Scooter Monthly" called, they want me. And so do you. As soon as we got to Pai we rented scooters and took off to a waterfall. The "lonely planet" guide book states that the two most common causes of death among backpackers are drugs and scooter accidents. Obviously what I was taking wasn't strong enough so I opted to cheat death via transportation instead. The waterfall was amazing, we met up with a few more buddies and as soon as you get three or more guys in one place you know what happens. "I dare you to..." By the end of the afternoon we were sliding down the waterfall on our asses and at one point I got so much air that I was launched right off the rock slide about halfway down and landed in the pool below. We decided to call it quits after that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNJkak7XiFJKJY-arSDtNT9WIQBRcJiOG99Sg7gHtUm5VsPuuqGYSel9xDwg2WdSGeLn5sUehvK9rylXL_N_RT9MNALBGs_s93f2mF-yDN20dgZpnIjf7Ir5KXSbelE5xQltnwQS9yh0/s1600-h/willspics+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112637139677219202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNJkak7XiFJKJY-arSDtNT9WIQBRcJiOG99Sg7gHtUm5VsPuuqGYSel9xDwg2WdSGeLn5sUehvK9rylXL_N_RT9MNALBGs_s93f2mF-yDN20dgZpnIjf7Ir5KXSbelE5xQltnwQS9yh0/s320/willspics+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That night, Ian and Derrick made us promise to go to this Shisha bar for a drinking competition. Since I like drinking and competition, the thought of the two of them combined sounded like a good idea and it didn't take much convincing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7QqNfh1iumeUpSaOQJrQb-Ix-awea9cvasHbJ14O8N8lu2YtLA6LYSCbJUCn-Qs43ZB4zZdsGZ5rh2CWwdKQrvBwf0BvU8uEd6DCkgYhC4P3W0lr3hhyGb5oj0Ga8rouMOGsaVDXp88/s1600-h/willspics+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112637143972186514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7QqNfh1iumeUpSaOQJrQb-Ix-awea9cvasHbJ14O8N8lu2YtLA6LYSCbJUCn-Qs43ZB4zZdsGZ5rh2CWwdKQrvBwf0BvU8uEd6DCkgYhC4P3W0lr3hhyGb5oj0Ga8rouMOGsaVDXp88/s320/willspics+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I had no idea what I had just agreed to.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mX64-j-HZkNB9AbjjZy2UOf86-1O-NkZK6Zgnletg06wf50DDY58RMZLUkob5m26OuHmUiyAYq7u6vY63QbFuoTaYAZ-O06MeL-1952n7VWD2wMoZud5qte1GAwRB5l1sRHbc2fGMj0/s1600-h/willspics+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112636048755525890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8mX64-j-HZkNB9AbjjZy2UOf86-1O-NkZK6Zgnletg06wf50DDY58RMZLUkob5m26OuHmUiyAYq7u6vY63QbFuoTaYAZ-O06MeL-1952n7VWD2wMoZud5qte1GAwRB5l1sRHbc2fGMj0/s320/willspics+012.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>So here was the deal. If you could drink 12 shots of either Seagram's 100 Whiskey, Sambuka, or Tequila before midnight then you got a free tee-shirt and depending on how many shots you completed you'd get points for your country as well. Oh boy!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRmjlUOyPLJhSZyUqRsL45jy1k-pUyRDwhXa5CzpPcHjNt7NdGIOvIRaVTxDA9IFnuHSGRF6dCgbh2qLKZJObQAeXJTJItDS7f2ybPNcpbmtrbmSe_05D5MVIyr8NbGonZKClukje_F8/s1600-h/willspics+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112636053050493202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRmjlUOyPLJhSZyUqRsL45jy1k-pUyRDwhXa5CzpPcHjNt7NdGIOvIRaVTxDA9IFnuHSGRF6dCgbh2qLKZJObQAeXJTJItDS7f2ybPNcpbmtrbmSe_05D5MVIyr8NbGonZKClukje_F8/s320/willspics+013.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>I think we started around 9:30pm that night, which gave us around two and a half hours to complete the task at hand. Twelve shots you say? Big deal you say? Funny........that's what I thought too! There had to be a catch, and you know what ? There was!</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaB5JswNL32yIKwuTmjg8ZrJKu8vEPyXQqkeeyyYhVsl4fQlPPcwm0lv6Qaykl7T2bb2r5qZ4xIIVIn_MzBeAt79OVKLHqoa8mPP2POF_wk6fspaYyiBlXSNCMBI7x_dZAjKBe8SaHYk/s1600-h/willspics+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112634000056125554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaB5JswNL32yIKwuTmjg8ZrJKu8vEPyXQqkeeyyYhVsl4fQlPPcwm0lv6Qaykl7T2bb2r5qZ4xIIVIn_MzBeAt79OVKLHqoa8mPP2POF_wk6fspaYyiBlXSNCMBI7x_dZAjKBe8SaHYk/s320/willspics+024.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>The shot glasses were about the size of a schooner! Each shot had to contain at least 2oz.'s of whatever poison you picked that night.</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQMVERE1iE7l5QXJDlEEbLwH0_S5MHYwmTmRHHTgXsmk9QAM6hbgbTie2YYiuD3C9jtRJaE9xvkv_zkWYeiXvrNhZzPgUvsqqIIjncVTrWf2stMrcOXO-hTXT1FDQ2gXN1UiDjSLxHe8/s1600-h/willspics+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112634000056125570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQMVERE1iE7l5QXJDlEEbLwH0_S5MHYwmTmRHHTgXsmk9QAM6hbgbTie2YYiuD3C9jtRJaE9xvkv_zkWYeiXvrNhZzPgUvsqqIIjncVTrWf2stMrcOXO-hTXT1FDQ2gXN1UiDjSLxHe8/s320/willspics+025.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>Unless my math is wrong, that's 24 shots of whiskey in under two and a half hours. And "Jim" the bartender called us pussies. Two of my friends dropped out almost instantly but Derrick, Ian and I persevered.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wUvXo70Ui-qIJDSgYKOlOlngV5GgtmBwHaYQaCQIO2DjWtbmQrG64i-3rhNL0tb5yhaJ46E7UlYPtCClnWdE_j2kNLd4VgtclmtdfFUG6J40cquZ2lUl75mG6dXDGxq4F4tHCbYvFIg/s1600-h/willspics+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112636053050493218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wUvXo70Ui-qIJDSgYKOlOlngV5GgtmBwHaYQaCQIO2DjWtbmQrG64i-3rhNL0tb5yhaJ46E7UlYPtCClnWdE_j2kNLd4VgtclmtdfFUG6J40cquZ2lUl75mG6dXDGxq4F4tHCbYvFIg/s320/willspics+014.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>I could give you a play-by-play of what happened before midnight but truth be told I don't really remember anything after about the 8th double shot.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJp7MNmb9QiooaeqY1XJXKwpDnRcqiDMlW29gAmvitedyaRHnO5PjeC_pQ69SaZs9ezq7p6iskyldxlVRHzVK3qAuMXAeWOoNgl6nsGwJ5IN1D_iwuYPVIL0DeUQWFkUnhmV5DWPN-Ec/s1600-h/willspics+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112636057345460530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJp7MNmb9QiooaeqY1XJXKwpDnRcqiDMlW29gAmvitedyaRHnO5PjeC_pQ69SaZs9ezq7p6iskyldxlVRHzVK3qAuMXAeWOoNgl6nsGwJ5IN1D_iwuYPVIL0DeUQWFkUnhmV5DWPN-Ec/s320/willspics+015.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>Ian was the first to go. (He's the one who looks like he just took a punch to the nuts five pictures above.) Matt had to give him a scooter ride home and hold him on the seat the whole time. When he got back to the guesthouse he proceeded to vomit all over the walkway. Somehow Derrick managed to find his way back and when he saw Ian puking all over the place he started to kick him in the ass. Ian was so drunk he couldn't put up any sort of defense and eventually Derrick realized he'd have to result to cruder measures. He put his foot on the back of Ian's neck and put all his weight on him until Ian's arms collapsed and he went sprawling into the bushes......all the while still retching. Lovely.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa4vqWZemNuewiEg1BNPneRK4rYr71i9ONvh8ebdGdS4-LowcbstSqVflTmi8nEHYepNfmPl1gdSB2bG0PlKYkMsL2CG-yKIPn-8whovjVMpKHnz4f2UJqktDZGNmcy8jLpKqfrHhmaY/s1600-h/willspics+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112636061640427842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa4vqWZemNuewiEg1BNPneRK4rYr71i9ONvh8ebdGdS4-LowcbstSqVflTmi8nEHYepNfmPl1gdSB2bG0PlKYkMsL2CG-yKIPn-8whovjVMpKHnz4f2UJqktDZGNmcy8jLpKqfrHhmaY/s320/willspics+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is Damian, he was one of the soberer ones that night. Where was I during this little escapade you ask? Good question! It turned out that I was feeling just fine and since Matt and Damian were headed out to go on the prowl I thought I'd tag along. This proved to be my downfall. We got to a bar and there were a couple of good looking girls and being the suave individual that I am, (and as the last shot of whiskey was starting to seep into my bloodstream,) I proceeded to go over and dance with them. I was on top of the world! Here I was the only guy dancing with a couple of cute girls while everyone else in the bar just sat around and looked on awestruck and jealous!</div><div></div><div>Within a half an hour Matt and Damian were carrying me home because at some point I'd gotten onto the topic of religion with a couple of Israelis and I told them how stupid I thought religious people were and how religion was just a ploy to trick people into giving money they couldn't afford to religious groups who didn't deserve it. I'm sure I didn't articulate this point as eloquently as I do now, since I had just drank 24 shots of whiskey in under two and a half hours and was so drunk I couldn't even sit down without sliding off my chair. Matt and Damian decided it was time for me to go..........now! But did I listen? Hell no, I was on a roll! Plus I was hungry! The following definitions are from Wikipedia.com,</div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Rock</strong>:</div><div>A rock is a <a title="Nature" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature">naturally</a> occurring <a title="Aggregate" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggregate">aggregate</a> of <a title="Mineral" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral">minerals</a> and/or <a title="Mineraloid" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineraloid">mineraloids</a>. The Earth's <a title="Lithosphere" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithosphere">lithosphere</a> is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, <a title="Igneous" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igneous">igneous</a>, <a title="Sedimentary" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedimentary">sedimentary</a>, and <a title="Metamorphic rock" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphic_rock">metamorphic</a>. <a title="Petrology" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrology">Petrology</a> is the scientific study of rocks.</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsjmr7dJG3ESZuMzEqE3XD4gBOtSvNA1MfzLLhkISPt8VcWr3Cyay4eqYqPb3HsV_TGHsloWk7YZK05FRnOvJZgaN5i9dKEXbn864GEXiD4K8DXyT63hVEfxGPFxiRMdm5uSUnttzwHQ/s1600-h/willspics+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112635258481543346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsjmr7dJG3ESZuMzEqE3XD4gBOtSvNA1MfzLLhkISPt8VcWr3Cyay4eqYqPb3HsV_TGHsloWk7YZK05FRnOvJZgaN5i9dKEXbn864GEXiD4K8DXyT63hVEfxGPFxiRMdm5uSUnttzwHQ/s320/willspics+017.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Bottom</strong> can refer to:<br />Bottom is lowest part of an object.<a title="" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottom#_note-0">[1]</a><br />the <a title="Buttocks" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttocks">buttocks</a> </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3Z62ef6v-g-PTVO104qJr0ef3s2SMpbVeu3NkT4G_mVMUs6QtrTF9OgfJi0fOiUhbPvXv3mfdchZ0YvA8D_Bp5g9ejAQPDjppX_vGf6r0dBL6CAtho-blmwDINGQ6nGtRwRIBw6ZZYE/s1600-h/willspics+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112635258481543362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3Z62ef6v-g-PTVO104qJr0ef3s2SMpbVeu3NkT4G_mVMUs6QtrTF9OgfJi0fOiUhbPvXv3mfdchZ0YvA8D_Bp5g9ejAQPDjppX_vGf6r0dBL6CAtho-blmwDINGQ6nGtRwRIBw6ZZYE/s320/willspics+018.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Rock Bottom:</strong></div><div>Finishing off your shameful night of drinking debauchery and embarrassing attempts to pick up women by heading to a 7-11 in Thailand and finishing off the last few hot dogs rotating on the counter display case.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzSbAipaxiiRjHG535o6zvwK8hNwBNSGMlHNm5BTcyfNGlyQv0SZLDnY-apsABXWg2HpHbUyLS9RLW1gIRzx925Uen65Wr_kNMXgyTKnz6gJezNe1YLBF6MvUMtJsFR7_xVcFdmrmYK4/s1600-h/willspics+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112635262776510674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzSbAipaxiiRjHG535o6zvwK8hNwBNSGMlHNm5BTcyfNGlyQv0SZLDnY-apsABXWg2HpHbUyLS9RLW1gIRzx925Uen65Wr_kNMXgyTKnz6gJezNe1YLBF6MvUMtJsFR7_xVcFdmrmYK4/s320/willspics+019.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>The next morning I felt pretty bad, not as bad as Ian and Derrick who didn't get out of bed until 4:00pm but I still felt pretty aweful. So what do I do after a night of evil antics? I decide to clean myself up and go on adventure! Matt and Damian and I grabbed our scooters............(and yes, I do think it's funny that I ended up with the pink one,).........and headed up to the Luang Pong hot springs for some R & R. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbynxXj4hTk5oodHkppLMQx8jB14fwFP-5MaOhLmkD9hmGamoISieVSeV16On328rrWdhES7xNAdsRaz9Y3xxkGMQSvPHMW7O-nwWRK9szaXDqp5SwhrlFQbZXfH7e8kTAGgZM6K2ZP4/s1600-h/willspics+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112635262776510690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbynxXj4hTk5oodHkppLMQx8jB14fwFP-5MaOhLmkD9hmGamoISieVSeV16On328rrWdhES7xNAdsRaz9Y3xxkGMQSvPHMW7O-nwWRK9szaXDqp5SwhrlFQbZXfH7e8kTAGgZM6K2ZP4/s320/willspics+020.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>Along the way we stopped off at the Thai equivalent of the Grand Canyon but luckily we had the sense to just take pictures as we were all a little tired, the path was only about a foot wide in some places, and the forest floor was some 200 feet below.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5A2W9KEOgOzb-kVSbWcpXmHrhd_36_9b8RV4ZW1k2GcGZK7KKa0-d_LzcHw8ODw2MVoch6d2Lt4k-OeZ0wlZtlM8-Uhu4bSCrNMk6GJLbK7z18bpZ6ltKvz0LGyayeDSNU3_ITLzC_Q/s1600-h/willspics+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112635267071478002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5A2W9KEOgOzb-kVSbWcpXmHrhd_36_9b8RV4ZW1k2GcGZK7KKa0-d_LzcHw8ODw2MVoch6d2Lt4k-OeZ0wlZtlM8-Uhu4bSCrNMk6GJLbK7z18bpZ6ltKvz0LGyayeDSNU3_ITLzC_Q/s320/willspics+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aaaaahhhh! The hot springs!</div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuSWOeG5x4DrK0gGI1OD2vsES00dbW8yoxUjYVNNGVCsJt_nd6bTdGq-VM23zU5CSzpfZav-Hs-KW6u6Xt9eUYFYffy3bBOru5Bqq6EbrkSiMp49_HoXAl_Tl4lL36b2VL668v1rdChs/s1600-h/willspics+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112633995761158242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuSWOeG5x4DrK0gGI1OD2vsES00dbW8yoxUjYVNNGVCsJt_nd6bTdGq-VM23zU5CSzpfZav-Hs-KW6u6Xt9eUYFYffy3bBOru5Bqq6EbrkSiMp49_HoXAl_Tl4lL36b2VL668v1rdChs/s320/willspics+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While the sulphuric water didn't do our many cuts and scrapes much good, once you got in this place was pure bliss!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxSDlZd8c44zb0hOnDJgV0YMTNm9gXuc2lBdKYFhbOCTCBnArUy266cn_swGKpiWWV37uj8mpS2JVqL9ZiA-Xp0cRbtjNcpeTM5WjMwtLt8I3Sa54nf6lM8laUQGDXEVwXExr0EYUyLk/s1600-h/willspics+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112634004351092882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxSDlZd8c44zb0hOnDJgV0YMTNm9gXuc2lBdKYFhbOCTCBnArUy266cn_swGKpiWWV37uj8mpS2JVqL9ZiA-Xp0cRbtjNcpeTM5WjMwtLt8I3Sa54nf6lM8laUQGDXEVwXExr0EYUyLk/s320/willspics+026.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>That night we headed back to the Shisha bar to calculate out total and strut around the bar hoping everyone would be impressed. Turned out that the three of us all got gold medals which meant that we accumulated enough points to knock the US out of third place in the International Competition.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-t_vBA38KKM_MhEicrzs7jMXLqqxp27E2brmrMiGcWjOgRMFwNk0JtcnahP2d4wYPPhH2tdwLnpmVU0hfuzVvdm6lAI480WNE_SbmGf4UM4VjnJ2JU60nWPYjsPH4Po6ndrX0Y9nXHk/s1600-h/willspics+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112634008646060194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-t_vBA38KKM_MhEicrzs7jMXLqqxp27E2brmrMiGcWjOgRMFwNk0JtcnahP2d4wYPPhH2tdwLnpmVU0hfuzVvdm6lAI480WNE_SbmGf4UM4VjnJ2JU60nWPYjsPH4Po6ndrX0Y9nXHk/s320/willspics+027.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div>YEAH!!!!</div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-16379438715935483622007-09-06T20:23:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:36:46.824-08:00Thailand, Chang Mai (Sept 1-4)I know that usually I start my blog posts with a picture but there's a story that precedes this entry that for reasons that will become apparent I have no photographic documentation. Today I would like to begin by talking about boarder crossings. Now, I realize that in some countries boarder guards are regarded as the protectors of the country. I would not put Canada or the United States in this category as our boarder guards have the intelligence of junior-high school dropouts and the only reason they're usually employed in this position is that their place of residence happens to be within a short driving distance from the actual boarder itself. I've had my fare share of scuffles with the boarder guards. Being born in London England and having dual citizenship with Canada is something that is so beyond the grasp of your average boarder patrolman (or woman) that usually there is a lot confusion on their part and sarcasm on mine before I'm allowed to enter our neighbour to the south. I thought I'd seen it all. I was wrong.<br /><br /><br />After having an amazing time in Northern Laos, my new friends and I were ready to enter Thailand and redefine what the Thais thought was misbehavior. But lo!!! There was a problem! After my buddy Brian was sequestered in a private room, it turned out that the Laos customs officials in Pakse forgot to stamp his passport when he flew in from Siem Reap, Cambodia. "So what?" was our reply. "That's your problem, not ours!" (Our theory is always to go in guns blazing, otherwise you'll end up getting taken advantage of and let's face it, no one likes to get pushed around.) The prick at the boarder told him flat out that either Brian hands him over $100US or he has to go back to Pakse and get his passport stamped. Pakse is about a three hour flight away. Boarderbitch then went back to watching tv. My friend Brian tried reasoning with the guy but he refused to even pay him the slightest bit of attention and even worse, he KEPT WATCHING TV!!!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Boarderbitch</strong>: "You pay me $100US or go to Pakse!!!"<br /><strong>Brian</strong>: "Why should I have to go all the way back to Pakse for YOUR government's mistake?!? That's ridiculous!"<br /><strong>Boarderbitch</strong>: "You pay now or go to Pakse!"<br />Brian: "Listen, you seam like a reasonable guy, let's think this through. Here are my tickets with my name on them. It is absolutely impossible for me to have flown from Cambodia into Laos and not gone through customs..............do you mind turning that off? I think this is a pretty big deal and I'd appreciate it if you'd at least pretend you're paying attention to me...........hello?..........like I said, I'd of had to go through customs so just because someone on that end forgot to rubber stamp my passport I don't think it's fair that I pay to go all the way back to the southern end of your country."<br /><strong>Boarderbitch</strong>: "You pay now!!!"<br /><strong>Brian</strong>: "Go fuck yourself!!!"<br /><br /><br />This was where things started to slide downhill. I walked into their office and between myself and Brian we got Boarderbitch and a couple of his little cronies into a screaming and swearing match. There were threats on both sides and I think the fight ended when Brian and I looked at each other and flipped Boarderbitch off. (Note: Apparently some languages, most notably sign language, are in fact universally understood.) At this point I think it is also imperative to mention that $100US is a completely arbitrary number and quite obviously this boarder guard is an asshole who's just trying to extort my friend. If he'd quoted around $20US and not been such a greedy little shit he might have gotten away with it. As it stands we were not about to succumb to this guys will any longer. Let me continue now with a brief description of the physical objects that were in our way at this point........besides the border guards of course.<br /><br /><br />The town of Huay Xai is located on a river which separates Laos from Thailand. If I really got a hold of a good drive I could probably place a golf ball squarely on top of the Thailand boarder patrol office from the Laos boarder patrol. The only way to get across the river is to pay a long-boatman to ferry you through the current. So, the logical conclusion.......is we somehow can get across the river without the Laos boarder guards noticing or caring.......we'll be in Thailand and there's nothing they can do!<br /><br /><br />So we were all standing on the side of the river trying to figure this out. Three of us had our passports stamped, (although only one of us had paid for it, my other friend and I got them stamped and then when the commotion started we grabbed out passports before they noticed and then the guards forgot to ask us for the money,) one of us did not. The boarder guard actually stole Brian's passport, which I'm pretty sure is a breach of international law, and refused to give it back. Our mini-bus was leaving from Thailand in less than ten minutes so if we were going to do this we'd better make it quick! The three of us jumped into a longboat with our bus driver while Brian walked back up to the Laos office. Since Boarderbitch was too busy watching tv with the volume turned up, he didn't notice Brian casually sneaking into his office and swiping his passport off the desk! Brian then bolted down to the boat and we told the Laos guy let 'er rip! A few of the guards looked up as we sped away giving them the finger but they laughed at us because how could these crazy tourists get into Thailand when one of their passports was in the Laos office? Ha ha ha.....stupid felang!<br /><br /><br />We had to hurry. If the Laos guards noticed what was going on and called the Thai office we were beyond fucked. We jumped off the boat and ran up to the guards with all our stuff. Brian made a good point that if he never officially entered Laos then he couldn't officially leave either! The bus driver was with us and we told him to tell the Thai guards to please hurry as our bus was about to leave. We were all smiles, very polite, and by some act of god we all manged to clear the customs office in under a couple of minutes. We sprinted into a mini bus that was already to go and after a few minutes when we were sure that we weren't being followed we exchanged high-fives and laughed hysterically when we pictured the Laos Boarderbitch realizing what had happened!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjthKTaBHx5sP15yWnmVcybXVToD2LGvpL3iNVTZ53Luo_w2rUWkx8w_0ADc46IP2Ft9o2h-u_BWKT0XMYeDM8SK39VrktcdbB8AWyPpLoVrH11tNDP1arT1-ou3V_gnlX0ba22-Alx6g/s1600-h/willspics+098.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112620552513521490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjthKTaBHx5sP15yWnmVcybXVToD2LGvpL3iNVTZ53Luo_w2rUWkx8w_0ADc46IP2Ft9o2h-u_BWKT0XMYeDM8SK39VrktcdbB8AWyPpLoVrH11tNDP1arT1-ou3V_gnlX0ba22-Alx6g/s320/willspics+098.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I awoke a few days later with a vicious hangover. I rolled over and told what's-her-name that it was time to hit the road as I'd signed up for a Thai cooking course and hangover be damned I was going to at least make an appearance! Two of my friends had some bad Thai food the night before and compounded with the case of beer they swallowed they informed me that they would do the cooking course the next day. Fine. Pussies. I met up with my buddy Matt who was with two girls and the four of us took a tuk-tuk to the cooking school.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnKbPtm9bA43rlE0uKg4gu1xll84mLK59cAk5DbPQBOBgGsVF5j2QsK9c4TrBEa5Kc4GNSftQbKQuWJfSJ_w-qZlg57naJxKjUM0J4e5uqrKMDoIDm_0xhFqlLn-uk-JHcTOZ5Wr1s3o/s1600-h/willspics+095.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112622515313575874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnKbPtm9bA43rlE0uKg4gu1xll84mLK59cAk5DbPQBOBgGsVF5j2QsK9c4TrBEa5Kc4GNSftQbKQuWJfSJ_w-qZlg57naJxKjUM0J4e5uqrKMDoIDm_0xhFqlLn-uk-JHcTOZ5Wr1s3o/s320/willspics+095.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>At this point I think it's important that I stress how hungover I was. I was VEEEEEERY hungover! When we arrived, the chef told us that since the market was closed, we'd be doing a vegetable carving course instead. Uh oh. Here I am, barely able to stomach a glass of water, coping with a nasty headache while trying to keep the alcohol sweats and shakes down. And I'm about to work with knives. Eep!</p><p>When I pictured a carving class I just assumed that we'd be cutting up cucumbers with a massive butcher's knife. Not so. Instead we were given what looked like a scalpel and told to carve a variety of veggies into something that Michelangelo would have sculpted. I'm not kidding, I think the chef just assumed we all had a degree in advanced neurosurgery. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxLHdYhyiS1uMSUEbu9YsKfSyUiSsu3k0-wPMj2_fQH-u_-CXys_uw-KDJMnNq64t59ID6S6PdBEk6XAEwG_VWYxdjNeDaYipgqvoeZ4-S78vpdqU98z0XwMxyQiWHJZfJKHEnxgJvTQ/s1600-h/willspics+096.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112622519608543186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxLHdYhyiS1uMSUEbu9YsKfSyUiSsu3k0-wPMj2_fQH-u_-CXys_uw-KDJMnNq64t59ID6S6PdBEk6XAEwG_VWYxdjNeDaYipgqvoeZ4-S78vpdqU98z0XwMxyQiWHJZfJKHEnxgJvTQ/s320/willspics+096.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>This was what my dish was supposed to look like. I took a picture of the chef's dish because the area around my cooking station looked like someone had just had a head on collision with a produce truck. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVMHdNN7u2Ohoc5RvuUFNvgs3S6RH1mF3-sXf4oypy4whr80HZeW3d3sPZueARdI2QcJB7ctXy_lkg-pkXnP-rKesZ_gYYhnk483kKQllnrrWq3oPBJQVCnldZ7h_APemYINm8RX5PEY/s1600-h/willspics+101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112620561103456130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVMHdNN7u2Ohoc5RvuUFNvgs3S6RH1mF3-sXf4oypy4whr80HZeW3d3sPZueARdI2QcJB7ctXy_lkg-pkXnP-rKesZ_gYYhnk483kKQllnrrWq3oPBJQVCnldZ7h_APemYINm8RX5PEY/s320/willspics+101.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>After I had cleaned up the vegetable floor platter it was time to get down to business. First up we were going to make a spicy curry dish. Little did I know that we had to sit there for the next half an hour and actually grind up all the spices into the curry paste. By the end of the half hour, I was sweating profusely, I was covered in curry, I still reeked of booze, and everyone in the classroom was edging away from me ever so slowly. This was turning into a bad day. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnZ_OPyMte7TrFNq2x_gmgGPkS5mhQj8qFiuIXVt2KbZAmkj5sAkqNyOV4SQrZBtYreVlVzAT-pjB-RhJCK4qkdYGA20FRcqMUznK-2va0_1ch70bC_-dnEoDp8pyeB2v8ToCvroKr2w/s1600-h/willspics+100.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112620556808488818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnZ_OPyMte7TrFNq2x_gmgGPkS5mhQj8qFiuIXVt2KbZAmkj5sAkqNyOV4SQrZBtYreVlVzAT-pjB-RhJCK4qkdYGA20FRcqMUznK-2va0_1ch70bC_-dnEoDp8pyeB2v8ToCvroKr2w/s320/willspics+100.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Next it was time to cook up the chicken. Now, I don't claim to be the world's best cook but having lived in a house for three years with some of K-Town's best chefs, I figure I've picked up a thing or two. We even had a deepfrier for awhile which is what makes what happened next seem all that more unbelievable. The Chef could see I was having trouble lighting the stove, (truth be told I was having enough trouble just standing up straight,) so he came around and lit my stove. Which was nice of him. Obviously if you just plunked the chicken slices into the bowl they will instantly burn to the sides, hence some sort of lubricant is needed. I looked around and saw a bottle of cooking oil near my work station. Forgetting that the gas was on full blast, I dumped a generous portion of oil into the pan. The oil instantly boiled and promptly shot into the air, rocketing skyward before it came to land on the arm of the girl working next to me. I still think she overreacted but I guess that oil was pretty hot.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9bQOF6XxiikfGHQWrAIDufHpg-gxGB2FXA2NrzRFX0DuV63KKmIHYfJkcNXwq6geebxWVM9_QXyCoc0MOwXnbwUrgKBn0C-UjCQ3yOfKHIDTYV91vcK2s0k01AksbX2w2vO_FZMLpcU/s1600-h/willspics+097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112620548218554178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9bQOF6XxiikfGHQWrAIDufHpg-gxGB2FXA2NrzRFX0DuV63KKmIHYfJkcNXwq6geebxWVM9_QXyCoc0MOwXnbwUrgKBn0C-UjCQ3yOfKHIDTYV91vcK2s0k01AksbX2w2vO_FZMLpcU/s320/willspics+097.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Finally we sat down to eat. Holy shit this stuff was spicy!! What they say is true, (it usually is in some form or another,) Thai people really do triple their spice compared with the tourists. I was so hungry I didn't care that after one bite I could see through time and Matt and I polished off both our dishes at record speed.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxIVZ1O9Yr3oikgSaKvp2Ki4W4onMgACojTMHSeV7aFzMnyiHlFhr26-CyZBdSH8sQ19wK3pj9QBCp1RV65r9So9ZNhvkOtr0lkUZEKuz-kJnDXWr_9u4nNME8Sk8lOuGbV-3yXKmZw4/s1600-h/willspics+099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112620556808488802" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxIVZ1O9Yr3oikgSaKvp2Ki4W4onMgACojTMHSeV7aFzMnyiHlFhr26-CyZBdSH8sQ19wK3pj9QBCp1RV65r9So9ZNhvkOtr0lkUZEKuz-kJnDXWr_9u4nNME8Sk8lOuGbV-3yXKmZw4/s320/willspics+099.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Time to cook another dish! I forget what this one was but I do remember being slightly concerned at the amount of spicy food I was to contend with that day. We were to cook a total of five dishes over the course of a few hours and combined with all the beer and whiskey/redbull buckets that I had the night before you can guess what resulted. I was sitting there polishing off some soup when all of a sudden I felt something manifesting itself in my lower intestine. That first spicy Thai dish was about to reek havoc so without a word I hobbled to the bathroom. I hurriedly grabbed the side of the thrown and let loose with a toxic substance that came out with the speed of a late night locomotive. For the next ten minutes or so I alternated between crying and turning on the faucet so no one could hear me punishing the toilet. When I finally emerged everyone was really quite and I'm pretty sure they put two and two together when they saw me walking bow-legged while the smell from the bathroom slowly wafted into the kitchen. </p><p>When the class was finally over I felt like I was going to puke. I'd eaten more then I ever thought possible and I prayed that the burning sensation in my crotch was the result of my curry fingers touching my penis while peeing and not due to the encounter I had with what's-her-name the night before. I've had better days.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51ygN5FWblyU6VHjYIIgW2PymcUYFYfL7xGnEG8WVWQmSM__R8zamxeEFgf0_dLWFJu_uFXM_XkF-TxW4USWmeTxt3S1Z605T4UWEbOCifLrEocSbhewkXGT6Y8edNNpT5y9Cu04HDPg/s1600-h/willspics+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112623503156053986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51ygN5FWblyU6VHjYIIgW2PymcUYFYfL7xGnEG8WVWQmSM__R8zamxeEFgf0_dLWFJu_uFXM_XkF-TxW4USWmeTxt3S1Z605T4UWEbOCifLrEocSbhewkXGT6Y8edNNpT5y9Cu04HDPg/s320/willspics+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>When I finally sobered up the next day, I decided it was time to get some exercise and get some of that touristy crap out of the way. Damian, Brian and I signed up for an all day bike/elephant ride/ white water rafting excursion that proved to be a lot of fun!</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakUHt9GCoCnt4Hw6RXSlwAq0p37MxDDZm2mPQ-F5FhAinQOgP55IpbFmYO468CYJnii97BXFh182HCp7oeD0iZ_9pgsZu7Jfc5toawF4OnFuNgz2tCX8wDR9tlN5Gl0Wo-xxfqTqO2As/s1600-h/willspics+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112623503156054002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakUHt9GCoCnt4Hw6RXSlwAq0p37MxDDZm2mPQ-F5FhAinQOgP55IpbFmYO468CYJnii97BXFh182HCp7oeD0iZ_9pgsZu7Jfc5toawF4OnFuNgz2tCX8wDR9tlN5Gl0Wo-xxfqTqO2As/s320/willspics+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p>The only mishap was when I turned to Damian and told him that if Brian kept riding downhill on the highway without his hands on the handlebars and no helmet he was going to hurt himself. Damian replied, "I wouldn't normally care but that would really ruin our day." "No," I replied, "it would really ruin his." We rounded the corner and there was Brian lying on the pavement with his bike about five feet behind him. "Did Brian just bail?" I asked. "Yup, didn't see that one coming," was Damian's reply.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFl5WjNE70xwkl565KrjaJBpj2aDnm75a_FKG-tUzS1tv1EZZO7JHzrbE_jUsiX6BbaOkUyS-Sq1QBUAStRM7E9uPZrYEUl1k9keOUGr0hIxeqiS8ES3Rl6U6o33oBLU_f50hGNZFgdg/s1600-h/willspics+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112623511745988610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFl5WjNE70xwkl565KrjaJBpj2aDnm75a_FKG-tUzS1tv1EZZO7JHzrbE_jUsiX6BbaOkUyS-Sq1QBUAStRM7E9uPZrYEUl1k9keOUGr0hIxeqiS8ES3Rl6U6o33oBLU_f50hGNZFgdg/s320/willspics+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Elephant's are awesome!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmmDV9J0ACiQiHNa1t9CUFdj_ax08dnO3nIZmGJfp6iIrie5lmOk02EcN-6gQNum5-RjlefB6AccgIuu2HiZlR-5KTAVwyXAW34L3NmMlfCJ1q-6GXhxK6fMzTBASpQXkfa5kMuPUPcM/s1600-h/willspics+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112622506723641234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmmDV9J0ACiQiHNa1t9CUFdj_ax08dnO3nIZmGJfp6iIrie5lmOk02EcN-6gQNum5-RjlefB6AccgIuu2HiZlR-5KTAVwyXAW34L3NmMlfCJ1q-6GXhxK6fMzTBASpQXkfa5kMuPUPcM/s320/willspics+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While elephant riding is really fun, I have to admit that I wasn't all that impressed with the way they were treated. All the elephants have gaping holes in their heads that's covered in some sort of iodine solution. When the elephant stops to eat, the rider takes out a stick with a hook on it and beats the elephant until he keeps going. That might work at home with your wives guys but show some respect, this is an elephant!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljRSm0QpgfrEmlu9XuPEefURLTtucLWTGYXuuUWCDHFUX3H2CRQ4jHIskIF4ALQ7a0diF3pojTlmBxHrya7Mt0DsfmawgeLk7LDc7dHv-5YM0EEaKJhacz1nCIXGO_NVMhvKQhXrAg3A/s1600-h/willspics+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112622506723641250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljRSm0QpgfrEmlu9XuPEefURLTtucLWTGYXuuUWCDHFUX3H2CRQ4jHIskIF4ALQ7a0diF3pojTlmBxHrya7Mt0DsfmawgeLk7LDc7dHv-5YM0EEaKJhacz1nCIXGO_NVMhvKQhXrAg3A/s320/willspics+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The day was capped off with a little whitewater to finish everything off. 'Twas a great time had by all!Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-18461027447386707592007-09-02T07:47:00.001-07:002008-12-09T23:36:51.871-08:00Gibbon Experience (Aug 28-31)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOBgsqNjqRyNpHitohG281rM_QmJk0359aFoB5PsR-t-aFHMNgmQriT02sR1ZkmAvhpTY-VAlaNBnnKWwUjljwNNZWDn0cE52y8LdRuZ8mJNpKu98Otp0M3TSckUG3IZqdTnSQfcXtrw/s1600-h/willpic+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105952929294391682" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOBgsqNjqRyNpHitohG281rM_QmJk0359aFoB5PsR-t-aFHMNgmQriT02sR1ZkmAvhpTY-VAlaNBnnKWwUjljwNNZWDn0cE52y8LdRuZ8mJNpKu98Otp0M3TSckUG3IZqdTnSQfcXtrw/s320/willpic+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I arrived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Huay</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Xai</span> or however the hell you want to spell it, (I think I've seen six different ways so far,) and got ready to do the Gibbon Experience! My friend Evan traveled this part of the world a few years ago and recommended this trip. While I usually don't take advice from Evan as it often comes with a dose of the clap, he was spot on this time!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLddowDDBp3QQpkOiNslK_u9VBHH5KaEqo0igXQSI79LtjMGTf5vgtKwoVWpxpHWnaL32OA4hYYO106EWqBBHc21-oDAypPY9HEU021KSY68UXXR69hyphenhyphenXPWsWuz3TkDO0Rb3MGuP7bJ0/s1600-h/willpic+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105952933589358994" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLddowDDBp3QQpkOiNslK_u9VBHH5KaEqo0igXQSI79LtjMGTf5vgtKwoVWpxpHWnaL32OA4hYYO106EWqBBHc21-oDAypPY9HEU021KSY68UXXR69hyphenhyphenXPWsWuz3TkDO0Rb3MGuP7bJ0/s320/willpic+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We all hopped in a van and after about a half hour of driving we arrived at a native village where we were introduced to our guide "Thom."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkopq23X0p5ZbV4o2JqalxV_Txl8N8ZBhtYa0wNWvLXCWS6cAr8zesKTFfiDDzaaw139RwWVlJsH_az8S6YXtVl5YtzK4OfQsJ4NqHaZeEmFIZD5X9Ip2ljDzv9TsgQAeRxDagDxwEGI/s1600-h/willpic+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105952177675114802" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkopq23X0p5ZbV4o2JqalxV_Txl8N8ZBhtYa0wNWvLXCWS6cAr8zesKTFfiDDzaaw139RwWVlJsH_az8S6YXtVl5YtzK4OfQsJ4NqHaZeEmFIZD5X9Ip2ljDzv9TsgQAeRxDagDxwEGI/s320/willpic+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The trek begins. After about two hours of hiking between rice fields and through rivers we arrived in another village of a remote hill tribe.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW48sj_v-vr2mAMZ2jlXrQZw9Bgbu56V7BCBBFvhJJn6mejmNz9w7D_TFPLd0Z8vxrRj0z91lcPQCMB3sYQDlEepvFErtZ3_6pMMFK4o-bNzcHJGbnkBWJjqGR6nWbl61y8iCmeIxxzY/s1600-h/willpic+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105952177675114818" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZW48sj_v-vr2mAMZ2jlXrQZw9Bgbu56V7BCBBFvhJJn6mejmNz9w7D_TFPLd0Z8vxrRj0z91lcPQCMB3sYQDlEepvFErtZ3_6pMMFK4o-bNzcHJGbnkBWJjqGR6nWbl61y8iCmeIxxzY/s320/willpic+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The people here are extremely poor and besides environmental conservation, "The Gibbon Experience's" main goal is to promote sustainable development among the people living in the region. This entails quite a bit of work, everything from stopping slash and burn farming to giving the hill tribes employment as guides comes into play.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDQp1TcY-zM3PVkZYvKLjyxnFD5lD0CqXHegCjvIIAcgOo5ekH9GIwM7Rkwrji91RGXpCoGpZAfvStKYQBGXcsuR-wD1lggHUFYV4mnuBJl0O7RkfpRyyVCBTTUmH9mNdOY7ZZCcjIIU/s1600-h/willpic+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105952186265049426" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDQp1TcY-zM3PVkZYvKLjyxnFD5lD0CqXHegCjvIIAcgOo5ekH9GIwM7Rkwrji91RGXpCoGpZAfvStKYQBGXcsuR-wD1lggHUFYV4mnuBJl0O7RkfpRyyVCBTTUmH9mNdOY7ZZCcjIIU/s320/willpic+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Luckily it wasn't raining that day, we were hiking through some pretty dense jungle in parts and rain would have made this nearly impossible!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8rqtwz_9LYICIBzcfdLRmhBZjCxMw0m7D4YWfAqSikRz5fbVpOS5WJavw39hUaIu5nWjiKT_wNBkcrj-vv2wqS_N1WTzUQ_6PB-OdJGPTH2uMXU_f5FtJ84wpYhy0OpUdEhPfF51Ris/s1600-h/willpic+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105952186265049442" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8rqtwz_9LYICIBzcfdLRmhBZjCxMw0m7D4YWfAqSikRz5fbVpOS5WJavw39hUaIu5nWjiKT_wNBkcrj-vv2wqS_N1WTzUQ_6PB-OdJGPTH2uMXU_f5FtJ84wpYhy0OpUdEhPfF51Ris/s320/willpic+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we finally arrived at the station after another three hours of hiking we were exhausted! I met one of the camp pets, a black bear and I tried to get a picture of the monkey but he was too quick for me!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyyI9tqlYyqcg7qc7NtCYKJRgyDcXOaRLQNjTztqSSt0LXkUcVSTfwa6dPO8JaMmMCr04urkYxLv7SBNqi75-oP0yxQVL6KbLcsmyhXm40re9qTS5CMIq3sAFxhIozRpFcFKcrYA4Rio/s1600-h/willpic+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105952190560016754" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyyI9tqlYyqcg7qc7NtCYKJRgyDcXOaRLQNjTztqSSt0LXkUcVSTfwa6dPO8JaMmMCr04urkYxLv7SBNqi75-oP0yxQVL6KbLcsmyhXm40re9qTS5CMIq3sAFxhIozRpFcFKcrYA4Rio/s320/willpic+039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So what exactly is "The Gibbon Experience" anyway? Ah. Glad you asked. Gibbons are actually a species of monkey that are indigenous to norther Laos. The Experience's job is to make you feel like you're one of them!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWGxIedHD4ST2BTXRVTtqO5Q6-DEhVCaQouXcUmmwwiGXjLCTwOXSVXHvYazkvRtGTgLdmlOYIQ3AHhCefkGTeOnBB5xoZYDaIRjMjA1QlDis8bcmzF5m2q4EAu1JHYD95z9u_DqAlqw/s1600-h/willpic+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105951164062832866" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWGxIedHD4ST2BTXRVTtqO5Q6-DEhVCaQouXcUmmwwiGXjLCTwOXSVXHvYazkvRtGTgLdmlOYIQ3AHhCefkGTeOnBB5xoZYDaIRjMjA1QlDis8bcmzF5m2q4EAu1JHYD95z9u_DqAlqw/s320/willpic+040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For three days you sleep in tree houses hundreds of feet above the jungle floor,<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyn27C57Jr-NXhhNsRnB2BxF46GmMzLAtsj-JZBo0RkMc-XPqsHhU3bwHXNXQ4igmgJY2MyLBd3vx4RXwpOFwTR2r1pyedX2hdS1atNmpLLW-0zO8rzOl9SmyYLYIkyC0YD0UPovgou1U/s1600-h/willpic+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105951168357800178" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyn27C57Jr-NXhhNsRnB2BxF46GmMzLAtsj-JZBo0RkMc-XPqsHhU3bwHXNXQ4igmgJY2MyLBd3vx4RXwpOFwTR2r1pyedX2hdS1atNmpLLW-0zO8rzOl9SmyYLYIkyC0YD0UPovgou1U/s320/willpic+041.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And go screaming between the foliage on a set of zip lines!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lHP658TEgWaVYPeUk22VbO3ejCqbY3NCAzbCIlr1ZjJWVf97Si8932cGpsXjfOToyc29AdMM70KPHH1HXay8HT8m-aLz9XJ6T2nLvX7ZdAxf2vRVl0i26_M9Zc9fEWpZvnX37KtvBGU/s1600-h/willpic+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105951172652767490" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lHP658TEgWaVYPeUk22VbO3ejCqbY3NCAzbCIlr1ZjJWVf97Si8932cGpsXjfOToyc29AdMM70KPHH1HXay8HT8m-aLz9XJ6T2nLvX7ZdAxf2vRVl0i26_M9Zc9fEWpZvnX37KtvBGU/s320/willpic+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some of the zip lines are up to 450 feet long!!! I can't even begin to describe what it feels like to be speeding along suspended by just a waist harness and see mountains in the distance and then look down and see nothing but jungle hundreds of feet bellow you!<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdmcPT5V9QS8Fepo_9Yne7eBeM3a6w1Q34R4RCGoI8ZIqDFRotD9ZwdgPewHPP586aoYoWpUgSsjCyh-MsAZoQS29dUHDwO6HHI6ZscDJgLLrwILMygY671ZtV3UIf3u8osp7T69_F2o/s1600-h/willpic+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105951176947734802" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdmcPT5V9QS8Fepo_9Yne7eBeM3a6w1Q34R4RCGoI8ZIqDFRotD9ZwdgPewHPP586aoYoWpUgSsjCyh-MsAZoQS29dUHDwO6HHI6ZscDJgLLrwILMygY671ZtV3UIf3u8osp7T69_F2o/s320/willpic+043.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a picture of our sleeping quarters in Tree House #5.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ffCxA2dTJXfYO3MCv2fosbxgNVeir4vZA3DA3E17RHEiw2T8P_co1sCx2NNsFzqVWvMF6F-l0pHIeLiOf5_amI7Pfxy55OGkdHbzGCWuqZvTXzo8vAMtruTj1sHAnTbQ7u1WGUI9g1A/s1600-h/willpic+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105951181242702114" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ffCxA2dTJXfYO3MCv2fosbxgNVeir4vZA3DA3E17RHEiw2T8P_co1sCx2NNsFzqVWvMF6F-l0pHIeLiOf5_amI7Pfxy55OGkdHbzGCWuqZvTXzo8vAMtruTj1sHAnTbQ7u1WGUI9g1A/s320/willpic+044.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And this is a view off the balcony!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZnTdWG37dch7Xj31taj4KYyGY8_zeL2Lgw6vyy5SgLhpXvoGcL6CXEbmGo6elfSjy7YyVnGHMm-__tSQfwAMnjo0YnNAs0ytx-298ZEDEVUcPcil641ctbA9G0MMZCLh5DgpeyN6bmg/s1600-h/willpic+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105949935702186146" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZnTdWG37dch7Xj31taj4KYyGY8_zeL2Lgw6vyy5SgLhpXvoGcL6CXEbmGo6elfSjy7YyVnGHMm-__tSQfwAMnjo0YnNAs0ytx-298ZEDEVUcPcil641ctbA9G0MMZCLh5DgpeyN6bmg/s320/willpic+046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once you've hiked to your tree house, the guides take off and you're pretty much left to do whatever you want! You can hike around, go zip lining or just hang out and read a book.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUA8_uYhURyMIUTqBkrxRXs_A7hGeJAB_xvhzRfku3drJRLrOFLdojC0dxTpHCKAy84gnF8wUkHLtH5PlitsfwGP9zpU4InDUkBfg1iT1YaydsaNtSOmaplDNwmlxX_85AbFy4gyIAO4/s1600-h/willpic+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105949927112251538" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUA8_uYhURyMIUTqBkrxRXs_A7hGeJAB_xvhzRfku3drJRLrOFLdojC0dxTpHCKAy84gnF8wUkHLtH5PlitsfwGP9zpU4InDUkBfg1iT1YaydsaNtSOmaplDNwmlxX_85AbFy4gyIAO4/s320/willpic+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This gives you a better idea of how high up you actually are! See that little speck? That's yours truly!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GkCDRQrAywGPSNtZM9ZkteI4tVIdDJakoTcgdtURDVcksxuu6_NpQW0wkXF9wcjC2Eyyy-vgjMgiokLvm2GBj6tM0-TFciUwYhjqbskTrQQbGRBnAWY9_Qiq8YlnV0LarTeWxSH-iUM/s1600-h/willpic+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105949952882055378" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GkCDRQrAywGPSNtZM9ZkteI4tVIdDJakoTcgdtURDVcksxuu6_NpQW0wkXF9wcjC2Eyyy-vgjMgiokLvm2GBj6tM0-TFciUwYhjqbskTrQQbGRBnAWY9_Qiq8YlnV0LarTeWxSH-iUM/s320/willpic+049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is Tree House # 5. I had to shimmy out backwards along the line to get this shot. It's pretty scary going that slowly, especially if you look down!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgrN-TOjVn6NvMSW4A3UJpPSuzSYGnUWESzAmnKSXk2d_5VO7KW089C6sBLg36R_TTdEQOas_2nRj4Nhue2ewlH95NRbOVorKlzqVkY18n2v-xOZ0K7qVCavuXuvJPt2pNPXU1rI8pXE/s1600-h/willpic+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105948273549842514" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgrN-TOjVn6NvMSW4A3UJpPSuzSYGnUWESzAmnKSXk2d_5VO7KW089C6sBLg36R_TTdEQOas_2nRj4Nhue2ewlH95NRbOVorKlzqVkY18n2v-xOZ0K7qVCavuXuvJPt2pNPXU1rI8pXE/s320/willpic+051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What's really incredible is that all your meals are cooked by locals working for the "Experience" and three times a day the food is prepared, packed into little metal containers and then a guide will put on a harness, hike out to the nearest line and then glide over to deliver your food!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC8dzvCe7ey5D3UBnisQw7xXrcEEff602IOrm7L6gyTlzxXNZ9vOJcav64niTvwJOD9OT7p1weUfG1gU9m8VOUv9iZG1BaUijfuhwQkMsa-AoxeE8LCeroEcHvX0rL-1Cp80PDoc9i_k/s1600-h/willpic+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105948277844809826" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYC8dzvCe7ey5D3UBnisQw7xXrcEEff602IOrm7L6gyTlzxXNZ9vOJcav64niTvwJOD9OT7p1weUfG1gU9m8VOUv9iZG1BaUijfuhwQkMsa-AoxeE8LCeroEcHvX0rL-1Cp80PDoc9i_k/s320/willpic+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, that is a rainbow and yes, this is the most amazing thing I've ever done!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7TJlzU6VpErEmdtdzQMuewHyx8j9AwX__CZ5j7lCFWjGNannmD4MQRaTvT3a1ztZi7bagj-_CvYxYGDt0tgW3xYog1oQZk78uNZ_TnuOVfgmwJ3d9o1LbMxN1aGQvjyAIHdhCjLGZ7A/s1600-h/willpic+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105948282139777154" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7TJlzU6VpErEmdtdzQMuewHyx8j9AwX__CZ5j7lCFWjGNannmD4MQRaTvT3a1ztZi7bagj-_CvYxYGDt0tgW3xYog1oQZk78uNZ_TnuOVfgmwJ3d9o1LbMxN1aGQvjyAIHdhCjLGZ7A/s320/willpic+055.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That night, a fog set in over the mountains and the wind started to pick up!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCKNVRT8Uf1T-sHfQqmTyGEO73xfP6FR38_Px3PoS5FSNNdWnE2zZjRBd00zLwLRqoaqpphCwAiaxlbuiPCttrDmyOCdNG26eOg4ScFNj2CDi6UYckvt-M-2kjkGBvlQYu2uQCKEx_-U/s1600-h/willpic+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105947320067102706" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCKNVRT8Uf1T-sHfQqmTyGEO73xfP6FR38_Px3PoS5FSNNdWnE2zZjRBd00zLwLRqoaqpphCwAiaxlbuiPCttrDmyOCdNG26eOg4ScFNj2CDi6UYckvt-M-2kjkGBvlQYu2uQCKEx_-U/s320/willpic+056.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There's obviously no electricity so at night you play cards and hang out by candle light. At about 2am there was a massive lightning storm that lasted a few hours. The tree house was practically shaking whenever the thunder sounded and the whole jungle was lit up by bolts of lightning!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPl2pzyzdNgIgah-WaPxj0GZ22tbDoq1l6Nw7DI4UEjM8Cimddf0Omz00GPn8enqmaFQeWVa9u_vINzV8i-obTiUt11dp3JIPjqXbjy8vwvFWAm2QFPw3TtFLF0aLKapzLUMkNpU2MpE/s1600-h/willpic+057.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105947320067102722" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPl2pzyzdNgIgah-WaPxj0GZ22tbDoq1l6Nw7DI4UEjM8Cimddf0Omz00GPn8enqmaFQeWVa9u_vINzV8i-obTiUt11dp3JIPjqXbjy8vwvFWAm2QFPw3TtFLF0aLKapzLUMkNpU2MpE/s320/willpic+057.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sadly, after three days in the trees it was time to hike out. We grabbed all our gear and prepared for the 7 hour journey back to the village.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB26vj8Uw2VFj7RflW_rBXtsUINFpRn6Zs3OY3IrfnLVqtgDCb3bsD8cEZ1v1ICWx-60lED4kdBtNT_OWbnSuGOLFuO00NCJ_Vs8dLAYRk-hcWX0LdXRlIlPTlt9dPkBMvODVKa3B_Nr0/s1600-h/willpic+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105947320067102738" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB26vj8Uw2VFj7RflW_rBXtsUINFpRn6Zs3OY3IrfnLVqtgDCb3bsD8cEZ1v1ICWx-60lED4kdBtNT_OWbnSuGOLFuO00NCJ_Vs8dLAYRk-hcWX0LdXRlIlPTlt9dPkBMvODVKa3B_Nr0/s320/willpic+058.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The going was a little tough in some spots.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM7BqQitXp7Q4zeGUPJUGdgrXSkXHwRpaS35VXNQsn0cGkIEldT3J1cp1nYXggLylcwnJQ0icfOUmTvSWdiUWPc8CUcGHfPbsc7jEk_F_rdAx13eBubiGgkO1fTtX63rRJY4njCFbQQo/s1600-h/willpic+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105947324362070050" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM7BqQitXp7Q4zeGUPJUGdgrXSkXHwRpaS35VXNQsn0cGkIEldT3J1cp1nYXggLylcwnJQ0icfOUmTvSWdiUWPc8CUcGHfPbsc7jEk_F_rdAx13eBubiGgkO1fTtX63rRJY4njCFbQQo/s320/willpic+059.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Especially when the leaches took hold.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Lhdgy4_rLjBHK_hEiZsYx7PRl3f66Ka_uR-JwosedGQ6QoIAaqzmX5W49KDYVrOZFZ8J2gbK-E6HWCaXaaLcJFo1DL5w3u9p_-4C6bltiunai8ng35O-iXNkw3cuSuWy034pPJ-o3YM/s1600-h/willpic+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105947324362070066" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Lhdgy4_rLjBHK_hEiZsYx7PRl3f66Ka_uR-JwosedGQ6QoIAaqzmX5W49KDYVrOZFZ8J2gbK-E6HWCaXaaLcJFo1DL5w3u9p_-4C6bltiunai8ng35O-iXNkw3cuSuWy034pPJ-o3YM/s320/willpic+060.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A nourishing lunch of rice and......well rice.....wrapped in a banana leaf. The villagers don't exactly live the life of luxury so every meal you have is pretty much the same. Rice and veggies or once in awhile if you're REALLY lucky you get rice with a bit of chicken. But not often.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdpVJ0_D-shSapG02K-3bPAM8L9gZf3siZ-Q2MQpqJlhBooaS42meDKhcLYhBmYV-Comkof7YUZig96AUAn9Tlw6CZYjnP2OWOmUNFr5scGF4NBX5mPSjXIr5quFEq0stcEAHHXsmiEA/s1600-h/willpic+061.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105945649324824482" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdpVJ0_D-shSapG02K-3bPAM8L9gZf3siZ-Q2MQpqJlhBooaS42meDKhcLYhBmYV-Comkof7YUZig96AUAn9Tlw6CZYjnP2OWOmUNFr5scGF4NBX5mPSjXIr5quFEq0stcEAHHXsmiEA/s320/willpic+061.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I didn't like all the stopping my group was doing so I ploughed on ahead by myself in order to better commune with nature.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1yQuH7dCZKC67gPpcifInZts2NinhfXIKWvKQpIq2N_jjRJk_kjwBL42N2WRTEvNSpBNlXsoHQlxrzZBGQavBIJuwkdejfXkFYPahzrGtz7-YeoE6sEabLtTGLp6zMqKFmoQWeCZgoU/s1600-h/willpic+062.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105945649324824498" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1yQuH7dCZKC67gPpcifInZts2NinhfXIKWvKQpIq2N_jjRJk_kjwBL42N2WRTEvNSpBNlXsoHQlxrzZBGQavBIJuwkdejfXkFYPahzrGtz7-YeoE6sEabLtTGLp6zMqKFmoQWeCZgoU/s320/willpic+062.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thankfully I didn't get lost in the middle of the Laos jungle although there were a few twists and turns that I wasn't exactly sure of.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4n1SYa5lwUfxegPCUzmIhsmVkbOLMrrAKdqXedtksx1h0ihZV6lnagSh3PjndkvhVvdEQ62FLVagd8RldI1tXlXTm_ukPC8b3R0R70oumOPNe7NGiXTghz-DV8NT_EctzzYlN-lE4uE/s1600-h/willpic+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105945653619791810" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4n1SYa5lwUfxegPCUzmIhsmVkbOLMrrAKdqXedtksx1h0ihZV6lnagSh3PjndkvhVvdEQ62FLVagd8RldI1tXlXTm_ukPC8b3R0R70oumOPNe7NGiXTghz-DV8NT_EctzzYlN-lE4uE/s320/willpic+063.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finally I made it back to the village where I ran into Thom who'd left the night before. Since I was the only one around he was nice enough to introduce me to his mother and let me hang out at his place for a bit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNEd-tp16w7L_hN27PnGoR_oiV-EVT3elRXCt1D-OpNoikOLxucFXypVnTVKvn3edHd7NEYoQ0DlryKDhfU1r0G6C2HZtXxN-9BF5Ab4tMiS8rbd2P2_8lx5SQ-v7LQdgNmJ72gXt4U4/s1600-h/willpic+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105945653619791826" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNEd-tp16w7L_hN27PnGoR_oiV-EVT3elRXCt1D-OpNoikOLxucFXypVnTVKvn3edHd7NEYoQ0DlryKDhfU1r0G6C2HZtXxN-9BF5Ab4tMiS8rbd2P2_8lx5SQ-v7LQdgNmJ72gXt4U4/s320/willpic+064.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is his family.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8npr-MZsw6TjfTZWABxZU_KigUnAakx7xJYNqCetqqOtxsCiCw4u3r3NUQSx2OYSgnjEwoXPgvf7_C5MpYeujNb9MLTPjJjprKEl2QErJpVM3rZynsQVm3yyBC2_SlEQj5Qhm-_Hp9B0/s1600-h/willpic+065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105945657914759138" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8npr-MZsw6TjfTZWABxZU_KigUnAakx7xJYNqCetqqOtxsCiCw4u3r3NUQSx2OYSgnjEwoXPgvf7_C5MpYeujNb9MLTPjJjprKEl2QErJpVM3rZynsQVm3yyBC2_SlEQj5Qhm-_Hp9B0/s320/willpic+065.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They are absolutely adorable!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7O1_nH81u34SgSyf3jBGbq5AZAsNJVIuszqwUSNgQDkvVUtZQ2idwjo4wi7HLJokkpc_iKvCiCOsEkwrnJ1FmqlxX_TPYVUlmreIwww83nhwmMSK9OeHeIVM3SiUC_GqNzCpjQLJyj8/s1600-h/willpic+053.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105948282139777138" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7O1_nH81u34SgSyf3jBGbq5AZAsNJVIuszqwUSNgQDkvVUtZQ2idwjo4wi7HLJokkpc_iKvCiCOsEkwrnJ1FmqlxX_TPYVUlmreIwww83nhwmMSK9OeHeIVM3SiUC_GqNzCpjQLJyj8/s320/willpic+053.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of all the things I've done on my travels this one was extra special. Not only did I have an amazing time and meet some really cool people, but I got to see first hand a program that seems to be trying to help some of the poorest people in the country. And what's best of all is that it seems to be a success!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-6396368697283671922007-09-02T07:44:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:36:58.433-08:00Vang Vieng/Vientien (Aug 22-27)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyQpqLcWL4eg1XRq2u3BRAeDVeRWCQIMjYJfgH8fU_CCMWE-rItd-W3clWkg21ZmxMwRrKRMM8zolKJB7DX0n3dAjC_LJrk3rrIkou4TYqF5xcrSM1ixVfEeEhRWYlscGkka_Py8CBVw/s1600-h/willpic+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105941869753603954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyQpqLcWL4eg1XRq2u3BRAeDVeRWCQIMjYJfgH8fU_CCMWE-rItd-W3clWkg21ZmxMwRrKRMM8zolKJB7DX0n3dAjC_LJrk3rrIkou4TYqF5xcrSM1ixVfEeEhRWYlscGkka_Py8CBVw/s320/willpic+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh man oh man! Vang Vieng, the city of contradictions! This is a city where you can buy a bag of opium at every other store on the main street but if you're out after curfew (11:30pm) you'll more than likely end up in the back of a police van. Where to start?<br /><br />The whole town is composed of about six streets. Most of these streets are filled with restaurants and bars that have elevated seat platforms with pillows for you to lie on. The show "Friends" is played ad nauseum from about seven in the morning until eleven at night. While standing at the main intersection it's possible to hear no less than four episodes all going at once. After a few hours Ross's whiny little voice makes you want to take a bath with a plugged-in toaster but I swear to god I saw some people never move for entire days!!! So why come here? What's this place got to offer that's so special?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgS-YpiP_twqO5EUZq5uPPcqfYOdRmt7wqrtJi8tFYGQiENo8eAKLI3qH5znm1mWksu-aJDecC5cVXf27P-dzf0RpwpZFrGX3JKabKuITpdWmbdY9UuC3Cm_XZaAC1dHUPQ09wZoYIAQ/s1600-h/New+Image6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106708933732801042" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgS-YpiP_twqO5EUZq5uPPcqfYOdRmt7wqrtJi8tFYGQiENo8eAKLI3qH5znm1mWksu-aJDecC5cVXf27P-dzf0RpwpZFrGX3JKabKuITpdWmbdY9UuC3Cm_XZaAC1dHUPQ09wZoYIAQ/s320/New+Image6.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The answer my friends, is tubing. Picture this. You and your friends roll out of bed hungover, (or more likely still intoxicated,) from the night before. After a greasy breakfast and a few episodes of fucking "Friends" you walk down to the river where for about $3 you're given an inner tube and ten minute ride north.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz4a47MUQ3C7fDJ3tSblpk2qKxJnx7xmZC0DCI0pzJvyOD2tWZI3vHctrFZTVcXb_8bBendM6UjoUYzJEvKS0O38OgLmjsLo6XfQUnDs6s1nBHPk-BjXtQn82yrysOUeR6KeJPAsSn7E/s1600-h/New+Image7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106708946617702946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTz4a47MUQ3C7fDJ3tSblpk2qKxJnx7xmZC0DCI0pzJvyOD2tWZI3vHctrFZTVcXb_8bBendM6UjoUYzJEvKS0O38OgLmjsLo6XfQUnDs6s1nBHPk-BjXtQn82yrysOUeR6KeJPAsSn7E/s320/New+Image7.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The truck stops, you get out, the truck drives away. There's a sign on the side on the bank of the river that tells you not to litter and other than a few cows there's no one around. You jump into your tube and off you go!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg4UZaIIOULcZWDpdYxe9oLM5YoMWxLFEsnW3B0xsGWICPYs9DFar7FoM8-LljxyT4iOSOZUuJeQUNpHVcyYk7KnLGZvcPKGXEM9iIvZWnsqqKLbz1f4hSCEixbyUj6ByStEphPGS94U/s1600-h/New+Image4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106710754798934658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg4UZaIIOULcZWDpdYxe9oLM5YoMWxLFEsnW3B0xsGWICPYs9DFar7FoM8-LljxyT4iOSOZUuJeQUNpHVcyYk7KnLGZvcPKGXEM9iIvZWnsqqKLbz1f4hSCEixbyUj6ByStEphPGS94U/s320/New+Image4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />All along the river are "rest stops" where you can buy a giant beer for a buck and use the rope swings that look like they couldn't support the weight of a six year old girl. Usually there's a kid standing on a platform who throws you a stick with a rope attached to it to pull you in. Oh yeah, and for buying a beer some places throw in a free shot of "Lao Lao," homemade rice whiskey that could fell an elephant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf04N04GpN7wnv52-E9Op5g1tEOrc1MjixHHaq0a42xLwsU_EQjy9pzoGpcG6Z_8xfAoj1ZjkDRhq1xw50kB0ZHNA4q2h4e7NsAAA4zRbXa4ckBBSRPOsN-yMjw91JK649eiLp2dPL0w/s1600-h/updated2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106708968092539458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf04N04GpN7wnv52-E9Op5g1tEOrc1MjixHHaq0a42xLwsU_EQjy9pzoGpcG6Z_8xfAoj1ZjkDRhq1xw50kB0ZHNA4q2h4e7NsAAA4zRbXa4ckBBSRPOsN-yMjw91JK649eiLp2dPL0w/s320/updated2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Most of the bars sell marijuana and magic mushrooms too, so combined with the sun and all the Beer Lao you've had you're usually blind drunk by about 10:30 in the morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R2j5VfZHe9RHur5IyQpjTRqXheUsNb7C7YP4LoFxZpjrJPKPFT5n3pr6qNsKl7COLK8gz081UrKsnbjZQKIH393hHcS1xtiE7cT-voqmzopWV6ns3rz5GX3rMGEDsHJh5HeqDfgV6wA/s1600-h/New+Image2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106710733324098146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-R2j5VfZHe9RHur5IyQpjTRqXheUsNb7C7YP4LoFxZpjrJPKPFT5n3pr6qNsKl7COLK8gz081UrKsnbjZQKIH393hHcS1xtiE7cT-voqmzopWV6ns3rz5GX3rMGEDsHJh5HeqDfgV6wA/s320/New+Image2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The good news is you're not alone! There are anywhere between two and five hundred people doing the exact same thing, and some of them are even more screwed up than you are!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIb4FlqhhuemGvaw9JoaZ65X9VVljff50GxISXEVVPP4N-OZRKi9iEPhRRsY06_zbMr9C1HRBUmv5hQFm6hzT5bbIC469hrKoJwoS0BtjrGUBbAg4-axmBrhgPzXq5ZKYboA2ynZ_cfM/s1600-h/46400008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106707220040849858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIb4FlqhhuemGvaw9JoaZ65X9VVljff50GxISXEVVPP4N-OZRKi9iEPhRRsY06_zbMr9C1HRBUmv5hQFm6hzT5bbIC469hrKoJwoS0BtjrGUBbAg4-axmBrhgPzXq5ZKYboA2ynZ_cfM/s320/46400008.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The clothes come off, some people pass out on the bars, a volleyball game starts up, there's music and dancing and vomit and hormone induced mayhem that fuels a competition to see who can hurt themselves the most on the rope swing and it goes on and on........<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiNAe17qYJrhEx8lIG2seu26PQ9XOrWtEeWKQoODyqr3-VsUrwayrfAofFHFYPPV-FgRbkUZ4dl1Ym-SIce4IqZ8qWNIAGRp4lOlv8grvVRa3wu9n0escimlWCahPzBw92uqsB3Ql2lY/s1600-h/updated.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106708955207637554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiNAe17qYJrhEx8lIG2seu26PQ9XOrWtEeWKQoODyqr3-VsUrwayrfAofFHFYPPV-FgRbkUZ4dl1Ym-SIce4IqZ8qWNIAGRp4lOlv8grvVRa3wu9n0escimlWCahPzBw92uqsB3Ql2lY/s320/updated.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And it's even more fun than you can imagine!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRiZMQtDPaav42rLrVfza-8jbN04jEgGPFra4rDxSoMeCeWtoYdg-RXV08c6sJK6Uhl6YCcT5ppSuQ1XXjveYfEg93k9Cb0TVXd7fgzETrXvAk251R6qQywGFcKxHKI79klPGGFN4-v4/s1600-h/New+Image1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106710720439196242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRiZMQtDPaav42rLrVfza-8jbN04jEgGPFra4rDxSoMeCeWtoYdg-RXV08c6sJK6Uhl6YCcT5ppSuQ1XXjveYfEg93k9Cb0TVXd7fgzETrXvAk251R6qQywGFcKxHKI79klPGGFN4-v4/s320/New+Image1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This was the first place we stopped. It pretty much went downhill from there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEO923W6vrDb9E0hNwaEj86mRPYsV0aCzf92C0EdRVpOKPIkrFch-QSFlZVd6GjodOuH__sOAS2fR4ZQg2iFs8ru76VVkJBJ4fiax404oBrD7AwYoINGY4tNaNi4Lgjdaxgg5G4PBtiE/s1600-h/New+Image3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106710746209000050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEO923W6vrDb9E0hNwaEj86mRPYsV0aCzf92C0EdRVpOKPIkrFch-QSFlZVd6GjodOuH__sOAS2fR4ZQg2iFs8ru76VVkJBJ4fiax404oBrD7AwYoINGY4tNaNi4Lgjdaxgg5G4PBtiE/s320/New+Image3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At around 5 o'clock I noticed that it was getting dark and that my friend Luke and I were the only people still in the bar. Somehow I'd gotten so drunk that I'd lost my tube but luckily Luke still had his so we both jumped on and away we went. Did I say it was getting dark? What I meant to say was that it was pitch black. Having no idea where we were supposed to get off Luke and I merrily floated down the river praying that we'd see a light or something that indicated that this was where we were supposed to get off. Nothing. All of a sudden we heard this voice calling out in the darkness. We paddled over and found this wasted chick who's tube was caught in some reeds. After we untangled her we floated for another fifteen minutes or so before we saw a light. The three of us jumped out and wandered up to a house where the startled Lao family that was having dinner pointed us in the direction back to town. We'd missed the last stop by about a half an hour. I'm really not that surprised that a few people die every year doing this!!! WWwweeeeeeeeeeee!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYKNfE5dqF3iCJukrKu_iE1g-DIwrHj5CWCBr-U834qLcE0hWwtAaYn-5Q4aAuduXav_LU93q5KmNRpmS5BnZndOI3G9lxss66BK8gnJFDuvit76RywumVmY9aBmnyPxzv0cBiuvOQtQ/s1600-h/n506230619_187822_4011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105942303545300866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYKNfE5dqF3iCJukrKu_iE1g-DIwrHj5CWCBr-U834qLcE0hWwtAaYn-5Q4aAuduXav_LU93q5KmNRpmS5BnZndOI3G9lxss66BK8gnJFDuvit76RywumVmY9aBmnyPxzv0cBiuvOQtQ/s320/n506230619_187822_4011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />We were tired of standing up all day and drinking so we decided that night we'd drink lying down instead.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeashleEX2GGRhk0tdss88qlzjwcEriIMsUwT95lxEdrmUEu1KxeZhENQJ50MCBV6Tt6Ip2PzbbCWFlTZpIqIXC9ySrtTtqWUdTK49Ow0M8XEX1aoWM8zdznG33Yu-TpyOPulj7tLgLw/s1600-h/n506230619_187824_4465.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105942303545300882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeashleEX2GGRhk0tdss88qlzjwcEriIMsUwT95lxEdrmUEu1KxeZhENQJ50MCBV6Tt6Ip2PzbbCWFlTZpIqIXC9ySrtTtqWUdTK49Ow0M8XEX1aoWM8zdznG33Yu-TpyOPulj7tLgLw/s320/n506230619_187824_4465.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I woke up with that oh so familiar feeling that I'd done something wrong the next day, so to cleanse our souls my friends and I decided to check out the nearby caves. The friends that weren't still coming down from the night before that is.....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCStIfUIxHo1S8BG_ggDIlkUKNmXcuuxI-y7zgWOWGT-i5NSqrxmLCY2ITzODrpi4-dLSQMoHMtryUQqbv-xiuzpYJOTs2hc4l4slhksvVpwtqSFDGn0-lqVjxvGtwyo_IMyAXjFvzBto/s1600-h/n506230619_187827_5156.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105941861163669298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCStIfUIxHo1S8BG_ggDIlkUKNmXcuuxI-y7zgWOWGT-i5NSqrxmLCY2ITzODrpi4-dLSQMoHMtryUQqbv-xiuzpYJOTs2hc4l4slhksvVpwtqSFDGn0-lqVjxvGtwyo_IMyAXjFvzBto/s320/n506230619_187827_5156.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Despite all the gigantic spiders the caves are pretty cool. We were told to hire a guide because some people have gotten lost and been stuck in there for days at a time! Others have died of exposure. Guide it was then!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO1FTW99SByB6YcgdZlhSPILJpCWA4OSeSlDfGmrF-yeVzbF_W1oSYppcI_vTMVSfdgHi1lIJTheK3R6qhOLaOTzG_vEkx7fp6ZF0H6veBCi6V7UXSVukWyuNU-2S8zQGx-KkgsKKBWo/s1600-h/n742120466_1090808_1138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105941865458636626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO1FTW99SByB6YcgdZlhSPILJpCWA4OSeSlDfGmrF-yeVzbF_W1oSYppcI_vTMVSfdgHi1lIJTheK3R6qhOLaOTzG_vEkx7fp6ZF0H6veBCi6V7UXSVukWyuNU-2S8zQGx-KkgsKKBWo/s320/n742120466_1090808_1138.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We were all tuckered out after out big day of caving so that night we found a quiet little bar that would let us plug in an ipod and watch a movie before going to bed. The next day we didn't really have anything planned..........let's see......what to do, what to do?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3E4HM9OCUF6viCqtcy5ZaSQj1omq3EOWF4Szo99mvQLKM8phBDQskeFgI1zmVqrOyfN5RUkQdcKCdxg1ajkm9Bn6THP_Qc0QkTYf3p-ovuICg020w7BdnkRhqwA9YLqOmQ2Vs49JWiMM/s1600-h/46400006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106707224335817170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3E4HM9OCUF6viCqtcy5ZaSQj1omq3EOWF4Szo99mvQLKM8phBDQskeFgI1zmVqrOyfN5RUkQdcKCdxg1ajkm9Bn6THP_Qc0QkTYf3p-ovuICg020w7BdnkRhqwA9YLqOmQ2Vs49JWiMM/s320/46400006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Yup. Round two!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnbZwHdMsaxee5v9F2894JrF6NxpD_SDEqPynyzYnsnmvWJIlwcuJaPpMp47S3IlZb6VTlyQuqfn9iElq_GLNMNFdtC2fh3LtWJnAdnHT22oo6fLjj0_kI-2p5MQRURqOGXj5873iNtY/s1600-h/n506230619_187832_6325.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105941861163669314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnbZwHdMsaxee5v9F2894JrF6NxpD_SDEqPynyzYnsnmvWJIlwcuJaPpMp47S3IlZb6VTlyQuqfn9iElq_GLNMNFdtC2fh3LtWJnAdnHT22oo6fLjj0_kI-2p5MQRURqOGXj5873iNtY/s320/n506230619_187832_6325.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This time we stuck mainly to the three big bars halfway down the river and just chilled out most of the day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJDoS6ZmAaXveR9n23Qt1p7EaKJBgPxVHMKNvqzQ4L9NFFlbd7MuPMsSscXd4MrxT3Sfe91IYLDvO5WCyX7pZRjnyRM_zOVyxhxLMryUtVx0lU40xBSAwN_JnGCbqfTkPisyc9rcc0YA/s1600-h/46400005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106707237220719074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJDoS6ZmAaXveR9n23Qt1p7EaKJBgPxVHMKNvqzQ4L9NFFlbd7MuPMsSscXd4MrxT3Sfe91IYLDvO5WCyX7pZRjnyRM_zOVyxhxLMryUtVx0lU40xBSAwN_JnGCbqfTkPisyc9rcc0YA/s320/46400005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />That's me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpEWwTub3N1pTmFoGNsUbS16ArVZvl9PcKbBXKkkO05jy3cIHbqpECWdUUVmAFMvcJFb2cBuuLrozgIj8tBOdz5Zf5CxeHlYGMgQF3EHqY-5jqRTYOMbXOfY4suQ020e9EdpRe8zrEBA/s1600-h/46400004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106707245810653682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpEWwTub3N1pTmFoGNsUbS16ArVZvl9PcKbBXKkkO05jy3cIHbqpECWdUUVmAFMvcJFb2cBuuLrozgIj8tBOdz5Zf5CxeHlYGMgQF3EHqY-5jqRTYOMbXOfY4suQ020e9EdpRe8zrEBA/s320/46400004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is actually a lot more dangerous than it looks. I tried to do a triple back flip on my last go but I under rotated, landed on my face and I'm pretty sure gave myself a minor concussion. You know when you hit your head so hard that everything flashes white for a second? Yeah, that's what happened. When I surfaced people were still staring and pointing and going "OOOoooooo......." so I thought I'd better quit while I was ahead and go grab another beer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gwH-pZ7jzy3j24oREqpXD0aS2m48K_ZfifeoJShigFzm5CxJunWipEbMjUZy1xDABiUEY1C0DXApIPcDQT2Khlw6zPTnhrC_pAIjtu2t4orqJGAR7ixUAK4miQs-XjxjYrUC_CgBwc0/s1600-h/46400015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5106707202860980658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gwH-pZ7jzy3j24oREqpXD0aS2m48K_ZfifeoJShigFzm5CxJunWipEbMjUZy1xDABiUEY1C0DXApIPcDQT2Khlw6zPTnhrC_pAIjtu2t4orqJGAR7ixUAK4miQs-XjxjYrUC_CgBwc0/s320/46400015.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMvk57JKtDJZr__g8YdHVdhJQ0Y1LIPSyYq8kdl7NCEEuM6m-oZbb5zlmKcGlxJDN__oo86XbYpOwuGINNOpNyZvLE1si_6nlRyTa2XE4QIQSXk4PAsIkitzVeSoiupFx2lpmvytLEtY/s1600-h/n506230619_187843_8959.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116754485223391586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMvk57JKtDJZr__g8YdHVdhJQ0Y1LIPSyYq8kdl7NCEEuM6m-oZbb5zlmKcGlxJDN__oo86XbYpOwuGINNOpNyZvLE1si_6nlRyTa2XE4QIQSXk4PAsIkitzVeSoiupFx2lpmvytLEtY/s320/n506230619_187843_8959.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Near the end of the afternoon, when I was absolutely out of my mind wasted, this girl caught my eye and it looked like it was on. Except for one problem. Little miss liquor face is not good at smoking weed, and as soon as the effects started to work their magic she promptly went from really wasted to unconscious dead weight. Her friends and I managed to get her up onto the bank where she stuck her fingers down her throat and proceeded to throw up rather violently. As if this wasn't bad enough, some basic motor skill was still operating on a survival mode and she thought she could recover herself by making this action "sexy." She then proceeded to start felating her fingers, (much to my amusement and her friends horror,) and which point I made my exit, excused myself, and walked back towards town.<br /><br />That night my buddy was out after curfew and the cops picked him up. They threw him into the back of an unmarked van, took him about 30km's into the middle of the jungle and demanded money. Then they drove off and left him there. After several hours of walking he found a farmhouse and stole a bike to ride back to town. He got in at 5am to a girlfriend that was a little less than impressed! Especially since she'd woken up a few hours before to some guy who'd broken into her room and nicked her camera! Nice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zj3yCF8Qxgl3jQCmDyOp1VGTMQjU4CJSy3DwJm2HXBDwL5LCFxAgoIAzbNxJG7-RvpVgeJO8qoBrbX9lGBWImqwvZUgOxJkRONaIUnpKK26vfBkJG9rcV2rsYkurlwhr7H21GNv9M80/s1600-h/willpic+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105941242688378594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zj3yCF8Qxgl3jQCmDyOp1VGTMQjU4CJSy3DwJm2HXBDwL5LCFxAgoIAzbNxJG7-RvpVgeJO8qoBrbX9lGBWImqwvZUgOxJkRONaIUnpKK26vfBkJG9rcV2rsYkurlwhr7H21GNv9M80/s320/willpic+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The next day I thought I'd get some exercise so a friend and I signed up to do some rock climbing. Check out the view of the town!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuux7CfHKDaiUrXCRBDl15WfekoDVtAnrvAe_ZVLgodGI9a-28LS08IrPXipGZs3w72Nm_ALEmxwc2oQmui8nDEnO3pRr-GSDZOikqJPX5QHHYlL7Tkd1hfIRc8LeiwB92uryiU_Dthnk/s1600-h/willpic+004.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8vF_oJUIi20ku54IlMOEj2rZ0xqVeJHPzZbhfky_fpq_DF2EhCTrYPYa1hbJpmvtGRuODYzgHWIjEMo1mypcsgRasZu6MKK9XW404MjUEQzpGGLrXarTyyDCg_03iD3xHQTCn9EyHtY/s1600-h/willpic+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105941255573280546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8vF_oJUIi20ku54IlMOEj2rZ0xqVeJHPzZbhfky_fpq_DF2EhCTrYPYa1hbJpmvtGRuODYzgHWIjEMo1mypcsgRasZu6MKK9XW404MjUEQzpGGLrXarTyyDCg_03iD3xHQTCn9EyHtY/s320/willpic+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Your eyes played trick on you up there. You had to hike up a hundred meters to the base of the cliff and by the time you completed the route and turned around and it felt like you were hundreds of feet above the ground!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1sCWZ_ftmOrlRRD52Qmk2BIkRKrnZ_zBFsazhhWud4daU606yfp2ckXipyVAlNby6yIz96VypRrwzKSm-fcEocoV-rMjjuU3xraNgnw2O0xVJotRuSAEpHjuKu02DvBMZEg9Nfp7tLQ/s1600-h/willpic+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105941246983345922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1sCWZ_ftmOrlRRD52Qmk2BIkRKrnZ_zBFsazhhWud4daU606yfp2ckXipyVAlNby6yIz96VypRrwzKSm-fcEocoV-rMjjuU3xraNgnw2O0xVJotRuSAEpHjuKu02DvBMZEg9Nfp7tLQ/s320/willpic+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Tu19BrYc2r98bcKowA1H0d3FIzCjVnLLx2aoXBw5GBb9xc3fE6FRgty7CupfcmZe6Py1piRDBQS_Yr6V8ZBvMDxn0Jh0nSJTdSeQRGXYgsA6eh4Ej5QRgzNL_LS53j7DMddIbkT5T4I/s1600-h/willpic+007.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKlTWg3L0iPZ-FpreE7eh3ipKnTAvJ9yez25qvf78_a0kha18gPzyTgHMneKJY8RxQC1BrOx4sNPb7MZJ91LV7oTobd7Os3jZBoiFQ4mKbUqxx2N6CfYs7CLmwfAahU50-rweTuSq3t4/s1600-h/willpic+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105939636370609810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKlTWg3L0iPZ-FpreE7eh3ipKnTAvJ9yez25qvf78_a0kha18gPzyTgHMneKJY8RxQC1BrOx4sNPb7MZJ91LV7oTobd7Os3jZBoiFQ4mKbUqxx2N6CfYs7CLmwfAahU50-rweTuSq3t4/s320/willpic+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The whole cliff is limestone which I've never really climbed before. It was pretty cool and some of the climbs were really challenging!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxbFVUUeYVM2aOB1ZoEKiNz8tgWgXcQ0QSx7XFWj_e6Oa7bpdrcqtdXTzLRniRcPNiJk6sh3uNuvU-3uoNiXkVFs0vq1ZXZL1NtnGLYO3jpNc42ZpLLeyoX2DxiYMC7qNx5Tz98nJ_Yg/s1600-h/willpic+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105939640665577138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxbFVUUeYVM2aOB1ZoEKiNz8tgWgXcQ0QSx7XFWj_e6Oa7bpdrcqtdXTzLRniRcPNiJk6sh3uNuvU-3uoNiXkVFs0vq1ZXZL1NtnGLYO3jpNc42ZpLLeyoX2DxiYMC7qNx5Tz98nJ_Yg/s320/willpic+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />By the time I finished it looked like I'd just slept with a fat chick.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oPBV2J7boyI6PDy6o4L3eR2FwqWzsJTHIWOS_d17eIfzPxrKnO36Hne9o84ROQkGP2DUjR7F8vj0G37DIVGsjPryN3DpMaYshAOaOovdSPJLKbVuPUFSxNQ5xq_OkpB_NSlgnkyad-s/s1600-h/willpic+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105939640665577154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oPBV2J7boyI6PDy6o4L3eR2FwqWzsJTHIWOS_d17eIfzPxrKnO36Hne9o84ROQkGP2DUjR7F8vj0G37DIVGsjPryN3DpMaYshAOaOovdSPJLKbVuPUFSxNQ5xq_OkpB_NSlgnkyad-s/s320/willpic+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dGUxznPm5PnTUORg-haF40fHHRnF8qLycO2rwJp29AJMUGQeFqga4CL3aVkpihfIjjGnAEAaWcAaST7IswsDX5ungx_Z9Hjx0e4-7n-EHxcYm7TfNnKBWtkL_TiiwdE6j54pPF_1mNc/s1600-h/willpic+019.jpg"></a><br />Sweet.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxw6XtH5zap2FdM_klwoJfFn_ZUXotR9PzPxI7KtEP0aA509N0Mr1bzh05uRV-wzR2mbJByPb7mODPhegNbuhoQAviabv4IRbIJZAcnZ13ETHpwhnAzY-h1t_V3LSBK3opArOFDJ0soE/s1600-h/willpic+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105938695772771906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxw6XtH5zap2FdM_klwoJfFn_ZUXotR9PzPxI7KtEP0aA509N0Mr1bzh05uRV-wzR2mbJByPb7mODPhegNbuhoQAviabv4IRbIJZAcnZ13ETHpwhnAzY-h1t_V3LSBK3opArOFDJ0soE/s320/willpic+020.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>I almost forgot, on the way out our jeep was surrounded by cattle. We actually smacked one really hard on the ass with the fender and that got 'er moving!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_HAfc1hzpfcWIXrgsZJ-T0zTlUCMaXwIm4z5DCBDi95X5w9yAXrcCiyphMqLCwB0D9hGotA4EfweSRXBCucChKAVBvJb-9Ukqayvlyn5VF3fZ7dDpzp95DA2NCS9G2eF4ueucX6aBSM/s1600-h/willpic+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105938700067739234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_HAfc1hzpfcWIXrgsZJ-T0zTlUCMaXwIm4z5DCBDi95X5w9yAXrcCiyphMqLCwB0D9hGotA4EfweSRXBCucChKAVBvJb-9Ukqayvlyn5VF3fZ7dDpzp95DA2NCS9G2eF4ueucX6aBSM/s320/willpic+022.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>'Twas another big day which meant another quiet night.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF497sACnZkPOBmCE_KWYmjDYHBGq6Enn_O0Nr24E0SdwiAAGDwiE6DVb5G4dVujCH4mzQ8V_Xn3ly5zCHy16CW10UNTZF9lcl-8xsbxB2ot3dUPtq4hgDOzTfWZw6cHLjYTzrpchmMc/s1600-h/willpic+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105938695772771922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQF497sACnZkPOBmCE_KWYmjDYHBGq6Enn_O0Nr24E0SdwiAAGDwiE6DVb5G4dVujCH4mzQ8V_Xn3ly5zCHy16CW10UNTZF9lcl-8xsbxB2ot3dUPtq4hgDOzTfWZw6cHLjYTzrpchmMc/s320/willpic+021.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>This is called the "Happy Menu" and most bars offer them. The best part is that drugs are apparently illegal in Laos only no one told the locals.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KwCd7UoNvh_fODfCsgPpQ_zcfTqdKltXPCYwg_vcgrkEPPjWEWYzrcWIjs3hNZr4Omd7nJYU6K6cWEnFtkEVKVUxzNbxC8kXsIRnWJZOFuiPbBNSlwiI-CuzkkcPrErHXdA930DfngE/s1600-h/willpic+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105938700067739250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KwCd7UoNvh_fODfCsgPpQ_zcfTqdKltXPCYwg_vcgrkEPPjWEWYzrcWIjs3hNZr4Omd7nJYU6K6cWEnFtkEVKVUxzNbxC8kXsIRnWJZOFuiPbBNSlwiI-CuzkkcPrErHXdA930DfngE/s320/willpic+023.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><br /><div>Duh.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENxkyHQF3DugJV8aOw_SkjglxK9ZWBmhsZo5NbFqODf-eTWrOieI9MOJXHfupyh_y6dPIjiyKCGcOtQSx3dz4NE1Tyk4niY7Ztbp97OLoduX_ov3VVMif7YeiH3NjQlcrzNdjc262PfM/s1600-h/willpic+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105938704362706562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENxkyHQF3DugJV8aOw_SkjglxK9ZWBmhsZo5NbFqODf-eTWrOieI9MOJXHfupyh_y6dPIjiyKCGcOtQSx3dz4NE1Tyk4niY7Ztbp97OLoduX_ov3VVMif7YeiH3NjQlcrzNdjc262PfM/s320/willpic+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My pizza tasted AMAZING that night!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wcr5qGfchwcH2r9kmNKNuoeSu9kOzw-NFf-VLD5MrH58dWMM62LoLVW6lKPU_lfzzV3RxudKT738tT099vXkOYRXrAboFnOmgdK-kLNBnCrpdCUVf57Ig4PAexLZdN-E0A2Et5eITeI/s1600-h/willpic+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105937755174934002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wcr5qGfchwcH2r9kmNKNuoeSu9kOzw-NFf-VLD5MrH58dWMM62LoLVW6lKPU_lfzzV3RxudKT738tT099vXkOYRXrAboFnOmgdK-kLNBnCrpdCUVf57Ig4PAexLZdN-E0A2Et5eITeI/s320/willpic+025.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>The next day I headed to Vientiene, (the capital,) for a day. Like all capitals, Vientiene was overrated and boring and the guesthouse I stayed at was pretty average. I did take a tuk-tuk our to Pha That Luang, (The Golden Stupa,) but it was closed so I just walked around a bit.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wp2m_5rDjQvYGJYEg5C2dMjqDkFRSYwLT8mSqssxLa8u5y9ZbEviiX8HZeY36b_x_cXRVBIZlJCf6sWJxJ_QBEsfY-2Jz4x0baY_K1Ei68vJ9gbv5ikzom_GaQFPhtiSsqQsDbFBgeM/s1600-h/willpic+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105937759469901314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1wp2m_5rDjQvYGJYEg5C2dMjqDkFRSYwLT8mSqssxLa8u5y9ZbEviiX8HZeY36b_x_cXRVBIZlJCf6sWJxJ_QBEsfY-2Jz4x0baY_K1Ei68vJ9gbv5ikzom_GaQFPhtiSsqQsDbFBgeM/s320/willpic+027.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>I had a bit of a tough time believing that this was real gold. Especially since it was peeling in places.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf82K-h5vuwgxcAFhhtd16OTfv32fu-bQkvikx1n6MErnxGpLPDALBsAhiKm765-C9OiliBBOMJMNruroF6qsCmtahz3KPGAzhSNXLD49xZVHKZrxeRb6tWgfvY4wRSHgZu7lTHksru-k/s1600-h/willpic+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105937759469901330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf82K-h5vuwgxcAFhhtd16OTfv32fu-bQkvikx1n6MErnxGpLPDALBsAhiKm765-C9OiliBBOMJMNruroF6qsCmtahz3KPGAzhSNXLD49xZVHKZrxeRb6tWgfvY4wRSHgZu7lTHksru-k/s320/willpic+029.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>Some of the paintings in the adjacent building were pretty impressive however.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgT_XcPTkccENemNFbrY8-qNQ4NgaiMFhTX6rNQxCnGoOCYtWXVdSBJ78hN94__fQMF-U9NMyQdwU8BgbJWOWqh9-H5f2Wmmpu_ZcK1t7NQ4yMRLscA7qkQexNF1NcMQ6JfwtRPbSM8I/s1600-h/willpic+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105937763764868642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgT_XcPTkccENemNFbrY8-qNQ4NgaiMFhTX6rNQxCnGoOCYtWXVdSBJ78hN94__fQMF-U9NMyQdwU8BgbJWOWqh9-H5f2Wmmpu_ZcK1t7NQ4yMRLscA7qkQexNF1NcMQ6JfwtRPbSM8I/s320/willpic+030.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>I just don't know if you'd want to paint your bedroom that colour.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31KvOF3g2WfFmXtfTh15W0dW1ctInrtTN_Ltn-4Vj4alZy1i5ruLKb20iuUoIf6CtYVdufrz3icjtVZMrcezBOOpU1ItANT0CwJg9pKLDJH6yhxrSN2Y5H81Kcr_vEgQuYRmMz4Ksva4/s1600-h/willpic+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105937768059835954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31KvOF3g2WfFmXtfTh15W0dW1ctInrtTN_Ltn-4Vj4alZy1i5ruLKb20iuUoIf6CtYVdufrz3icjtVZMrcezBOOpU1ItANT0CwJg9pKLDJH6yhxrSN2Y5H81Kcr_vEgQuYRmMz4Ksva4/s320/willpic+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a quick stop at the national memorial, I headed back to my guesthouse to have an early night. The next day I'd be flying Lao Airline again and I knew my dreams would be punctuated with images of plane crashes and death so the more rest I got the better. </div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-25269682069845899952007-08-20T18:28:00.001-07:002008-12-09T23:37:02.346-08:00Luang Prabang (Aug 20-21)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBdeqrEOJYhS5g0tNudipwS_kqYRrYfLJj1WUPhryM4KWv6DgeeHt-rgcOTbHsNqcgdiYpEzOWp8VuYsT_swJ7oofVuAgx3JCqhqwWc4a53dHHu4KvtVg5FnUUNDsR1c0PG3DDbdgbjs/s1600-h/pics2+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105900311650047426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBdeqrEOJYhS5g0tNudipwS_kqYRrYfLJj1WUPhryM4KWv6DgeeHt-rgcOTbHsNqcgdiYpEzOWp8VuYsT_swJ7oofVuAgx3JCqhqwWc4a53dHHu4KvtVg5FnUUNDsR1c0PG3DDbdgbjs/s320/pics2+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a short plane ride to Luang Prabang it was time to explore northern Laos. After my friend Brian and I woke up on the first morning we decided it would be pertinent to get all the tourist crap out of the way in one day. I consulted a travel agent who convinced us to sign up for the Buddhist cave exploration and waterfall one-day package. Sounded like a good deal to me!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKz-r49zxwSdEmNjJjwTd-PkX_tw0tWPWZkLfG14bixSRf9qZtE7ITQqALDnazZhSUKoU4Ruz2V9ra-CG-hiyh0fUrLYJe3qSAT3wiSBohJxezPHIT74rHu64bUtnXq40Zseg-jvAT9s/s1600-h/pics2+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105900311650047410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKz-r49zxwSdEmNjJjwTd-PkX_tw0tWPWZkLfG14bixSRf9qZtE7ITQqALDnazZhSUKoU4Ruz2V9ra-CG-hiyh0fUrLYJe3qSAT3wiSBohJxezPHIT74rHu64bUtnXq40Zseg-jvAT9s/s320/pics2+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have to admit that I have, (on occasion,) been led astray while travelling and gotten ripped off since I'm willing to always give the benefit of the doubt. This was one of those occasions. For two hours I was scheduled to "explore" two caves that are about as big as your average backyard. The Lonely Planet guide book claims this is an interesting site because there are broken Buddha images that date all the way back to the 3rd century. The Lonely Planet guide book is full of shit. Who the hell wants to spend an hour in a van getting dragged out to the middle of nowhere and then having to pay a ferryman an extra $2 to cart across a river and stare at some broken pieces of wood for another bloody two hours? To top it off, all the way along the path up to the second cave are little children trying to get you to buy a live bird off them. These little birds come in cages that our about the size of your average camera case, the idea being that upon purchasing the bird you let it free and it's supposed to be all mystical. Let me see if I've got this straight. The Buddha religion that believes in love, peace and respect for all living things condones trapping wild animals in tiny cages just so some tourist MIGHT feel better about themselves for letting it go at an unspecified date in the future? Something wasn't right here and I think it was me standing in that stupid cave.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10smcjqo7I_x49oJZojJG7H6ENdC-ki2yc5ber7ffvkti3iNv51GGwiwPUTJT2-1fZCVILa23xd2qNzMNtsXxCTnmS0WAb5F2GZgHQLYZbeAIw7aBOXN59dAyFvOPldV79bjJ8yQFrAk/s1600-h/pics2+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105900315945014738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10smcjqo7I_x49oJZojJG7H6ENdC-ki2yc5ber7ffvkti3iNv51GGwiwPUTJT2-1fZCVILa23xd2qNzMNtsXxCTnmS0WAb5F2GZgHQLYZbeAIw7aBOXN59dAyFvOPldV79bjJ8yQFrAk/s320/pics2+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thankfully the afternoon went much better. All around the Luang Prabang area there are massive waterfalls that for about a dollar a day you are free to explore at your leisure. And wouldn't you know it? Guess who was on my van ride out to Kouang Si? My friends Emily and Paloma that I met in Vietnam!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3M8AvVc5XtFaGoQENd5P1Vp8IDbrVamBTmwFmHtBTbHYqb7_L0Q_S8LPL91520jSm4aGkv1w-F5fSwB8tSRp940UOkdlvaBrrdHXyGs7SPGz6d0WIebUUgJiPEg7tzEZeLHx_XLSqYw/s1600-h/pics2+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105899607275410818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3M8AvVc5XtFaGoQENd5P1Vp8IDbrVamBTmwFmHtBTbHYqb7_L0Q_S8LPL91520jSm4aGkv1w-F5fSwB8tSRp940UOkdlvaBrrdHXyGs7SPGz6d0WIebUUgJiPEg7tzEZeLHx_XLSqYw/s320/pics2+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />'Twas a happy reunion!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Rj4h-K7zasjf20pxA5DDY_6YvW84HXBTEjXhEBG3bzAftDjUQ6NsqviHPckBYbkTYtirQFySE0l_ks_8_lL2690OYiVwQDP_OMFRBY9rMG1Dam2YvrLEizpgvk6PuGfLG6HK9PMkcrA/s1600-h/pics2+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105900320239982050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Rj4h-K7zasjf20pxA5DDY_6YvW84HXBTEjXhEBG3bzAftDjUQ6NsqviHPckBYbkTYtirQFySE0l_ks_8_lL2690OYiVwQDP_OMFRBY9rMG1Dam2YvrLEizpgvk6PuGfLG6HK9PMkcrA/s320/pics2+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The waterfalls are beautiful, the water actually cascades down through several pools and you can do everything from just hiking around to rope swings!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsdOOTlaLt_3JUfy8JzAU15mbltpUg95XRjlfRYOq90jpDBn2t9MHuOuoQjNSucvcyfwcENmR1H2FiGFs7-RWA96XavkUq6_A3YAn_C9mSqePVoodzJpYbLKUvVfVLnSbKvqL4Z4p17A/s1600-h/pics2+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105899602980443490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsdOOTlaLt_3JUfy8JzAU15mbltpUg95XRjlfRYOq90jpDBn2t9MHuOuoQjNSucvcyfwcENmR1H2FiGFs7-RWA96XavkUq6_A3YAn_C9mSqePVoodzJpYbLKUvVfVLnSbKvqL4Z4p17A/s320/pics2+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Of course the girls we were with preferred to rub mud and clay all over themselves. "No, no" they said. "You don't understand! If this were a spa back home we'd be paying hundreds of dollars!" Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CxfYeUrUB64hNvtETC4SG_IK77lLjNf3ULi2FaUekywEP5ELEvXhzfcME7U5_aRhmqhKPU9j7Ln21UEY0t9pWN32Aa6NHo1lda5LScqDkxuBalv0dt2xNjwy12wIMqw32BwgvyUsw9o/s1600-h/pics2+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105899602980443506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CxfYeUrUB64hNvtETC4SG_IK77lLjNf3ULi2FaUekywEP5ELEvXhzfcME7U5_aRhmqhKPU9j7Ln21UEY0t9pWN32Aa6NHo1lda5LScqDkxuBalv0dt2xNjwy12wIMqw32BwgvyUsw9o/s320/pics2+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After we swam around for awhile we decided to make the climb up to the top of the waterfall.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLb_m26DiSpSuWRDGvTFwDidybk4LVSB92GbJJazowvdPN5wFFtgfbkJoaHJJfJ-ZdT4cBcZ2VEk_Siw7woTnoZTkSloI9kr2oYNNIlPLdC560wd8V8slF3Rzeo4wO5DyrVGDVFu3ArH8/s1600-h/pics2+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105899611570378130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLb_m26DiSpSuWRDGvTFwDidybk4LVSB92GbJJazowvdPN5wFFtgfbkJoaHJJfJ-ZdT4cBcZ2VEk_Siw7woTnoZTkSloI9kr2oYNNIlPLdC560wd8V8slF3Rzeo4wO5DyrVGDVFu3ArH8/s320/pics2+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The hike was pretty intense, especially since we were all wearing flip flops and forgot that when you mix together dirt and water you get mud. And mud is slippery. And waterfalls aren't usually located around sites that are really flat. Okay, so we didn't think this one through all that carefully!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7y6tt0SZyc8NxQdNysB8FLgDihPSydbD7kBUGjPs9PQrdOcIMOyL9bDUqO2NaWcwAM6Rvb0tXANIyoN_cXrwWS0JFyf2Td2XU7llQG4HMUZIFGrF7INSOSMMJqtgIkWbzpRpqWjjevs/s1600-h/pics2+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105899615865345442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7y6tt0SZyc8NxQdNysB8FLgDihPSydbD7kBUGjPs9PQrdOcIMOyL9bDUqO2NaWcwAM6Rvb0tXANIyoN_cXrwWS0JFyf2Td2XU7llQG4HMUZIFGrF7INSOSMMJqtgIkWbzpRpqWjjevs/s320/pics2+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We were rewarded with a spectacular view at the top however!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb074QbYlXYAEtyUxxJHbM8RCmWElt5XRoWlyuUEJquyLcnqic_MpAXV9e4wItdJr0DikT5L_HY9kNOfUlPACvrsMQxpF-8hbj83x6Q7BGZZ-nZxrwGlysJ1svNm5GI4ScFxyuTuzWEk0/s1600-h/pics2+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898920080643346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb074QbYlXYAEtyUxxJHbM8RCmWElt5XRoWlyuUEJquyLcnqic_MpAXV9e4wItdJr0DikT5L_HY9kNOfUlPACvrsMQxpF-8hbj83x6Q7BGZZ-nZxrwGlysJ1svNm5GI4ScFxyuTuzWEk0/s320/pics2+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a view of the first tier of the waterfall from the very top.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM3MqSbLf6bkdk7NOHjqk0Y2K03etiz2qdtTsSLYkjv3_d_Nva_GAmzK17pDFYT51mKsqHIoIKk4wDEBvCxmGZb5uSBcuZ5J46dTINepUCZh8SJF0Im-frXGKZx0nIVBp0f341q0Fjys/s1600-h/pics2+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898928670577970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM3MqSbLf6bkdk7NOHjqk0Y2K03etiz2qdtTsSLYkjv3_d_Nva_GAmzK17pDFYT51mKsqHIoIKk4wDEBvCxmGZb5uSBcuZ5J46dTINepUCZh8SJF0Im-frXGKZx0nIVBp0f341q0Fjys/s320/pics2+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I forget how it started but we were making fun of this stupid sign that said "Danger No Entry" that was right over top of the falls and I think Brian dared me to get a picture next to it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf59CPm8CcyX0Bj3a7UTxWOa3jwD02GGC3a4TfzDgX1olnHBYDWMYiV0suFZRHVyiysl1_dXoDFRIkJIFIr6EuQ50ndW3KSmbOsUJ52fNqxKHxR6fCMEKlxH_ROjIRtuNVmmFRGuXbmY/s1600-h/pics2+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898924375610658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf59CPm8CcyX0Bj3a7UTxWOa3jwD02GGC3a4TfzDgX1olnHBYDWMYiV0suFZRHVyiysl1_dXoDFRIkJIFIr6EuQ50ndW3KSmbOsUJ52fNqxKHxR6fCMEKlxH_ROjIRtuNVmmFRGuXbmY/s320/pics2+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some of you might think this was stupid, childish, dangerous and immature. But just for once please try and look at it from my perspective...........I was DARED!!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPb_1RRGsVyhiYT4mmyLuqPjupwRf6AAXhH27Ywd5RieScpEdWjfN6GBojLg1xnXSiE3JvbqzjCvAV6QRQ9BIdju1l0WdMeX3kajHrEyN6TGgTr1scYuoCVty7oO1rtJdeq7VuYdytk4/s1600-h/pics2+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898928670577986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPb_1RRGsVyhiYT4mmyLuqPjupwRf6AAXhH27Ywd5RieScpEdWjfN6GBojLg1xnXSiE3JvbqzjCvAV6QRQ9BIdju1l0WdMeX3kajHrEyN6TGgTr1scYuoCVty7oO1rtJdeq7VuYdytk4/s320/pics2+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the way down we found a really cool plateau and stopped for a few photo ops.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicowm3quxA750LdOvPCN-9FKcDNGkQ84zzpUf7LoLNI2blDG7F90aR41hYTa4lFdx5YotQir5V-OcvoNFhy4cJM1jtKQpFSqNJeaeTMu7oJp1yVBBxiDK2Ve0-T3ubWyPz5Av8YsCOFJo/s1600-h/pics2+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898932965545298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicowm3quxA750LdOvPCN-9FKcDNGkQ84zzpUf7LoLNI2blDG7F90aR41hYTa4lFdx5YotQir5V-OcvoNFhy4cJM1jtKQpFSqNJeaeTMu7oJp1yVBBxiDK2Ve0-T3ubWyPz5Av8YsCOFJo/s320/pics2+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ooooohhhhhhh!!........<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoiDyxB9H-pJWQHBKQFoP6aaZb8ja7A1z3Hh3S8Jx6DQdOwLsa2bG3iYFmBmyEDDLmugsldhssxABNKWSlkRWAgPwEu8l8JbPZo4LB_ChjW6kJxrO_Su-DB6DVX8btbhPLGbJLZt_l9U/s1600-h/pics2+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898297310385346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoiDyxB9H-pJWQHBKQFoP6aaZb8ja7A1z3Hh3S8Jx6DQdOwLsa2bG3iYFmBmyEDDLmugsldhssxABNKWSlkRWAgPwEu8l8JbPZo4LB_ChjW6kJxrO_Su-DB6DVX8btbhPLGbJLZt_l9U/s320/pics2+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />AAAaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!..........<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheod7ZNLurbGaj4UYLh4Iqvt1rgG-_XYo3IWMvDV25sQjL9mpylTegFS3pJKRgGELX72K6ecbEb6AawKH0Zrz5popjarEbmYhtG4keweXL5IAclK_p3DUqnbxbFLkN0nVhMtwSPHChotk/s1600-h/pics2+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898297310385362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheod7ZNLurbGaj4UYLh4Iqvt1rgG-_XYo3IWMvDV25sQjL9mpylTegFS3pJKRgGELX72K6ecbEb6AawKH0Zrz5popjarEbmYhtG4keweXL5IAclK_p3DUqnbxbFLkN0nVhMtwSPHChotk/s320/pics2+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Having had an excellent day, in the end we decided to climb up to the top of Mount Phusi where a Wat provides a view of the entire city.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAajfol_OpNZsYrxR4wPkefLOHQlixW9_vhJ3zEpk6xpxqxAsM28NY-3FGWTdODRHcSPJ7BxWEdYNcf6Y6c-fxY-N0d_dzdY0twCdIYSKEOnBRi6R5OIUakWEZyHtNC3yWPpMzZM2fi0/s1600-h/pics2+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898301605352674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAajfol_OpNZsYrxR4wPkefLOHQlixW9_vhJ3zEpk6xpxqxAsM28NY-3FGWTdODRHcSPJ7BxWEdYNcf6Y6c-fxY-N0d_dzdY0twCdIYSKEOnBRi6R5OIUakWEZyHtNC3yWPpMzZM2fi0/s320/pics2+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the way to the night market, we spotted a crowd and curiosity got the best of us so we wandered over. Turns out Botchi Ball is HUGE in Laos, it's no Koob or anything but hey anything that bridges the cultural divide is okay by me! Especially since the game's pretty easy to get right away!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidM1mhCIfa81_XJCyb0E1F3-6NLlYWy2qa4bkV2j-s-NTy2YaPaRcTXGYXk34emXxGh-6-fLjkg3xlIiPewQjYSO6rZ-tBCMhCkuQeVGXSztoHBRpWnDz1wWS6o4llXI2k60qPDKcuJ0/s1600-h/pics2+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898305900319986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidM1mhCIfa81_XJCyb0E1F3-6NLlYWy2qa4bkV2j-s-NTy2YaPaRcTXGYXk34emXxGh-6-fLjkg3xlIiPewQjYSO6rZ-tBCMhCkuQeVGXSztoHBRpWnDz1wWS6o4llXI2k60qPDKcuJ0/s320/pics2+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a picture of the night market. To be honest it kind of freaked me out! After Vietnam and Cambodia I was pretty used to being manhandled bordering on assault by the locals who would do just about anything to get you to pay attention to their stall. It was so quiet here you could actually here crickets!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2DEURjFSWnsbGtbXPRrntM6yTANS05CBq9PkIKfJ21db0qU6uOSrA42vqxptVBBIe7Npdw8l5Ovn4LVepJZEk93IzMea7dMtvRSWhShR_G_Ln7YUXL6N_XaIoFQwHaDlsCOVfgc93cY/s1600-h/pics2+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105898310195287298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2DEURjFSWnsbGtbXPRrntM6yTANS05CBq9PkIKfJ21db0qU6uOSrA42vqxptVBBIe7Npdw8l5Ovn4LVepJZEk93IzMea7dMtvRSWhShR_G_Ln7YUXL6N_XaIoFQwHaDlsCOVfgc93cY/s320/pics2+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Brian and I.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCcbwewxMFBWmLE5MQMm2mSNO78mz6Uve-QD9LEc0LQdTm1_iFLbQBa2pEZpAfoHuDx6tuHPSCNz-LruLCzhXzIkkYpHD7k0LI99XvtwIA1pK2ydGS4NSkyO2xzbxIqQxFnKW3IOare4/s1600-h/pics2+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105897743259604082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCcbwewxMFBWmLE5MQMm2mSNO78mz6Uve-QD9LEc0LQdTm1_iFLbQBa2pEZpAfoHuDx6tuHPSCNz-LruLCzhXzIkkYpHD7k0LI99XvtwIA1pK2ydGS4NSkyO2xzbxIqQxFnKW3IOare4/s320/pics2+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a couple of buckets at one of the local bars, we realized that the city was about to shut down. Weird as it may seem, most bars in SEA close around midnight with the exception being nightclubs, bowling alley's and those bars that can afford to pay off the cops. Since none of the bars could afford the ticket and we didn't feel like going clubbing that really left only one option!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxIqWuBwGyBOiMLZf9cnlQC8JfNuvNOfn4uFrfG1VBE2U0JIxkLE3FAojEnpfHtnpf62VEWaipZbh9jg36grIxFTXhRYSO94ijfAxOtb_HUafOmBKXWCWddq7Ch2OBMyshcQmEdbeDYE/s1600-h/pics2+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105897747554571394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoxIqWuBwGyBOiMLZf9cnlQC8JfNuvNOfn4uFrfG1VBE2U0JIxkLE3FAojEnpfHtnpf62VEWaipZbh9jg36grIxFTXhRYSO94ijfAxOtb_HUafOmBKXWCWddq7Ch2OBMyshcQmEdbeDYE/s320/pics2+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The girls were a little tired but they still managed a few sets!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOThhU7iG0XfZ66VazyUYUAGyqH0d_QvwcawJ8c02vzJi4fiU0MsWeBDiuKWlDYaCcKcPnfvF3LZKseUK32IfRhX1Dpold08f-_ilSAYf2oHG4wf8bzjE0UkM8sfN7oLm1d-XoNu7iBjs/s1600-h/pics2+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105897747554571410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOThhU7iG0XfZ66VazyUYUAGyqH0d_QvwcawJ8c02vzJi4fiU0MsWeBDiuKWlDYaCcKcPnfvF3LZKseUK32IfRhX1Dpold08f-_ilSAYf2oHG4wf8bzjE0UkM8sfN7oLm1d-XoNu7iBjs/s320/pics2+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That's nice..............<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCMVTEuHCuKg7WHo3TPHWlZa1Ifvegql5jHA5ONykSi3IwRE2B5QGFundOns3OL-km2ZlWZXgrNsbP-Cvjbbn3T0-uYnOWMAhsUo6FKnKHgzU6FSujnzS9ZFsugJbgAISbpR5WTLuasU/s1600-h/pics2+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105897751849538722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCMVTEuHCuKg7WHo3TPHWlZa1Ifvegql5jHA5ONykSi3IwRE2B5QGFundOns3OL-km2ZlWZXgrNsbP-Cvjbbn3T0-uYnOWMAhsUo6FKnKHgzU6FSujnzS9ZFsugJbgAISbpR5WTLuasU/s320/pics2+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the way home from the bowling alley there wasn't enough room for all of us in the Tuk-Tuk so a few of us opted to ride on the roof.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-5T_R98SnBR4lGUBBEDQoJR0RkI-1Jybggg3xWwUOeRhdukj6ZE_d3H303HejIVJF759KJ1r0JmQh24MrI_rTGRCVcL_6glv8hnibsGPviNKrqitYqnLjiQAp4dwp5SYCTGDzCXLwWc/s1600-h/pics2+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105897751849538738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-5T_R98SnBR4lGUBBEDQoJR0RkI-1Jybggg3xWwUOeRhdukj6ZE_d3H303HejIVJF759KJ1r0JmQh24MrI_rTGRCVcL_6glv8hnibsGPviNKrqitYqnLjiQAp4dwp5SYCTGDzCXLwWc/s320/pics2+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />"Tuk-tuk" surfing is now a major sport that is taking over norther Laos. Define stupid: Standing up on a vehicle that couldn't possibly pass even the most basic safety standards as it's travelling in excess of 50km's an hour while wasted. Smart move Will.......smart move. Love you mommy! ; ) xoWillie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-15821385002713424142007-08-20T18:26:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:09.382-08:00Lao, 4000 islands (Aug 17-20)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5m-ZFJcvh0jOLJ0DRBYnyQBVmo4UdrpYL6mxpjiRhzE3kgZuR1J9yX_J3fGR4eL8fijjh2yXJ08OTHmClv9nthf77sQPBcnzcAGcFM9lgp6MtPdQpPDsqsAkuYnDZexvekXt1GMbsgg/s1600-h/4000islands+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105198934900675666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5m-ZFJcvh0jOLJ0DRBYnyQBVmo4UdrpYL6mxpjiRhzE3kgZuR1J9yX_J3fGR4eL8fijjh2yXJ08OTHmClv9nthf77sQPBcnzcAGcFM9lgp6MtPdQpPDsqsAkuYnDZexvekXt1GMbsgg/s320/4000islands+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">AAAAaahahhhhhhhh</span>.......Laos! I arrived in the southern end of the country in a little town called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pakse</span> with not a white person in site and only a loose plan of what to do! As it turns out, Lao airlines really IS as sketchy as the "Lonely Planet" guide book describes it..........which is why I only flew this airline three times during my stay in the country. I think the pilot had <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">turret's</span> syndrome as the landing felt like we hit several herds of cattle. Are planes supposed to rotate when they hit the tarmac?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4MgAplpHVOM9pKemUacMHVOOIpE0DGzaVMuXB9Jqs9IxhcYtu9oFFrNTkXDiOe2LCEWL5J_noh2vrby6vueOYhYS_ZmUVwO3JAqskQ_x0ZjQk0Ncelhagw-RGSpzRvH8W6JupIgbRko/s1600-h/4000islands+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105198934900675682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4MgAplpHVOM9pKemUacMHVOOIpE0DGzaVMuXB9Jqs9IxhcYtu9oFFrNTkXDiOe2LCEWL5J_noh2vrby6vueOYhYS_ZmUVwO3JAqskQ_x0ZjQk0Ncelhagw-RGSpzRvH8W6JupIgbRko/s320/4000islands+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'd heard from a friend that the 4000 islands are amazing so I went to the airport and asked around. The airport guy told me (as he was picking out an incredibly large booger) that I was in luck! A local bus was just leaving!! What an asshole. I shared my seat with a live chicken and a man who really seemed to enjoy touching my thigh while talking to me in a language he knew I couldn't possibly understand.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxhueaqPd3YDDWStl9ihx1yKvX57Jg0yQg_A8361Y2rphv4A5DIcCa5ArAowixmNyzAhgd3rJoyAEPS8B41S2JmVtHQXikMh0E7HOXZtyhK31H1xrhS15zQPKU0oYbuCzrrRPaHNYsqE/s1600-h/4000islands+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105198569828455442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxhueaqPd3YDDWStl9ihx1yKvX57Jg0yQg_A8361Y2rphv4A5DIcCa5ArAowixmNyzAhgd3rJoyAEPS8B41S2JmVtHQXikMh0E7HOXZtyhK31H1xrhS15zQPKU0oYbuCzrrRPaHNYsqE/s320/4000islands+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Destination.......where the hell Christ am I? I asked around and told one of the locals that I wanted to go to Don <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Det</span> island. He looked at me like I just asked him to sell me his mother for some buttons. Finally I went down to the water and made some hand gestures and used body language to get my point across!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxg6KDKQ3TSpX6VOSD1dVODbN214bJck6QZZwi8yES40kBThcq85r2h_FTR7ttcvpJPnA0H4yrTTh-hwCFd1bNfmUWPvCbrDWPPAkrG6JJwPpO7L1fDxtSlzXkTljmKKJ7wi3OrLOg1M/s1600-h/4000islands+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105198565533488130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxg6KDKQ3TSpX6VOSD1dVODbN214bJck6QZZwi8yES40kBThcq85r2h_FTR7ttcvpJPnA0H4yrTTh-hwCFd1bNfmUWPvCbrDWPPAkrG6JJwPpO7L1fDxtSlzXkTljmKKJ7wi3OrLOg1M/s320/4000islands+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I looked towards the horizon.......and started to think that maybe this wasn't such a hot idea after all.....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaWpeqws3EPmsnRDNlKrKYcs0hOQI2ca6LVSstoMm897uSE_mmoWghyphenhyphen_yCr88834WvXhurVohrAIytM_Uhe6FOhVEZY_wuttDFrAt57BGAQT-inhmTcpxEed7QivQkUBN6J_B1A4Vac4/s1600-h/4000islands+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105198569828455458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaWpeqws3EPmsnRDNlKrKYcs0hOQI2ca6LVSstoMm897uSE_mmoWghyphenhyphen_yCr88834WvXhurVohrAIytM_Uhe6FOhVEZY_wuttDFrAt57BGAQT-inhmTcpxEed7QivQkUBN6J_B1A4Vac4/s320/4000islands+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />But off I went, fingers crossed!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5VdQ_bIQ9ZAgx8RnYdi-JwBUjnbOW8TKNSFuudKr7eLFoOuxMuYe4GcnxC84ApnvhK6EXdvBES2S3Tgx7y414vcfCepr4DC4Xd94r4taubYHYtm_QHsdgdPWwG1EyDOdN7IzUrNxU3k/s1600-h/4000islands+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105198574123422770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5VdQ_bIQ9ZAgx8RnYdi-JwBUjnbOW8TKNSFuudKr7eLFoOuxMuYe4GcnxC84ApnvhK6EXdvBES2S3Tgx7y414vcfCepr4DC4Xd94r4taubYHYtm_QHsdgdPWwG1EyDOdN7IzUrNxU3k/s320/4000islands+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And arrived in paradise!!! I'm not kidding this was the BEST and most relaxing place I have been so far in my travels!! When I got ashore I walked up the road until I found Mama <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tannon's</span> Guest House. I was greeted by a women who sort of reminded me of that crazy bag lady in "The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Simpsons</span>." You know, the one who's always screaming and covered with cats? Except this woman had a whole wad of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">quat</span> in her teeth which sprayed all over me when she yelled at me in Lao and then laughed hysterically before walking away. Luckily her daughter came up and told me that they were all full but if I was okay sleeping on a hammock they would let me stay free of charge. I'm pretty low-maintenance so I accepted.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o3D6ZLvUDCRkh9GBXR0XuIChxbUHb3pUlHYn1YgeaQDlDfzW-ajoZsXDJd3nWVwM5Vt9ncTW4q5HTK69n0tBEuJaH4tQnafD2-SJHcAGd_mUIhD3rr-Imfu6Xp0IYFvSSu3j0jUUPXI/s1600-h/4000islands+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105198578418390082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9o3D6ZLvUDCRkh9GBXR0XuIChxbUHb3pUlHYn1YgeaQDlDfzW-ajoZsXDJd3nWVwM5Vt9ncTW4q5HTK69n0tBEuJaH4tQnafD2-SJHcAGd_mUIhD3rr-Imfu6Xp0IYFvSSu3j0jUUPXI/s320/4000islands+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Two days later my new friends and I decided that smoking pot and eating all day was becoming a lifestyle instead of a habit so we rented bikes to get some exercise.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtrEtWRQ4gFA6wBwcEqnjp3LR7Vf6tyfhZ_tHgOm9jDr80ONCj9I3dOD-XmedS2qWdfGaBiysu5zr7rCDp8HUIuKPricOkTJNgYX9y8DbFc0B2tiV-VxiGG6NqmVUPXVq_5WIiV1BdrU/s1600-h/4000islands+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197831094080450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtrEtWRQ4gFA6wBwcEqnjp3LR7Vf6tyfhZ_tHgOm9jDr80ONCj9I3dOD-XmedS2qWdfGaBiysu5zr7rCDp8HUIuKPricOkTJNgYX9y8DbFc0B2tiV-VxiGG6NqmVUPXVq_5WIiV1BdrU/s320/4000islands+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our plan was to bike to a nearby island and check out the waterfall. The only thing connecting our island with the one beside it is an abandoned set of railroad tracks. These are the only lines the French ever laid in the entire country!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4slVjP-eWsRblHgUORx8dZvtVejaxx6Zl352ffe4xo1Awq3S7xr92wzmtuI2ewf8D7GKJjqB9ocV1_WgLykf3aZf8hsdCqsH5ynDbDMZzUnhc-zOHHNWefc6s1ofvllzujMmoCKn5KI/s1600-h/4000islands+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197826799113138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4slVjP-eWsRblHgUORx8dZvtVejaxx6Zl352ffe4xo1Awq3S7xr92wzmtuI2ewf8D7GKJjqB9ocV1_WgLykf3aZf8hsdCqsH5ynDbDMZzUnhc-zOHHNWefc6s1ofvllzujMmoCKn5KI/s320/4000islands+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You remember Alvin, Simon and Theodore?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMetUqE9LM2dKf_NAVS7fDiXesSpBH6fdNP9iYKJgOLUl0lnyv_8jAi3ciJ9I7ChfhU77riy7mQK4Fetx7hvreSBRSJUYbsTDR8WPsZ-v_xeORzvZZqI5Xx1Rm7QQPNfFFl97d9IsPVLY/s1600-h/4000islands+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197835389047762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMetUqE9LM2dKf_NAVS7fDiXesSpBH6fdNP9iYKJgOLUl0lnyv_8jAi3ciJ9I7ChfhU77riy7mQK4Fetx7hvreSBRSJUYbsTDR8WPsZ-v_xeORzvZZqI5Xx1Rm7QQPNfFFl97d9IsPVLY/s320/4000islands+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sadly, our Niagara falls fantasies left a lot to be desired.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxBrGwLKZ9lDnfzpK30EwZhdiwP2vFMbIMPltAWSpYPpvixfbhfmQkQ1Jw8UNOdJdDkYNoC9wzo6pgjHQTTYmprEejToX1wCBjOkPYqvD-Sxrdtbjjc5TcPcPUSwihRUD9K7ntbIHA2c/s1600-h/4000islands+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197839684015090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxBrGwLKZ9lDnfzpK30EwZhdiwP2vFMbIMPltAWSpYPpvixfbhfmQkQ1Jw8UNOdJdDkYNoC9wzo6pgjHQTTYmprEejToX1wCBjOkPYqvD-Sxrdtbjjc5TcPcPUSwihRUD9K7ntbIHA2c/s320/4000islands+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of the girls dared me to go swimming in the filthy Mekong River and being the show-off that I am I promptly geared down and started to wade in.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWREdB9mkKPz0Q0q7YBcnmeVqLrg-akTOe4uRlDr4bsODaWLcmGH3sMk82N-O8t6mtoTGUgGeiSvFY7TwKA3DIVx04IkiB4Wkl2uVuYG539RUWtRS6kdDDNDem97YgzKyM13KaPYHO64g/s1600-h/4000islands+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197182554018658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWREdB9mkKPz0Q0q7YBcnmeVqLrg-akTOe4uRlDr4bsODaWLcmGH3sMk82N-O8t6mtoTGUgGeiSvFY7TwKA3DIVx04IkiB4Wkl2uVuYG539RUWtRS6kdDDNDem97YgzKyM13KaPYHO64g/s320/4000islands+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I got about three steps before I tripped, stubbed my toe, and fell face first onto the sharp rocks covered with six inches of water.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATTJtb5UtY8VD9GT_2mMCyfadsKhvlvexqv14u9C0jas8EZeP-fMJRU9x-Tm761SbaqtNIZPTgPDdluqGg808rWLZ55eRHThE0laC2ysRDfpAXLAuciQT8o84H33iUROtscCcY71w8Vo/s1600-h/4000islands+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197182554018674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATTJtb5UtY8VD9GT_2mMCyfadsKhvlvexqv14u9C0jas8EZeP-fMJRU9x-Tm761SbaqtNIZPTgPDdluqGg808rWLZ55eRHThE0laC2ysRDfpAXLAuciQT8o84H33iUROtscCcY71w8Vo/s320/4000islands+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Everyone else found this hysterical.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxQYfPzjl5gMuOuqBDiwZyc3ra3r89MwzugEbdaN4KcwhTlE-165uxAgAPiexBoagN757f6Hd2FEXWlMFjAjaj2OhSHefoUCZo0H3ad1X3yFocaQkRl1eHOWOsVGX_JJPr-ZKZ262lIE/s1600-h/4000islands+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197835389047778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxQYfPzjl5gMuOuqBDiwZyc3ra3r89MwzugEbdaN4KcwhTlE-165uxAgAPiexBoagN757f6Hd2FEXWlMFjAjaj2OhSHefoUCZo0H3ad1X3yFocaQkRl1eHOWOsVGX_JJPr-ZKZ262lIE/s320/4000islands+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My battle with the raging rapids had left me quite peckish so we all mounted our faithful metal stallions and set off to find a place that made really good fruit milkshakes. We found one and I had strawberry.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVt4Y3JJsoWz0wEBk-lw4F92fxkKN8DfzXDizKO7vABj-s9UiOFu8Xe8wxYaNm6VVQRMaqy5eAFBjpaKA2m9VWcBXAUPpROvBBYnKqcf7O2ZzzFQqXaOkQKOJD_wFGP8SeQYyC5fXrMk/s1600-h/4000islands+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197186848986002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVt4Y3JJsoWz0wEBk-lw4F92fxkKN8DfzXDizKO7vABj-s9UiOFu8Xe8wxYaNm6VVQRMaqy5eAFBjpaKA2m9VWcBXAUPpROvBBYnKqcf7O2ZzzFQqXaOkQKOJD_wFGP8SeQYyC5fXrMk/s320/4000islands+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we got back to Mama's that afternoon we were quite exhausted so we took a much deserved break.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWfv7pyCJQeMgUjwE4xcn9JUyK1hj8qGe8BWDqDNKJCfRJdv0TZC9hg7H5xNHIm3mwlv1K_st4aj3aOCXH5BhgewWc8eB-TuNbzifs3o5kJFAU9NfDQLTAzFa4-VOcvzQV8Y3qvPMYY4/s1600-h/4000islands+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197191143953314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWfv7pyCJQeMgUjwE4xcn9JUyK1hj8qGe8BWDqDNKJCfRJdv0TZC9hg7H5xNHIm3mwlv1K_st4aj3aOCXH5BhgewWc8eB-TuNbzifs3o5kJFAU9NfDQLTAzFa4-VOcvzQV8Y3qvPMYY4/s320/4000islands+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Is this the life or what?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge37wVzurngAtqhRlmUoxX_n2L042B_L63slZQov3UOvvgDJ6zx4bLa3j_K9yGB0n6qaMVJ8eChanhvOuweROUkefz_BxJAgklZEMw30Vk_ymh1rr_7_QbdWKXnQoNGfSgqeLXSYSENuw/s1600-h/4000islands+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105197186848985986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge37wVzurngAtqhRlmUoxX_n2L042B_L63slZQov3UOvvgDJ6zx4bLa3j_K9yGB0n6qaMVJ8eChanhvOuweROUkefz_BxJAgklZEMw30Vk_ymh1rr_7_QbdWKXnQoNGfSgqeLXSYSENuw/s320/4000islands+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Even the cats are tired from a day of nothing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkpOPyRgWtvTofaoFB-GILMUVhPKN2zQGnrSokx-y_CV6BE4XwzA689RowBHfb1S-0md2xOXbc5HkZ0lMaDUzHg11suHGZhnkkxh-vyeIPUNqNWxUQtXyeqraR_r7RkHRPkwdoj2bkcg/s1600-h/4000islands+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105196435229709074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkpOPyRgWtvTofaoFB-GILMUVhPKN2zQGnrSokx-y_CV6BE4XwzA689RowBHfb1S-0md2xOXbc5HkZ0lMaDUzHg11suHGZhnkkxh-vyeIPUNqNWxUQtXyeqraR_r7RkHRPkwdoj2bkcg/s320/4000islands+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The gang.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e6N-QaDfQC-CYlI0io9wWwWUAnN3GpWh2_zzVVtbiOTMU0SJglYZFEKa1ZCkvu1B0tljuVHdzrZXMH74cfQG2G_IAx_TNQwR4K7vAsrPxPzgj-ebQzRln_3ZvIOAGgt3RMmGbx-YIQQ/s1600-h/4000islands+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105196439524676386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3e6N-QaDfQC-CYlI0io9wWwWUAnN3GpWh2_zzVVtbiOTMU0SJglYZFEKa1ZCkvu1B0tljuVHdzrZXMH74cfQG2G_IAx_TNQwR4K7vAsrPxPzgj-ebQzRln_3ZvIOAGgt3RMmGbx-YIQQ/s320/4000islands+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At around six o'clock or so everyone on the northern part of the island, (all 30 of us or so,) would get up, stretch, and mosey on over to the Sunset Bar to watch........well.......to watch the sunset of course! Is this a picture of southern Laos?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUJohRQZXqJjkJ4ip30oXQ9kO6esXEuHeNfx28XFSLw3FUk14okkVo9yY-gE8vOz1yReTBbFJsrIPCYO249KQgOEa58Jp7FJxmsP4zsjMYfSyANj-HjtFiEBBY7hkISC2GLCNLtwa2qk/s1600-h/4000islands+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105196439524676402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUJohRQZXqJjkJ4ip30oXQ9kO6esXEuHeNfx28XFSLw3FUk14okkVo9yY-gE8vOz1yReTBbFJsrIPCYO249KQgOEa58Jp7FJxmsP4zsjMYfSyANj-HjtFiEBBY7hkISC2GLCNLtwa2qk/s320/4000islands+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Muskoka</span> lake? You decide.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdjz4VIEUu9STeG-wHtSRaGgdyF8bWpi5ZJknFqqfR6W7KTIwMHUo4uzCds4xhqVH-RcSDaxEQAV2JtEWdh5mcidftCnXxO8lcS8ELULhcgsQj_RwpRTsq0Xn60PE6kc0sQaCzWZFq0w/s1600-h/4000islands+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105196439524676418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHdjz4VIEUu9STeG-wHtSRaGgdyF8bWpi5ZJknFqqfR6W7KTIwMHUo4uzCds4xhqVH-RcSDaxEQAV2JtEWdh5mcidftCnXxO8lcS8ELULhcgsQj_RwpRTsq0Xn60PE6kc0sQaCzWZFq0w/s320/4000islands+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This guys is a hoot! Say hello to the baker. He moved here two years ago and never left.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2thRmVMaJXq333s_lS7lJSE9_xRq45i8GyNkziltdfRxhu2BQ-YpzxTKWIyPuniEw8B0SFjjc8sHaB0ZsU6qNLMxSe3y6nnDCJBFpzIWg5C32i21v6LhziR6K4nNGK4_WzTUkqaRYyk/s1600-h/4000islands+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105196443819643730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2thRmVMaJXq333s_lS7lJSE9_xRq45i8GyNkziltdfRxhu2BQ-YpzxTKWIyPuniEw8B0SFjjc8sHaB0ZsU6qNLMxSe3y6nnDCJBFpzIWg5C32i21v6LhziR6K4nNGK4_WzTUkqaRYyk/s320/4000islands+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At the end of each day, the baker packs whatever he hasn't sold into the back of his bike and peddles around the island looking for kids with the munchies. Is this place great or is this place great?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHEA0PC_vv85WBrGr-7x4pZP3fhUbGX2f9mb7zGblPxBKvwu3MoJXwW87M0fTUaJ85OHLzPlLrNwPRbFyJByD1NFvlLHKwBddYjGR-hLSaMZy5Mf3Rf5y1mZXjVTo_4d21N08n5deCRk/s1600-h/4000islands+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195808164483778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHHEA0PC_vv85WBrGr-7x4pZP3fhUbGX2f9mb7zGblPxBKvwu3MoJXwW87M0fTUaJ85OHLzPlLrNwPRbFyJByD1NFvlLHKwBddYjGR-hLSaMZy5Mf3Rf5y1mZXjVTo_4d21N08n5deCRk/s320/4000islands+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You make your own fun on the island. Seriously guys.....paddle!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2b8xoT5wYav-O-_UfRetpu4zcQzaaa28vrDhkxKQR6br0lJh0eTFW3fUblFcy4y1cclEXsaUJEd-cn0ZbyJtMcn7m63Zqt5TUvI980CPyd0NBiC92-nBiOx6unC4vI4d8HoLM2mdQoo/s1600-h/4000islands+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195812459451090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2b8xoT5wYav-O-_UfRetpu4zcQzaaa28vrDhkxKQR6br0lJh0eTFW3fUblFcy4y1cclEXsaUJEd-cn0ZbyJtMcn7m63Zqt5TUvI980CPyd0NBiC92-nBiOx6unC4vI4d8HoLM2mdQoo/s320/4000islands+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mama <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Tannon</span>, you saucy minx!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mTsCViMjmtIsvg8zzXzrLjzRIkpAAZpFi9rS6q-DVEOB-BLnSIvEmlPlUUodlq277Zr58KzWW7LywPWPy7PujCzBD1VpoEveLSRJHuwXt-_CfHLI5bQLSN_F0gEPp2tbT2EiJbvUzQk/s1600-h/4000islands+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195812459451106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mTsCViMjmtIsvg8zzXzrLjzRIkpAAZpFi9rS6q-DVEOB-BLnSIvEmlPlUUodlq277Zr58KzWW7LywPWPy7PujCzBD1VpoEveLSRJHuwXt-_CfHLI5bQLSN_F0gEPp2tbT2EiJbvUzQk/s320/4000islands+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dinner time!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NMaREu0OCQToUMsCiFmCZytjhSWncFwq9KvhxPw_r0Koi_Nzw_NL3vLhdoFKvzrVUNDLPJ6Eh1n_RhC2Kltn_WRNp1sMLo-NaCJoVfpN48zyig0N1Tg2Mba3MnDQJmgMLhdMwXGBVGw/s1600-h/4000islands+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195816754418418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NMaREu0OCQToUMsCiFmCZytjhSWncFwq9KvhxPw_r0Koi_Nzw_NL3vLhdoFKvzrVUNDLPJ6Eh1n_RhC2Kltn_WRNp1sMLo-NaCJoVfpN48zyig0N1Tg2Mba3MnDQJmgMLhdMwXGBVGw/s320/4000islands+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Woah</span> hold on a sec! It's been almost an hour since we were last in a hammock.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ir0a53pFGItX7B7eEl0MiN0Ih7aD39F53Y4fnqfIxtSwCBHe23HM3pj6BI1ZW0s6rtubJ7q7OhwSBlpDwEIWZQvGrwi6ZSEtEWzABtSRx8UhbnoAY84VVjzZeVuuYEw2YEqfiZ8Ob9U/s1600-h/4000islands+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195821049385730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Ir0a53pFGItX7B7eEl0MiN0Ih7aD39F53Y4fnqfIxtSwCBHe23HM3pj6BI1ZW0s6rtubJ7q7OhwSBlpDwEIWZQvGrwi6ZSEtEWzABtSRx8UhbnoAY84VVjzZeVuuYEw2YEqfiZ8Ob9U/s320/4000islands+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You have to negotiate your way into one first though.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtviLe5DmYP0Ca6z9Xdld14bf3cOtkAeJI_6Z7Ww-6x8vrwwTJNV79n-w2uEoRqtGWsyCo88gQOaHUIMCBDeapGQ4ooQlxSlA24P3NI_P_meFn3pIpePKpc9KuY1IMrEF8Fm196e4emU/s1600-h/4000islands+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195146739520114" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtviLe5DmYP0Ca6z9Xdld14bf3cOtkAeJI_6Z7Ww-6x8vrwwTJNV79n-w2uEoRqtGWsyCo88gQOaHUIMCBDeapGQ4ooQlxSlA24P3NI_P_meFn3pIpePKpc9KuY1IMrEF8Fm196e4emU/s320/4000islands+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next morning we got up bright and early to go fishing!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVRfQs94reIjM58hucgkL1i_hM3jXIFgnFOS2-eXoC4A0hyphenhyphenKKQZ_LMa1S86u_Q-xyIPKV2dJJNEqObYgFmTJRVNQXz-Ot0RqQCevRSwuWs_LeCaHLfKOUVhtKr_DGqFKDDsKO1kWUfVI/s1600-h/4000islands+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195151034487426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVRfQs94reIjM58hucgkL1i_hM3jXIFgnFOS2-eXoC4A0hyphenhyphenKKQZ_LMa1S86u_Q-xyIPKV2dJJNEqObYgFmTJRVNQXz-Ot0RqQCevRSwuWs_LeCaHLfKOUVhtKr_DGqFKDDsKO1kWUfVI/s320/4000islands+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And look at the monster I reeled in! A few more of those and I can fill a can of sardines!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eqhfWYceBMMupOcMX0_XhNPwg4B4Uj81ZfH6uq6SPacRcguW0-KtEQz9LBM6tH1Heb6uTwAd0VFDdommNnxA_A5Yg_z5bfCk10WaQgG-yThW8LFbNgQhXgKoHtW7lc8pNNl8YabNfjg/s1600-h/4000islands+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195151034487442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eqhfWYceBMMupOcMX0_XhNPwg4B4Uj81ZfH6uq6SPacRcguW0-KtEQz9LBM6tH1Heb6uTwAd0VFDdommNnxA_A5Yg_z5bfCk10WaQgG-yThW8LFbNgQhXgKoHtW7lc8pNNl8YabNfjg/s320/4000islands+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We stopped for lunch at one of the local guesthouse where knife safety takes a backseat to a good time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbhyHLCPxwG9I-ei5-A63HaJIjz139Mppv-_wqKMg5fg9mNF2-NnsWaDWZrlP2JlZ8c8fmhWoEIlW09mpFoe1QZ2ps90KU9a_KGpWjhUOhc_JtGqLLbBNRmOOC-I1y2g0FFESRwiXvDU/s1600-h/4000islands+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195155329454754" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbhyHLCPxwG9I-ei5-A63HaJIjz139Mppv-_wqKMg5fg9mNF2-NnsWaDWZrlP2JlZ8c8fmhWoEIlW09mpFoe1QZ2ps90KU9a_KGpWjhUOhc_JtGqLLbBNRmOOC-I1y2g0FFESRwiXvDU/s320/4000islands+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fresh fish caught right out of the Mekong that morning, steamed in a banana leaf with scrambled egg! (Drool!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMu1APRs8rgkmU4qiETsuj4t8SoueUlihCkW9xhH3uQlCpQT9wtnbT8dxCZzT4AGYY1p4FNb1rLROcG_n37bKI2ovfkYjRyW-wAlIa4uORZfB8R-XFYk2vcMJYWDEW6ecyxLT3DOCxQw/s1600-h/4000islands+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105195155329454770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMu1APRs8rgkmU4qiETsuj4t8SoueUlihCkW9xhH3uQlCpQT9wtnbT8dxCZzT4AGYY1p4FNb1rLROcG_n37bKI2ovfkYjRyW-wAlIa4uORZfB8R-XFYk2vcMJYWDEW6ecyxLT3DOCxQw/s320/4000islands+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the main street. There's probably about 20 "buildings" in the whole area!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKumFPx7h63jTWl298Ba9E6BzGIoQGypR4cvNtrcyUtXKCW4-_sdbOeL7d8_zZNNfnL6kz9XlATbgQHIRoBIvbTO7WfNBB6U6Qh9eMrbYeMxPdpJbf-y-kEo_siURufLl5g7FWtCkhChQ/s1600-h/4000islands+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105194446659850786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKumFPx7h63jTWl298Ba9E6BzGIoQGypR4cvNtrcyUtXKCW4-_sdbOeL7d8_zZNNfnL6kz9XlATbgQHIRoBIvbTO7WfNBB6U6Qh9eMrbYeMxPdpJbf-y-kEo_siURufLl5g7FWtCkhChQ/s320/4000islands+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sunset time again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSx5ofRhsKegTLQm8h9w_Ibgxm66zQZqhWsmeOAdpWGriADi7waTJ2UBIJB5vN4Vu2ir01VTouXL9K3ubpc9pRQjU1TPr5OF42MT08ivOWt6bpNxsk3HfquVzlCHkUfXCL3musa5QPr4/s1600-h/4000islands+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105194450954818098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSx5ofRhsKegTLQm8h9w_Ibgxm66zQZqhWsmeOAdpWGriADi7waTJ2UBIJB5vN4Vu2ir01VTouXL9K3ubpc9pRQjU1TPr5OF42MT08ivOWt6bpNxsk3HfquVzlCHkUfXCL3musa5QPr4/s320/4000islands+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Okay nature..........impress me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7r96PKZNvn4sMNNd-7L0r4TcUyasF1wMFt0A0exTEHn8ez0yo_gMcHQLCgZKKCvbkMk1fE3uVbddyqkPdyGDOaeVXj7dfhbsuNGDmLz9oc21VsH9uYnRKoIqQ9vsbZfAbxDCKj8fPWw/s1600-h/4000islands+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105194450954818114" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7r96PKZNvn4sMNNd-7L0r4TcUyasF1wMFt0A0exTEHn8ez0yo_gMcHQLCgZKKCvbkMk1fE3uVbddyqkPdyGDOaeVXj7dfhbsuNGDmLz9oc21VsH9uYnRKoIqQ9vsbZfAbxDCKj8fPWw/s320/4000islands+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Well done.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIlmSDDT_UIqeN2juPYwUDmeAMpbpjby1BAqpKmADC0rpP67Ke3siQtUerFtOKLErRL87REotjsHkjpPH8jCgmxrkccIpVmc8pb8r3f7FPGPbMeQns71LKrGo8HQnno-j8QVOxiQSctI/s1600-h/4000islands+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105194455249785426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIlmSDDT_UIqeN2juPYwUDmeAMpbpjby1BAqpKmADC0rpP67Ke3siQtUerFtOKLErRL87REotjsHkjpPH8jCgmxrkccIpVmc8pb8r3f7FPGPbMeQns71LKrGo8HQnno-j8QVOxiQSctI/s320/4000islands+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Let's see what to do, what to do??......<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYmsKCPhDK-8ZlOXVyJ62wyP5y3pXPd3UCZqNKGWczqSxp2lvHKrAGtMpzxGtC-bv0YNWzu5AdlMBIXqme3S-AAgtB4WgpUw9KbxqihNiByy3uBIL8jmbG4oOIPkMFk0z11b-KPGftig/s1600-h/4000islands+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105194455249785442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYmsKCPhDK-8ZlOXVyJ62wyP5y3pXPd3UCZqNKGWczqSxp2lvHKrAGtMpzxGtC-bv0YNWzu5AdlMBIXqme3S-AAgtB4WgpUw9KbxqihNiByy3uBIL8jmbG4oOIPkMFk0z11b-KPGftig/s320/4000islands+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I loved this place. One morning I woke up and just decided to pack my things and go because I knew that if I didn't get moving I'd never leave this place!Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-18569209352805577042007-08-15T22:58:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:16.934-08:00Siem Reap (Aug 14-17)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40KZ83OyRFl4hsVGMHWfx7ugDF5KI5Yrd8EZuzjDbv33_8Q1GRzLMupXeGKZDOTbkENdYK3vrPzoIHHMfHbwuEZYRMm4i0B0cTKabbmAbVFv78R6KaTe35NVL2kRloZIzuxDi2CidDEQ/s1600-h/IMG_3010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099221341152022994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40KZ83OyRFl4hsVGMHWfx7ugDF5KI5Yrd8EZuzjDbv33_8Q1GRzLMupXeGKZDOTbkENdYK3vrPzoIHHMfHbwuEZYRMm4i0B0cTKabbmAbVFv78R6KaTe35NVL2kRloZIzuxDi2CidDEQ/s320/IMG_3010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I awoke on the morning of August 14th with one thought in my mind......"where the hell am I?"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTgX1XR1gTZ7ZQNPsebP4m7hFnDyH_iXZByHxTKr3tofWvi8-QxJqTe68iJyAyMGFvsGFL3NDEDjx5FNgaYrIxwNWWCHg5IQFjCC7AC6BCNEcy5iCVKLj6knLvezF7xZZVTFGXlY64a4/s1600-h/IMG_3011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099221345446990306" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTgX1XR1gTZ7ZQNPsebP4m7hFnDyH_iXZByHxTKr3tofWvi8-QxJqTe68iJyAyMGFvsGFL3NDEDjx5FNgaYrIxwNWWCHg5IQFjCC7AC6BCNEcy5iCVKLj6knLvezF7xZZVTFGXlY64a4/s320/IMG_3011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I thought when I left Phenom Penh a few hours ago I was on the Mekong River. This feels like I'm in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUMezKEHP4HRAbtIivnErBUAQGjkxrtrjABLDObbFRo4ZaCqfWHgHwzwcOXeG0hXMSkeTNRvQMZGdCxJ44MMJpOYQFt92yaksB7mkJ2bzq1j8xevyFHaGYKG05GpBJwymV1SY9R3_8MA/s1600-h/IMG_3012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099221345446990322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUMezKEHP4HRAbtIivnErBUAQGjkxrtrjABLDObbFRo4ZaCqfWHgHwzwcOXeG0hXMSkeTNRvQMZGdCxJ44MMJpOYQFt92yaksB7mkJ2bzq1j8xevyFHaGYKG05GpBJwymV1SY9R3_8MA/s320/IMG_3012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apparently the Mekong river stretches several kilometers wide in some spots. I must have done something right on this trip because the weather was beautiful and it turned what could have been a really uncomfortable 5 hour journey into an afternoon of sunbathing, reading, and writing all the things in my journal that my mom won't let me put on this blog.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpimRc4dWb_WbIk2eLymWYzUd4caqlAPmCVdxbU7XApwlNl3b4KCBe8iA2t12ugh4fi9tYt3f8gWiHu9j4gqTf0zDuMH2xpj4yjlGln1mq81Eq0IO-bjrYRhk9TkrZobUGdhT8ZB1i4U/s1600-h/IMG_3019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099221345446990338" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpimRc4dWb_WbIk2eLymWYzUd4caqlAPmCVdxbU7XApwlNl3b4KCBe8iA2t12ugh4fi9tYt3f8gWiHu9j4gqTf0zDuMH2xpj4yjlGln1mq81Eq0IO-bjrYRhk9TkrZobUGdhT8ZB1i4U/s320/IMG_3019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Siem Reap is most famous for the Temples of Angkor. Between the 9th and 13th centuries, the god-kings devoted much of their efforts to better their ancestors by building massive Wat's. Proving once and for all that size DOES count!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgjK77rsrC4hzupnkbR3b3f-3RjM7YrTQMvNnvPi7egbEyr_7wqn1OvLGoGatW7LQEiqjG7vVq6WomCd6JX2ap00SPf4tItFmfLh81JMmWHBi6FrpgzyxiNU2OxTJ41RAhnIzm-IhzZ4/s1600-h/IMG_3020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099221349741957650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgjK77rsrC4hzupnkbR3b3f-3RjM7YrTQMvNnvPi7egbEyr_7wqn1OvLGoGatW7LQEiqjG7vVq6WomCd6JX2ap00SPf4tItFmfLh81JMmWHBi6FrpgzyxiNU2OxTJ41RAhnIzm-IhzZ4/s320/IMG_3020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The largest religious building in the world is Angkor Wat. This massive structure was built by Suryavarman II to honour Vishnu his patron Deity.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4dCyMOO3ztkVBFV8glRBqrG6DNxJLZ4KZ9ypymvZTXtl6KhV2X9QKWE9Pwws41zovxbHwEH5Wzd3SjzwEjFNETfuBVqrJ3XSAG3O5AjO8s9Qc5lLMf-bW_MbMgITaID7R7jozVr5qRw/s1600-h/IMG_3021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099220568057909634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4dCyMOO3ztkVBFV8glRBqrG6DNxJLZ4KZ9ypymvZTXtl6KhV2X9QKWE9Pwws41zovxbHwEH5Wzd3SjzwEjFNETfuBVqrJ3XSAG3O5AjO8s9Qc5lLMf-bW_MbMgITaID7R7jozVr5qRw/s320/IMG_3021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I'm not kidding, this thing is enormous!!!! It kind of felt like walking onto the movie set for Mortal Combat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_L2bm6Y5jQd2zn04IYGZeclEhBr4MB75pP536-TtmCUYymReqAgOPshFUOknpOHWhwFwXaTsqISB7GlTVxGENQacs66591jSXWMG0XZ0mRpQeGZQrirFLiQuyEPD4Az2yaIRw_O9Fs0/s1600-h/IMG_3018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099220572352876946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_L2bm6Y5jQd2zn04IYGZeclEhBr4MB75pP536-TtmCUYymReqAgOPshFUOknpOHWhwFwXaTsqISB7GlTVxGENQacs66591jSXWMG0XZ0mRpQeGZQrirFLiQuyEPD4Az2yaIRw_O9Fs0/s320/IMG_3018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />All of the hundreds of temples in the area are a testament to just how vast the political, religious, and social structure was at that time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY50ikGMosIAOPsgPBX8UWyucCYAnBrKHCI39cR8YLVOV5kvO8-h8rbDrERBqQVmll8tJdonC8vOvfx8J3ZmOsFwwcyL-5os1-8n1VIl1ywpZGFV5BmTdwhBe_nTkp3PXGVUnqAmtgKnI/s1600-h/IMG_3024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099220576647844258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY50ikGMosIAOPsgPBX8UWyucCYAnBrKHCI39cR8YLVOV5kvO8-h8rbDrERBqQVmll8tJdonC8vOvfx8J3ZmOsFwwcyL-5os1-8n1VIl1ywpZGFV5BmTdwhBe_nTkp3PXGVUnqAmtgKnI/s320/IMG_3024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I am Will. God of sweaty hangovers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mlU-vh2cOSGcx1v1Q2VsDv8_4BKSOzFF5h2SiodpHzvfrKrLJBBVqLqE1AjMG6epGqkV8L9prdX9A_4vUVh2pu8ggSuayfxAFnE5dASuOKPm1-TRVcbh81WfAlyutpCiWtWkCnoPcLc/s1600-h/IMG_3026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099220580942811570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mlU-vh2cOSGcx1v1Q2VsDv8_4BKSOzFF5h2SiodpHzvfrKrLJBBVqLqE1AjMG6epGqkV8L9prdX9A_4vUVh2pu8ggSuayfxAFnE5dASuOKPm1-TRVcbh81WfAlyutpCiWtWkCnoPcLc/s320/IMG_3026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Many of the temples are under constant construction and restoration projects, most of which are paid by the Cambodian and French governments. I couldn't figure out what angle the French are playing at here but there has GOT to be one as this would cost a fortune!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-0l4WBGSt3zjgOn1owUKJVtGHyrz-AhM4-awKfaRw_x5JkGJhVxyUwuesohYLKRMypn8f1BYwMH0cM44uEeJtW0UCEMFSi25pgmA9h1wrn7LUTIQ9WC_5mKTPm31_urmY8n6BInetgk/s1600-h/IMG_3030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099220580942811586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-0l4WBGSt3zjgOn1owUKJVtGHyrz-AhM4-awKfaRw_x5JkGJhVxyUwuesohYLKRMypn8f1BYwMH0cM44uEeJtW0UCEMFSi25pgmA9h1wrn7LUTIQ9WC_5mKTPm31_urmY8n6BInetgk/s320/IMG_3030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I tried to get a picture of just how steep the stairs were on the way up to the central tower but I don't think I did them justice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iNs3Y3q714OATwT8WvK3NNNgtxgafQWYKbG_ohVGe38YBQAbvE1sllt_qv0HhPRBRxP53hI70doXhR5y7JOBgbuqnme7KrFtODyPf5Wcmp9JNL67nbXqlXCynXm5PDQCEzUZvDSp_Rk/s1600-h/IMG_3031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099219855093338418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iNs3Y3q714OATwT8WvK3NNNgtxgafQWYKbG_ohVGe38YBQAbvE1sllt_qv0HhPRBRxP53hI70doXhR5y7JOBgbuqnme7KrFtODyPf5Wcmp9JNL67nbXqlXCynXm5PDQCEzUZvDSp_Rk/s320/IMG_3031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I did spend about twenty minutes watching fat chicks try to make the summit though! Keep reaching for that rainbow (sherbet) sweetheart!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2PXCT7WBTdLfRl0rCG6UwhyphenhyphenQXT2nasgV0BuXmkPkkzw49BEMswHJNY4AVKwtSRpO3Q_EYIvXe3CnP9fRuPg2PUUit9um076YlidRbMCXKkYkKA06y8J6nIzF43oKZett5IGIzCDTxV0/s1600-h/IMG_3034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099219867978240354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2PXCT7WBTdLfRl0rCG6UwhyphenhyphenQXT2nasgV0BuXmkPkkzw49BEMswHJNY4AVKwtSRpO3Q_EYIvXe3CnP9fRuPg2PUUit9um076YlidRbMCXKkYkKA06y8J6nIzF43oKZett5IGIzCDTxV0/s320/IMG_3034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />On the outside of the central temple complex is a series of bas-reliefs that depict 88 demons and 92 gods churning the sea to extract immortality.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jFxvsnBlQX3xiF7tcGiRY8Q-ser3Ifdt8Mw80ddHDnJVUxeDEQlcwUgmeqtvcoomRz_vk0RUCx9n2mGUl88Yku8h1QXFgiUIL5VO5V9NgfHb5bZl5OOgJHY6d4HcSEgYXSk4uWKfGO8/s1600-h/IMG_3048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099219872273207666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jFxvsnBlQX3xiF7tcGiRY8Q-ser3Ifdt8Mw80ddHDnJVUxeDEQlcwUgmeqtvcoomRz_vk0RUCx9n2mGUl88Yku8h1QXFgiUIL5VO5V9NgfHb5bZl5OOgJHY6d4HcSEgYXSk4uWKfGO8/s320/IMG_3048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I don't think that the slaves depicted pulling the chariot got any of that immortality though.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2vKhH3qOZuY5UpHmxuIZ7fvSZm13uExBGx9EhPJ-CRgg9D12AGfMEFpI29krldi4gS5Y3VYpFiacMjdhJ4aU9ET3fyxdQ6o-HSqkVVZ3q6P72Q8LjWFbL2In8K8PwTygB0EAitqYhA0/s1600-h/IMG_3042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099218944560271586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2vKhH3qOZuY5UpHmxuIZ7fvSZm13uExBGx9EhPJ-CRgg9D12AGfMEFpI29krldi4gS5Y3VYpFiacMjdhJ4aU9ET3fyxdQ6o-HSqkVVZ3q6P72Q8LjWFbL2In8K8PwTygB0EAitqYhA0/s320/IMG_3042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here's a picture of me relaxing on the southern wall.....all tuckered out at 11 in the morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJzXO-TWpTptk1fHiz-2XmihTFjwHjCpfyEcfuVe-RVaE9AWw20JZIe02vadUv1vF3atweaT-uQHWqkQ7e2Qt1bINI22K8RpZ_NLvdTXQVrFaz_pzo9czgPzUko5deUJXkejW8kiV3wg/s1600-h/IMG_3049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099218948855238898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJzXO-TWpTptk1fHiz-2XmihTFjwHjCpfyEcfuVe-RVaE9AWw20JZIe02vadUv1vF3atweaT-uQHWqkQ7e2Qt1bINI22K8RpZ_NLvdTXQVrFaz_pzo9czgPzUko5deUJXkejW8kiV3wg/s320/IMG_3049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The middle tower is supposed to represent Mt. Meru, a Hindu mythological reference to the center of the universe.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeTms0Zhtda3RX1HEvy1ReWuMH2pfwCsLEN3wmB52zzBOiZnt6Axm9XRBjfVWao4PxEOAlhNXQ9IT36fyalclW5AsmA6JMHo4jpidBWeM9Y8PH8khZYai79QGogJEF8vH0Co_N8r8HAo/s1600-h/IMG_3050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099218957445173522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeTms0Zhtda3RX1HEvy1ReWuMH2pfwCsLEN3wmB52zzBOiZnt6Axm9XRBjfVWao4PxEOAlhNXQ9IT36fyalclW5AsmA6JMHo4jpidBWeM9Y8PH8khZYai79QGogJEF8vH0Co_N8r8HAo/s320/IMG_3050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-eYMaFTNs4CiIkOBpVy-4eat-QUBQr_A40SEpN8Q3R5iWKiR4UHG3O6_KtSPU_JFHRBjPv0h48SqABbufp4TuDeJKZi0BUbU3jlUbTdVUQUelm_UVm8QMoWxhQwLPwMMPiZswoouDMGg/s1600-h/IMG_3054.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bVjuZFXQMDCrptLBcJNUQOvlRf5BZkydCkaXU9A03v017_82L3rZrK-C8CdYOtc-5lQoQ7hZQAmAtSG4U7rfW6HOmSCOqwZZ6ZWmX9ZHoAP_rgt6A2WbmoiHZhdCSTlX9AYQ3DBygRc/s1600-h/IMG_3017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099215916608327810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7bVjuZFXQMDCrptLBcJNUQOvlRf5BZkydCkaXU9A03v017_82L3rZrK-C8CdYOtc-5lQoQ7hZQAmAtSG4U7rfW6HOmSCOqwZZ6ZWmX9ZHoAP_rgt6A2WbmoiHZhdCSTlX9AYQ3DBygRc/s320/IMG_3017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The whole Wat is surrounded by a moat and on each side of the walkway leading up to the temple are multi-headed serpents that leer at you from all angles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5CbjBnFD1SAzJfut0xYPZTUppR7FIdRig90RITYUzP5sU6AkZ4RQue7ScMI7byLq1IujFClOaVa0m60V9En_KvUlDy8Qyl17F-dZ6RTzEY_QgOmNnO1rR7xRB5Xr6U6tjTnoIbtoW2s/s1600-h/IMG_3069.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099214658182909938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5CbjBnFD1SAzJfut0xYPZTUppR7FIdRig90RITYUzP5sU6AkZ4RQue7ScMI7byLq1IujFClOaVa0m60V9En_KvUlDy8Qyl17F-dZ6RTzEY_QgOmNnO1rR7xRB5Xr6U6tjTnoIbtoW2s/s320/IMG_3069.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVioLB4nyJ7i1hwLGuMjylc2ymTYUCTcb_JD_ITEktnUUqM-kPLBrPPYuEkrDwAof9SPx4T-BFlDR3rCcKMZLmJPuJZu5nPS6RRrLJXR4MEs30FIb3v6-604s3c4ZS8laLdh4CjcBKQYQ/s1600-h/IMG_3056.jpg"></a><br /><br />If Angkor Wat is the house in Rosedale than Angkor Thom is the Muskoka getaway.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWV_5O-Oq_oYJ3bB736guBQX7DTQvvAIPZUJCY4ORCMwKgdkFtK9WRXFQ_LgLx34rE0DpYBpzXytFVARVL1EQ7IcL-63n7Syy6xjQSubC8U8cgOO9Q72Iput7zVxSuNhMgLTgaQw9sx4/s1600-h/IMG_3009.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr9suLj9W3vXjsGZiPDU6qQDP2q4LKOHtAWywgyy601h-ozCkvE3thW8iXMdYIVI4gkaUup6aWLA9xBtuxnaDWS9peKL6H4u0SJXgn4g0H-ZV1OoZTTFHwm5P06JDNDOJjkpXUuKxwU4/s1600-h/IMG_3058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099217312472699058" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr9suLj9W3vXjsGZiPDU6qQDP2q4LKOHtAWywgyy601h-ozCkvE3thW8iXMdYIVI4gkaUup6aWLA9xBtuxnaDWS9peKL6H4u0SJXgn4g0H-ZV1OoZTTFHwm5P06JDNDOJjkpXUuKxwU4/s320/IMG_3058.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />More rustic than it's predecessor, this fortified city was built by Angkor's greatest king, Jayavarman VII (r1181-1219.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNX_0ctmecQEBIweQBZ2Uh1YSD6k3WAMyvqc8tltjBuevRRBfhsYTlRcQ4tLGZkq-5tEG2YBjg433Rx0SnYeGvtdukMPIRiSoiFzW_oteolxBax0RqKkLnaLYf4_kqIkUTzsXUrhzJ9c/s1600-h/IMG_3059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099217312472699074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNX_0ctmecQEBIweQBZ2Uh1YSD6k3WAMyvqc8tltjBuevRRBfhsYTlRcQ4tLGZkq-5tEG2YBjg433Rx0SnYeGvtdukMPIRiSoiFzW_oteolxBax0RqKkLnaLYf4_kqIkUTzsXUrhzJ9c/s320/IMG_3059.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8ka0PJZMTjS5u-x1Q1biJZSerSusmwRplrnI7hzV2Ua9DNfenuemlc-HhnUKzsqkbIju5M1XyCkOySBe8YnyZ4DcP90xVESLCdVTSp_VwsKECmiA1obJ9cKWXvzldKnfIEJCKSAkON0/s1600-h/IMG_3061.jpg"></a><br />The inside the main building are several Buddha's that are still worshipped by throngs of Cambodians every day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iLrAYqomUYNzIUB6w8r234d957pvcXozmaPM_YwZ6CZMFxBBzGwGGX7zzkzLshkMQf2FJYVH_PovrkdeuIl5Vnh-cRch8xvnXLUknN7stw0LZDUQpy9S4BNW2JAhm3WnNYDPyYWIlwE/s1600-h/IMG_3064.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XAzyKJ3K_MqcWMfoq4n67lhN2fyaYP5TSCSuJw3iSdvKHRH32ZVy78LkcKPHrmQfOfGaqREjvQxszoCoX2JB5ePsneP5iChK1T4izurc-kEw0SGK58GOGT9d-WtQs4-ogakVuoCh9Ks/s1600-h/IMG_3065.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099215912313360466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XAzyKJ3K_MqcWMfoq4n67lhN2fyaYP5TSCSuJw3iSdvKHRH32ZVy78LkcKPHrmQfOfGaqREjvQxszoCoX2JB5ePsneP5iChK1T4izurc-kEw0SGK58GOGT9d-WtQs4-ogakVuoCh9Ks/s320/IMG_3065.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />OOoooooohhh!!!.......<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbs6R4OYCS2IQM7yHbEbdSl9boBrnhMr4lV1AbX67zUHYUdDdBIHJDqMSyC3xguvmMvalP2hkQAOZv0r7-PIhB3yv__QWBnOtv3xo-0YJA1jHefZGnh8QUyRhB_2_UMME1yOcWUHppGY/s1600-h/IMG_3067.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099215912313360482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbs6R4OYCS2IQM7yHbEbdSl9boBrnhMr4lV1AbX67zUHYUdDdBIHJDqMSyC3xguvmMvalP2hkQAOZv0r7-PIhB3yv__QWBnOtv3xo-0YJA1jHefZGnh8QUyRhB_2_UMME1yOcWUHppGY/s320/IMG_3067.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That shirt went straight into the wash.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7OL9SxCaAHQjyaw3EWVVVbhCM7LqNvLn6l91JzF18rxwmwBso_cr_MvFQpXmrSXZCRk8A5_Yet_aD-ONs13plE78MjgbQCiU60PmlZ4USxoXBGp1CppJqGlNHcwlswMkh-6_H1JzcxU/s1600-h/IMG_3071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099215916608327794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7OL9SxCaAHQjyaw3EWVVVbhCM7LqNvLn6l91JzF18rxwmwBso_cr_MvFQpXmrSXZCRk8A5_Yet_aD-ONs13plE78MjgbQCiU60PmlZ4USxoXBGp1CppJqGlNHcwlswMkh-6_H1JzcxU/s320/IMG_3071.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Baphuon is a bit of a sad story. This temple was taken apart by archaeologists before the civil war but one the war broke out the Khmer Rouge destroyed all of the records. Now it's turned into the most ambitious restoration project in all of Angkor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEg32MsA-sSymODwNtlA8WJL-GFoknLL_k3Ek1E5tWBcCNJbne82JYwvYKC3iquv4R5eDUFXp2GeuC9nMlOnUa_Emhi5w9NMChd0pDLeIkX8HSGsTZQ8YUlJZfeYojjnAtOptvQhTCag/s1600-h/IMG_3075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099214662477877250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEg32MsA-sSymODwNtlA8WJL-GFoknLL_k3Ek1E5tWBcCNJbne82JYwvYKC3iquv4R5eDUFXp2GeuC9nMlOnUa_Emhi5w9NMChd0pDLeIkX8HSGsTZQ8YUlJZfeYojjnAtOptvQhTCag/s320/IMG_3075.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOx85dmHUqj6UN-Mfp-PKPLGJhqvTltAOSRMXGNMyTvCzLn1uV4DoYM3s_Dfeybq0EsgV1-qh_dFrBb5kArcM1HKVp8y1CuS6tTPd2wzJ0Qh7TzU1ysmVYqIMnn4DVS5G7qfQ0kOJsXk/s1600-h/IMG_3082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099214666772844562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOx85dmHUqj6UN-Mfp-PKPLGJhqvTltAOSRMXGNMyTvCzLn1uV4DoYM3s_Dfeybq0EsgV1-qh_dFrBb5kArcM1HKVp8y1CuS6tTPd2wzJ0Qh7TzU1ysmVYqIMnn4DVS5G7qfQ0kOJsXk/s320/IMG_3082.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the "Terrace of Elephants." It was originally used as a reviewing stand for the king during parades and ceremonies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKeTvhyH9FedbtzZsCTdpSQT-a1hrJv-jrgd7AuadBEbIsd_lkqovrgmCd3NUU1fYqrlNEXteiDeBOr7_tW1zf7ghzxDPTaGLOo_RsZwfMnk-r1FS9sIIcAflgrbRnWWhtWpXP-pqEzg/s1600-h/IMG_3083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099214671067811874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKeTvhyH9FedbtzZsCTdpSQT-a1hrJv-jrgd7AuadBEbIsd_lkqovrgmCd3NUU1fYqrlNEXteiDeBOr7_tW1zf7ghzxDPTaGLOo_RsZwfMnk-r1FS9sIIcAflgrbRnWWhtWpXP-pqEzg/s320/IMG_3083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the "Terrace of the Leper King." Even though he had lepercy, I'm pretty sure he still had a head.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hQjihWIrxClZOP3NlBvMsTc0Yw4wZ1joO3WaH-_u3_OYkQK8Ucgt_qSIymEgn7VtxvgGxveWw6CcBo_eGN0HE4jZ38Dxag2EanPZ7xDHhTpqiii1arspTWTgpCTI7ExTq8IgFtc3L1E/s1600-h/IMG_3087.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099214675362779186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hQjihWIrxClZOP3NlBvMsTc0Yw4wZ1joO3WaH-_u3_OYkQK8Ucgt_qSIymEgn7VtxvgGxveWw6CcBo_eGN0HE4jZ38Dxag2EanPZ7xDHhTpqiii1arspTWTgpCTI7ExTq8IgFtc3L1E/s320/IMG_3087.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />These freaky looking figures were only discovered a few centuries ago when the original terrace was enlarged.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWTGlFrY1Ckts4Zc_cWDZiiXmUALrzg7TdLEG6r8Ug6XqARKFIwVAY4e1_jcKA7W3mtVtp9AIbZuQaMZiVS_9wzis0rAftRe2cYiIap5MXy2QKjlZkaSx1yOnR-zKOgZ1iF76C40x1Qo/s1600-h/IMG_3089.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099213661750497186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWTGlFrY1Ckts4Zc_cWDZiiXmUALrzg7TdLEG6r8Ug6XqARKFIwVAY4e1_jcKA7W3mtVtp9AIbZuQaMZiVS_9wzis0rAftRe2cYiIap5MXy2QKjlZkaSx1yOnR-zKOgZ1iF76C40x1Qo/s320/IMG_3089.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />After you stare at them awhile in the sun your eyes begin to play tricks on you and it looks like they're moving!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgootrpbaziKdyHxO18ctOWWsM9Ezv7z6jTxGdoxN-8Asq1-wvmBSnnK-j6jp3OXIAgV7HoaBfqasqF9o5pj8fV4W-XOCTMwC1qLxiw5j3EwGeLt3rOH3AuGrhNvAj_isb25nqFF-_OYio/s1600-h/IMG_3094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099213666045464498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgootrpbaziKdyHxO18ctOWWsM9Ezv7z6jTxGdoxN-8Asq1-wvmBSnnK-j6jp3OXIAgV7HoaBfqasqF9o5pj8fV4W-XOCTMwC1qLxiw5j3EwGeLt3rOH3AuGrhNvAj_isb25nqFF-_OYio/s320/IMG_3094.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is a horse. I'm sure you've seen one of these before.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayVZKZlbKKoXq9EEeEwYecwFpvB953HJJ2U6bt_ogdwKM2zI8uZlO1PcCcl7HPutrEpRzXajFZyxiwH38hwaDVKvZ19C6eZkrz4IcrqsXWOyIwLGPNdES8pjzylZI5VeUp3Oz8dxI4-w/s1600-h/IMG_3099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099213670340431810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayVZKZlbKKoXq9EEeEwYecwFpvB953HJJ2U6bt_ogdwKM2zI8uZlO1PcCcl7HPutrEpRzXajFZyxiwH38hwaDVKvZ19C6eZkrz4IcrqsXWOyIwLGPNdES8pjzylZI5VeUp3Oz8dxI4-w/s320/IMG_3099.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I forgot which temple this one was. I think it might have been Phnom Bakheng but I'm not sure...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis10t2wWZPsELH0q4K_BC7FnxppQEpTxSoGyJ8eaxvsgnRNh04WjEA70Ez_ZhFYPq6qy4YqgotX5XqdfZi0sFPfu3AQxd7t8ApDFio3JMlL_hA3O59drH_nfeFQMOxi8T5BY1ROVrXVm4/s1600-h/IMG_3101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099213670340431826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis10t2wWZPsELH0q4K_BC7FnxppQEpTxSoGyJ8eaxvsgnRNh04WjEA70Ez_ZhFYPq6qy4YqgotX5XqdfZi0sFPfu3AQxd7t8ApDFio3JMlL_hA3O59drH_nfeFQMOxi8T5BY1ROVrXVm4/s320/IMG_3101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />To be perfectly honest they were all starting to blend together at this point!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKTyQnrbrhQyRPTd6w-Wkp3LKI5pPUk2aFxIdB_mIlJ6OmndZv4gXxQSeYuapUiXxU2fe3zf5f1GuyQQPL_4EMCp-O0PWHrd70raCBGWZCYsbos7mUaPArM-CfCrteahpXEIKgI_NgOo/s1600-h/IMG_3104.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099213674635399138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKTyQnrbrhQyRPTd6w-Wkp3LKI5pPUk2aFxIdB_mIlJ6OmndZv4gXxQSeYuapUiXxU2fe3zf5f1GuyQQPL_4EMCp-O0PWHrd70raCBGWZCYsbos7mUaPArM-CfCrteahpXEIKgI_NgOo/s320/IMG_3104.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The last temple I visited that day was Ta Prohm. This 12th-century Mayan Buddhist temple has been used as a set for the movies <em>Tomb Raider</em> and <em>Two Brothers</em>, and one can't help but hum the <em>Indiana Jones</em> theme song when walking through the ruins........okay, okay.....I couldn't help humming the <em>Indiana Jones</em> theme song.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIthJXyQmFQ3u8IudkL9fb3O6sS6KLwyGZfF0Iqt5ScyDlyidnpGfsjWyl2xoUTwkUPRPMhLt5e5M_UI-8thTsoB3jGcyGFhxPEch5haABZ2tgr0WgSZcCPjq9BU_dAZPlJpwJHNt6_Ng/s1600-h/IMG_3108.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099212592303640402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIthJXyQmFQ3u8IudkL9fb3O6sS6KLwyGZfF0Iqt5ScyDlyidnpGfsjWyl2xoUTwkUPRPMhLt5e5M_UI-8thTsoB3jGcyGFhxPEch5haABZ2tgr0WgSZcCPjq9BU_dAZPlJpwJHNt6_Ng/s320/IMG_3108.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />According to the inscriptions it took 80 000 people to maintain the building at the height of its time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yG-ruaYbsCg66jfx1KK9iDlylCGuNuR-sCM9QehyjoBLRcITlII_Y-8eUewB2aFpv73FAKD1jEbyRrjjnk6hbBB63XLIc6C_RnNjUDQ5RwRBkQtSkwT7M3lLGN009Ve8yrRcaTwZP64/s1600-h/IMG_3109.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnsm8pgmmcQm5U8aGk_T9jzDOz14tCAVWnYn4HUlvyREwWNTvpqv94hhcXuXCZ7IIC2ZdbrxNym_2yqcnZ5HX_j-N8nHIvHVnoET0Lk2dldWMCnBcYb4Ss0MbEExt8Zi1_sVW5XVndzI/s1600-h/IMG_3111.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099212600893575026" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnsm8pgmmcQm5U8aGk_T9jzDOz14tCAVWnYn4HUlvyREwWNTvpqv94hhcXuXCZ7IIC2ZdbrxNym_2yqcnZ5HX_j-N8nHIvHVnoET0Lk2dldWMCnBcYb4Ss0MbEExt8Zi1_sVW5XVndzI/s320/IMG_3111.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcsfV64UXPHyYYWIltyTjGUezNMLFj56uOu8XjhZ2j2PHMdb5QQmEcpJIUPL6dnWHGpD3mzKxn-hhILx3sGmu1IV3yS4QoMfQNpci3S8-jsDCTjuCP7SANnDZdEd7OTZNWbansN8Q0HM/s1600-h/IMG_3113.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br />What I really liked about this temple is that while unlike the other buildings in the area, this one has been left to get devoured by nature and overgrown roots and trees are constantly dismantling the place stone by stone.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wW53CgcjIcv3IYUdPWJRlEVX9H7iutZu1vwptnPSLAkS4FcAsBeXWzjp5F40clRGXjyuYhPYo5eL2GQfJEZvg8gSOn3TMjcL1Igfhlc_HCKGNuFGtVtnt1C7PqNJSRDcxUwplkYNYDI/s1600-h/IMG_3116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099212605188542354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wW53CgcjIcv3IYUdPWJRlEVX9H7iutZu1vwptnPSLAkS4FcAsBeXWzjp5F40clRGXjyuYhPYo5eL2GQfJEZvg8gSOn3TMjcL1Igfhlc_HCKGNuFGtVtnt1C7PqNJSRDcxUwplkYNYDI/s320/IMG_3116.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It also makes for some really cool pictures!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CGrq9HL8E1njJQgttglILp0bo9KoMM-GgQuvrb0aoKi-KT8SSvN6F-taCVg8TNyzc9Jif7KzZUOs2yg5TnL9qgVIJJKPbyudqDsP5sA32soSoty__EZIcWWuwMWWy5JLhdWxtcLmo3c/s1600-h/IMG_3123.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099210333150842626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CGrq9HL8E1njJQgttglILp0bo9KoMM-GgQuvrb0aoKi-KT8SSvN6F-taCVg8TNyzc9Jif7KzZUOs2yg5TnL9qgVIJJKPbyudqDsP5sA32soSoty__EZIcWWuwMWWy5JLhdWxtcLmo3c/s320/IMG_3123.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Come to think of it, if Bruce Willis can make Die Hard 4 why can't Harrison Ford get off his ass and make another Indiana Jones movie?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ791i814tSbzDUlDHEIixxkfiRdMx2OflkovbgimyZuR3CZjvMydkqCJPWU-5WsDzXlM1MJ9I2li0LNvBx3ois3eRNqt5XIZ9Z-mhAoTAsUPjgecIe9SsrNZs4BTWT85W8BNbcX5btIQ/s1600-h/IMG_3125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099210337445809938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ791i814tSbzDUlDHEIixxkfiRdMx2OflkovbgimyZuR3CZjvMydkqCJPWU-5WsDzXlM1MJ9I2li0LNvBx3ois3eRNqt5XIZ9Z-mhAoTAsUPjgecIe9SsrNZs4BTWT85W8BNbcX5btIQ/s320/IMG_3125.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My last stop that day was the land mine museum. While I did know that Canada spearheaded the effort to ban landmines had no idea of the involvement our country had with the Cambodian Land Mine Relief Fund.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLIjRGg699-INx3N7XM8NMbZ5BYQTMncT0DsdZKFGnrroydDd80SHwD_90GlLrqFm0NRFwFCRUVhiaw6SkEwFiJzqY-CgfawhpWkv4ScHTPBN8tOdgSD6ZtV4sZNm43-xvgDJRccPdL8/s1600-h/IMG_3127.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099210341740777250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLIjRGg699-INx3N7XM8NMbZ5BYQTMncT0DsdZKFGnrroydDd80SHwD_90GlLrqFm0NRFwFCRUVhiaw6SkEwFiJzqY-CgfawhpWkv4ScHTPBN8tOdgSD6ZtV4sZNm43-xvgDJRccPdL8/s320/IMG_3127.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The museum is run with the help of a Canadian NGO which educates tourists and locals alike as to the dangers of these devices and the ongoing struggle to remove them from fields around the country. It's an interesting debate. Some countries such as Vietnam, China, and the Untied States refused to sign the treaty claiming that mines are needed in places like the demilitarized zone in South Korea. Other countries point out that mines often stay in the ground unexploded decades after the war they were intended for is over. Pro-mine countries argue that "smart" mines are now available that deactivate themselves after a set period of time. Proponents of the treaty point out that this is not always the case. You decide.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgq4XlG-GPwUeRpQw38qFnUi7qEARHic7oUzKgUi7qZji5kkQduW_qg3AANuM-9R-h__jAtYGs_K2fqK1bozrXuNoKTSG6d9ut9K1F9P0m1Wjv4nvmmKzon0AZVqYXYALrBSYD874QtQ/s1600-h/IMG_3129.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099210346035744562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgq4XlG-GPwUeRpQw38qFnUi7qEARHic7oUzKgUi7qZji5kkQduW_qg3AANuM-9R-h__jAtYGs_K2fqK1bozrXuNoKTSG6d9ut9K1F9P0m1Wjv4nvmmKzon0AZVqYXYALrBSYD874QtQ/s320/IMG_3129.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The museum's owner Aki Ra was a former child-soldier for the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese. To this day he still works to remove some of the mines he was forces to lay with just a screwdriver and his hands. One thing I did learn is that mines are not intended to kill their victims, only to maim them. The idea being that if a person is injured on the battlefield, you need to get a medic over to them, use a vehicle to transport them, and spend money to help the victim recover. "An injured soldier in a hospital is better than a dead one on the battlefield." (Not because of any moral standing, it just drains more resources.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jI50IJkfzz1I1bNIeaEo1pZnwba8uSm_PPJNKGRyd1Z-hOoeEKnu6HDnKTzj__Q2_4I46zjIMtpzRiWjmDwt5bYdReRH2COvtfsnK8O6gcrVYxhRGwWoMJNQ8vFc3rPQCM1m3fIKcek/s1600-h/IMG_3130.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099210350330711874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jI50IJkfzz1I1bNIeaEo1pZnwba8uSm_PPJNKGRyd1Z-hOoeEKnu6HDnKTzj__Q2_4I46zjIMtpzRiWjmDwt5bYdReRH2COvtfsnK8O6gcrVYxhRGwWoMJNQ8vFc3rPQCM1m3fIKcek/s320/IMG_3130.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While mine-removal organizations charge upwards of US $1000 to remove a mine, Aki Ra charges only pennies! The museum also doubles as a recovery center for children who's lives have been altered as a result of a confrontation with an unexploded ordanance.Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-52068705297103806492007-08-10T03:45:00.001-07:002008-12-09T23:37:28.231-08:00Phenom Penh/Kirirom National Park (Aug 9-13)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmooxWUUH04kTBEwU50GNvBZJNPFl_B5jvvF9SlEjS8HEALBCAqWwBvWtMMLUkOHxkWGUbAlPdTEufitWSfiJJoBton5SWPdMoUtZlQsOHzpi1tdy3n23YoBI-rvQx9IV33kcqqYx7Nw/s1600-h/IMG_2777.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099202490540560050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmooxWUUH04kTBEwU50GNvBZJNPFl_B5jvvF9SlEjS8HEALBCAqWwBvWtMMLUkOHxkWGUbAlPdTEufitWSfiJJoBton5SWPdMoUtZlQsOHzpi1tdy3n23YoBI-rvQx9IV33kcqqYx7Nw/s320/IMG_2777.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Continuing along the Mekong to Phenom Penh, we saw tons of native villagers that were always ready to give us a wave! I couldn't believe how excited they were when we waved back, the simplest things make these kids SO happy! Cambodia is an unusual country. A dark and recent past hides much of the beauty that defines the culture in this nation.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8_Sdi_wobEZGW2mQ04TVT4V8s6G-0oTN9JxjHuklBZHR-Q45h-DhW0TKp30ZkNf3AN3LLx6_3VX8UoWosj1tAbj8I5XYgMkdkrjIzQgFirN_ZVUVWczfHLlid90O7SzIpu0a3B7T-LU/s1600-h/IMG_2782.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099202499130494674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8_Sdi_wobEZGW2mQ04TVT4V8s6G-0oTN9JxjHuklBZHR-Q45h-DhW0TKp30ZkNf3AN3LLx6_3VX8UoWosj1tAbj8I5XYgMkdkrjIzQgFirN_ZVUVWczfHLlid90O7SzIpu0a3B7T-LU/s320/IMG_2782.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The next day we started to knock off a few of the tourist sights, first stop was the National Museum. On display were religious artifacts dating back hundreds of years to the height of the Khmer empire. (10th to 14th century.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUNoyjvX7qSjokr_D1z2h191zjMTabGuDhUjXdlwAA_om0MmuUCzWfbbtWzLDOTTDSuVuepPeuWaKL-rHAyGonVvgy1dowlfeddq5quRWWuP91toVe3Z51I0Cvlb2jdgzpuTDh4g38Dg/s1600-h/IMG_2785.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099202503425461986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUNoyjvX7qSjokr_D1z2h191zjMTabGuDhUjXdlwAA_om0MmuUCzWfbbtWzLDOTTDSuVuepPeuWaKL-rHAyGonVvgy1dowlfeddq5quRWWuP91toVe3Z51I0Cvlb2jdgzpuTDh4g38Dg/s320/IMG_2785.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMl7jCig5Y-dbkX6W5bNDVAfA4P0YZLm658ZY13ObtzL4xX5E4mZ15un1g3v74AQUmmBUWlefYPGD8Ts38TYckMnKdIGXY1Q0R6TfysppkzVXBI5oGWwCLFi49nnO7e63exVd0aBdrn8/s1600-h/IMG_2789.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099201549942722146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMl7jCig5Y-dbkX6W5bNDVAfA4P0YZLm658ZY13ObtzL4xX5E4mZ15un1g3v74AQUmmBUWlefYPGD8Ts38TYckMnKdIGXY1Q0R6TfysppkzVXBI5oGWwCLFi49nnO7e63exVd0aBdrn8/s320/IMG_2789.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Babar seemed to have let himself go in the later episodes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3skuYM3QHwwgKqs5BwdQWyGMKwSu1xp8QXZajodCxH_nqDh2qz_3qKrdz3d4dRtfihMSjSjdyrUlYEcDFHqJ7pB149bxJ1eO-4P89VpWZ4oH0t6H-t0IaGogVisnBuNxtSV_islapMk/s1600-h/IMG_2791.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099201558532656770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3skuYM3QHwwgKqs5BwdQWyGMKwSu1xp8QXZajodCxH_nqDh2qz_3qKrdz3d4dRtfihMSjSjdyrUlYEcDFHqJ7pB149bxJ1eO-4P89VpWZ4oH0t6H-t0IaGogVisnBuNxtSV_islapMk/s320/IMG_2791.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p>On the way out of town we passed a typical Cambodian family on there way to go somewhere. It's not uncommon to see up to five people riding a motor scooter at once!</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy9iEeWJPAoiV-9WE_yO0N9bz1YDtHEAMBk-BqDwe6JQ-myqra9NOhsTRe_2QhiXj_zV_E_st3Boa6P-19gS5Z5CWghrLsaKDTf0akp4SxJHGWk8n-NLZ9kiufnEScPxmjfRojRbiNj8/s1600-h/IMG_2816.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099199295084891602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBy9iEeWJPAoiV-9WE_yO0N9bz1YDtHEAMBk-BqDwe6JQ-myqra9NOhsTRe_2QhiXj_zV_E_st3Boa6P-19gS5Z5CWghrLsaKDTf0akp4SxJHGWk8n-NLZ9kiufnEScPxmjfRojRbiNj8/s320/IMG_2816.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek are difficult to write about. Nothing on this trip has effected me as much as this site did. When walking around the mass grave, no one speaks above a whisper and the only sound you can hear is the occasional hushed conversation and perhaps someone crying softly from time to time.<br />When the communist insurgency known as the Khmer Rouge overthrew the elitist, US-backed government in 1975 their leader, a man named Pol Pot, had a vision. The plan was simple. To start the country over again at "Year Zero," effectively erasing any memory of what once was and what would ever be. While Pol Pot's main goal was to turn the country into a peasant-dominated agricultural society, he simultaneously eradicated any resistance to the new regime that would undermine the stability of the new government.<br />By 1979, almost 2 million of the countries 7 million residents were dead as a result of one of the worst genocides in the century. Most of the dead were either those who were educated, (such as doctor's and teachers,) or were members of an educated person's family. Imagine trying to rebuild a country after the top half of the population, (most of the educated people in the country,) had been massacred?<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hslym9DyKIFzKJeEq9ru8f45kueTGy5GSTqG0mNBgo_K6f89-o0avli4aCEfRXpCqbl_Wn2Doslk06hXBQjA0iO5XrwNlhBFBrLJM_GrqOlEsxBMgzWogm_uOT9nKMBV793g2OxVpAc/s1600-h/IMG_2826.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198625069993330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hslym9DyKIFzKJeEq9ru8f45kueTGy5GSTqG0mNBgo_K6f89-o0avli4aCEfRXpCqbl_Wn2Doslk06hXBQjA0iO5XrwNlhBFBrLJM_GrqOlEsxBMgzWogm_uOT9nKMBV793g2OxVpAc/s320/IMG_2826.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>The fields themselves are horrifying. After men, woman, and children were detained, interrogated and tortured at S-21 in downtown Phenom Penh, they were blindfolded, herded into a truck and brought to a site that was about 15km's away. The victims were then executed like cattle. In order to save bullets, most of the people murdered were simply bludgeoned to death with sticks and clubs. Those still conscious after the beating either had their throats slit or else were buried alive. Of the 129 mass graves, 43 have never been disturbed.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmKNyIod3jSHiFNT3WBi7qgAUwEPvhDPb7QZSsP2B5aMJOWLaaTUTxZqpS-mf_23xtLyARQRHbWk7fnXooAGHFXOn8Nyb_a9BHFESeIU6YfDd7QjDYklHS8qX4KCput6RMdZI3JH7SYM/s1600-h/IMG_2792.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099201567122591378" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmKNyIod3jSHiFNT3WBi7qgAUwEPvhDPb7QZSsP2B5aMJOWLaaTUTxZqpS-mf_23xtLyARQRHbWk7fnXooAGHFXOn8Nyb_a9BHFESeIU6YfDd7QjDYklHS8qX4KCput6RMdZI3JH7SYM/s320/IMG_2792.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Since I was in Cambodia during the wet season, the ground was eager to unearth what it was hiding. Over the years, the soil has been unable to contain the remains of the tens of thousands of people buried here, so after awhile, the soil gives up the dead. While walking along, it's not uncommon to trip over bones and slip on the clothing of the murdered victims. What really keeps your head in check is that the clothing isn't hundred-year-old disintegrating native shrouds. Instead, the shorts look like they could have been purchased by any western kid at an Abercrombie and Fitch outlet a week ago.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv8YAnYP0XuhuCulOBMhh1OLPGRExdQiypddvzwam0Rd13vXbufVsy53auhxs_Aon5_wXNbfUrZeTJ0vXbFAFCXNuOelm-RsepxSdeqAfQKaexQ6pMvMA4ObjNBQ2WdyTWX0UygEpGi8/s1600-h/IMG_2802.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099200300107238930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv8YAnYP0XuhuCulOBMhh1OLPGRExdQiypddvzwam0Rd13vXbufVsy53auhxs_Aon5_wXNbfUrZeTJ0vXbFAFCXNuOelm-RsepxSdeqAfQKaexQ6pMvMA4ObjNBQ2WdyTWX0UygEpGi8/s320/IMG_2802.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p>A pile of bones lies next to half submerged children's clothing in the rain.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpwIthOlMngWvzvZwedux1ZX4pPweNW3rpljoTLpP1Ks_YRg0wsSDIlbo6vt65amwfbE-URic1UjajjbNpeRJuqiHpBJf-l00wQznSW8gKqyDjyAUjbHCFcCnNoTkkv_tks5CbdXpcl8/s1600-h/IMG_2804.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099200304402206242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpwIthOlMngWvzvZwedux1ZX4pPweNW3rpljoTLpP1Ks_YRg0wsSDIlbo6vt65amwfbE-URic1UjajjbNpeRJuqiHpBJf-l00wQznSW8gKqyDjyAUjbHCFcCnNoTkkv_tks5CbdXpcl8/s320/IMG_2804.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />At one point some of the guards, (who by the way were usually brain-washed children and teen aged boys,) refused to carry out some of the executions so the guards, (along with all their families,) had their heads cut off with palm tree leaves like the ones featured bellow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPE3dwBhURvWfvggACNNEhFiaoiogQAMVQ4ZKhCf25y5dOu70c7WWuAg2u_gfMW1jfCzoBOtzmtgOdMSn9kLn5L_pt2TZjIUtmEhZI0LDvRLfk0CrlwupEGJHH_EwW3f88HrUBKoucveQ/s1600-h/IMG_2811.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099200308697173554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPE3dwBhURvWfvggACNNEhFiaoiogQAMVQ4ZKhCf25y5dOu70c7WWuAg2u_gfMW1jfCzoBOtzmtgOdMSn9kLn5L_pt2TZjIUtmEhZI0LDvRLfk0CrlwupEGJHH_EwW3f88HrUBKoucveQ/s320/IMG_2811.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At first, I was appalled that something like this was allowed to happen. I asked myself, "how did the civilized world continue to turn a blind eye?" Remember, this was right after the end of the Vietnam war and the West simply didn't want anything else to do with South East Asia. Also keep in mind that similar genocides are still taking place today, from Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia in the early 90's to the more recent janjaweed attacks in the Sudan. Back then, the west was more concerned with coming to terms with what had happened in Vietnam and today we are more concerned with Paris Hilton's jail term.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KL_I0MB_rXSVPXxea6LOI1diogtpmymN1vxDJO8ExvDxr2K5QHwdytFvLSy3jviDaBSEnf42sQBIMJtoeF48dnRl2bv1IzCyFyfZ6n9Th4KQMLCb_0FQm17aerWoLcmQDSkSC4kznTE/s1600-h/IMG_2801.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099200312992140866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KL_I0MB_rXSVPXxea6LOI1diogtpmymN1vxDJO8ExvDxr2K5QHwdytFvLSy3jviDaBSEnf42sQBIMJtoeF48dnRl2bv1IzCyFyfZ6n9Th4KQMLCb_0FQm17aerWoLcmQDSkSC4kznTE/s320/IMG_2801.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The guards used to pick little children up by their feet and whip their heads against this tree until they were dead.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHevX9ll0xvzO0sRGVmgLDW6JSZm975i90V193KmKxaFpUcdRka_-L3AzFFrXj-jW0h_I2r6-UiChBSGH8kZSxD3tfJSiGlv5W06d5EhUPi4D5N0T8HDl3-LVTm_zj4CbaB8I7Zs0mrk/s1600-h/IMG_2825.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099199307969793538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHevX9ll0xvzO0sRGVmgLDW6JSZm975i90V193KmKxaFpUcdRka_-L3AzFFrXj-jW0h_I2r6-UiChBSGH8kZSxD3tfJSiGlv5W06d5EhUPi4D5N0T8HDl3-LVTm_zj4CbaB8I7Zs0mrk/s320/IMG_2825.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This white stupa is a memorial that serves as a reminder of the 17 000 people that lost their lives on this spot. The monument holds over 9000 skulls, some of which still have the blindfolds in place.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnttNrVP82RZYws0XJI1PoPVje3s9pBxqWiwAuVOwGpXINuUz8QFbAvCNZEKDxEWOcmQMnVWjFeJXJHysTuJaZmSqQlAgSbvWWAhLD7Xv1WIPCHqMzctETA3QmxQfOQBA3u2CqWzd6orY/s1600-h/IMG_2815.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099200312992140882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnttNrVP82RZYws0XJI1PoPVje3s9pBxqWiwAuVOwGpXINuUz8QFbAvCNZEKDxEWOcmQMnVWjFeJXJHysTuJaZmSqQlAgSbvWWAhLD7Xv1WIPCHqMzctETA3QmxQfOQBA3u2CqWzd6orY/s320/IMG_2815.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKl_8vBx8ih3vBY7oYmcEBpyoaYq25D0mH0z8Vg0QyZ_-9KzPIqOKbpEyHzduoWUpdNXlfgAlKCUsMbhL1qaNK6aGPh8FoRDWywCfoawiVxnkPqv1qMPR06IWHedv9SJcmhgoe7JKP0A/s1600-h/IMG_2818.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099199290789924290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKl_8vBx8ih3vBY7oYmcEBpyoaYq25D0mH0z8Vg0QyZ_-9KzPIqOKbpEyHzduoWUpdNXlfgAlKCUsMbhL1qaNK6aGPh8FoRDWywCfoawiVxnkPqv1qMPR06IWHedv9SJcmhgoe7JKP0A/s320/IMG_2818.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>You don't have to look closely to see evidence of how these poor victim's last few terrifying moments were spent. Many of the skulls bear fist-sized holes and cracks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm3bibmGzsPnBChdV7W4Q3Td-20Ywr-XouKBc8l2Vaarph9GT-LVcc__nIyawLldVh_9dwjLv-WMWuxMZRbcrBOGKICj7ztwf0jbRmZX4eP_BPvo-gsFboviQMqtVeBZ_FuHHGMwIB6k/s1600-h/IMG_2824.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099199303674826226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIm3bibmGzsPnBChdV7W4Q3Td-20Ywr-XouKBc8l2Vaarph9GT-LVcc__nIyawLldVh_9dwjLv-WMWuxMZRbcrBOGKICj7ztwf0jbRmZX4eP_BPvo-gsFboviQMqtVeBZ_FuHHGMwIB6k/s320/IMG_2824.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A femur pokes through the ground amidst a victim's clothing.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WRYanAN8pVOtJu5yKU2V94l5N6YiLj6hVHOox38HemGATSz9larhBE9CV3h4rG7tlMLoe696FEDuScWp3tipSubcFrH6pLtjiYNfdLbM6npwletWBGb_aSINzU05WRPfyxfjlkgRwHY/s1600-h/IMG_2836.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198629364960642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WRYanAN8pVOtJu5yKU2V94l5N6YiLj6hVHOox38HemGATSz9larhBE9CV3h4rG7tlMLoe696FEDuScWp3tipSubcFrH6pLtjiYNfdLbM6npwletWBGb_aSINzU05WRPfyxfjlkgRwHY/s320/IMG_2836.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />A human tooth. There are so many of these decorating the ground that at first you mistake them for pebbles.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizh8bzf3tCtOWC5SKjomQY2lDEv1g6mGhTvmo3oASJgdFjInZwHT1pvqX2Dcu5wDMRIfJ8reT90qG0JDH7uRMoYB4JP6j8hod_LsUJDRgUjMhiNvcaeFhyphenhyphen2nui9-Z1dnoD7A_r7kniVPE/s1600-h/IMG_2820.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099199299379858914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizh8bzf3tCtOWC5SKjomQY2lDEv1g6mGhTvmo3oASJgdFjInZwHT1pvqX2Dcu5wDMRIfJ8reT90qG0JDH7uRMoYB4JP6j8hod_LsUJDRgUjMhiNvcaeFhyphenhyphen2nui9-Z1dnoD7A_r7kniVPE/s320/IMG_2820.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Right before I left, I decided to go for a walk by myself. My feet took me to the perimeter of the grounds where I saw a little girl looking in at me and smiling. I walked over to her and asked her what she was doing. She pointed to a small building in a nearby field and replied that this was her house. I asked her if I could take her picture and she smiled a big smile that was all teeth and then gave me a wave. I thanked her and gave her a dollar. Then I walked back to the entrance and left. I don't think I've ever been that sad in my whole life. Winston Churchill once said that, "all that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." He said that almost thirty years before anyone had ever even heard of the name Pol Pot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpwn7HkNU_DQiU7U1XKpynI3DLEIy9alk4TeaNuMEnVMKGhI8cQy3tzG4QylQobc09F8wsDYmajSq2doRvKVvl7TkczsTeOIyknTmVN2ft8jrxLNynIoOHW3Q8yyt6O7c5GIswIhjk6E/s1600-h/IMG_2840.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198629364960658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpwn7HkNU_DQiU7U1XKpynI3DLEIy9alk4TeaNuMEnVMKGhI8cQy3tzG4QylQobc09F8wsDYmajSq2doRvKVvl7TkczsTeOIyknTmVN2ft8jrxLNynIoOHW3Q8yyt6O7c5GIswIhjk6E/s320/IMG_2840.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />My day unfortunately didn't end when I left the Killing Fields. I then headed to the famous S-21, the middle school that was turned into a prison/torture facility during the Khmer Rouge's reign. The above pictures are of some of the leaders of the Khmer Rouge including the former warden of s-21. Many of these people are still alive and well today, living free in north-western Cambodia because governments of all countries have been stalling on bringing them to trial.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXeL96opJNg1S1u_dZiELV5W1glQG_zlEsV6D2ICp5yH_xqU5oW7KOKN3XZxiu6ZvDU8Bije7IlRkmDNIJUQYHUggbbPmdXD-vtWzoxyJo8EsjyRPCMPLpV33VtGRRpXbDIfgL4lCJF4/s1600-h/IMG_2843.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198633659927970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXeL96opJNg1S1u_dZiELV5W1glQG_zlEsV6D2ICp5yH_xqU5oW7KOKN3XZxiu6ZvDU8Bije7IlRkmDNIJUQYHUggbbPmdXD-vtWzoxyJo8EsjyRPCMPLpV33VtGRRpXbDIfgL4lCJF4/s320/IMG_2843.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />When the Vietnamese army finally stormed S-21 during their invasion they were horrified by what they found. Inside the 14 "interrogation" rooms were the remains of the last 14 people tortured to death inside the school. Their bodies were buried in front of the classrooms as a reminder of what took place here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWywt9tmKeWiKEv4cLGzIVJfq2I8GSIVxUsI3JXkyF1YCdfv2chPZlhoSmxvlQzn5e-f6lnUwZHIFdgnFSjVa9ARrnAUTvSLG7T8bkklsjudAhvJkOiVq4ouggS160Kpf_sYWR4uZ9qU/s1600-h/IMG_2845.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198633659927986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWywt9tmKeWiKEv4cLGzIVJfq2I8GSIVxUsI3JXkyF1YCdfv2chPZlhoSmxvlQzn5e-f6lnUwZHIFdgnFSjVa9ARrnAUTvSLG7T8bkklsjudAhvJkOiVq4ouggS160Kpf_sYWR4uZ9qU/s320/IMG_2845.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In each of the 14 rooms is the original iron frame bed and shackles that were used to torture the victims. Displayed above each bed is a glossy photograph of what the Vietnamese army found when they entered each room.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_sqrPX4ak5-R4S2YBeB-hWMAVy6TlQLRDAIwnxridWG42ncuRbBvTfBT7ddva8sHcx_dZZbg63T84XK5yfmbIPRpp6M5cpBxzEf2FyqEi_unKUb9KO_iBDR9sYXxcxttL-P3SBel7H4/s1600-h/IMG_2849.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198015184637218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_sqrPX4ak5-R4S2YBeB-hWMAVy6TlQLRDAIwnxridWG42ncuRbBvTfBT7ddva8sHcx_dZZbg63T84XK5yfmbIPRpp6M5cpBxzEf2FyqEi_unKUb9KO_iBDR9sYXxcxttL-P3SBel7H4/s320/IMG_2849.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Pictures of some of the victims that either died at S-21 or else went straight to the killing fields.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wEN4aexS7aE6yf3G5s2B98CsB7gFkH4L4j498SIOZWMUZFaTtRl8_WIpNaJteGgwhiZ2BAnTumnOJi8qs9hf5VjnjGITxYfVQqRtYf4RO56KVOVjXVi7bMZW164rkWPE0IE8bJpMTjM/s1600-h/IMG_2851.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198015184637234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wEN4aexS7aE6yf3G5s2B98CsB7gFkH4L4j498SIOZWMUZFaTtRl8_WIpNaJteGgwhiZ2BAnTumnOJi8qs9hf5VjnjGITxYfVQqRtYf4RO56KVOVjXVi7bMZW164rkWPE0IE8bJpMTjM/s320/IMG_2851.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Something that is still a puzzle to this day is why a regime that wished to erase people from the face of the earth would so carefully document their imprisonment both before their torture and execution....</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkovHqXYhWMaGnUYm4y5oRkZsisb8Hlbe5psi8r9cz4TDmkkh5IwUO5I7yIQUgRP-P5jNetwRBLxUVrfuMPkYQ_GPOPiu-Rl0wjFX0AChBXo0k8SSLC_ECBKSqqFM3fQMyR6_Xhmkuk3o/s1600-h/IMG_2852.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198019479604546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkovHqXYhWMaGnUYm4y5oRkZsisb8Hlbe5psi8r9cz4TDmkkh5IwUO5I7yIQUgRP-P5jNetwRBLxUVrfuMPkYQ_GPOPiu-Rl0wjFX0AChBXo0k8SSLC_ECBKSqqFM3fQMyR6_Xhmkuk3o/s320/IMG_2852.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>......and after.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a1Im2x0GO4a8_wUn3cZETIvXWYZZC_AqYfUbfMFKr2WFIA3m2BESoYLYmkCeIpK3Po5nKVgZC35LZWYmEBsYRZLKe_KdNKuOOfL4TY8ifv0sI20tg9uxj4A7edxKstHfelZfRo7a9hs/s1600-h/IMG_2856.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198019479604562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1a1Im2x0GO4a8_wUn3cZETIvXWYZZC_AqYfUbfMFKr2WFIA3m2BESoYLYmkCeIpK3Po5nKVgZC35LZWYmEBsYRZLKe_KdNKuOOfL4TY8ifv0sI20tg9uxj4A7edxKstHfelZfRo7a9hs/s320/IMG_2856.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>I took this tour with two guys who had been to Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen. For what it's worth, in their opinion this place was worse.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGUo9vEKB0jwGTjR6DxKCPSTGBrMsHdOpl7ktS-Xq-9cJYXUMrXF1qSTfXr2RsqXSVXypEv6ykwwBhmOXXKAqTbn-VS7c_x4y-zImUUfPeBPErHJUPVZ4UJ0g4tlVBuXT0Us0oYYVNDY/s1600-h/IMG_2858.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099198023774571874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGUo9vEKB0jwGTjR6DxKCPSTGBrMsHdOpl7ktS-Xq-9cJYXUMrXF1qSTfXr2RsqXSVXypEv6ykwwBhmOXXKAqTbn-VS7c_x4y-zImUUfPeBPErHJUPVZ4UJ0g4tlVBuXT0Us0oYYVNDY/s320/IMG_2858.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These were the original makeshift cells that were used to hold prisoners before questioning. Some of the graffiti still remains.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEodY_cvRedm8PMUNL0FCPE5APU8VPUX6e4T3rwU0QinX8HjmDsBQci79rtlLf02V3CeW7Z2l79XcGsgyH3WJqQNlWJ8_YJ_lJQLsuCOdwfxEPPDSvPcLP40eqB_eFUKxs8IVVL4BNgU/s1600-h/IMG_2859.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099197392414379218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEodY_cvRedm8PMUNL0FCPE5APU8VPUX6e4T3rwU0QinX8HjmDsBQci79rtlLf02V3CeW7Z2l79XcGsgyH3WJqQNlWJ8_YJ_lJQLsuCOdwfxEPPDSvPcLP40eqB_eFUKxs8IVVL4BNgU/s320/IMG_2859.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Lastly, these were some of the torture implements that were found on site by the Vietnamese army. How a country could accept this as their policy is appalling, how a country could do this to its own citizens is even more bizarre. How a country can survive this and move forward I'll never understand.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidbVRC14S4iKWMfsday2zfGqtTW0lReatKuOn0E7mcSR9Li555ekmf86qAs0L6xw4AKgrS-2-kB2zBhGCDuNrjl1Yq-RTMzdsMlSa7Tqw7KsY-Gx-wdFyCO8gpMJ8Mk3t_rk7y5oXHPI/s1600-h/IMG_2863.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099197396709346530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidbVRC14S4iKWMfsday2zfGqtTW0lReatKuOn0E7mcSR9Li555ekmf86qAs0L6xw4AKgrS-2-kB2zBhGCDuNrjl1Yq-RTMzdsMlSa7Tqw7KsY-Gx-wdFyCO8gpMJ8Mk3t_rk7y5oXHPI/s320/IMG_2863.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>That night I went back to my hotel on Boeng Kak lake, poured myself a stiff drink and watched the sun set.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe4VUIYrPOEcDHAzkEa7u78c6O3PINRXVn9ADedcLL2f_-gWW6WlONUluqbGL9YOIewZhNJSX6L0P5Qx_XWocedurlxQKlg-KEmOsjxqlazbs4-g9m7OA_W-rA102LZ3N0fOEga-ofa0/s1600-h/IMG_2873.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099197401004313842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoe4VUIYrPOEcDHAzkEa7u78c6O3PINRXVn9ADedcLL2f_-gWW6WlONUluqbGL9YOIewZhNJSX6L0P5Qx_XWocedurlxQKlg-KEmOsjxqlazbs4-g9m7OA_W-rA102LZ3N0fOEga-ofa0/s320/IMG_2873.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>The next day was much more light-hearted! Two friends and I decided to take a tour to the Russian Market. Besides being a great place to get fake Gucci crap for my mom and sister.....and a purse for Fleming, it also had the BEST street food in Cambodia!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiksWcUXyRlfIBelwqBTWhGD05pnWgRcaxAHpkuOeyCHN6Kryhi6IPghtyQO5Cpw5qNMvcSH_885fqHfbZ_Vsw8CGrMFVhAKsYtbDIqbyzKvHaEXnz80yTBTr7MhOm5f62RfYZBiWNgI/s1600-h/IMG_2877.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099197401004313858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiksWcUXyRlfIBelwqBTWhGD05pnWgRcaxAHpkuOeyCHN6Kryhi6IPghtyQO5Cpw5qNMvcSH_885fqHfbZ_Vsw8CGrMFVhAKsYtbDIqbyzKvHaEXnz80yTBTr7MhOm5f62RfYZBiWNgI/s320/IMG_2877.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Yes I really am sweating that much!!!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6WcTiD25C9NRcaab_OnmnNl04CeUOemiZloIUQ3hiqZVnr1NrAywh2b9gdSgXHHaQaMim5y8Y_rvQh_uiDRZaAH14CxJL9y0_70nVYE1rnqcDrgxfrP4Voi-GfUgYnm9RIwIQCs9ctE/s1600-h/IMG_2884.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099197405299281170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6WcTiD25C9NRcaab_OnmnNl04CeUOemiZloIUQ3hiqZVnr1NrAywh2b9gdSgXHHaQaMim5y8Y_rvQh_uiDRZaAH14CxJL9y0_70nVYE1rnqcDrgxfrP4Voi-GfUgYnm9RIwIQCs9ctE/s320/IMG_2884.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our first stop that afternoon was the Independence Monument, built in 1958 to commemorate those who died during the struggle against French imperialism.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-qf1EbDq-MHKxAhBby2JYz7mhCsctqAL2L6NHEld6h-mUij5ldhRJwDYsZz9nLZgETwIUItGhwFRAoRWz7isGihA6ue24qJEGDVdEPQJlUcYhElKYyF0T2eCGPkeLNSc8P1g-CAeTmw/s1600-h/IMG_2888.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099195957895302274" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-qf1EbDq-MHKxAhBby2JYz7mhCsctqAL2L6NHEld6h-mUij5ldhRJwDYsZz9nLZgETwIUItGhwFRAoRWz7isGihA6ue24qJEGDVdEPQJlUcYhElKYyF0T2eCGPkeLNSc8P1g-CAeTmw/s320/IMG_2888.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Then of course a little boxing to keep things interesting!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-unFV1UJwiiAcTLGv15xEfBsyFO3vkpgB5cUCg18HG3sV3N-a2E4s-I6hWUaIewWqQpwUUz4obIyNt6kBYD_iujd31N8PtcP03VUwsnyZT3kov29X7E0BVOeTYprTYgibp5SbfU49ulg/s1600-h/IMG_2898.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099195962190269586" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-unFV1UJwiiAcTLGv15xEfBsyFO3vkpgB5cUCg18HG3sV3N-a2E4s-I6hWUaIewWqQpwUUz4obIyNt6kBYD_iujd31N8PtcP03VUwsnyZT3kov29X7E0BVOeTYprTYgibp5SbfU49ulg/s320/IMG_2898.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>I won a beer when red shorts punched blue balls unconscious! Thanks red shorts!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDUA0fWSFj3s4RKEDcMa7ZM6MJSLPIfeHuhazxZcAdwzbAsjtY9_HG5oWUBeCIATcSnfJMxwCjhV-Zh-NzscNx52suE8tW6TwTHwW2rnoFnepl1yHzTEcIAEzb66D2_w6_Tf7ypRwgbM/s1600-h/IMG_2906.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099195966485236898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDUA0fWSFj3s4RKEDcMa7ZM6MJSLPIfeHuhazxZcAdwzbAsjtY9_HG5oWUBeCIATcSnfJMxwCjhV-Zh-NzscNx52suE8tW6TwTHwW2rnoFnepl1yHzTEcIAEzb66D2_w6_Tf7ypRwgbM/s320/IMG_2906.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Then came the kickboxing. I can't believe that two people actually get in the ring with one another with the expressed purpose of kicking their opponent square in the knee cap.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC_JfAeU8KjntjLF5oHOCnKKTcOz2Ik4PsajJXBgVgEs26wf3790-DXiO3SvID5UlGO5GozhGA9XFvjAzvriykscgPZredZZdWUe6njIUClXVbn6xAbpG-RWiJNO7MD1i3jXG5bCxy9Y/s1600-h/IMG_2912.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099195966485236914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC_JfAeU8KjntjLF5oHOCnKKTcOz2Ik4PsajJXBgVgEs26wf3790-DXiO3SvID5UlGO5GozhGA9XFvjAzvriykscgPZredZZdWUe6njIUClXVbn6xAbpG-RWiJNO7MD1i3jXG5bCxy9Y/s320/IMG_2912.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>I took a picture of this beer add because this takes sleazy to an all new level. I pray this look wasn't cool even in Cambodia circa late 70's.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX-YIOd1EGdZ7ZfiokCRK9yD5dS9gjqHi2bolva7jyY7a75tj6mDvxtVoom_uXaWb5r1M2j1ME44GEAxbf94rMuWSKjTaXf6asmGw9VZjbL8Fa79PAVB62kMfoWJJr4z441Y_qFMEeQs/s1600-h/IMG_2913.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099195970780204226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX-YIOd1EGdZ7ZfiokCRK9yD5dS9gjqHi2bolva7jyY7a75tj6mDvxtVoom_uXaWb5r1M2j1ME44GEAxbf94rMuWSKjTaXf6asmGw9VZjbL8Fa79PAVB62kMfoWJJr4z441Y_qFMEeQs/s320/IMG_2913.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Peace Monument.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ea01C3nA_kTdhaUU0d3VNGAekn7Y-7YnXpWMDnbo42E2zzaQyej72WkOu0bW2Ep1_f2S6QGs9giWuUsevaFSkkg94j4W3s1IdoFJq2pfmH4ewKU1ZIrhoPL4oQPKkKIedM3-LGH624Q/s1600-h/IMG_2914.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099194351577533490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Ea01C3nA_kTdhaUU0d3VNGAekn7Y-7YnXpWMDnbo42E2zzaQyej72WkOu0bW2Ep1_f2S6QGs9giWuUsevaFSkkg94j4W3s1IdoFJq2pfmH4ewKU1ZIrhoPL4oQPKkKIedM3-LGH624Q/s320/IMG_2914.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>The Wat Phnom rises out of the middle of Phnom Penh like a giant boobie! Legend has it that a pagoda was first errected on this site in 1373 to house four Buddah statues deposited here by the Mekong River. These statues were discovered by a woman named Penh which led to the name of the city, (Phnom Penh means Hill of Penh.).........and yeah I did copy this pretty much word for word out of the "Lonly Planet." Bite me.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DsuzvL0XGw2u1ewSaMspEtjOL5o-Gvpqz6ssRR90hskeKx2PSm-ck8iGY94vtuuW95cfIQTw8hiOBKJOeU46MhBtFcHKRcjL99OaLY990jyjdTo0SCzh5jA2QLM33xFZKU6rSfAXa30/s1600-h/IMG_2918.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099194364462435394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DsuzvL0XGw2u1ewSaMspEtjOL5o-Gvpqz6ssRR90hskeKx2PSm-ck8iGY94vtuuW95cfIQTw8hiOBKJOeU46MhBtFcHKRcjL99OaLY990jyjdTo0SCzh5jA2QLM33xFZKU6rSfAXa30/s320/IMG_2918.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>The view is pretty cool from the top of the Wat.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj1F43MTUot8SsUzRYhY7YbX0hkimXAl0HmTfJ-ESSN3Z-l4UVZAUTijxzBJX7SUglAvZLel50JbNMoO5a9FCU6gNBzpUUy0dp1uFBzKW_nCzIzW19lBUOoz4DmEy8r50wGrTp2-qAYg/s1600-h/IMG_2919.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099194368757402706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj1F43MTUot8SsUzRYhY7YbX0hkimXAl0HmTfJ-ESSN3Z-l4UVZAUTijxzBJX7SUglAvZLel50JbNMoO5a9FCU6gNBzpUUy0dp1uFBzKW_nCzIzW19lBUOoz4DmEy8r50wGrTp2-qAYg/s320/IMG_2919.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>You just have to watch out for monkeys when you're exploring. Rumor has it they throw their feces.......at me.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnnvTGq8oGzlaaBQsMRY_zgFmh-MufmCVtY00tsck8juqYRlEC-1Q54lzY2-2ZPm1XXPhvCm1x_i0GLPDFpn0hhKyPMoOQcDNDRuBSPfzPKevasvMb29XS1mslziio0OAMMjGVKhC5Ws/s1600-h/IMG_2921.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099194368757402722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnnvTGq8oGzlaaBQsMRY_zgFmh-MufmCVtY00tsck8juqYRlEC-1Q54lzY2-2ZPm1XXPhvCm1x_i0GLPDFpn0hhKyPMoOQcDNDRuBSPfzPKevasvMb29XS1mslziio0OAMMjGVKhC5Ws/s320/IMG_2921.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>So my friends and I were walking along and..........heh heh......last stop of the day was the Roayl Palace and Silver Pagoda.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv75HSsbblKQbqNUi3mi_SWcV8JV1-Ei-TFdLJTQWzMxQzC8EjYaqoudLtTZrlySYPJCJx2CXGzsdnAT1Cy38JK40J3DG-zwWtUgD7dR4Q1ssFIaW_to-y3QWQ-QGiiadrRrKbGzZOdCk/s1600-h/IMG_2926.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099194381642304626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv75HSsbblKQbqNUi3mi_SWcV8JV1-Ei-TFdLJTQWzMxQzC8EjYaqoudLtTZrlySYPJCJx2CXGzsdnAT1Cy38JK40J3DG-zwWtUgD7dR4Q1ssFIaW_to-y3QWQ-QGiiadrRrKbGzZOdCk/s320/IMG_2926.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This place WAS really impressive.</div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsBDZuVeyh-7Mg1vlU2cd7OCdY_c1lx49V9R1i2xHy2CDQOWFB3eUkjQRQ-y9Fgk4Gos7FVakISswz1e5VmZq-TdrPOye0PfvqCWAOGGU5EJIejfysfPBtXItUPvgCa476Q7U-aVUSNY/s1600-h/IMG_2940.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099191499719248786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsBDZuVeyh-7Mg1vlU2cd7OCdY_c1lx49V9R1i2xHy2CDQOWFB3eUkjQRQ-y9Fgk4Gos7FVakISswz1e5VmZq-TdrPOye0PfvqCWAOGGU5EJIejfysfPBtXItUPvgCa476Q7U-aVUSNY/s320/IMG_2940.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Except you weren't allowed to take pictures inside so I had to act all Mission Impossible like.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L0GACZ7o6TFFHeOR3H6r9z69Q9jVte40zGMjOnxeIHFmucw79DPoSVZ9hI7ez_g1Rca8KpKwkycTeaZ8u68rgPG26kn4wZDIbK3oewjqZ0A8SUlGHiu4wLKStRWWOm4nVcltO_B_8ME/s1600-h/IMG_2933.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099191508309183394" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L0GACZ7o6TFFHeOR3H6r9z69Q9jVte40zGMjOnxeIHFmucw79DPoSVZ9hI7ez_g1Rca8KpKwkycTeaZ8u68rgPG26kn4wZDIbK3oewjqZ0A8SUlGHiu4wLKStRWWOm4nVcltO_B_8ME/s320/IMG_2933.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>This is the only picture I could get of the Silver Pagoda. Apparently the floor is covered with 5 tons of gleaming silver spread out over 5000 tiles.......which are covered in turn by about three rolls of carpet......smart guys.........real smart.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbK0U2MmWadae6rLpD3ih8IOh1LamgH5RrwJWkFcsbgziT_b2_kfRmOujHHTwlmq8a6uBIVrSbkvNQsXEjAzevB0b5I5UwPHZnPAHr6_WPpPVjChxECsLAi6STn0MaIKJHvXbP3J5XMU/s1600-h/IMG_2944.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099191512604150706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbK0U2MmWadae6rLpD3ih8IOh1LamgH5RrwJWkFcsbgziT_b2_kfRmOujHHTwlmq8a6uBIVrSbkvNQsXEjAzevB0b5I5UwPHZnPAHr6_WPpPVjChxECsLAi6STn0MaIKJHvXbP3J5XMU/s320/IMG_2944.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Oh yeah I forgot to mention that I was on my own at this point, my friends having left for Vietnam the previous night. Had they still been around, they might have informed me that you can't walk around the Palace unless you're wearing a long sleeved shirt. Luckily I had a rain jacket.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_sgzzXqEUzRaqfgf804E37ilB4V3-OW_4Sp2dYf48qkRY5ImZIhfHbMxDFUbj7u7G4ttjfwnIBdax0HpJyd6fBpdWqgcuU85Gs-o3-tQUd1Jth4kiLEhpS87dhN7BxXQ1utlcWwwcUw/s1600-h/IMG_2946.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099191521194085314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_sgzzXqEUzRaqfgf804E37ilB4V3-OW_4Sp2dYf48qkRY5ImZIhfHbMxDFUbj7u7G4ttjfwnIBdax0HpJyd6fBpdWqgcuU85Gs-o3-tQUd1Jth4kiLEhpS87dhN7BxXQ1utlcWwwcUw/s320/IMG_2946.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Which made me sweat like a peopdophile in a playground! After about a half an hour I'd had enough and went for a walk along the river.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6OZp5dFD5r-Mv8u2j1jv1hsIEzUiMhjTLrZ2ye5zJ3u-gIPjxt4O5zCq45zfQbWuVidJ5JUsk-LthkuJTFQAoni0k5sYYojG1qSVEIhdRGNbhV3wpwkpxd-3yIWy6XYKSk4KJG4ArdY/s1600-h/IMG_2957.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099191521194085330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6OZp5dFD5r-Mv8u2j1jv1hsIEzUiMhjTLrZ2ye5zJ3u-gIPjxt4O5zCq45zfQbWuVidJ5JUsk-LthkuJTFQAoni0k5sYYojG1qSVEIhdRGNbhV3wpwkpxd-3yIWy6XYKSk4KJG4ArdY/s320/IMG_2957.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Never far from home!</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu0UE1CxzclHQ5F5PGIWILQGO9JoXDaA08tWt6b88hjUUbeBuWbB_inI7haeQobiGtp4MJU4js9Ha1u4pOb4nhZTQ67RCM4zJ0jSsEraKt2vnDyY8Jn-ngLM8h4FTRWqJh8IAv_mbMio/s1600-h/IMG_2959.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099190159689452354" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu0UE1CxzclHQ5F5PGIWILQGO9JoXDaA08tWt6b88hjUUbeBuWbB_inI7haeQobiGtp4MJU4js9Ha1u4pOb4nhZTQ67RCM4zJ0jSsEraKt2vnDyY8Jn-ngLM8h4FTRWqJh8IAv_mbMio/s320/IMG_2959.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>So the next day I decide to get a little CRAZY! I'm by myself, not much to do but I read in the LP, (lonely planet you rookie,) that there's this really cool national park called "Kirorium," that's about 112km's southwest of Phenom Penh. The only problem is that there's no direct way to get there and I didn't have a clue as to how I was going to get back. But since thinking things through has never stopped me before.....</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF5DjuCW8asvg7Bl0eqfFmmowIZ5Ft7bs_nkbKNEwJufB-1DMR1_ANtIxFw_Ti05-0zWdmmpmp-kj2y16oeBitzdSZWqhoJSLmLok8145EqwiymfEiUsRR36UUfnUD26Gu0Ti4yWldt8/s1600-h/IMG_2961.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099190163984419666" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAF5DjuCW8asvg7Bl0eqfFmmowIZ5Ft7bs_nkbKNEwJufB-1DMR1_ANtIxFw_Ti05-0zWdmmpmp-kj2y16oeBitzdSZWqhoJSLmLok8145EqwiymfEiUsRR36UUfnUD26Gu0Ti4yWldt8/s320/IMG_2961.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>.....off I went! I bought a bus ticket early that morning for the town of Sihanoukville on the southern coast and explained to the driver with lots of hand gestures and little words at a high volume that I wanted to be let off at the town of Kirorm. Once there, I couldn't locate a single person that spoke english but I managed to find a guy who took me into the park 25km's away on the back of his motor bike. Once there I walked around in the forrest for awhile until I came across this 19 year old kid on the side of the road. I explained to him that I wanted to hike up this mountain I heard about called Phnom Dat Chivat (End of the World Mountain) but that I had no idea where it was and I couldn't find a guide. It was at this point that I realized he had no idea what I was talking about and so it was back to hand gestures, small words, and loud voices. Finally we understood each other and he agreed to take me up to the top if I paid him. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtalwKok5ECmqZnMZPl9OH1PsKxKMXlkt3or647spUTJjLxOKCJkQEJIwQ1-RaiElhyirtvTK_95MKHKnR96mRD5wJmylwGyYfzSvHqoeitlmn4LF2icQACqF-yUikBPlx7UonQOXUc4/s1600-h/IMG_2969.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099190168279386978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtalwKok5ECmqZnMZPl9OH1PsKxKMXlkt3or647spUTJjLxOKCJkQEJIwQ1-RaiElhyirtvTK_95MKHKnR96mRD5wJmylwGyYfzSvHqoeitlmn4LF2icQACqF-yUikBPlx7UonQOXUc4/s320/IMG_2969.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>It was worth it! An unbroken view of the western mountain ranges at the edge of this 200ft. cliff! Spectacular!!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkxezv-r5TrtGEaoW8EtOmQp8-mORuipOoDVvuQvnlh-lYnVX_MdVQxF_MisFrPdoKYewBUNPqWTkbDHWmLcm3OIc73EwanpijJzzzM0vcDiGl654Dx80fdUgVN5R0X041FRAGA9FrjM/s1600-h/IMG_2974.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099190172574354290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkxezv-r5TrtGEaoW8EtOmQp8-mORuipOoDVvuQvnlh-lYnVX_MdVQxF_MisFrPdoKYewBUNPqWTkbDHWmLcm3OIc73EwanpijJzzzM0vcDiGl654Dx80fdUgVN5R0X041FRAGA9FrjM/s320/IMG_2974.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRG9mujm0ZynAvNhmodyGX62T5WkFs03LrMPG_T1mPlPAzvMp9FrDTIsCd5RQS_nvyv1thBpz56oEzD-xEvWLP-uVS_R0k9e0KT5PdUgEBFGVX32ECZvQLSX5uAYDu1vrk0KlgK9ljMU/s1600-h/IMG_2978.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099190181164288898" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRG9mujm0ZynAvNhmodyGX62T5WkFs03LrMPG_T1mPlPAzvMp9FrDTIsCd5RQS_nvyv1thBpz56oEzD-xEvWLP-uVS_R0k9e0KT5PdUgEBFGVX32ECZvQLSX5uAYDu1vrk0KlgK9ljMU/s320/IMG_2978.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I call this one, "pondering."</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZEgRMh6dPFwVGp3MNXyn0YQ4V0rC_9fSZheQ_zuV5TLzGI5hyphenhyphen3zwJr7r_qfd9FJL-AKNibLW7T8_ToW80LnJEpT2eyTEqcBDWr69soRcaBL6yS1C7ALwzThVCr3GtQ7i38OuvIP1oRM/s1600-h/IMG_2971.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099181329236691714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZEgRMh6dPFwVGp3MNXyn0YQ4V0rC_9fSZheQ_zuV5TLzGI5hyphenhyphen3zwJr7r_qfd9FJL-AKNibLW7T8_ToW80LnJEpT2eyTEqcBDWr69soRcaBL6yS1C7ALwzThVCr3GtQ7i38OuvIP1oRM/s320/IMG_2971.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>Man it was rewarding!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3O1pFQfTsZzjCBRexJQbRXPjH1zC_OMhwvSOZ1Yjl7EV7GLsuXXO-jiGKi65XlH7H8f0UnnyRsPZQIZZMvmOtQLoFb6HG7mxiDUj7j_cBIjlBg13rOf5dNOpNmorhlEVrm_r_0z4L24/s1600-h/IMG_2981.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099181355006495522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3O1pFQfTsZzjCBRexJQbRXPjH1zC_OMhwvSOZ1Yjl7EV7GLsuXXO-jiGKi65XlH7H8f0UnnyRsPZQIZZMvmOtQLoFb6HG7mxiDUj7j_cBIjlBg13rOf5dNOpNmorhlEVrm_r_0z4L24/s320/IMG_2981.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>I actualy got a little nostalgic, all those pine trees started to remind me of home!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1U2pj8slrEqvMvxQtBWMDRR6PlzpWuIWVDaP3SyQGUyq7woDCkoDKqkXme2ysr-4sUt3ijMAhqjroaGeVpsbbHT4VqwnSuZqeXL3fYppfOHZWScmZ8WMRcB9rf79GuMmuzxPuVaXTHE/s1600-h/IMG_2980.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099181359301462834" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1U2pj8slrEqvMvxQtBWMDRR6PlzpWuIWVDaP3SyQGUyq7woDCkoDKqkXme2ysr-4sUt3ijMAhqjroaGeVpsbbHT4VqwnSuZqeXL3fYppfOHZWScmZ8WMRcB9rf79GuMmuzxPuVaXTHE/s320/IMG_2980.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Except without all the rain in Muskoka!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F3CcZHdneEJdHyIWgbwgeZaaWZU5YSaeEspZ-9BCV4ipoowtTDEYBtseuLDPCZqGZZPIvFMUnCOV1GCFLIT17OWzStVgVDHx1UX8nnCEhc3xO2N3j1ZIX7OLKMJDboPlm_hEsVrCYTI/s1600-h/IMG_2986.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099181350711528210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F3CcZHdneEJdHyIWgbwgeZaaWZU5YSaeEspZ-9BCV4ipoowtTDEYBtseuLDPCZqGZZPIvFMUnCOV1GCFLIT17OWzStVgVDHx1UX8nnCEhc3xO2N3j1ZIX7OLKMJDboPlm_hEsVrCYTI/s320/IMG_2986.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we'd finished the hike, my guide Rie introduced me to his mom and dad and the rest of his family. We chatted in broken English for a few minutes before Rie's brother offered to give me a lift out of the forest and back into town. (For a fee of course!) Once there I didn't have a clue as to how I was going to get the 100 or so kilometers back into Phenom Penh so I did the only thing I could think of. Stuck out my thumb and hoped the 'ol hitchhike express would be along shortly.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxUhcu8LrWeoWjsHePxBfl9P_i9uJr1Jp02r8syvFgzYnbh1wCWwwajFS1LKBcNr66Qg8n0pLC89lkbpt2cafnPz00twgxd3YYMcZrYOS31hKCSShxXdCC9TKU_aReszzdRqhRllF71M/s1600-h/IMG_2989.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099179813113236130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxUhcu8LrWeoWjsHePxBfl9P_i9uJr1Jp02r8syvFgzYnbh1wCWwwajFS1LKBcNr66Qg8n0pLC89lkbpt2cafnPz00twgxd3YYMcZrYOS31hKCSShxXdCC9TKU_aReszzdRqhRllF71M/s320/IMG_2989.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>And what do you know? Away we go!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8cZEIwOy_jePH1_5bU9TgQr9glVhVCyemv-xkJaZZiTMsogvJIAeyfqZW26ztIoYnwkES82CJpGraALiGJt3mQck6oEYSxGoAyEGLg-xjXd5R0GzxMwNgubMs2mBkB4AzTpqEki96oM/s1600-h/IMG_2990.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099179817408203442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz8cZEIwOy_jePH1_5bU9TgQr9glVhVCyemv-xkJaZZiTMsogvJIAeyfqZW26ztIoYnwkES82CJpGraALiGJt3mQck6oEYSxGoAyEGLg-xjXd5R0GzxMwNgubMs2mBkB4AzTpqEki96oM/s320/IMG_2990.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />While I was greatful for a lift back to the city for the measly price of $2, I started to lose faith in my driver after about the 5 minute mark. Those of you who've hitchhiked before know what I mean. After about 5 minutes you either know that this ride you've just jumped into will either work out great or else you're screwed.</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiOY8o50IH9D6WazO7BdelI-HqL78XV9ks9Ixz1n8IWjMI7pKZ1tHxxd0S4TP3eQeoZOBc5j7Gqy0pJXYGUjBRHHoWSxYU1b7zCcBxfdUubb34eBo8poAIzq-FSShdKXN_ENWhlCgEqU/s1600-h/IMG_2987.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099181324941724402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiOY8o50IH9D6WazO7BdelI-HqL78XV9ks9Ixz1n8IWjMI7pKZ1tHxxd0S4TP3eQeoZOBc5j7Gqy0pJXYGUjBRHHoWSxYU1b7zCcBxfdUubb34eBo8poAIzq-FSShdKXN_ENWhlCgEqU/s320/IMG_2987.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />Um..........there seems to be a bug on your windshields!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet-KbXmFrniEW-J_O-9zFTNPJZ0oH3KalCx-CBAMe9TV5QbzVq8UXSrVTpGbuzbxVsgTik20gP__6EY0l97I6p3Nq0olD39JWIXsM-W7LsZCrgy4XhNyFdgQJxHITEOjl7fZ7uZTMRjU/s1600-h/IMG_2991.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099179817408203458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet-KbXmFrniEW-J_O-9zFTNPJZ0oH3KalCx-CBAMe9TV5QbzVq8UXSrVTpGbuzbxVsgTik20gP__6EY0l97I6p3Nq0olD39JWIXsM-W7LsZCrgy4XhNyFdgQJxHITEOjl7fZ7uZTMRjU/s320/IMG_2991.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>MOCK.......si.........ING...........si........BIRD.........si.........SI..........si!!!!!! At one point there were about 20 of us in there. Luckily they'd never heard of "shotgun" and since they couldn't understand me they couldn't really argue with my Nelson logic.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A9kMbG8_jvY05La6wsFd1_nel0Yv2fgof2mq1QMKM9afopg0vwK0QtA5YVrO6h0NSAD_9590F2KimOnk2yD_jn02i4mj0ktwt-_kItpwf-SwmGxVB_FWE6_PMiWTblRILdMCGB8nniY/s1600-h/IMG_3006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099179821703170770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A9kMbG8_jvY05La6wsFd1_nel0Yv2fgof2mq1QMKM9afopg0vwK0QtA5YVrO6h0NSAD_9590F2KimOnk2yD_jn02i4mj0ktwt-_kItpwf-SwmGxVB_FWE6_PMiWTblRILdMCGB8nniY/s320/IMG_3006.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>When we finally got to the city limits my driver and I had invented a great game! I'd yell out when I saw a cop, and he'd immediatley swerve to the outside lane to that he didn't have to pay the guy off for allowing his shitbox into the city limits! When we finally lost the game I snapped this quick photo of the driver paying off the police......isn't democracy wonderful?</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa_52D2MZ8rUdQ7-5oRc62nfVRUpDjlehMi0gKQMUw-DKZrhz_LR_v-mylwtsMU6w94TVdxrvLJYVrjObt22Ss5w9SRa78j_OHyOyePdCENXK0ejdNgZRfMPP0TaTkUQVuNgxF1UEEmc/s1600-h/IMG_3005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099179825998138082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBa_52D2MZ8rUdQ7-5oRc62nfVRUpDjlehMi0gKQMUw-DKZrhz_LR_v-mylwtsMU6w94TVdxrvLJYVrjObt22Ss5w9SRa78j_OHyOyePdCENXK0ejdNgZRfMPP0TaTkUQVuNgxF1UEEmc/s320/IMG_3005.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />Before I got out I just had to get a shot of the steering wheel. The horn broke along time ago so now when the driver wanted the cows to get the hell out of his way he'd place the live wire on the metal in order to create a current! Outrageous!</div><div><br />And that my friends, was Phenom Penh!</div></div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-24786464224585737342007-08-06T01:55:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:35.437-08:00Saigon/MeKong Delta (Aug 3-8)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP7ow2m5h3ULfn2gUfp4cLetrek9C_5QV0m99Rv75m664rPSus8rcN11XchMV4vMFd45dR3fj4WLE27jMlVzlOoOS4I92o3y9huQdqMF860ae23RsbsPcHhtEo9zJtKx5GGDImt5EvDo/s1600-h/Resize+of+Resize+of+IMG_2772.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgZ9aCGtBCm4rajiWq9Y3kSC3MlhBXC_E2TG_YVaZsHlJoPRnBJV46VEJa3TA3kEmNUhBe8wR4iLeN_Va92JDjN61jhPSljgp8lq_CeLHQg5FHEUyfuTdXnJzhkO8yWj371Q79oGwz5M/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2576.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097769167946515938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgZ9aCGtBCm4rajiWq9Y3kSC3MlhBXC_E2TG_YVaZsHlJoPRnBJV46VEJa3TA3kEmNUhBe8wR4iLeN_Va92JDjN61jhPSljgp8lq_CeLHQg5FHEUyfuTdXnJzhkO8yWj371Q79oGwz5M/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2576.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />AAaahhhhh! Saigon! What a place! The people, the energy, the history, this is VIETNAM! After a short ride from Mui Ne beach I arrived in the capital, also known as Ho Chi Minh city.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAsqV6tfjyFAHqmNrR2q-63HlfBWBU6dtyf85fkobNz7Qld2aJvqs27k7PwI1mNC15OJL93ml3aY6FzUKwSt2ZPMvhQ0mQfPPBj5kPMlxIYmtrAEVVfQylR68RATGnRXnflNaVkFAcKc/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2570.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097769167946515922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAsqV6tfjyFAHqmNrR2q-63HlfBWBU6dtyf85fkobNz7Qld2aJvqs27k7PwI1mNC15OJL93ml3aY6FzUKwSt2ZPMvhQ0mQfPPBj5kPMlxIYmtrAEVVfQylR68RATGnRXnflNaVkFAcKc/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2570.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The two pictures above are of the Reunification Palace. This was where the first communist tanks broke through the gates on April 30, 1975 officially ending the war in Vietnam. Many of the original phones and maps have been left untouched.......big deal. I can't believe the Vietnamese government swindled me out of a buck to see this place. Talk about boring! "This is where the southern government sat and had tea........this is where the cooks cooked their food...........this is a hallway that leads to..........another hallway. Man we got out of there quickly! On to the War Remnants Museum.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnWuI1_5ZcMcLlILFY_agPLoGNvCUACrck1NWqwOyuQJRMtWwC_empuZe5xTJRa1gJVwGzaUwsSV-csbZeutJTbkqMq729iuNqcBP9eyf1fAaoed00ilbndjUJYsSDmLdo5ForQhUKJM/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2580.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097768601010832738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnWuI1_5ZcMcLlILFY_agPLoGNvCUACrck1NWqwOyuQJRMtWwC_empuZe5xTJRa1gJVwGzaUwsSV-csbZeutJTbkqMq729iuNqcBP9eyf1fAaoed00ilbndjUJYsSDmLdo5ForQhUKJM/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2580.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is one of the most amazing museums I have ever been to. Having stuck mostly to the tourist trail in Vietnam, it's easy to forget that less than thirty years ago this country was being ripped apart by one of the most gruesome and inhumane wars that the world has ever known. While both sides were guilty of horrific displays of brutality against their enemies, this museum focuses mainly on the atrocities committed by American forces and the aftermath of Agent Orange. (Agent Orange is the cute little name given to the poison that is still effecting tens of thousands of American and Vietnamese citizens.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCDGMvVkBrbk3MvrTCqMFYaLcj7Qu8hzHZTYBiRRzEUADfqS9Wju83cAfLGz4C98Zz04LC37UaRo2Cb8JpYmPbE1keKgEPQC7Xz4jmkomqTL5-rcldRmbYhWKHlhpC-Pil60M6XHuYa4/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2583.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097768605305800050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCDGMvVkBrbk3MvrTCqMFYaLcj7Qu8hzHZTYBiRRzEUADfqS9Wju83cAfLGz4C98Zz04LC37UaRo2Cb8JpYmPbE1keKgEPQC7Xz4jmkomqTL5-rcldRmbYhWKHlhpC-Pil60M6XHuYa4/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2583.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Agent Orange was originally designed to destroy the dense jungle foliage. In theory this would expose the Viet Cong forces and reduce the amount of cover that could be used to launch an attack. Thirty years later this is the result. Think of it as soaking a country in bug spray and weed killer, a country that depends on farming the land and drinking from the streams for survival.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRKGGbpXgk0sw3hxAnKCcW-22P0oeYqLpxouxGcPx8CausEyt0qAu8c5BDuMKA4jdedex1bdF3lI2Duu7WFVga4ZhU9kPtiHJQJhL_-XXBRbnItSzd9HNWpxDWN1OgcAz83KxSrLsj10/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2601.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097767883751294242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRKGGbpXgk0sw3hxAnKCcW-22P0oeYqLpxouxGcPx8CausEyt0qAu8c5BDuMKA4jdedex1bdF3lI2Duu7WFVga4ZhU9kPtiHJQJhL_-XXBRbnItSzd9HNWpxDWN1OgcAz83KxSrLsj10/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2601.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Each year thousands of babies are born both in Vietnam and in the United States with severe mental and physical disabilities.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZCEx0vVjpy95WBzPfA5My4dG221oUwYyvut1ZEMlBbGHtc2bJesFuYOl4b6lCyEW49RO0DjInRx4AFE_dKjbyPekk8a8On2gjfSMbJFV_g9HFiesBPA-MUKbCWio08bGKoiIXo3y3rs/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2610.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097767888046261554" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZCEx0vVjpy95WBzPfA5My4dG221oUwYyvut1ZEMlBbGHtc2bJesFuYOl4b6lCyEW49RO0DjInRx4AFE_dKjbyPekk8a8On2gjfSMbJFV_g9HFiesBPA-MUKbCWio08bGKoiIXo3y3rs/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2610.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hundreds more don't even get to that stage. While NGO's and the Vietnamese government spend millions of dollars each year assisting families who have been affected by the chemical, current estimates reveal that agent orange will be in the soil for the next 400 years. I mentioned briefly that American children have been affected as well. During the campaign, the American government had no idea what the long-lasting affects of this spray would be, and in some instances they told American Gi's that it was merely deet intended to get rid of mosquitoes. Currently there are several organizations that involve groups from both countries and help them come to terms with what has happened.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-ovcJsCpwl5GtZLI5Zv4WAVgLv-PiaiAIayWqRJxtbEcQMZZQd5_gPa7cikcUfdVz0Aigk-8jNM34CY4nXQo91r7RmtHQfrCI8SAgKab0H4GgugWX-NRQ0ILkLOcuvvlLdzBdAupiHQ/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2581.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097768605305800066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_-ovcJsCpwl5GtZLI5Zv4WAVgLv-PiaiAIayWqRJxtbEcQMZZQd5_gPa7cikcUfdVz0Aigk-8jNM34CY4nXQo91r7RmtHQfrCI8SAgKab0H4GgugWX-NRQ0ILkLOcuvvlLdzBdAupiHQ/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2581.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is what happens when you drop a "pellet bomb" near children.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDLoD9B-c5jIzq7MjIGCwalWHgDTur__-NY5miZPyoGx4pEGoZXzUfx9feZ6L9MLnj9euIwzBpb9QSSpl1J1pIzMMjOoHyReuX9ej3s3lqAFB7w5Tgb3ItkaOjOUwcsoW9nOr3sMODaI/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2584.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097768609600767378" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDLoD9B-c5jIzq7MjIGCwalWHgDTur__-NY5miZPyoGx4pEGoZXzUfx9feZ6L9MLnj9euIwzBpb9QSSpl1J1pIzMMjOoHyReuX9ej3s3lqAFB7w5Tgb3ItkaOjOUwcsoW9nOr3sMODaI/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2584.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The US massacre at My Son.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnARS25I7YGZVoCLkQjdlXITebP_mDpeIm8bxv-_lRIiUe8OTB22eBHX4jJJozoghF2eJ-FdS3JVrI1y9Nt5hpD6bDSjIlNIlEBvbm36A70Q6nw_0NsZBNMjnmktJfxE76LA15SJkn6c/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2597.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097767879456326930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnARS25I7YGZVoCLkQjdlXITebP_mDpeIm8bxv-_lRIiUe8OTB22eBHX4jJJozoghF2eJ-FdS3JVrI1y9Nt5hpD6bDSjIlNIlEBvbm36A70Q6nw_0NsZBNMjnmktJfxE76LA15SJkn6c/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2597.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This famous picture was taken by a "Life " photographer who accompanied American GI's on a patrol. The troops were walking along a road when they saw two boys approaching. Without warning they opened fire. The elder of the two boys tried to shield his younger brother from the barrage of bullets but in the end it didn't matter. One of the soldiers casually walked over and fired a few more rounds into them at point blank range just to be sure. The fact that the soldiers did this knowing full well that the photographer was taking pictures demonstrates just how screwed up they were by this point.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIicEQVOiFQwNEJVKo_Ofp69VXy-vdeCaYWP0IdVdUKrokNMrW5qAG-UrfpMNekoLiJSmIJzg1kgwo37jeabaeRHcfRGmBBm8geTgc_a7LXxv60Mf8YZFEgcg6CPWg8AbdEMxrdTg3esI/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2616.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097767892341228866" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIicEQVOiFQwNEJVKo_Ofp69VXy-vdeCaYWP0IdVdUKrokNMrW5qAG-UrfpMNekoLiJSmIJzg1kgwo37jeabaeRHcfRGmBBm8geTgc_a7LXxv60Mf8YZFEgcg6CPWg8AbdEMxrdTg3esI/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2616.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kntTVSEkIrbllhphAeBj76bi7qhI-_XNC8Ws7wQZV-XXZo27bMG7S_rutDVyDD9oG6FkEpiymiVDwAd490QGDExjev9Dquvp_jEvcfWN1ZDmGr9tMcuahXFArdnEc2wPNqSvJmpF0pY/s1600-h/Rotation+of+IMG_2616.JPG"></a><br />This is what happens when you drop a "phosphorus" bomb near children. I took a whole bunch more photos of photos, including the famous one of the American troops smiling and holding up the severed heads of some of the VC they captured but I think you get the idea. Interestingly enough, this was the first war where the propaganda machine completely broke down because of the on-the-ground coverage that the troops received. While extremely different than what is going on in Iraq right now I do notice a certain pattern developing.<br /><br />A threat or a supposed threat to the American sphere of influence takes place. This threat is then followed by a US military campaign that is generally backed by the American population who believe that they are in some form of danger. Accompanying that campaign are hundreds of reporters who show pictures of American GI's getting blown apart and atrocities that are commited against the indigenous population and the POW's. Unable to stand the constant bombardment of news coverage every night around the dinner table, Americans begin to question their motivations. Slowly, they start to voice the opinion that perhaps enough is enough. Eventually the tide is turned. Support for the war declines rapidly while the American viewers are forced to concede that that a pull out is necessary. The US pulls out, after an initial slaughter everything quiets down, people forget for a decade or so and then the process repeats itself. Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq are the most notable but certainly not the only examples of this cycle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjbKGzt6Av6vp5nvU6MblkNdFMvkycDj6K879ryCvTc_8MVk3GX-NSQCYou1CJHodftmb-2JSF5H5paBHELNM2zmsk0FF1XKs8-QfbigAWkcu3bTw2XEzQfvj-oXEEQ5-6CzvIn7E9_E/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2626.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766895908816066" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjbKGzt6Av6vp5nvU6MblkNdFMvkycDj6K879ryCvTc_8MVk3GX-NSQCYou1CJHodftmb-2JSF5H5paBHELNM2zmsk0FF1XKs8-QfbigAWkcu3bTw2XEzQfvj-oXEEQ5-6CzvIn7E9_E/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2626.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Let's lighten the mood a little! Here is Notre Dame Cathedral.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35muv-3vHFxW34rQFOdmvJoDPdUdVt2Q18DDxp85Ep2SHVvbaFtySPYDDz3rXrKl3cSAAe-h2SduhnuZh4NR3zIiPbAoMZUlT-yVq567Sbxyv2PPQdiKtRE1ZM9t7BoV_uvjc3aj7XpA/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2629.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766900203783378" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35muv-3vHFxW34rQFOdmvJoDPdUdVt2Q18DDxp85Ep2SHVvbaFtySPYDDz3rXrKl3cSAAe-h2SduhnuZh4NR3zIiPbAoMZUlT-yVq567Sbxyv2PPQdiKtRE1ZM9t7BoV_uvjc3aj7XpA/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2629.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here are the government buildings.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DVnnsN_D6sTm0SzBB3fwchzqiYLdonjYZQ-fwBNV_pKvG7tTKIO8P0neXGuc3p8CQkGLkxaxwdhvr_iLH8pGp_8fhjbBTUw-i-vvMECb8RwI8ZyuEqTv_redDpf8LP8CQCe0iYR0oqc/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2634.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766904498750690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DVnnsN_D6sTm0SzBB3fwchzqiYLdonjYZQ-fwBNV_pKvG7tTKIO8P0neXGuc3p8CQkGLkxaxwdhvr_iLH8pGp_8fhjbBTUw-i-vvMECb8RwI8ZyuEqTv_redDpf8LP8CQCe0iYR0oqc/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2634.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On to the good stuff! Even though I was brutally hung over on one particular morning, I thought a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels would perk me right up! This vast array of tunnels is actually a network of catacombs that stretches for over 200km's! They were built in two stages, the first set of tunnels was completed during the Vietnam independence movement against the French in the 50's and the second system was completed during the 60's and 70's.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBugsm__uWqNdXB7qkafoh0TDiGNtbqaDdgQh5ajgS7wbbmr8bJ5Eeb82nxlrCYCz4tlvYRDOlnV0mJ8swYXnIAX-4BmG0W6pEOP4cVOvQfMuVPgHraWM2DoV9br2nAoD0irgdF-3PFk/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2635.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766917383652594" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBugsm__uWqNdXB7qkafoh0TDiGNtbqaDdgQh5ajgS7wbbmr8bJ5Eeb82nxlrCYCz4tlvYRDOlnV0mJ8swYXnIAX-4BmG0W6pEOP4cVOvQfMuVPgHraWM2DoV9br2nAoD0irgdF-3PFk/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2635.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Perhaps the coolest thing about this exhibit are demonstrations of all the traps the Vietnamese laid for the American troops. This rotating door would drop a soldier ten feet onto a bed of spikes and then spin back into place concealing the victim.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUZlA0wmrtBDt28bGfnVA5mwAbvvbPd6FyZjUMWqLWpCQisQBbUUo-nmAUbWMs9FroGf_p61UoFWlvdqks51508QfYbVIIUb4rGRYhR5etg3FUN6EPIPsJmj-j9Foh46AmwIZDO-Owws/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2639.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766921678619906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUZlA0wmrtBDt28bGfnVA5mwAbvvbPd6FyZjUMWqLWpCQisQBbUUo-nmAUbWMs9FroGf_p61UoFWlvdqks51508QfYbVIIUb4rGRYhR5etg3FUN6EPIPsJmj-j9Foh46AmwIZDO-Owws/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2639.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our guide, (who was a translator for US troops during the war and from what I could gather a covert VC member as well,) told us that this tank was blown up by an anti-tank mine and all four US soldiers inside it were killed. The bodies have been removed but everything else lays exactly as it did 30 years ago!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnds86ifesNAmGErO5yrYzyD_B2vf1ZtPJvJdlsNSpG6XJ-rsAxqatWndxW5Lq7_IzsrRt88FFUqzAWpZ_lVkuL16_BqXAwcErx25Qx2VmTNWCoZGGXxY7WmjF71ULcNQE34rX-V3UvI4/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2642.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766088454964338" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnds86ifesNAmGErO5yrYzyD_B2vf1ZtPJvJdlsNSpG6XJ-rsAxqatWndxW5Lq7_IzsrRt88FFUqzAWpZ_lVkuL16_BqXAwcErx25Qx2VmTNWCoZGGXxY7WmjF71ULcNQE34rX-V3UvI4/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2642.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This lovely little invention was usually covered with leaves and would wedge a person in between two rotating pillars covered in spikes. A soldier did more damage getting out of this trap than getting in!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0585jE8cPbOSi5TwDhShDH6ltvV-pZSsI4dKRiwQpvnAMmXLjLNVklJ3-5n8-FtBYBh56KUxiGV7U-3kGzc26UaIEx6DwM5Nk3FZWZd0YAUTS16vubW7d5Dpqp6145-dXyBLhdwMbkM/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2644.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766092749931650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0585jE8cPbOSi5TwDhShDH6ltvV-pZSsI4dKRiwQpvnAMmXLjLNVklJ3-5n8-FtBYBh56KUxiGV7U-3kGzc26UaIEx6DwM5Nk3FZWZd0YAUTS16vubW7d5Dpqp6145-dXyBLhdwMbkM/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2644.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The "Folding Chair" trap. So simple yet to the "point." Sorry.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy150SFB8qC-8l4Xdap4RgG488tkbuUF2l29TuOVkRtU51oqR0w5_sn5lGJYZqmpwHoHqkrEu8Jx6i1t3mobWyvdj2M6cYjkCjPutKWixKKPtmLI8_VlgwZFAtNQtSpeFB6yZCCQU47dg/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2651.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766097044898962" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy150SFB8qC-8l4Xdap4RgG488tkbuUF2l29TuOVkRtU51oqR0w5_sn5lGJYZqmpwHoHqkrEu8Jx6i1t3mobWyvdj2M6cYjkCjPutKWixKKPtmLI8_VlgwZFAtNQtSpeFB6yZCCQU47dg/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2651.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Couldn't resist. I am a guy after all!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTwxzcfExr46kKzo_ic6k9GHQIyjmntYYnAvBPxEklihLcDRpuN9Exp4m9Uj9FQrG9Pk34V0o9i5K3EQDST6ccBtWVh41MFQgafjlehBx5Z0bH8HkNab1TaxJG3DZWJZ1jNzZcAHwr8o/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2656.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766105634833570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTwxzcfExr46kKzo_ic6k9GHQIyjmntYYnAvBPxEklihLcDRpuN9Exp4m9Uj9FQrG9Pk34V0o9i5K3EQDST6ccBtWVh41MFQgafjlehBx5Z0bH8HkNab1TaxJG3DZWJZ1jNzZcAHwr8o/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2656.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Vietnam sandal company never really took off in the West after the war....even though their foot apparel was made with our car tires.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCWQl2tX20ipH50G8TMJU0DAOhkXRAzJ_yV0Xr6TbOtlsa98-q3cK3uGpka1rQ9PBauWV87fhqMo-54t_TuqQ1JN8LR6H15gCG-So99_-932MRLGGmPW2hUiuUWizBzt2DBGhz8GL7lE/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2657.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097766114224768178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCWQl2tX20ipH50G8TMJU0DAOhkXRAzJ_yV0Xr6TbOtlsa98-q3cK3uGpka1rQ9PBauWV87fhqMo-54t_TuqQ1JN8LR6H15gCG-So99_-932MRLGGmPW2hUiuUWizBzt2DBGhz8GL7lE/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2657.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a bomb crater made by a B-52.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpA7XrS1Eij7h1jdVjCF3jRmuyoXIv6g-fhevn8W5bFiFr2P_dlhRq4NxjGBErdhWebw8EklJUZ2SBFVJoZLxh9sKhD6n36jTFf4dO5wXztFhtPl9tfm5rnLTc7Z3sdJD4jKZYY48f0I/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2658.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097765186511832098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpA7XrS1Eij7h1jdVjCF3jRmuyoXIv6g-fhevn8W5bFiFr2P_dlhRq4NxjGBErdhWebw8EklJUZ2SBFVJoZLxh9sKhD6n36jTFf4dO5wXztFhtPl9tfm5rnLTc7Z3sdJD4jKZYY48f0I/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2658.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Allow me to explain a little more about the tunnel systems. For demonstration purposes, part of the tunnel has been opened up and expanded to allow tourists to get a feel for what it was like to be a VC fighting in the war. The tunnels are composed of three levels all 2m, 6m, and 8m bellow the surface.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULBfAyfwitvKnr758pYcq3kXJmfJ54ccfCdqLn0yVQxaCVFE7-fZQUO9HOAtmF3Cw1nBsp-D3Bc1O5Ex3W8dcRu1kHqVisXp8kyqd4arMAApNd8QkoOF2bh4UfHv47YwgvVwds0WkCvc/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2659.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097765190806799410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULBfAyfwitvKnr758pYcq3kXJmfJ54ccfCdqLn0yVQxaCVFE7-fZQUO9HOAtmF3Cw1nBsp-D3Bc1O5Ex3W8dcRu1kHqVisXp8kyqd4arMAApNd8QkoOF2bh4UfHv47YwgvVwds0WkCvc/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2659.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>When our guide asked who wanted to go down bellow, two other people and I descended into the catacombs. The tunnel is designed so that if someone starts to freak out and have a panic attack, there are exits every thirty meters. There are also a few dead ends to keep you on your toes and the whole thing is lit up my mini bulbs. Except for one problem. After about seven or eight minutes, the three of us were down in the tunnels and all the lights went out. It was completely pitch black and we were all 6m's underground in a space that was about as big as your average washing machine. No big deal, I thought to myself. I'm not claustrophobic or anything, we'll just keep crawling forward until we see an exit. Because we had gotten turned around in the tunnels I found myself in the lead. I took the above picture with my camera to get a sense of whether anything lay ahead. The flash gave me half a second of vision and off we went. After two more minutes of crawling, for some reason I stopped. I had no idea why, there wasn't any reason to but something didn't feel right. The guy and girl from my group behind me encouraged me to keep going but I told them to hold on for a second. I took out my camera, aimed it in front of me and snapped off a quick photo.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gPEoKw3d1Bc5zhseM_9Pw1dOUc66qrEs0GMwxoI-OoP720PjP_uw1nVUxy-MNRLXVY7YCRENTECptFvUJSshcQ90DnrqgOmSNDEZmhbMU7Iqf7OdXtV6NX6n0iElcgO01yisa0si9H8/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2660.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097765199396734018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gPEoKw3d1Bc5zhseM_9Pw1dOUc66qrEs0GMwxoI-OoP720PjP_uw1nVUxy-MNRLXVY7YCRENTECptFvUJSshcQ90DnrqgOmSNDEZmhbMU7Iqf7OdXtV6NX6n0iElcgO01yisa0si9H8/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2660.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Less than a few inches from my hand was the drop down to the third level. If I had taken one more step I would have plunged face first in the darkness and landed on my head 5 feet bellow! Slowly, I crept down the hatch and after hearing that my two companions made it down safely I continued to crawl forward on my hands and knees. I was now 8m's bellow the surface. All of a sudden I saw a faint beam of light up ahead and I breathed a sigh of relief! The second exit to the tunnel was right up ahead! I was just about to round the corner when I saw a faint little glow bobbing a little farther down the tunnel. As it got bigger I realized that someone was coming form the opposite end with a head lamp.</div><div>"What's going on?" I yelled. "How come you're coming this way?"</div><div>As the light got closer I could see it was a girl with who I took to be her boyfriend. The girl spoke first.</div><div>"There's a snake down here!" she yelled.</div><div>"You're kidding," I replied in disbelief.</div><div>"No," said her boyfriend, "she's not. And I know my snakes, I'm from South Africa. This ones poisonous and we should get the hell our of here!"</div><div>The five of us raced up the ladder into daylight and told the nearest guard what had happened. He was skeptical at first but sure enough when word spread they jumped into action. Luckily the five of us were the only people in the tunnels at that time so after sealing off the entrance, a few guards got together and descended down into the final exit.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYUQVRMACoRJrWGcfrcfcmY0nvJX6aMGebTcmHnD69yS8E0bH_KYkWxswQKVrDFXryYbhp-ELmi45Aajs_NS56qGH7a5mJv86PP0BIHpOq3hVg5ysvaM9euHypRwS0N71FFQs_phlGOk/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2661.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097765199396734034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYUQVRMACoRJrWGcfrcfcmY0nvJX6aMGebTcmHnD69yS8E0bH_KYkWxswQKVrDFXryYbhp-ELmi45Aajs_NS56qGH7a5mJv86PP0BIHpOq3hVg5ysvaM9euHypRwS0N71FFQs_phlGOk/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2661.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>And emerged with this!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHRGC62kusP5HFHv5cWPtXvo2IKPvN07kVv4G91mBl-9JVoCpX05Fr6y1slwDES1QcvUn4dRFRSrge2wCI8zlyK8H2QPzVMb2Etu41GG9o4IESkZ-Vfgt0oWcV03lkUkVFWWzpwTy-1Y/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2662.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097765203691701346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHRGC62kusP5HFHv5cWPtXvo2IKPvN07kVv4G91mBl-9JVoCpX05Fr6y1slwDES1QcvUn4dRFRSrge2wCI8zlyK8H2QPzVMb2Etu41GG9o4IESkZ-Vfgt0oWcV03lkUkVFWWzpwTy-1Y/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2662.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />"No pictures, no pictures!" they yelled. (Probably because if this got out the tourism would take a nose dive.) Yeah right...........like I'm not going to take a picture of this!!! And just think, if those two people with the head lamp hadn't been in the tunnel with us I would have crawled right into that thing in the pitch darkness on my hands and knees, 8m's bellow the surface with nowhere to go! Karma baby, yeah!!!!!</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHPMyTOwgky5C_m1gRjF1vLs-2PFL2vVn4HZbKRCZzwIPyrUvVN-dlohxC8KOorEb3RIIUqzQYbJ45odVryzeGfVh0L65Vf3UBMWOTCc-DLvy8YCDRBMlmsa5sqROH2TQAeYI1CiMTPc/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2665.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097764288863667154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHPMyTOwgky5C_m1gRjF1vLs-2PFL2vVn4HZbKRCZzwIPyrUvVN-dlohxC8KOorEb3RIIUqzQYbJ45odVryzeGfVh0L65Vf3UBMWOTCc-DLvy8YCDRBMlmsa5sqROH2TQAeYI1CiMTPc/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2665.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>This is an example of an underground kitchen. I really shouldn't have included this picture as it's pretty anti-climatic compared to the rest of this section. Just pretend you're still in awe. There you go!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAXOOU-TLpzQq2EvkqU_zhCUbgd7vspvc7N-f7nH87cGiWmlRByC2j4NQ0Wa1U_-lckAq0I0f6wiF7BN7BQrzjD8CMkzQgA6pcb1kVixefWTNr-_9nOLT9VZCDA_LHEjxw4sK2BVkGk0/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2683.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097764293158634466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAXOOU-TLpzQq2EvkqU_zhCUbgd7vspvc7N-f7nH87cGiWmlRByC2j4NQ0Wa1U_-lckAq0I0f6wiF7BN7BQrzjD8CMkzQgA6pcb1kVixefWTNr-_9nOLT9VZCDA_LHEjxw4sK2BVkGk0/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2683.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>After all the excitement I decided to take it easy the next day and head to the fine arts museum. Oh shut up, I do to have culture!! This one's called, "I am here."</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyLFhFloXIy6Lbf6yqHjgLrQE1CsclkrjvexLRsk-yYRUswRdLbGc6LhZbZOe8TBxkCx-rB51-Ri9jj7ooPrf8EbdXPe0ruPJOPQMMswJoYvF2iGty9jHxt0S45niC8Ju30s9_A90lFo/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2673.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097764297453601778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyLFhFloXIy6Lbf6yqHjgLrQE1CsclkrjvexLRsk-yYRUswRdLbGc6LhZbZOe8TBxkCx-rB51-Ri9jj7ooPrf8EbdXPe0ruPJOPQMMswJoYvF2iGty9jHxt0S45niC8Ju30s9_A90lFo/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2673.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>"Catfish."</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJWx6qComQb2gW3xtdQBY2vsjMCsRExTM-xk5tvWUHUzjv__LbjlpeBDoEvyfSOaIhQUjRq-BZIj9btA07r7YhA3U_vXqFo8ppKFy2w5STgbcT1uQPxj-KnxtsCo1-xr5nvsdXnLmZB8/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2674.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097764297453601794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJWx6qComQb2gW3xtdQBY2vsjMCsRExTM-xk5tvWUHUzjv__LbjlpeBDoEvyfSOaIhQUjRq-BZIj9btA07r7YhA3U_vXqFo8ppKFy2w5STgbcT1uQPxj-KnxtsCo1-xr5nvsdXnLmZB8/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2674.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>"When drinking water, remember where it came from." Very deep. Just like me.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI00vCfAhc0hqVFigJOd-c8oz94sOJYmJdLnpwVWf9DHCOdIv7jfzOer-ttp9XUa84DkpWhoGkOgaLqWApzJamXe2XkwfwsN5L2vjIQF2WSjr_iCMCZul0-AiZwpSR9N506A14GJ4OD8/s1600-h/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2680.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097764301748569106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI00vCfAhc0hqVFigJOd-c8oz94sOJYmJdLnpwVWf9DHCOdIv7jfzOer-ttp9XUa84DkpWhoGkOgaLqWApzJamXe2XkwfwsN5L2vjIQF2WSjr_iCMCZul0-AiZwpSR9N506A14GJ4OD8/s320/Resize+of+Rotation+of+IMG_2680.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This one was my favorite. "Sea at Night."</div><div> </div><div></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-LwEWR7w1TL-V0wUkV5a901MXqK2GN_dYhQRORnhpL5viQbtaxVPHyFFVL5iCi3QKDEBX5wQ15oCzAGe85tpkx7OwG5o7sPGeETNv2U3dm0-p4sCjzSdJ0Et6qMWwuDwjOuSQaRWhk8/s1600-h/IMG_2700.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097757193577694002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-LwEWR7w1TL-V0wUkV5a901MXqK2GN_dYhQRORnhpL5viQbtaxVPHyFFVL5iCi3QKDEBX5wQ15oCzAGe85tpkx7OwG5o7sPGeETNv2U3dm0-p4sCjzSdJ0Et6qMWwuDwjOuSQaRWhk8/s320/IMG_2700.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>The next day I got scammed into going into the Mekong Delta. Apperenlty, if you want to take the slow boat up the Mekong River into Cambodia you have to spend one night in this shitty little town in the middle of nowhere. When we got off the bus I was nervous because my driver Ming (pictured here) took me back to her place and tried to get me to marry her daughter. I was a little put off, seeing as she was only 11 years old, but luckily Ming found out I went to the Fine Arts museum the day before and suddenly lost interest.</div><div>Okay, seriously. My boat stopped off at a native village and this woman is making rice paper.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhyphenhyphen5fiQr_PtzT1H1DGzsS7Vc1_qKgSsTeEKw_XGH0IU5T8OM-E00kUWaanZ9Ut7TPAhWO6FSHku584mZhgAgjBbgb5l7eFOv5seTzIWDAxiaMnPPe8kC642HnWTWSNuH8L9Z9eWdJZto/s1600-h/IMG_2717.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097757202167628610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhyphenhyphen5fiQr_PtzT1H1DGzsS7Vc1_qKgSsTeEKw_XGH0IU5T8OM-E00kUWaanZ9Ut7TPAhWO6FSHku584mZhgAgjBbgb5l7eFOv5seTzIWDAxiaMnPPe8kC642HnWTWSNuH8L9Z9eWdJZto/s320/IMG_2717.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>This in an average dwelling on the river. Some of these people have absolutely nothing. The children play naked in water that I wouldn't even touch. I had never seen povert like this up close and it was pretty sad.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IVaPuHX-8UbW9fP0QdvVGkDqInHCao0ALBzFGxu57nqyZDz1Whk3VhmmJlGbhYDCAqBd47TJgRzJpPxhi_jSK3Hnzfw_zynFQPrmm2hL0NQ6mQvzeRpsG5LiTV-BPDjySKhsvg4g5Sc/s1600-h/IMG_2721.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097757215052530514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IVaPuHX-8UbW9fP0QdvVGkDqInHCao0ALBzFGxu57nqyZDz1Whk3VhmmJlGbhYDCAqBd47TJgRzJpPxhi_jSK3Hnzfw_zynFQPrmm2hL0NQ6mQvzeRpsG5LiTV-BPDjySKhsvg4g5Sc/s320/IMG_2721.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>They do get good sunsets though.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7hRrMwbdzRqGuUseLv1be5zdNa5VYUgNsJDcWSY3ZEUd2TaAdAwqi1TUz8EarPdaqDPTzVEuglwpPBLlud0kC0R_xqyj2cA7iZ0IHuObBWXjodeOcsxVLRmp0TbGjsc_QAvehl3kcBs/s1600-h/IMG_2724.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097757223642465122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7hRrMwbdzRqGuUseLv1be5zdNa5VYUgNsJDcWSY3ZEUd2TaAdAwqi1TUz8EarPdaqDPTzVEuglwpPBLlud0kC0R_xqyj2cA7iZ0IHuObBWXjodeOcsxVLRmp0TbGjsc_QAvehl3kcBs/s320/IMG_2724.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><div>Since it was included in our package, our guide forced us all onto a rowboat in the pouring rain the next day. It looks like I'm laughing here but I assure you it was all for show!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG74hkjO2TSYjt8i42ubddtL_fiGOPi9dGmIAIe2asVseUFv5hdmOMsA_GP4ltGDHGF1CDD9TKEbP7JcoZ9h81fhsQGWQDjgfR5qEvLokLs-ok9Ty36i44c8sGCmqz5yJ4L70gfj85k9w/s1600-h/IMG_2735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097757232232399730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG74hkjO2TSYjt8i42ubddtL_fiGOPi9dGmIAIe2asVseUFv5hdmOMsA_GP4ltGDHGF1CDD9TKEbP7JcoZ9h81fhsQGWQDjgfR5qEvLokLs-ok9Ty36i44c8sGCmqz5yJ4L70gfj85k9w/s320/IMG_2735.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div></div><div>This is the local resaurant. You might have heard of it before, it's called "Cholera." No? Are you sure? Well it's a conglomorate of the much more famous "Typhoid" chain, that's just been bought out by "Dysintary."</div><div> </div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sUnYvvo5_9BDUA_RuNZ8KdYkPUQtQchhZxABGn_3hkJj8Lt-CZefsINbsRUqdhHp97wcX-cdQ7y16C0XE4vw_nxfrN1bCZO-r-ojIeX0Wo1YleydvdvyYn4-x-2wCduBZgPzFyPKl3Q/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2740.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097753955172352738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9sUnYvvo5_9BDUA_RuNZ8KdYkPUQtQchhZxABGn_3hkJj8Lt-CZefsINbsRUqdhHp97wcX-cdQ7y16C0XE4vw_nxfrN1bCZO-r-ojIeX0Wo1YleydvdvyYn4-x-2wCduBZgPzFyPKl3Q/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2740.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>This is a fish farm located right beside "Cholera." No joke. It smelled so bad I threw up a little bit in my mouth and then had to swallow it.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHLCZYhjk4gauzjtQC4seJFTxeu8xg730yj2fPj8io77jgV_7aoGUiYSi_PjCj-4aH2LIujd4EcpY361pyGFHdDkb42-W4u8nRGWqSFj8rgnA8PgO_Hy_gs1nLGCW3QuwM6T0zg_Le_E/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2747.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097753959467320050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHLCZYhjk4gauzjtQC4seJFTxeu8xg730yj2fPj8io77jgV_7aoGUiYSi_PjCj-4aH2LIujd4EcpY361pyGFHdDkb42-W4u8nRGWqSFj8rgnA8PgO_Hy_gs1nLGCW3QuwM6T0zg_Le_E/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2747.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>The best thing about this place was the kids. They are very cute and one can not help give them a couple of bucks here and there as it means the world to them. I'm starting to see why Angelina Jolie has made them this season's new handbag.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL5L0pNXPLdmyDen86cgpF8tmAgYU13SJVhZxZpeDVCz5B8xHjlF1zQNxNwBF6WamqUvKl6ybF_4v_V8X_cMeBkiE_9M3Ithn9tCpe7JbUrE6-6zv4QsYIQd_JMsl_L2nLIuTqWOEtys/s1600-h/Resize+of+IMG_2753.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097753963762287362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL5L0pNXPLdmyDen86cgpF8tmAgYU13SJVhZxZpeDVCz5B8xHjlF1zQNxNwBF6WamqUvKl6ybF_4v_V8X_cMeBkiE_9M3Ithn9tCpe7JbUrE6-6zv4QsYIQd_JMsl_L2nLIuTqWOEtys/s320/Resize+of+IMG_2753.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><div>Bye, bye Vietnam!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8KoRInaTGPehaHu28KHKO9xIvEZ0K5SzjOyPFLtLGmZmsg-vA5XjFQwtaumDmKkbhEfOFhV1nHCu71mWPllvUcXq9IkUX2yd69uB8DJisXYbAfN86saxRD9JVrVTFe9k73qo9VEcm_4/s1600-h/IMG_2772.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097753976647189282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8KoRInaTGPehaHu28KHKO9xIvEZ0K5SzjOyPFLtLGmZmsg-vA5XjFQwtaumDmKkbhEfOFhV1nHCu71mWPllvUcXq9IkUX2yd69uB8DJisXYbAfN86saxRD9JVrVTFe9k73qo9VEcm_4/s320/IMG_2772.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hello Cambodia!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eFLOTZqrnSuSsxcOhOJ2JInXbDxYHZzT5dfGlQ0aMxF3JTT17AOwiuI1RNn3RgARln-CMij_C0cfozPLiRQM6mljzUOx_MwjBsg0E1VxRek9H2cqIksmRqz8UU4Ysxqh7E14i6heO2Y/s1600-h/IMG_2758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097753968057254674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eFLOTZqrnSuSsxcOhOJ2JInXbDxYHZzT5dfGlQ0aMxF3JTT17AOwiuI1RNn3RgARln-CMij_C0cfozPLiRQM6mljzUOx_MwjBsg0E1VxRek9H2cqIksmRqz8UU4Ysxqh7E14i6heO2Y/s320/IMG_2758.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And so ends another chapter in this crazy novel that I'm writing. Thanks for reading, I do appreciate it! xoxo</div></div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-23700640922132891012007-08-02T22:01:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:43.957-08:00Bike Tour!! Nha Trang/Lake Lak/Dalat (July30th-Aug2)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyiXnvt_1-w-XcCINwt6em-YeqTeIoOLFrjjiHT47O8yRkxnQR3zEz0R4O7xKspmpzeYtkxURo473-qTzJf_Y_6FMPxbO9LQaxyvzwB-HumGrWYTWReCKue4cgp_COKwXF6CwULIojEE/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094709420359942658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyiXnvt_1-w-XcCINwt6em-YeqTeIoOLFrjjiHT47O8yRkxnQR3zEz0R4O7xKspmpzeYtkxURo473-qTzJf_Y_6FMPxbO9LQaxyvzwB-HumGrWYTWReCKue4cgp_COKwXF6CwULIojEE/s320/Picture+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aaahhhh.........Backpacking! So I'm walking down the street looking to buy a pair of sandals when I see this guy just sitting on the corner having a beer. He looks sort of familiar and I figure, shot in the dark, what the hell? "Excuse me," I simply stated, "but are you Steve Mitchell?" No sooner had the words come out of my mouth did he jump up and give me a huge bear hug. Steve was the first backpacker I met travelling 5 months ago in the north island of New Zealand!!! This was so random we couldn't believe it, Steve had continued on travelling through NZ and had gone all over the world only to end up in the same city on the same street as I was 5 months down the road! And guess what? It was his 30th birthday that day!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3U2mpAIcF4aALsu37KJ2XOa2xu-r_KqjQpi5GqfrrFrtMsbdEUv7tPWz8HaMxnGx12U_npqhsxN0OWT97jxlha8Z3OuMGqTHjixPRcp4yL7Ba7BURhEaJAgstJjD3Rv0A6aX0J5QD_1A/s1600-h/Picture+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094709424654909970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3U2mpAIcF4aALsu37KJ2XOa2xu-r_KqjQpi5GqfrrFrtMsbdEUv7tPWz8HaMxnGx12U_npqhsxN0OWT97jxlha8Z3OuMGqTHjixPRcp4yL7Ba7BURhEaJAgstJjD3Rv0A6aX0J5QD_1A/s320/Picture+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next few hours were a hazy blur and I remember vaguely waking up in my room sometime later that night with a huge headache and some sort of stomach flu that was later diagnosed as caused by a lethal combination of whiskey and whiskey.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kOWMVYVYx5yHgFczjOfFZ8ZK_n819TQ3q4fzQWCRDIvEqKd0mdm30fSPWK423bJooU1Pk84Ciw7L3VetBc5-Wac5wIBnFH8tg6yP5LNGZEJfXN1uD2cI4sogH-HOSrdvQkPwykMhk-A/s1600-h/P1010091[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095507927794713234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kOWMVYVYx5yHgFczjOfFZ8ZK_n819TQ3q4fzQWCRDIvEqKd0mdm30fSPWK423bJooU1Pk84Ciw7L3VetBc5-Wac5wIBnFH8tg6yP5LNGZEJfXN1uD2cI4sogH-HOSrdvQkPwykMhk-A/s320/P1010091%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And my problems were compounded the next night since we had all decided a few days prior to go out for Caley's 24 th birthday dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAKcqFul1OIZ1qZBlUx9NcFn2RK64k1MN5LssaZu3M-9iYXUEqbEnCWVJXoTb98a2LP_kyHjVftdMm1pJ9V8MNrwGLn_CDPlqIWtKe_Yg2PcbAJtTq69GdamjXX-PNRatX-vbdWXyHUo/s1600-h/P1010100[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095507927794713250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAKcqFul1OIZ1qZBlUx9NcFn2RK64k1MN5LssaZu3M-9iYXUEqbEnCWVJXoTb98a2LP_kyHjVftdMm1pJ9V8MNrwGLn_CDPlqIWtKe_Yg2PcbAJtTq69GdamjXX-PNRatX-vbdWXyHUo/s320/P1010100%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thank God Caley had more restraint than I did and a pleasant meal and a few glasses of red later we were all home in bed, continually nursing out hangovers from the previous night.......well......that's what I was doing anyway.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZfk35JaR7B_a-IfpwKx-Nx1Yc2Rru2yqh7KqDx-dJbkK1Jv8FTBdX3i9b_mZHq6OAyQi3i0aMwOvUBndCEHY619oNxwj9_tOMVfwfkD5-emUZ8TIXiqVJH9ruYRe2TRL5rtInswPXos/s1600-h/P1000895[1][1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095512944316514994" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZfk35JaR7B_a-IfpwKx-Nx1Yc2Rru2yqh7KqDx-dJbkK1Jv8FTBdX3i9b_mZHq6OAyQi3i0aMwOvUBndCEHY619oNxwj9_tOMVfwfkD5-emUZ8TIXiqVJH9ruYRe2TRL5rtInswPXos/s320/P1000895%255B1%255D%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p>Heh, heh! Caley's turn! As it was her birthday we decided that it would be appropriate to do a booze cruise with the infamous "Funky Monkey"</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8fvVC33smJEimfcv5yJpvX7EUJzYlvshgZ9bYcGfJTuiIJk8rt44-NUI8hBUeUQ_h67ouRqE5OmKnpp-sCFqCo1irFu_xBDBT7kszH7r45TvMtSY523OxbKaZx6wTLQECz6FAPDQ0pc/s1600-h/P1000905[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095507923499745890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8fvVC33smJEimfcv5yJpvX7EUJzYlvshgZ9bYcGfJTuiIJk8rt44-NUI8hBUeUQ_h67ouRqE5OmKnpp-sCFqCo1irFu_xBDBT7kszH7r45TvMtSY523OxbKaZx6wTLQECz6FAPDQ0pc/s320/P1000905%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Despite the rain we all had a great time!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv8Zhq-u3MG13jEBN0IZqq2zyJXqNMmmjKqyIiXhPFLjrg_YrkvsUrelf8ccDOsKlfC0BvtnNki2aluy20tLOxqlcxMaTgi98vB2BynkhKVXHPxV6_DWzB30d1vhcen7rDjLG8ghppRc/s1600-h/P1000907[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095507923499745906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisv8Zhq-u3MG13jEBN0IZqq2zyJXqNMmmjKqyIiXhPFLjrg_YrkvsUrelf8ccDOsKlfC0BvtnNki2aluy20tLOxqlcxMaTgi98vB2BynkhKVXHPxV6_DWzB30d1vhcen7rDjLG8ghppRc/s320/P1000907%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a picture of the floating bar where one of the mates served us something that could only be described as a combination between pineapple, sweat, and urine.</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EjkYAvDvat54Ewc0_5pJBXtdq3x-q3PqfUPfRWWRTF5FMAIVboyfbbbcEcxLonrnQB_BnUyt6rykP4P5RMN77xkrgm6fiFiFzqYb5kRHD6oA-n2hby0p1LhdG1ttlyaW3oH4j7RFjiw/s1600-h/Picture+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094708780409815442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EjkYAvDvat54Ewc0_5pJBXtdq3x-q3PqfUPfRWWRTF5FMAIVboyfbbbcEcxLonrnQB_BnUyt6rykP4P5RMN77xkrgm6fiFiFzqYb5kRHD6oA-n2hby0p1LhdG1ttlyaW3oH4j7RFjiw/s320/Picture+006.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />This is the longest oversea gondola in the world, it takes guests to a hotel where they pay anywhere between $1200 and $4000 US a night. Think that's extravagant? The hotel behind this island goes up to $6000 US a night!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGJYDXhrRQzASBfDhEuvGgEgSP25DGuzphViEn08VqlMhjHStsD5SLKJbtb629Sjc1xwjfKOdz2hZGSEla_NcfNkV5ItUQzmqTHnhocb98pOrR_9kc7QxZBplOO5P6JmwVcS3aWK59M0/s1600-h/Picture+007.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZu0k3Y0H07CXqUKhkpBkPQQmT3OAAhrWd2BxmYyHIhCgBP0FFowSDK0Jkzts4poNuHujXlSZ6X_hyphenhyphenXOg9DxPZ-oPz5kfiN7Zn8jil-m1EH3is7Qt3wZGNTJRm4b-lrBKSmLcsVnT1VLk/s1600-h/Picture+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094708784704782770" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZu0k3Y0H07CXqUKhkpBkPQQmT3OAAhrWd2BxmYyHIhCgBP0FFowSDK0Jkzts4poNuHujXlSZ6X_hyphenhyphenXOg9DxPZ-oPz5kfiN7Zn8jil-m1EH3is7Qt3wZGNTJRm4b-lrBKSmLcsVnT1VLk/s320/Picture+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a long day of boozing and snorkeling we'd finally had enough and went home to prepare for our Easy Rider bike tour!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk19mSYwP3j4PPbdTvyB7kbDNcJXBKxVeuHOs9L6vVeh_cIAuWt9JETgaVxAPwUXkmzZaDlESM8yqlzdxeryoquKVj5QG1II2eFRepQnj6M2WC3QI19ynzmLj6dZjvb9Z7L2SEZ-schs/s1600-h/Picture+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094708045970407778" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPk19mSYwP3j4PPbdTvyB7kbDNcJXBKxVeuHOs9L6vVeh_cIAuWt9JETgaVxAPwUXkmzZaDlESM8yqlzdxeryoquKVj5QG1II2eFRepQnj6M2WC3QI19ynzmLj6dZjvb9Z7L2SEZ-schs/s320/Picture+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This classic tour put us on the back of a motor bike driven by a guide who would journey with us all the way from Nha Trang to Lak Lake, Dalat and finally arriving at Mui Ne Beach.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw53jo4iLvqPK2Wq2wvFe4nVVPn9nWW_GBysti0D0WTWGR0-fBd23izWSbDnsHNcq9QNgJdC8YfTx-0uOzVxVXuUr6xv2hgpVx25La6mafYxGr6wn3Ixm2fPGmnQ3E0vuplPvONImYeu0/s1600-h/Picture+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094708784704782786" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw53jo4iLvqPK2Wq2wvFe4nVVPn9nWW_GBysti0D0WTWGR0-fBd23izWSbDnsHNcq9QNgJdC8YfTx-0uOzVxVXuUr6xv2hgpVx25La6mafYxGr6wn3Ixm2fPGmnQ3E0vuplPvONImYeu0/s320/Picture+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Our first stop was a temple.......I have a feeling I will be seeing a lot of these in the months to come. The people here seem to WORSHIP them for Christ's sake!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZw0CGfjmetqhxaz9uu4_PUWzGDIDDEHb2XyeV7u97yhAN1QZ8ZAdpiJRkOz6cbcZg127-nDvQMWOtQ73bvNsT7wR4KoQO_lEtbv5ffptXIqOXDRSmUqwdzsr1Ux7MaZnBKWreJQSCyMU/s1600-h/Picture+010.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuKP0OirwrmdvSQERboGLMdG2WgS98KGJha4u61ry6Mepkoh1LaSoY3V3OA3qdGQvzwYKK_PyjPp6-mE8IxeI01QWI1Sdai5JzjZzSPoq0kCE3LsYvmbNR0Aiji_s9kxdBGq04nDMyv4/s1600-h/Picture+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094708033085505858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuKP0OirwrmdvSQERboGLMdG2WgS98KGJha4u61ry6Mepkoh1LaSoY3V3OA3qdGQvzwYKK_PyjPp6-mE8IxeI01QWI1Sdai5JzjZzSPoq0kCE3LsYvmbNR0Aiji_s9kxdBGq04nDMyv4/s320/Picture+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a3gV_EgGHuscxHgu5FbJ8Ql1aoydHNZDSTeRFcg-T15BOvsQz2zFM_2fV5GEp8OU8U8nFwP-gNuiTQoyPlu2Vmp3s286wijH1Ga-xb4Z6fnjxQFSDnOBFy_MJxJWFP4Tr8jMx7uFgZk/s1600-h/Picture+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094708037380473170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a3gV_EgGHuscxHgu5FbJ8Ql1aoydHNZDSTeRFcg-T15BOvsQz2zFM_2fV5GEp8OU8U8nFwP-gNuiTQoyPlu2Vmp3s286wijH1Ga-xb4Z6fnjxQFSDnOBFy_MJxJWFP4Tr8jMx7uFgZk/s320/Picture+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />You know Apu who works at the Kwiki Mart in "The Simpsons?" Well that's a carving of his god Ganesh.....who says TV can be educational?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGqrBJps_8F6n_O1aUgj5rJN77ISOMu8S-ISmH8Oy_NCHrlLJ1N92G9RLTT7cx2DyZfBTj2UV1jd9j5xRZuJYFU2lDWo5rkvhGNP9la40CpSt-6o-vi-uEHPtJ7KPVICxPPjXGG4exbI/s1600-h/Picture+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094708050265375090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGqrBJps_8F6n_O1aUgj5rJN77ISOMu8S-ISmH8Oy_NCHrlLJ1N92G9RLTT7cx2DyZfBTj2UV1jd9j5xRZuJYFU2lDWo5rkvhGNP9la40CpSt-6o-vi-uEHPtJ7KPVICxPPjXGG4exbI/s320/Picture+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some bad-ass broads.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6M5KFbecc1mUbd1AFObOcqXqO68OEkkdMcak7T9xVN7CP3htvIfi5XhdxAAOWStAbKyfIiya_sUqUCTPmReetkvF7PMkvXJKMekFny_pOCIUdGsrvC8Ph6tvOIqwy0XBmV9aj5d9_OFI/s1600-h/Picture+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094706903509106914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6M5KFbecc1mUbd1AFObOcqXqO68OEkkdMcak7T9xVN7CP3htvIfi5XhdxAAOWStAbKyfIiya_sUqUCTPmReetkvF7PMkvXJKMekFny_pOCIUdGsrvC8Ph6tvOIqwy0XBmV9aj5d9_OFI/s320/Picture+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQd18ZeOhcncwbD31wZCSa34pIrW85TkCLbEbPbvL8NiXCxPMTMtan2XGUU_dq0uNqx66MR7qkm3qmVf_UzQ7cqmDc_URYWcNJ7frf4iQSRK2TBU3LkIAvgkoePuMV4_PlYXEjDGHOpg/s1600-h/Picture+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094706907804074226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQd18ZeOhcncwbD31wZCSa34pIrW85TkCLbEbPbvL8NiXCxPMTMtan2XGUU_dq0uNqx66MR7qkm3qmVf_UzQ7cqmDc_URYWcNJ7frf4iQSRK2TBU3LkIAvgkoePuMV4_PlYXEjDGHOpg/s320/Picture+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Along the way out of Dalat we passed many rice fields and fishing villages which gave us some amazing insight into the local economies of the country.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFzjpdo-0EUvvMiug89e-e3cKvymDg8ySFd4z3zoYiHSzRRgEXC60qLGsVLdtZw0HVfcC_dulSIfmxMuY5G95VMyz8VCID7NTfbJatloadixU5ArCZ9d2U34o_vve-Df2v5M3t4sH7ms/s1600-h/Picture+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094706912099041538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFzjpdo-0EUvvMiug89e-e3cKvymDg8ySFd4z3zoYiHSzRRgEXC60qLGsVLdtZw0HVfcC_dulSIfmxMuY5G95VMyz8VCID7NTfbJatloadixU5ArCZ9d2U34o_vve-Df2v5M3t4sH7ms/s320/Picture+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I promised myself I'd put this picture on the blog because Caley promised me she would kill me if I put this picture on the blog.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9Jy7NVji-A3-mfKEn4Z3F_6gxaJKRcSXGTdtERkoZBDyQ8d6CgsPKIfoo5aLw9yYixtteyMBAmNiepHMuUwToSNpFWl64i_1XevkpEUnueswZ5aAs54ZQLzaFR2TH_3OUUd2NDzZ0K4/s1600-h/Picture+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094706920688976146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9Jy7NVji-A3-mfKEn4Z3F_6gxaJKRcSXGTdtERkoZBDyQ8d6CgsPKIfoo5aLw9yYixtteyMBAmNiepHMuUwToSNpFWl64i_1XevkpEUnueswZ5aAs54ZQLzaFR2TH_3OUUd2NDzZ0K4/s320/Picture+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is the guide who I entrusted with my life for four days. My faith didn't waiver once....except at night when I saw him down enough rice wine to fell a small elephant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8KQhuZuLEb9jBVj013ADC2yqzMCOZR7f_dxgvt_bnpzrWjf92-0Yklj-vtr3GQ55ZYhHrG4CpxVkAHH1bFcEMbRkfM7cCFqZ25mDp8ClXv3L31VJJwpVq3K-t8em8Uybz0teacsZuuM/s1600-h/Picture+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094706920688976162" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8KQhuZuLEb9jBVj013ADC2yqzMCOZR7f_dxgvt_bnpzrWjf92-0Yklj-vtr3GQ55ZYhHrG4CpxVkAHH1bFcEMbRkfM7cCFqZ25mDp8ClXv3L31VJJwpVq3K-t8em8Uybz0teacsZuuM/s320/Picture+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The head guide Huy made many stops along the way, including this one where he showed us how Vietnamese bricks our made by clay in a kiln.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rpeyHzZQtzmpe0SLErnzPdPsCJQmBtiIoUGwdGtmj-Dd_iEc3P__8fDxzF9djQRhciNCeZf4wKnl_hcuULTB42Aiq0gteSDNGauoCLoVTkrVxmL9U4UuqMN7pnxo28qePrvBZuL7WUY/s1600-h/Picture+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094705932846497938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rpeyHzZQtzmpe0SLErnzPdPsCJQmBtiIoUGwdGtmj-Dd_iEc3P__8fDxzF9djQRhciNCeZf4wKnl_hcuULTB42Aiq0gteSDNGauoCLoVTkrVxmL9U4UuqMN7pnxo28qePrvBZuL7WUY/s320/Picture+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9kbK935RyKfZrpQqyrNpWTsgc7-WdVI7_yH0RKG6yBgB8iFtAzVi8nFk1usMQfCNikMx6-6n5jr1gw8_yoPccuIge-FjmMyFacxaIYJPs1Uj2PYgA4QoH2CQfFks5hikm7t41YhambE/s1600-h/Picture+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094705941436432546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin9kbK935RyKfZrpQqyrNpWTsgc7-WdVI7_yH0RKG6yBgB8iFtAzVi8nFk1usMQfCNikMx6-6n5jr1gw8_yoPccuIge-FjmMyFacxaIYJPs1Uj2PYgA4QoH2CQfFks5hikm7t41YhambE/s320/Picture+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />14 hours a day doing backbreaking hard-labour in heat that would make Satan sweat........yeah........no thanks!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG-7j1sdCNCL54qAt5MF9nin7lBjW-IS2OBLDVs2Rx73wAhd1OWtFkjK0YyxSVhD2HN4hLTfBLUkMri04hU_PEok81DDSPpPt8akz4LLqnzxgxWl7tlV-L6ZDy17waCpw2yLbJUS4ihY/s1600-h/Picture+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094705941436432562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNG-7j1sdCNCL54qAt5MF9nin7lBjW-IS2OBLDVs2Rx73wAhd1OWtFkjK0YyxSVhD2HN4hLTfBLUkMri04hU_PEok81DDSPpPt8akz4LLqnzxgxWl7tlV-L6ZDy17waCpw2yLbJUS4ihY/s320/Picture+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIRca4Cj97saPZUm_NBFsjQzuKPvKJAqxXMh74olZSM0ixO21R8MlDooZ1EGQqCtNOgj3dlsKmF22Z9TyNLtGp3EGqvGGbWr3Wo2duqwkr6M7ykty88yNa-6gGymUGo-4WHglxqHibzg/s1600-h/Picture+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094705950026367170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIRca4Cj97saPZUm_NBFsjQzuKPvKJAqxXMh74olZSM0ixO21R8MlDooZ1EGQqCtNOgj3dlsKmF22Z9TyNLtGp3EGqvGGbWr3Wo2duqwkr6M7ykty88yNa-6gGymUGo-4WHglxqHibzg/s320/Picture+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />And back on the road we went!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WYSi95vTodZgV-Z_CvTRkhbghuHrMxhV_Cmhh9G9cq8CvsRWSm_lvyBmYEGvkyipHcHY8_3OukWop8E2NetaRKip9JlwVhdPX4Ri3HLfpdy1TJeMD86nozdr0TMduN8H-nalq-0AJlY/s1600-h/Picture+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094705950026367186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WYSi95vTodZgV-Z_CvTRkhbghuHrMxhV_Cmhh9G9cq8CvsRWSm_lvyBmYEGvkyipHcHY8_3OukWop8E2NetaRKip9JlwVhdPX4Ri3HLfpdy1TJeMD86nozdr0TMduN8H-nalq-0AJlY/s320/Picture+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSidvNSLEXAj2siqC7N_uG7iP_UjOM1xcLm5f64Kw-Zl-J4GDG72lf6C1hrsnCGdbMTU4C-bd9bB-mPiAmeuJ6aFHYe58K4JPRTeYyFMmVyFDx2q65cu3YrDjJcmmzM_zYldMDN-tzas/s1600-h/Picture+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094704700190883906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSidvNSLEXAj2siqC7N_uG7iP_UjOM1xcLm5f64Kw-Zl-J4GDG72lf6C1hrsnCGdbMTU4C-bd9bB-mPiAmeuJ6aFHYe58K4JPRTeYyFMmVyFDx2q65cu3YrDjJcmmzM_zYldMDN-tzas/s320/Picture+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This tour was amazing! We saw so much of the country side, it was incredible! The guides would stop whenever we needed a pit stop and took us to parts of Vietnam that were well of the beaten track in order to experience how they put it, "The Real Vietnam!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDR_MJ2FBwZECPaS1dBtf5pOfLj8QhH_mShoPehCVFj2QUHWHJ-oQDDnFmOaeyWXOnjP78_ipMks0HjAtepmyZbjWHN1JaFdBzq4IjRiYKi3Ajldgq6N8Xv8ijn2vdRjUpn1UwrA0XMk/s1600-h/Picture+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094704704485851218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDR_MJ2FBwZECPaS1dBtf5pOfLj8QhH_mShoPehCVFj2QUHWHJ-oQDDnFmOaeyWXOnjP78_ipMks0HjAtepmyZbjWHN1JaFdBzq4IjRiYKi3Ajldgq6N8Xv8ijn2vdRjUpn1UwrA0XMk/s320/Picture+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This was a pepper plant. It probably still is.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIYo5MIwQdQI8EF_3Gl_Dr8BH4I3OCF8j1dC4dVMPDGEFqwiLpCdhmSZrnYpCu5LUp70EBDukkI2LppMH6fQQHibzHF7CeMpTGxnSQ20jPMJO7aA43OWCyTXg_4aCatAcQPrj7DkA7WQ/s1600-h/Picture+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094704713075785826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIYo5MIwQdQI8EF_3Gl_Dr8BH4I3OCF8j1dC4dVMPDGEFqwiLpCdhmSZrnYpCu5LUp70EBDukkI2LppMH6fQQHibzHF7CeMpTGxnSQ20jPMJO7aA43OWCyTXg_4aCatAcQPrj7DkA7WQ/s320/Picture+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is what you'd typically see along the countryside as you went. There would be nothing for miles except rolling green hills and the occasional farmer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7Msn5gsdMs443kfSHqpgDXfN7L3anocORob7XvAYfUAxXFrjGqNZNlneA31VHNJZnBtlxzPPb3oEwbobXo5UFUWV7IaK9CdxAK0BXLTq_ANHMwl3bFeg2qtdicWxjGiy2unNGR8Gtms/s1600-h/Picture+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094704717370753138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7Msn5gsdMs443kfSHqpgDXfN7L3anocORob7XvAYfUAxXFrjGqNZNlneA31VHNJZnBtlxzPPb3oEwbobXo5UFUWV7IaK9CdxAK0BXLTq_ANHMwl3bFeg2qtdicWxjGiy2unNGR8Gtms/s320/Picture+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Then once in awhile Huy would make a stop to show us everything from how coffee is dried in the sun....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBh84_GfhthtA4ImhnouSdnp4UQT-kPjnWmGxTuXSP6KKhzdcBmM8Ssiy6gJvwtv0oi2paoBiZlAUdgrbse_KmnYrXGWDKA8lrzWLDMABKn4Y37-flnZ1VcmPKzWn9uAs4xi6Xn_WZGA/s1600-h/Picture+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094704725960687746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBh84_GfhthtA4ImhnouSdnp4UQT-kPjnWmGxTuXSP6KKhzdcBmM8Ssiy6gJvwtv0oi2paoBiZlAUdgrbse_KmnYrXGWDKA8lrzWLDMABKn4Y37-flnZ1VcmPKzWn9uAs4xi6Xn_WZGA/s320/Picture+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />....to a rubber plantation!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr54IhCPon-nqx5cGExbMN7EDR7wjEBTfR11gjbpthbBRPYYtKoqzS9xHKJ1nM5bFcoLbw9fcnju8x7iVUIV61AK26ZF3xxCVtoAe1n1DQPv1tJasLoLGlNi0VRnbuS7W77NalRU3ezs/s1600-h/P1010302.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094709416064975346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr54IhCPon-nqx5cGExbMN7EDR7wjEBTfR11gjbpthbBRPYYtKoqzS9xHKJ1nM5bFcoLbw9fcnju8x7iVUIV61AK26ZF3xxCVtoAe1n1DQPv1tJasLoLGlNi0VRnbuS7W77NalRU3ezs/s320/P1010302.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This is me having a moment.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0phlgCIKWYNlCGfEBZuwqBJf_MJQpkAv6ekuL47D90RvZZ7QdEJsx1XHxhO31ih_fnc_b3WLHqzcrUDb9tAI_1HRXyIRSUZyikTc8Yds1ePoq4RtmASUJkcVb0LWpz7S0u9pSy1lJT8g/s1600-h/Picture+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094703622154092546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0phlgCIKWYNlCGfEBZuwqBJf_MJQpkAv6ekuL47D90RvZZ7QdEJsx1XHxhO31ih_fnc_b3WLHqzcrUDb9tAI_1HRXyIRSUZyikTc8Yds1ePoq4RtmASUJkcVb0LWpz7S0u9pSy1lJT8g/s320/Picture+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />On the second day Huy took us to a national park where we went on a bit of an excursion in order to find a watering hole to take a swim!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggeSA-6CkY6n6fwZSsnRMuF3lVIfnb6liT1_t2EQcVM_t8BOYPUf_BitC4bdzq7KetrnxoKmSfrOKUpK3oHNVKLGXJsk4rMcOFvBb4iMz8g6Go4KXfb9BRJ8oYKygOa2qT2LlEf1uia0/s1600-h/P1010209.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094709407475040722" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggeSA-6CkY6n6fwZSsnRMuF3lVIfnb6liT1_t2EQcVM_t8BOYPUf_BitC4bdzq7KetrnxoKmSfrOKUpK3oHNVKLGXJsk4rMcOFvBb4iMz8g6Go4KXfb9BRJ8oYKygOa2qT2LlEf1uia0/s320/P1010209.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJHPz7HBYvJM2O89I2AN4bXpmxmqJz8BuV4399epJkJp8nXuz-Ft7EZD0TVB5bsynSfFSh3YOQLdYxhRAULOifadQSIjyAy4y1QG5oNwBGVzs8UzvqYrRbDdIRag-Xrovf7mhqqYmdpY/s1600-h/P1010217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094709416064975330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJHPz7HBYvJM2O89I2AN4bXpmxmqJz8BuV4399epJkJp8nXuz-Ft7EZD0TVB5bsynSfFSh3YOQLdYxhRAULOifadQSIjyAy4y1QG5oNwBGVzs8UzvqYrRbDdIRag-Xrovf7mhqqYmdpY/s320/P1010217.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />While it does look sunny in most of these pictures it also did rain quite a bit! Luckily the guides brought rain gear but I'm talking torrential in terms of rain here! Apparently there's some sort of tropical storm in the area and even as I'm sitting here in Saigon writing this the weather hasn't cleared up since!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOw-eA-Du_XaMZuuLckzMQ9hpqq8fyH9rSHokAaL6dgCYLv5mvmn89RtBrDt1Di_NQumyOFbXkqLeAku8gnWQwsuPRE53yxHIIfEI0riYwY5NJ6pijjRZufDrcdwe8YUPNPcwjPkWRNE/s1600-h/Picture+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094703622154092562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOw-eA-Du_XaMZuuLckzMQ9hpqq8fyH9rSHokAaL6dgCYLv5mvmn89RtBrDt1Di_NQumyOFbXkqLeAku8gnWQwsuPRE53yxHIIfEI0riYwY5NJ6pijjRZufDrcdwe8YUPNPcwjPkWRNE/s320/Picture+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb4FbXsczRwpSFCljiEAjB2lO_815hrmyTIO7DawWD151Xqr9y3cisLXAaS6U2c-1SiMe64-GAePfdKAzhoJkoCkIf5rGqsjtst7ly326Tquwt1knrfmONHcQx5JuxP1N2YRwRQYUg-Q/s1600-h/Picture+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094703626449059874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb4FbXsczRwpSFCljiEAjB2lO_815hrmyTIO7DawWD151Xqr9y3cisLXAaS6U2c-1SiMe64-GAePfdKAzhoJkoCkIf5rGqsjtst7ly326Tquwt1knrfmONHcQx5JuxP1N2YRwRQYUg-Q/s320/Picture+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS_C8euegcBcIsUmASVskIHNmTf8cXq9aF4lmJb_kxnLL19SdJlndbUjnHVz_F2J_ye5xoVU3jncchLdIzDV9tr12EFe-OV82OpbsOj_dYP2D-FvdoRBn55oUuGhtQoEYfouSx0Y4Gh0/s1600-h/Picture+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094703630744027186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXS_C8euegcBcIsUmASVskIHNmTf8cXq9aF4lmJb_kxnLL19SdJlndbUjnHVz_F2J_ye5xoVU3jncchLdIzDV9tr12EFe-OV82OpbsOj_dYP2D-FvdoRBn55oUuGhtQoEYfouSx0Y4Gh0/s320/Picture+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Luckily the rain didn't spoil the scenery, in this picture a couple of local children are fishing for crayfish in the rice fields to eat for dinner.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wCBeEaUZ3_Cv1NKl-GhccyOU7bDf02fvz6neXssI208mVhQWzN2_nOFhAR4raX5k11B9t6Ig1dLPmV2yVdaOJjhy7UkQBrmDOmS8V8XZiGGb3-83EGTwmzRRkwiYWuY0EaEAV3EUNsc/s1600-h/Picture+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094702754570698658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wCBeEaUZ3_Cv1NKl-GhccyOU7bDf02fvz6neXssI208mVhQWzN2_nOFhAR4raX5k11B9t6Ig1dLPmV2yVdaOJjhy7UkQBrmDOmS8V8XZiGGb3-83EGTwmzRRkwiYWuY0EaEAV3EUNsc/s320/Picture+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Other than the Australian Zoo this if the first Elephant I had seen in SEA!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPhqYJuIJ767wkQisTFviXBc2jl1yw7rMyjSasQ5hob21XFLD478UH0b31gqGneOBQHOoYszHFkpjFVIXcUSD_INVXq5hnna59yIRIEPfvtekxIqr62Do96g5VqLuVbRq7FQNSCRXF7M/s1600-h/Picture+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094702767455600578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPhqYJuIJ767wkQisTFviXBc2jl1yw7rMyjSasQ5hob21XFLD478UH0b31gqGneOBQHOoYszHFkpjFVIXcUSD_INVXq5hnna59yIRIEPfvtekxIqr62Do96g5VqLuVbRq7FQNSCRXF7M/s320/Picture+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />We stopped briefly at a tribal village to take a boat ride around the lake and have a quick game of pool.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8UioZqIjDUuRbTj50HbxdHVIiKZz_garTOvNP6eWpFQCDgOGe-Xkel4UNmcK-Jb3_ZHgXhmqb1QelfhjmOypzfLS1050Ln9PIgh_wjdaX38HAwZpaTTpEdCeJjVn9JkMBmnCFDw3-6s/s1600-h/Picture+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094702776045535186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8UioZqIjDUuRbTj50HbxdHVIiKZz_garTOvNP6eWpFQCDgOGe-Xkel4UNmcK-Jb3_ZHgXhmqb1QelfhjmOypzfLS1050Ln9PIgh_wjdaX38HAwZpaTTpEdCeJjVn9JkMBmnCFDw3-6s/s320/Picture+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This kid beat me six games to one.....and I only won that one time 'cause he scratched on the eight ball.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Gsvc7pRjEyQw5Lu2yZAEXti0nNkoo05V3uNgP8WGyeNVMLR_u9ZZVr_b1SmCdxSnorQYxJeZ6rhm_rz5cB4eALjqHKEaMNVt0UIEAFc6aqV3b5xPKhN9qYA1KiZOt5P8FMmlKOCGGGs/s1600-h/Picture+039.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094702788930437090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Gsvc7pRjEyQw5Lu2yZAEXti0nNkoo05V3uNgP8WGyeNVMLR_u9ZZVr_b1SmCdxSnorQYxJeZ6rhm_rz5cB4eALjqHKEaMNVt0UIEAFc6aqV3b5xPKhN9qYA1KiZOt5P8FMmlKOCGGGs/s320/Picture+039.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBySBaFq0BK0WHru7B_ZYtmd3DIpiDm3biifY-61RKP3AbNdZKi6ro9-zTW0oEdniHbxnwSVobIofPXCcY9ZPGE_j0vL4ne8BMdc-08774lmE8I8USSwJr9jhyphenhyphen9Jy7fPBsqyQEBG27_c/s1600-h/Picture+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094700220539993874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBySBaFq0BK0WHru7B_ZYtmd3DIpiDm3biifY-61RKP3AbNdZKi6ro9-zTW0oEdniHbxnwSVobIofPXCcY9ZPGE_j0vL4ne8BMdc-08774lmE8I8USSwJr9jhyphenhyphen9Jy7fPBsqyQEBG27_c/s320/Picture+040.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3gxpeTftzn3thHsGp54FIln3pgfG5GJ2ZN7tOxdKOVq-xbnj6wjIWWSOpYU-NZ0IImYuGFK7su-bBHe7nqP1tYFWhLDO-1LxTOpJZRcAWxtvmTxbgqc3qIENoVOvPSxfKBiG0YJK1xc/s1600-h/Picture+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094700229129928482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3gxpeTftzn3thHsGp54FIln3pgfG5GJ2ZN7tOxdKOVq-xbnj6wjIWWSOpYU-NZ0IImYuGFK7su-bBHe7nqP1tYFWhLDO-1LxTOpJZRcAWxtvmTxbgqc3qIENoVOvPSxfKBiG0YJK1xc/s320/Picture+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Everyone here was so friendly, I have NEVER seen a kid so happy to get his picture taken!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgPWGf7XbLY2a18bsNOiezQmlh6gT4QRS3YWjhWlidm-OnhHpc_i53FP96zJzCZBOILZW7ZnTWIhp8Ie-n6RmgSBig31N6Yb3ziHwpx57Qbh0Mhyr31jckHtyUUvjhqksSKNVJKOrXoI/s1600-h/Picture+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094700233424895794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHgPWGf7XbLY2a18bsNOiezQmlh6gT4QRS3YWjhWlidm-OnhHpc_i53FP96zJzCZBOILZW7ZnTWIhp8Ie-n6RmgSBig31N6Yb3ziHwpx57Qbh0Mhyr31jckHtyUUvjhqksSKNVJKOrXoI/s320/Picture+043.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The great smiling Buddah!!!! Legend has it that he's smiling because he did a favour for a woman by making her crops grow but she didn't give him the pig that she promised. The same scenario repeated itself but this time she promised him a cow. Again she didn't pay the Buddah his due and when she came to him for help for a third time she promised him an eight legged animal. Thinking the animal must be huge, the Buddah agreed again to help the woman and she in turn produced a crab as payment. The Buddah laughed really hard and then ripped the woman limb from limb and ate her appendidges like chicken wings while she was still breathing. No just kidding, he thought the joke was funny and left her alone.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgafa4mpi47bzu_T-ysE22bktwaF1ZCl3xzCbjpVp3xGEIB_uCPDXx4s3G5x84N1jBD2AiPMOJfMP-MP4_wCdPX1fdYBYu5gs-1glvL8UTsUY5Ix59x4J_qkyQDCSKbz9EmI9P6yzfWk/s1600-h/Picture+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094700242014830402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgafa4mpi47bzu_T-ysE22bktwaF1ZCl3xzCbjpVp3xGEIB_uCPDXx4s3G5x84N1jBD2AiPMOJfMP-MP4_wCdPX1fdYBYu5gs-1glvL8UTsUY5Ix59x4J_qkyQDCSKbz9EmI9P6yzfWk/s320/Picture+044.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />How silk is made....who knew?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPTohKXw6bnn-roGXDciYJyoMhjRY9C4NSqhnmHTZodS2802LUlcnXC3rKhH7AqCr4U6sk9hvlnpSw50QSH3y4VHaLpKcYaoLK0aQAdUcui5JTJsFC03Ww8JQ8Dki3FmFzBH5dvMOneo/s1600-h/Picture+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094700242014830418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPTohKXw6bnn-roGXDciYJyoMhjRY9C4NSqhnmHTZodS2802LUlcnXC3rKhH7AqCr4U6sk9hvlnpSw50QSH3y4VHaLpKcYaoLK0aQAdUcui5JTJsFC03Ww8JQ8Dki3FmFzBH5dvMOneo/s320/Picture+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />This was the scene that greeted us on our arrival into the mountain town of Dalat!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuEBRPC-OJBdIjuUXOS9gc-Dzx_aqZ7290toOIIWOf_Bym-NjZP0BpZsz3rGB-vyQusYtOtRAm5tGMU3J6ixe3RpCuc4CW7dNEiTP0gdn1wOTfylRDZ0XbrmEMrtA4vy3OfUQWi3ncE0/s1600-h/Picture+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094698850445426370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuEBRPC-OJBdIjuUXOS9gc-Dzx_aqZ7290toOIIWOf_Bym-NjZP0BpZsz3rGB-vyQusYtOtRAm5tGMU3J6ixe3RpCuc4CW7dNEiTP0gdn1wOTfylRDZ0XbrmEMrtA4vy3OfUQWi3ncE0/s320/Picture+046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was gorgeous. Period.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQmx4ovi3oh3atJp1zD77Ti8PuEPTGOlG2V0hFYdAYZ3QpvDKpKhMugQUojS8pYdZGDDaa8cZDFz9_bRBEZ88qHiCYUtBeb57jTQ56r1Iz41A1-yHuljA7g1nb-HCgPQ9aC4Y6FERAYs/s1600-h/Picture+047.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jK0hFWXUbkw_YXkcGcSkt21_zHLgZjRkjlniX67WROTRCnxWop_crC-sqzRSNkgsG4UyQ30S4izG3E6Fs0xl4nvunP0RBpHdcd80eoKeQ4djxzFQ-fSfhWVhJ7Dqk_Odq6ZuV5O6BS4/s1600-h/Picture+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094698876215230178" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jK0hFWXUbkw_YXkcGcSkt21_zHLgZjRkjlniX67WROTRCnxWop_crC-sqzRSNkgsG4UyQ30S4izG3E6Fs0xl4nvunP0RBpHdcd80eoKeQ4djxzFQ-fSfhWVhJ7Dqk_Odq6ZuV5O6BS4/s320/Picture+048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Before we left Dalat we stopped at this very strange hotel that looked like Louis Carol's wet dream. Imagine rolling over in the middle of the night and waking up groggy eyed to this thing?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQocElade5Tkk9g4if2yxTwb79NGYfdwhiVjOBjSlpKkzQfrNliDL1EQxTr3GxwpmpodDYiSpsQVD9-WIFwYKgqPESoBXENglyIegL0bmi6hiBDmSU7T3GR6xZRopTk_ubk6QksIldZgQ/s1600-h/Picture+049.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26qawLzYERgswzErrsZ-zmw6lQoDR1WPebEW3VVshBthgKnWH5IDPwBZ8IK0c4jtzgaojv89H6zNoaWD0fIOuqSmdHGZAB3JLL3k0DegNTfqRzmL3k_pa3Y0OVvKNR0bfndzqLOXSfNs/s1600-h/Picture+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094698901985033986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26qawLzYERgswzErrsZ-zmw6lQoDR1WPebEW3VVshBthgKnWH5IDPwBZ8IK0c4jtzgaojv89H6zNoaWD0fIOuqSmdHGZAB3JLL3k0DegNTfqRzmL3k_pa3Y0OVvKNR0bfndzqLOXSfNs/s320/Picture+050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then again I'm sure some of the guests that stay there are pretty weird too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_X0O8q58oqAzq0Pni3l9C_MYcQLNsKE6CwHk_eEEQAYYDtO-9rE6-gt1HfpAqIUx22GqP941rOQz0NnAe8sD46SnFhF3OQ0mVLxQV0ex8UZg36JVE30WA47zSF9R7n4VEQcWQV7xJAbk/s1600-h/Picture+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094693206858399410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_X0O8q58oqAzq0Pni3l9C_MYcQLNsKE6CwHk_eEEQAYYDtO-9rE6-gt1HfpAqIUx22GqP941rOQz0NnAe8sD46SnFhF3OQ0mVLxQV0ex8UZg36JVE30WA47zSF9R7n4VEQcWQV7xJAbk/s320/Picture+051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>We finally arrived in Mui Ne and after saying goodbye to my beloved travel companions, (Jenna, Katherine, and Caley,) I headed by bus to Saigon! I'll miss them, we had some great times! Later surfer babes! </div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-20849168105514995782007-08-02T22:00:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:47.810-08:00Hue/China Beach/Hoian (July 19-26)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis56DtYw4kRmTcHYOzhKgLQBCPpMpO8pcxb0vhk2E5fVGOPMm9yvHEUCLcCqEpgHcmo1GmyC8OSqwiYCG7wPeHVjZUN3fzliKmFllpEZGvP0lsCBxrl5V_AfqVL6kANzkV3fNQacVS2DY/s1600-h/P1000779[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094439962701725298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis56DtYw4kRmTcHYOzhKgLQBCPpMpO8pcxb0vhk2E5fVGOPMm9yvHEUCLcCqEpgHcmo1GmyC8OSqwiYCG7wPeHVjZUN3fzliKmFllpEZGvP0lsCBxrl5V_AfqVL6kANzkV3fNQacVS2DY/s320/P1000779%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />After a grueling 15 or so hours on a bus where this asshole next to me actually took off his shoes and fell asleep with his bare feet on MY lunch tray, we arrived in the town of Hue. Upon arrival it was decided that 24 hours would be sufficient to explore the "cultural capital of Vietnam."<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEQW3RMtFubSnm3WLn9sX3EohJr-nKexbzkEmciGhzY8z4sMHR2UwhY-MYoWq4X0Gvz65yeA-r-QrsOKRwBUdY6CbNqRc1g0Q-qIuIqYPFVF0hwfwqQ3caviy1PcnQEMbkBIpSqOI4IM/s1600-h/P1000752[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095507352269095458" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEQW3RMtFubSnm3WLn9sX3EohJr-nKexbzkEmciGhzY8z4sMHR2UwhY-MYoWq4X0Gvz65yeA-r-QrsOKRwBUdY6CbNqRc1g0Q-qIuIqYPFVF0hwfwqQ3caviy1PcnQEMbkBIpSqOI4IM/s320/P1000752%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />The three of us walked over to the Citadel which is an impressive structure that was used as a shelter by both sides during the Veitnam war.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ_cMvMSnZUl0WMKJ7z7hsKnk-FPF4m30O7JgEmv-AgXLZSFry1fzz11ksaCAu-h0KLpR9K8zYA6JSf0IFsF87w37ot_2I1UrEf34xdkQkMRdUrADYhvPm6ylVvDpNt7qroCZ2_OcJDM/s1600-h/P1000758[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095507352269095474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ_cMvMSnZUl0WMKJ7z7hsKnk-FPF4m30O7JgEmv-AgXLZSFry1fzz11ksaCAu-h0KLpR9K8zYA6JSf0IFsF87w37ot_2I1UrEf34xdkQkMRdUrADYhvPm6ylVvDpNt7qroCZ2_OcJDM/s320/P1000758%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Caley and Jenna showed their respect by reinacting scenes from "The Little Mermaid."<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uWYFBqGo6iFuNd2dJA9NWUJ4rfZUNqpRM1PLB0PLYDw9kBBcbi4s-MH3shFG-1_u_kR9foNwEf3U1FT3035CJURES7BPyKQJ0JXkGFdX4KR2__f-eixbVSVAM4M42ZWfYQIxSPLmnyA/s1600-h/P1000760.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094440495277670050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uWYFBqGo6iFuNd2dJA9NWUJ4rfZUNqpRM1PLB0PLYDw9kBBcbi4s-MH3shFG-1_u_kR9foNwEf3U1FT3035CJURES7BPyKQJ0JXkGFdX4KR2__f-eixbVSVAM4M42ZWfYQIxSPLmnyA/s320/P1000760.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It was only a matter of time before the Vietnamese realized that I was in fact their true spiritual leader and divine interventionalist. I call this picture "Will and his Harem."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5EYeLoXs_S6eUGYXoYxM48DT2Vc78IBuGdiJXtXR1q09iE13iTvcUDoDpa2Suroyg_JhTKQarj59moIOpB-vXhlUB4xWA_6Z3_H9fhdfOg6hKAuj_oJCBH9pZHASBXeanCf1ZnQc68U/s1600-h/P1000766[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094440224694730370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5EYeLoXs_S6eUGYXoYxM48DT2Vc78IBuGdiJXtXR1q09iE13iTvcUDoDpa2Suroyg_JhTKQarj59moIOpB-vXhlUB4xWA_6Z3_H9fhdfOg6hKAuj_oJCBH9pZHASBXeanCf1ZnQc68U/s320/P1000766%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />For those in doubt of my universal godlike powers, remember the famous saying that "cleanliness is next to godliness." And as it so happens, I haven't used shampoo in almost half a year which means according to urban folklore my hair has been self-cleaning for months!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-s_AReqIt69skD7P_y7CLkZrPpEL-nO8a992P-k5jACSfkTHa0BJU54EJ3pS-z8XvX6TR8rX-y9DmruCqQrw_0PfOUgWWh-OksmakLHF6NVoj43R7A66fjkR7nzX_fnA3H37U_70TGY/s1600-h/P1000777[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094440224694730386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN-s_AReqIt69skD7P_y7CLkZrPpEL-nO8a992P-k5jACSfkTHa0BJU54EJ3pS-z8XvX6TR8rX-y9DmruCqQrw_0PfOUgWWh-OksmakLHF6NVoj43R7A66fjkR7nzX_fnA3H37U_70TGY/s320/P1000777%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Awwwwww!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj49XEybJ2QuiMFZkSiqRuhXWb0V22IUCqAr-wq-oV-XR2tDx9TwU5u_bhCO7n8avn-jddn7lh4i3fXV0_yg6qFMudXUcn1Mt0aBnXm5o8_fe6tN3M0y6a76W5UEgHPgx8vbixz8IFoE/s1600-h/china+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094426278935920194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj49XEybJ2QuiMFZkSiqRuhXWb0V22IUCqAr-wq-oV-XR2tDx9TwU5u_bhCO7n8avn-jddn7lh4i3fXV0_yg6qFMudXUcn1Mt0aBnXm5o8_fe6tN3M0y6a76W5UEgHPgx8vbixz8IFoE/s320/china+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Aaaaaaah! China Beach! Now this is what backpacking is all about!! Located between Danang and Hoi An, this little gem of a beach is a stone's throw away from Marble Mountain. (This mountain did not get its name from its rich copper deposits.) We stayed at "Hoa's Place" which is a family run backpacker resort right on the beach. Mr. "H" as I called him was incredibly friendly and insisted that we have a beer with him every second night or so! The only thing we did each day was mission it in to Hoi An to have out suits tailored. (Hoi An is notorious for being the best place to pick up a cheap, custom made suit.)</div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8ABkBcfSXyC9CUJzcdMmheAVsgxgrHgAKp8xN8CZaHHBMb6b8Sibx0RLZsTDoc5-4gcqpVJFzkY_XBkvBboCY3EPaFAb6-XcjqiwEfOyRdzGAgkLIVqlZ15seJKNMlEgTph8GagVum8/s1600-h/P1000793[1][1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095517909298709202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8ABkBcfSXyC9CUJzcdMmheAVsgxgrHgAKp8xN8CZaHHBMb6b8Sibx0RLZsTDoc5-4gcqpVJFzkY_XBkvBboCY3EPaFAb6-XcjqiwEfOyRdzGAgkLIVqlZ15seJKNMlEgTph8GagVum8/s320/P1000793%255B1%255D%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Other than that there's not really much to write about. We woke up each morning, ate a $2 breakfast, sat on the beach, ate a $2 lunch, sat on the beach, and then finished off with a $3 dinner. VERY exciting! I did to learn how to drive a motor scooter and one night we sampled "Wall Street" which is the Canadian Club of Vietnam, it's about 475ml's of whiskey for a little over $2......classy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMFubaFGalqp3qpDkHUdL0RhB4Rm54UMW1rCMx6vCYacFRPt1R0YBdi4uJvvt1YMidLerNZEaA4wiBNJuBcuWWu0gKM8-4pWwDUMkA9HSkv4iX_HeDzhsHiJBKeu5JmqU3Tf7EcHUpsY/s1600-h/P1000998.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094428215966170706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMFubaFGalqp3qpDkHUdL0RhB4Rm54UMW1rCMx6vCYacFRPt1R0YBdi4uJvvt1YMidLerNZEaA4wiBNJuBcuWWu0gKM8-4pWwDUMkA9HSkv4iX_HeDzhsHiJBKeu5JmqU3Tf7EcHUpsY/s320/P1000998.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My stock was very low the next morning....<br /><br />One interesting story that did happen to me....I decided that I needed to stop getting suburned so I walked into China Beach the town to get some sunblock. I'd walked for about 4km before this guy pulled up on a motor scooter and asked if I needed a lift. I said no, thinking that he was a motor scooter driver and just wanted a fare but he insisted that he'd give me a lift for free. Okay I thought, here we go! He took me all the way into Danang, about 20km away and we finally found a place that would sell me sunblock. I got the stuff and then realized I had no way to get back. "No problem," said the guy, "I'll give you a lift if we go for beers!" Sounded good to me! So after three hours since I had departed, this really nice dude who just wanted to speak English with someone gave me a lift to a beachside resaraunt near my hostel, and we spent the afternoon eating grilled clams, drinking beers and shooting the breeze! How about that?</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mYDcrdJfndpzeeunS0-oWbnLjd-urZgzQa6e22r6geHqdb6IYCAf5oSlrzjUIrCAuxBA1CXqaStDzJa3o9P_NM0dAMmrtpDcYmr5gXd4Y7CAOCJ_ddZmwg0Dlq1g9lSuRHfyH2O48CY/s1600-h/P1010027[1][1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5095513343748473538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mYDcrdJfndpzeeunS0-oWbnLjd-urZgzQa6e22r6geHqdb6IYCAf5oSlrzjUIrCAuxBA1CXqaStDzJa3o9P_NM0dAMmrtpDcYmr5gXd4Y7CAOCJ_ddZmwg0Dlq1g9lSuRHfyH2O48CY/s320/P1010027%255B1%255D%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And then wouldn't you know it? We taught a bunch of British guys how to play flip cup that night!........With obvious results! (Caley didn't enjoy the snake whiskey as much as some of the other players.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKZaX4GqCyrhAGvJ2xYi5xyCb9InW-mOVOAlPyoLaMg8-wYGEeCD8osXfKYWbUAZ3zV7hTTHGxINvF1ezvn5DR8PD-if3FVVziE64ds541rJKMGUBOxjfCVqxfZgDVDbjVV0oJwNrVgk/s1600-h/china+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094426274640952882" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVKZaX4GqCyrhAGvJ2xYi5xyCb9InW-mOVOAlPyoLaMg8-wYGEeCD8osXfKYWbUAZ3zV7hTTHGxINvF1ezvn5DR8PD-if3FVVziE64ds541rJKMGUBOxjfCVqxfZgDVDbjVV0oJwNrVgk/s320/china+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The day we left, Katherine Ast joined our crew and after beaching it all morning we decided we'd better get some sightseeing in as we were leaving in a few hours!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrWrvBTkyxJskUEnJ2fQSqqN3cnbACWHOs8tnizDUqVjpz-Sf8-AS_U_P3YtsNW1bWJcwFirzRx_JvZGMAWC5m3TClr-_srTat1abtzlg_wG9LGE8IUZo1vB2mhpPupGrTFLqIXfEFSI/s1600-h/china+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094426089957359138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrWrvBTkyxJskUEnJ2fQSqqN3cnbACWHOs8tnizDUqVjpz-Sf8-AS_U_P3YtsNW1bWJcwFirzRx_JvZGMAWC5m3TClr-_srTat1abtzlg_wG9LGE8IUZo1vB2mhpPupGrTFLqIXfEFSI/s320/china+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The town of China Beach makes for a good walk as every second shop usually belongs to a marble carver.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBOdjZMTVCZWkt8s-Adh3hcOw3TzcBEgfdv12qRma7LCxKevWlJ3qfdM8AbWMPfMen7py6Y9meB7hmTmCwOC13vTtxA3qbxUCVxrUu6lhkh6OhfOQqku39S_TfJWuVVw1BIPlYsjJ3oE/s1600-h/china+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094425943928471058" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBOdjZMTVCZWkt8s-Adh3hcOw3TzcBEgfdv12qRma7LCxKevWlJ3qfdM8AbWMPfMen7py6Y9meB7hmTmCwOC13vTtxA3qbxUCVxrUu6lhkh6OhfOQqku39S_TfJWuVVw1BIPlYsjJ3oE/s320/china+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have no idea who'd make the trek to buy all this stuff because shipping it home would cost a fortune!! It does however seem to be a fairly lucritive business as so many people have taken up the trade.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcf-3xWBWhDr_i7abkfPzzEHv2s99997AsFLq45GvvuPfBxWqtiMgmxoQMyAmoj-hTJghiZG4ySSJSp8Off3397OntROWeGDHzWJlyavmgTtunVz-N0W1gYvCSC7OD3vd0-uSAK7y85hQ/s1600-h/china+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094425793604615682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcf-3xWBWhDr_i7abkfPzzEHv2s99997AsFLq45GvvuPfBxWqtiMgmxoQMyAmoj-hTJghiZG4ySSJSp8Off3397OntROWeGDHzWJlyavmgTtunVz-N0W1gYvCSC7OD3vd0-uSAK7y85hQ/s320/china+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The mountain is located right in the middle of the town. On one side is a really old staircase that leads up to a temple and a few pretty cool Budahs that have been carved into the caves.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55TOcVMyI1CjFDlmSrXEOk7jnlHsG39sKZSafZ3GUwBJd0UK8eElmh_A8pIWAgYlDByleAmHC7ShfKyQYcC-c_-kUrKokBtdIHEQvq7OJGp3JA3y71Ribe0SC5SyEe-4jKnJXGDoDRVU/s1600-h/china+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094424122862337490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55TOcVMyI1CjFDlmSrXEOk7jnlHsG39sKZSafZ3GUwBJd0UK8eElmh_A8pIWAgYlDByleAmHC7ShfKyQYcC-c_-kUrKokBtdIHEQvq7OJGp3JA3y71Ribe0SC5SyEe-4jKnJXGDoDRVU/s320/china+007.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEZFov0OkBsx8YmPxAv8_cu2EnMYIyfTM97guI1Y1-frT7HcpkS52lrjts0vsiYzJSNkj26HVPMolI_PsW6yGUkDzf0RVDcGaq2xHBcQ2uR_TsC6PKoUnokiX5Vl2vHyO5_-zfHRB9hU/s1600-h/china+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094419711930924418" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEZFov0OkBsx8YmPxAv8_cu2EnMYIyfTM97guI1Y1-frT7HcpkS52lrjts0vsiYzJSNkj26HVPMolI_PsW6yGUkDzf0RVDcGaq2xHBcQ2uR_TsC6PKoUnokiX5Vl2vHyO5_-zfHRB9hU/s320/china+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Looking at all this stuff made me realize that from now on it might actualy be worth buying the 50 cent guide book so that way I have a clue as to what I'm looking at.</div><div><div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaNLSCGycRWfFgZhNg_-wzrTSKoGvVw8h-B4TDOt1hq2d1wDQOB1gCZzWK87ttH2Yfgx5D0Z2EB4NSh94iblvuAj-ekhSqGZzwWYAR3ZlotSc_z7Ql4ofD-wPjT5rId0gLdTu1ybEw_8/s1600-h/china+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094419724815826322" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaNLSCGycRWfFgZhNg_-wzrTSKoGvVw8h-B4TDOt1hq2d1wDQOB1gCZzWK87ttH2Yfgx5D0Z2EB4NSh94iblvuAj-ekhSqGZzwWYAR3ZlotSc_z7Ql4ofD-wPjT5rId0gLdTu1ybEw_8/s320/china+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><br /><div>Off center of one of the statues I found this tiny little cave that led up a set of stairs to an opening. It was really dark and as soon as I walked in, I couldn't hear a thing except my own breathing. For some reason I got this really creepy feeling like someone else was in there with me. I took this pic and then got out of there ASAP.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq2WVPE1ID8Hlq9a_9tgbokxdbvMTHeso-JM5PmVWpKbh2vy73kgbpuPRC_b8lxa9F7MEwJuoDbcRsJFn9YqCh6HD1JbwimbbC11rD3ANewWxQhGmDPWtJ-l5ufsNOXwv7xjvaspayi8/s1600-h/china+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094419733405760930" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbq2WVPE1ID8Hlq9a_9tgbokxdbvMTHeso-JM5PmVWpKbh2vy73kgbpuPRC_b8lxa9F7MEwJuoDbcRsJFn9YqCh6HD1JbwimbbC11rD3ANewWxQhGmDPWtJ-l5ufsNOXwv7xjvaspayi8/s320/china+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU12cNJGhygzotRDwv7TTVSH06bUqvXpwI_yhiVIPuPNRwKyzkYcZ1jFPyt1Wdbdef8OaE6GKPxMz0RVKMZwuc4rg7OQN_8HVHOxBBMvfQKjt_82LWwRvFbmwapjcf-t7bRjI58MYwNJ8/s1600-h/china+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094419750585630130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU12cNJGhygzotRDwv7TTVSH06bUqvXpwI_yhiVIPuPNRwKyzkYcZ1jFPyt1Wdbdef8OaE6GKPxMz0RVKMZwuc4rg7OQN_8HVHOxBBMvfQKjt_82LWwRvFbmwapjcf-t7bRjI58MYwNJ8/s320/china+011.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><br /><div>This is the temple that is located half way up the mountain. I have no idea what it comemorates but it must have been pretty important for all those people to lug those stones half way up the mountain.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_vuCoGmRwViqpt8fq4P56dZRaP4U_dJwAAijssooyeOX4uDSUvspS628rL8TugzihhysN9Ov-Aea2LeNxnfUrhED1eFCFgNkchjA7LXrpZ7V3ILO8ZqKO4vCfS5lScTBeTxl7zyzzUc/s1600-h/china+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094419763470532034" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_vuCoGmRwViqpt8fq4P56dZRaP4U_dJwAAijssooyeOX4uDSUvspS628rL8TugzihhysN9Ov-Aea2LeNxnfUrhED1eFCFgNkchjA7LXrpZ7V3ILO8ZqKO4vCfS5lScTBeTxl7zyzzUc/s320/china+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuEmi-XQrmIN2TYBVGxV_5rLl2u95byf7QV2ZGt1yi8ZdgfNTgumlCPEhxsA2Zymj1wp6z9EMazLQ2tJoiT0dOz-9MJn7BQ41OKLGeVRJVsKyX9XpzZtKGQambnKqXuYftZwfHznLbQA/s1600-h/china+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094425626100891122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuEmi-XQrmIN2TYBVGxV_5rLl2u95byf7QV2ZGt1yi8ZdgfNTgumlCPEhxsA2Zymj1wp6z9EMazLQ2tJoiT0dOz-9MJn7BQ41OKLGeVRJVsKyX9XpzZtKGQambnKqXuYftZwfHznLbQA/s320/china+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And that my friends is China Beach! It was very relaxing, had a great time, got a tan......and we left! Later Mr. H!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F36nEYFWHJKM9b-r2eGXDjQc_UNlh4f5OHRTB1KcBUsqcM_Ho4e4PQKcivA2_Iwe_-Y2q2maUkwN6zKsn9BKmrbjcIAH4kLOuSMQVu8mOpEoichK08ZBRK3FYyYTRZPSG6h3o8ytyIo/s1600-h/P1000842[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094439962701725282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F36nEYFWHJKM9b-r2eGXDjQc_UNlh4f5OHRTB1KcBUsqcM_Ho4e4PQKcivA2_Iwe_-Y2q2maUkwN6zKsn9BKmrbjcIAH4kLOuSMQVu8mOpEoichK08ZBRK3FYyYTRZPSG6h3o8ytyIo/s320/P1000842%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-46630638177181267182007-08-02T21:57:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:53.185-08:00Ha Long Bay/Sapa (July 10-14/15-18)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPW0WSf3MZojL24fkifQs3BxisVNFhcxd8GDWngT63drNF2t6siKTkSsGw-LnhTXsC69uE0p6a3JzsuV7zrWXO7gF_EqQyWZvgzeQX3a6P57nlZwicqsOT6A_tOfE3v3vT_LBso1_u9c/s1600-h/P1000906[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094376461610253570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPW0WSf3MZojL24fkifQs3BxisVNFhcxd8GDWngT63drNF2t6siKTkSsGw-LnhTXsC69uE0p6a3JzsuV7zrWXO7gF_EqQyWZvgzeQX3a6P57nlZwicqsOT6A_tOfE3v3vT_LBso1_u9c/s320/P1000906%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh hello there! Sorry about that, didn't see you come in. Yes it's me again, back from the dead. For those of you concerned the answer is no, I haven't been arrested, deported, joined the official list of tourists "gone missing," joined a renegade separatist militia, or been sodomized by some lady boy in any way shape or form! Truth be told, Vietnam is not exactly the technological hub of South East Asia. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Skype</span> (a computer based phone service) is hit or miss at best, and the connections over here are so slow that they make Terry Fox climbing Mt. Everest look quick. But I digress, I'm making excuses. Where did we leave off? Ah yes Hanoi. In between Hanoi there should have been a blog entry regarding my trips to Ha Long Bay and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sapa</span>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5q456JINc2U8rmOvWSnDr_xl8Ndo6JX4YsOKsyr-gh1-paMmlCvO7stgLtEi5q2IuaeyKu7QG4Zg3rIE4T_GmBO0EEwjTMLHG__IOH_4h-kx8ERiXFJvaCTTm_uB71ekyAUH-6zxwQE/s1600-h/hbay.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUgHu5J-GSKux0IWpY9hB19_OW18dkYoGnw5goRN0o3TOkAmRASwWB4-ZryO70104zJr3L0D_TxTji6z8a5jZCDpkVobfqVEjnynhkAKFVYFV7iRgXc0ZkyoRsZlMnkBTb9wdjwNyJ7E/s1600-h/IMG_2185[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094373772960726242" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUgHu5J-GSKux0IWpY9hB19_OW18dkYoGnw5goRN0o3TOkAmRASwWB4-ZryO70104zJr3L0D_TxTji6z8a5jZCDpkVobfqVEjnynhkAKFVYFV7iRgXc0ZkyoRsZlMnkBTb9wdjwNyJ7E/s320/IMG_2185%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ha Long Bay was absolutely gorgeous, there's no other way to describe it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTtNjZ5QLGnsNKby36o58T-Ss71IjC_TTPNxGkPt464rUmCMPmMNSa-xcWWv1j2gHw8i_1lIymYcBQg9i2aD-KTfE5eKXUPUuJ8jU3nmibo0T5yKq0HUBNVqGRwPnzEvqpMZqLZ3T-F4/s1600-h/IMG_2158[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094373785845628146" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTtNjZ5QLGnsNKby36o58T-Ss71IjC_TTPNxGkPt464rUmCMPmMNSa-xcWWv1j2gHw8i_1lIymYcBQg9i2aD-KTfE5eKXUPUuJ8jU3nmibo0T5yKq0HUBNVqGRwPnzEvqpMZqLZ3T-F4/s320/IMG_2158%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Located on the east coast of Vietnam, this is a popular tourist destination for those who are getting extremely fed up with Hanoi.....or as I have coined the phrase....."<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hanoid</span>." (A little Vietnamese humor there.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicONPeqNza2JDbuk8PF-NHeBdvN4_-LNAlbtFrOadtXoUKLqTHRvL8a-UxyxAOwIKPlcC1t_20DnFbSdKQyJpz-fLsdKiFHqnokXAvzfq4OmhqzGCsqIRqgPaIrIxbtzXGIZ3nCIp5Rfw/s1600-h/IMG_2154[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094369520943103106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicONPeqNza2JDbuk8PF-NHeBdvN4_-LNAlbtFrOadtXoUKLqTHRvL8a-UxyxAOwIKPlcC1t_20DnFbSdKQyJpz-fLsdKiFHqnokXAvzfq4OmhqzGCsqIRqgPaIrIxbtzXGIZ3nCIp5Rfw/s320/IMG_2154%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of gorgeous....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYux0iyugVEG0KM9ghGgJ1cur3ZDxksuBafj3mfe9-LGfZBylEtkXJFAL-RCM82iH-V9_uucISEIN0s8MGBNIDlm4GJk1B5Ju9wuhf505tG2-TXpQz0RKufMQMhSHvLpVGcAYA227UpY/s1600-h/IMG_2197[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094361910261054562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYux0iyugVEG0KM9ghGgJ1cur3ZDxksuBafj3mfe9-LGfZBylEtkXJFAL-RCM82iH-V9_uucISEIN0s8MGBNIDlm4GJk1B5Ju9wuhf505tG2-TXpQz0RKufMQMhSHvLpVGcAYA227UpY/s320/IMG_2197%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Okay, okay enough self-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">indulgence</span> for one entry. My two companions (who were very upset by me not mentioning their names in the previous entry,) are Jenna Shelley, featured in the first photograph on the left and her respective partner in crime, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Caley</span> Borden. Neither one of them has let me touch their fun bits yet but I have one more night to go and two bottles of red wine so lets all cross our fingers and hope for the best.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NfU1dcPXSjVvKa2MjlmRYDqHTCGSNDegwIt8cxbKASvnMh2iBprd4KlidMDm4cnMbKOnnc_i_L8th6wygFldV-pCK9nTydJ4jxvKa5QfAhbPssdy_wiEhxNvu3nt1m5IJOuChyphenhyphenqj0Zw/s1600-h/IMG_2157[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094369529533037714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NfU1dcPXSjVvKa2MjlmRYDqHTCGSNDegwIt8cxbKASvnMh2iBprd4KlidMDm4cnMbKOnnc_i_L8th6wygFldV-pCK9nTydJ4jxvKa5QfAhbPssdy_wiEhxNvu3nt1m5IJOuChyphenhyphenqj0Zw/s320/IMG_2157%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh right. Ha Long Bay. After a short train ride we boarded out <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">luxury</span> yacht for the cruise around the islands.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix53cHKODnMcloVV9yaOoCqFcvvibXyZiYNmIOHdlZP-zatkGU-xc_S2suBzgdYgA0Eih_AUD49UwWdsv3hSUswqaDeODE2DxL6-lfS4tFl7FgztcAJUkuFZ4uxonFIwUBxegmP73tKXw/s1600-h/IMG_2159[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094369533828005026" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix53cHKODnMcloVV9yaOoCqFcvvibXyZiYNmIOHdlZP-zatkGU-xc_S2suBzgdYgA0Eih_AUD49UwWdsv3hSUswqaDeODE2DxL6-lfS4tFl7FgztcAJUkuFZ4uxonFIwUBxegmP73tKXw/s320/IMG_2159%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some of the sights included Pagoda's located on the top's of cliffs...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmxS4nP947wXpvHeuV5ceJPQ1ZxSRVHp_qbd2nCRSBK1rkuRbDu8aWV5Ea5e1qZDYvNLA1JiiNgJZwuiQyQG_Kvhx8JUtGHUHH8ICM9IXE8BORKhvvbbOBT5lFthUEh3-xANrLWMPLc4/s1600-h/IMG_2200[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094361918850989170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmxS4nP947wXpvHeuV5ceJPQ1ZxSRVHp_qbd2nCRSBK1rkuRbDu8aWV5Ea5e1qZDYvNLA1JiiNgJZwuiQyQG_Kvhx8JUtGHUHH8ICM9IXE8BORKhvvbbOBT5lFthUEh3-xANrLWMPLc4/s320/IMG_2200%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And fishing villages......located, not surprisingly, on the water!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz11m1MBTh43aVPKpzkMVsDoXiOORtoTXu9Ux_5CbDk8MQYoI-BkjFcDy54sOMQayKvEREm2-HPHfBYrbkHQzYCQa9jVi8o1fGOHF4WSbcXO6vDTnqC1ze98OOzkR8WRKhyphenhyphen17rA-UpWiM/s1600-h/IMG_2169[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094369555302841538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz11m1MBTh43aVPKpzkMVsDoXiOORtoTXu9Ux_5CbDk8MQYoI-BkjFcDy54sOMQayKvEREm2-HPHfBYrbkHQzYCQa9jVi8o1fGOHF4WSbcXO6vDTnqC1ze98OOzkR8WRKhyphenhyphen17rA-UpWiM/s320/IMG_2169%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of the stops on the way to our destination that day were the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ancient</span> caves of something-or- other which were very sacred because of the amount of money the local government has put into making them look like a U2 concert.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq69WLdzKY13nEJQ4q9QrehDTFbQ7RO-gqOJZ1KWjeiKXZ2ACMRk8dAD0i_Fd83BACrOi7NVcp8WM2A7PePzs4l-m0xYrcUaTL8JAi729Sl4xzsox4Hc_QztwSqC-RJLKdW3bKtz5iC4c/s1600-h/IMG_2173[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094361880196283442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq69WLdzKY13nEJQ4q9QrehDTFbQ7RO-gqOJZ1KWjeiKXZ2ACMRk8dAD0i_Fd83BACrOi7NVcp8WM2A7PePzs4l-m0xYrcUaTL8JAi729Sl4xzsox4Hc_QztwSqC-RJLKdW3bKtz5iC4c/s320/IMG_2173%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQVImCkPsNjbU3Cb0VCdkZKKgsK4z-0fYYV_gbQRr9X8gBhg8MIWJGx3-qN4HsFrNp-VhNURjs0CVWUCEDp8rq2-weQgAqPEGqhFaqQNnR2SILQCht1JK7OPS3NqcezTtoPp4m3Pfu2w/s1600-h/IMG_2179[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094361893081185346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQVImCkPsNjbU3Cb0VCdkZKKgsK4z-0fYYV_gbQRr9X8gBhg8MIWJGx3-qN4HsFrNp-VhNURjs0CVWUCEDp8rq2-weQgAqPEGqhFaqQNnR2SILQCht1JK7OPS3NqcezTtoPp4m3Pfu2w/s320/IMG_2179%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When we finally arrived at our private island.........oh did I forget to mention we were staying on a private island? Well we were......what did you think, someone of my stature would wade around in the common folk located across the bay? Dear God man! Don't you know me at all?.....when we finally arrived at our private island I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">terrified</span> to learn that my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">roommate</span> was in fact a giant jellyfish!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODu_4mRhgzURoNul3X3NvYaUZSUV1VCqPbCI2Ggyo27HKvYpXU01T2O8QnsRDTu_uKKuPcQVfEvta7HTewLMsvP9Vb5TNh69xyDrnYpeTRJzpUabvZ2Hkyogx9WwrIS0RPXKXlTrMxHo/s1600-h/IMG_2202[1]"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94R0nsWe3JtwJRr_vBi0UKMTzXS35a4U7KF_TThoGGH9qOlZ_OgLmtKfEXZjdacCS2vHEv7YtH2Wh40STT2zMKk-MY4GM9IDE-YwGDuFZ5BbHFFu-fQBmVU2mQACzsviNXcfEeV_PpC0/s1600-h/IMG_2202[1][1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094411946630053138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94R0nsWe3JtwJRr_vBi0UKMTzXS35a4U7KF_TThoGGH9qOlZ_OgLmtKfEXZjdacCS2vHEv7YtH2Wh40STT2zMKk-MY4GM9IDE-YwGDuFZ5BbHFFu-fQBmVU2mQACzsviNXcfEeV_PpC0/s320/IMG_2202%255B1%255D%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lo and behold I was informed that this is actually a mosquito net and unless I wanted to increase my chances of getting malaria I'd better get used to sleeping in one.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmB40CX9VvCKBY198GeuD9ql_iYdj-NYqwZhYMK2zVkrWLZ220PpufGMxvJL_93DTyLXtnsKvHsecm18EScTFBfsjum_SJa0K-nR1Z1xLZGQM1MlsJQ6v4Z5tOxDT2v0Qm9EAfRxJ7NA/s1600-h/IMG_2205[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094352852175027186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmB40CX9VvCKBY198GeuD9ql_iYdj-NYqwZhYMK2zVkrWLZ220PpufGMxvJL_93DTyLXtnsKvHsecm18EScTFBfsjum_SJa0K-nR1Z1xLZGQM1MlsJQ6v4Z5tOxDT2v0Qm9EAfRxJ7NA/s320/IMG_2205%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The beach was spectacular. There were only 30 people on the whole island including the staff. One day I actually kayaked around the island with a few other guests only to learn that "takes one hour......no problem!" is actually Vietnamese for, "takes three hours........no shade....you burn up under hot sun asshole!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xJlpk6fHL40e8v-OuI0amyAcgVq0avxYaukpOCdsaw5Q_ror13hOVIkrCFhlly0EJRIvevCPYE6BQEJ674THPBUNpqH55afWIqak78z-XFoOVCJuHtKQz0zqH2EFfNCht1G5GyV3Fp4/s1600-h/IMG_2207[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094352860764961794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xJlpk6fHL40e8v-OuI0amyAcgVq0avxYaukpOCdsaw5Q_ror13hOVIkrCFhlly0EJRIvevCPYE6BQEJ674THPBUNpqH55afWIqak78z-XFoOVCJuHtKQz0zqH2EFfNCht1G5GyV3Fp4/s320/IMG_2207%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dinner was prepared right in front of us for that authentic feel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFlvYQPZnvYmPT-eNQEDAZz2qm7ASOMglt2tF0rTMHHSJ6yQxuUBoH1NIpJrMcCO6uC15_LZv_Sp-mGj7cZQk5S-IAdC357M-66RE_e3Ywe6yPTlBK6QnKsviGMdL5kmiadOlhwo2bxY/s1600-h/IMG_2161[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094369542417939634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFlvYQPZnvYmPT-eNQEDAZz2qm7ASOMglt2tF0rTMHHSJ6yQxuUBoH1NIpJrMcCO6uC15_LZv_Sp-mGj7cZQk5S-IAdC357M-66RE_e3Ywe6yPTlBK6QnKsviGMdL5kmiadOlhwo2bxY/s320/IMG_2161%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />All in all Ha Long Bay was not to disappoint. The views were incredible and the staff and food was excellent! What more could you ask for? On to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Sapa</span>!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbGDQz8ujK-UjOdU8UwW8yKmdg2w-bw3Affg74zBlWoMQskujtfhq5aA8gOAlMdoGlqTQnQC1tqBd5bQnkvWjfBI2PwFTRJtyLO7qbGjCmSZAe5bWHQi_EdrIc7KtBes76Gb5gSkpWj4/s1600-h/IMG_2212[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094352873649863698" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbGDQz8ujK-UjOdU8UwW8yKmdg2w-bw3Affg74zBlWoMQskujtfhq5aA8gOAlMdoGlqTQnQC1tqBd5bQnkvWjfBI2PwFTRJtyLO7qbGjCmSZAe5bWHQi_EdrIc7KtBes76Gb5gSkpWj4/s320/IMG_2212%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately we couldn't get the "soft sleeper" so we were forced to book the "hard sleeper" ticket. That meant that there were six of us crammed into something the size of a Canadian prison cell. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Caley's</span> bed <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">actually</span> came with air conditioning, but that's only because the fan blade was inches from her face.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ldl0hvTIors1ALIf6-GipiuCg6gjaqV1L9srXE2UCwkpkOly54Ou5uEkitmEKzLoNehQWwIDEch6zBndvLAU2Rm0alBVxKbfKHJpCIu541BZkRuC6hhRsKIlpnCn7Edj0gg4QnsfliM/s1600-h/IMG_2248[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094346173500881842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ldl0hvTIors1ALIf6-GipiuCg6gjaqV1L9srXE2UCwkpkOly54Ou5uEkitmEKzLoNehQWwIDEch6zBndvLAU2Rm0alBVxKbfKHJpCIu541BZkRuC6hhRsKIlpnCn7Edj0gg4QnsfliM/s320/IMG_2248%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The town of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Sapa</span> was breathtaking, sort of like Vietnam's answer to Whistler Village. Since it's located so high up in the mountains it's actually quite cool which is a welcome change from Hanoi where I lost about 3 litres of sweat before breakfast each day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nfcrQjox4yZS5Ed8p8itJlW0NIXENadm9bKfN5XKzDYIPQhGZUDopRbaA9HOMkq_Ch4N-Iibf4MlJgAASKrdfUn1xvc8HrT06irqgbFjVp-Bu4rYPF6XW28JwQ3RVE4e48GFZ1NP4Bs/s1600-h/IMG_2246[1]"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W_LYitKOapy9TLfJBvAetfs_x1a50ZtcFSUdUf_Q-8yOuJZSy-5Gg9OeDJ-PBOWb7Y6whGftS-vlWLIaNP9NtdM4xRff0EweA2x-he6YlVsEt-B3cVL1o-OHkRk44LzUollKg5lvSSU/s1600-h/IMG_2246[1][1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094412904407760226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W_LYitKOapy9TLfJBvAetfs_x1a50ZtcFSUdUf_Q-8yOuJZSy-5Gg9OeDJ-PBOWb7Y6whGftS-vlWLIaNP9NtdM4xRff0EweA2x-he6YlVsEt-B3cVL1o-OHkRk44LzUollKg5lvSSU/s320/IMG_2246%255B1%255D%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6W_LYitKOapy9TLfJBvAetfs_x1a50ZtcFSUdUf_Q-8yOuJZSy-5Gg9OeDJ-PBOWb7Y6whGftS-vlWLIaNP9NtdM4xRff0EweA2x-he6YlVsEt-B3cVL1o-OHkRk44LzUollKg5lvSSU/s1600-h/IMG_2246[1][1].jpg"></a><br /><br />This stupid machine I have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">dubbed</span> the "Christmas Machine." I think it takes your weight but in truth it just follows me from town to town annoying the shit out of me. I'm pretty sure it's the same damn guy. Not only have I NEVER seen anyone get their weight taken but it plays the same three Christmas tunes over and over at an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">octave</span> slightly higher than that noise your car door makes when it's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ajar</span>. Dad, you'd love this thing!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyarvczrZ19HClTkzXq2M3EbQzlAFarEU_nnpC_7wSl_KRuqw1ovP637H1b5KdHDLolsKcgd2wd0JbcxNASz_0KPOZ_0Fp-SRMZggV8VvcwebSuEzc9EuiP7FbTpJHw7NfckmbfkkxwjQ/s1600-h/IMG_2228[1]"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIWGiZ-DxHTrCJFz5rfnjS3Pwz2_biCzMdlOi6k0tdEiZxgTIqdSIfE2sfzBhmK6Xut_mO7P3FW5O2KLsUsjEYwO7teuyyV6a39N9eR4vEj6n1QwBSB4_2nzQ2EmcZZ2YBpDCavTrf78/s1600-h/IMG_2228[1][1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094412904407760210" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIWGiZ-DxHTrCJFz5rfnjS3Pwz2_biCzMdlOi6k0tdEiZxgTIqdSIfE2sfzBhmK6Xut_mO7P3FW5O2KLsUsjEYwO7teuyyV6a39N9eR4vEj6n1QwBSB4_2nzQ2EmcZZ2YBpDCavTrf78/s320/IMG_2228%255B1%255D%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIWGiZ-DxHTrCJFz5rfnjS3Pwz2_biCzMdlOi6k0tdEiZxgTIqdSIfE2sfzBhmK6Xut_mO7P3FW5O2KLsUsjEYwO7teuyyV6a39N9eR4vEj6n1QwBSB4_2nzQ2EmcZZ2YBpDCavTrf78/s1600-h/IMG_2228[1][1].jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIWGiZ-DxHTrCJFz5rfnjS3Pwz2_biCzMdlOi6k0tdEiZxgTIqdSIfE2sfzBhmK6Xut_mO7P3FW5O2KLsUsjEYwO7teuyyV6a39N9eR4vEj6n1QwBSB4_2nzQ2EmcZZ2YBpDCavTrf78/s1600-h/IMG_2228[1][1].jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIWGiZ-DxHTrCJFz5rfnjS3Pwz2_biCzMdlOi6k0tdEiZxgTIqdSIfE2sfzBhmK6Xut_mO7P3FW5O2KLsUsjEYwO7teuyyV6a39N9eR4vEj6n1QwBSB4_2nzQ2EmcZZ2YBpDCavTrf78/s1600-h/IMG_2228[1][1].jpg"></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Sapa</span> is the trekking capital of the north so we joined up with a guide who took us all around the mountains.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNFyHko-6iZhYpuSGoo9MQzO7CnHFWuDCISuv1IXre1vVhh23MKvdByexgoNs-7dV4X91QsEjrI6ifTJ90YhFWCNMQm6WiKU4rcCHC1uEQo8tiu6gakt7zqP22IzwwUT4ZH7XAmupc-Q/s1600-h/IMG_2251[1]"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUwjS8WGz8srUJ5WhdRt_zLZHe3-j6krM91Krmfz1eE7l80z_ZUuxCIdJN9luac_9PgW3SfkXjnBxZfatCglY2WrqSqkzSZHsrI_zTlc4U-5IoXIkd-sCmN8v60f1CdKDylVDHaXCYNA/s1600-h/IMG_2251[1][1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094412908702727538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUwjS8WGz8srUJ5WhdRt_zLZHe3-j6krM91Krmfz1eE7l80z_ZUuxCIdJN9luac_9PgW3SfkXjnBxZfatCglY2WrqSqkzSZHsrI_zTlc4U-5IoXIkd-sCmN8v60f1CdKDylVDHaXCYNA/s320/IMG_2251%255B1%255D%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Upon first glance you might get the impression that our guide is a little inexperienced but let me tell you he can chug rice wine with the best of them!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZNQA8CvlaH2zA_NxS0PDwAk6AN8SDevkyfhMd72davIImsWm2ngGhHNpa25V9ORdh3fgDno-SiIb3ufQJKKkNUCjolelAI-vMhW3TXSffNojvuMkWVINVaG5DJvfc7SyuDr34BOhm3c/s1600-h/IMG_2215[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094352886534765602" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZNQA8CvlaH2zA_NxS0PDwAk6AN8SDevkyfhMd72davIImsWm2ngGhHNpa25V9ORdh3fgDno-SiIb3ufQJKKkNUCjolelAI-vMhW3TXSffNojvuMkWVINVaG5DJvfc7SyuDr34BOhm3c/s320/IMG_2215%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I tried to ask these tribal natives what they were selling but I couldn't hear their answers.......their shirts were too loud.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXAFR-_okjQCEHlg2bPQ_4SjxdKJ2wsSJnOwJPGcV_u34gjn3wR_2QpUhY2v4Gi6vZhyphenhyphenbxOqw-XouACPbvDqtQZ-lNXSjuJF-v6d-xGJWPf04_mN0k1XiPRr-JnKCJ6HmJIv7ak-0bL4/s1600-h/IMG_2261[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094346212155587538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXAFR-_okjQCEHlg2bPQ_4SjxdKJ2wsSJnOwJPGcV_u34gjn3wR_2QpUhY2v4Gi6vZhyphenhyphenbxOqw-XouACPbvDqtQZ-lNXSjuJF-v6d-xGJWPf04_mN0k1XiPRr-JnKCJ6HmJIv7ak-0bL4/s320/IMG_2261%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Get this. This little shit wouldn't let us cross his bridge unless we paid him a toll, a la Robin Hood Prince of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Thieves</span>. I told our guide to point out to him that I was tired, dirty, wet, and I was two feet taller and out-weighed him by about 100lbs but our guide opted to pay him a fee instead.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSSMkoM8Dz-7WblI0Bj9qfN9WQv4zd8Vy29NxD8bX8dueAH9sk96QgFwQWhanBRAguBwCH8j1o21XLocBvjrP-GIQk98dc-LhSCLYG3eMlP9VpyU2T-D98LueLl4GS1t8in_2XQflS7I/s1600-h/IMG_2265[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094339937208367938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSSMkoM8Dz-7WblI0Bj9qfN9WQv4zd8Vy29NxD8bX8dueAH9sk96QgFwQWhanBRAguBwCH8j1o21XLocBvjrP-GIQk98dc-LhSCLYG3eMlP9VpyU2T-D98LueLl4GS1t8in_2XQflS7I/s320/IMG_2265%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Majestic</span>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FJFzHwOa3m9zHy1xwJnOXApUUFZ5JMeEF0mgETWbZRCSqzrvk6-tFIjCF08j_4pgQ8kx-f24Qrm1sG1xK-H-46TUIUa9iZYOgAJba2J7H4st16aV3zPYIfJvZza-qdlGh42gG89H8NQ/s1600-h/IMG_2270[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094339945798302546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FJFzHwOa3m9zHy1xwJnOXApUUFZ5JMeEF0mgETWbZRCSqzrvk6-tFIjCF08j_4pgQ8kx-f24Qrm1sG1xK-H-46TUIUa9iZYOgAJba2J7H4st16aV3zPYIfJvZza-qdlGh42gG89H8NQ/s320/IMG_2270%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Serene!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPWQpURyGciRAOiEO9Qw7DDjbM7-ZCHx7Oq4D97MxGQx7tzcu_fElXLhILxmVhaSGFp97PqOhCuLZmKhAI1eKkhuezziYAMKGjPcXEiNQHe94aqJsZzij6tHPOoGOVxq8vAPlloxKhS4/s1600-h/IMG_2274[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094339954388237154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPWQpURyGciRAOiEO9Qw7DDjbM7-ZCHx7Oq4D97MxGQx7tzcu_fElXLhILxmVhaSGFp97PqOhCuLZmKhAI1eKkhuezziYAMKGjPcXEiNQHe94aqJsZzij6tHPOoGOVxq8vAPlloxKhS4/s320/IMG_2274%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sanitary cooking conditions!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy44e_PRLkrTXIhkpUXFZFOEvr7zVlPQRvsI-4-J_gT1oWrqpmCCudBqT0qokrV7BDcdEYIlEOVokmPhAT0B8H8vUeO9fuX4ZAj-uisSnwoLPMl9AJV-VDiMWuh3aAqWg9nc0TsPWUmek/s1600-h/IMG_2280[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094339962978171762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy44e_PRLkrTXIhkpUXFZFOEvr7zVlPQRvsI-4-J_gT1oWrqpmCCudBqT0qokrV7BDcdEYIlEOVokmPhAT0B8H8vUeO9fuX4ZAj-uisSnwoLPMl9AJV-VDiMWuh3aAqWg9nc0TsPWUmek/s320/IMG_2280%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That night we stayed with a hill tribe and had an amazing meal of spring rolls etc. The guides were all hilarious and we got drunk and played quiz games all evening........you know......instead of just getting drunk.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx13xjgrZ2bMwTCWQi0TtZl3pfvoQRKbZyZRrCp-Zudd3d6Br0cfq2uV1FC3s9f29E_7xKCXxxEYZMqjkSbeer99KGRDZRoQDahl9aMtARXHLvwzrKX-nN4uvv_fTWdUbkBM-5jlYBVI/s1600-h/IMG_2286[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094339980158040962" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx13xjgrZ2bMwTCWQi0TtZl3pfvoQRKbZyZRrCp-Zudd3d6Br0cfq2uV1FC3s9f29E_7xKCXxxEYZMqjkSbeer99KGRDZRoQDahl9aMtARXHLvwzrKX-nN4uvv_fTWdUbkBM-5jlYBVI/s320/IMG_2286%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Another fantastic trip in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Vietnam</span>! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Sapa</span> was especially incredible because we got to see so many cultures and all joking aside it really did open your heart when you saw how poor some of these villagers are. This place really left an impression on me and I will never <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">forget</span> how friendly everyone was. If you are ever in Vietnam, sign up for a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">trek</span> around here!Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-7360262731990496912007-07-18T03:34:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:37:58.213-08:00Good Morning Vietnam!!! Hanoi (July 2nd-18)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvSH6ehtOoyvixa7kW5VGyGCC8M4LNui25Fdlshke-Is8LwZ3h_G_cM5GE4Lk1C7v34ROjLmsqRQvfTImlPzfOIMoBzWW9LfYrktY7RN6XylUv0H3rRjjHg6jBS0ICwu0EYsbpllIgl8/s1600-h/IMG_2130[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088492863654093106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvSH6ehtOoyvixa7kW5VGyGCC8M4LNui25Fdlshke-Is8LwZ3h_G_cM5GE4Lk1C7v34ROjLmsqRQvfTImlPzfOIMoBzWW9LfYrktY7RN6XylUv0H3rRjjHg6jBS0ICwu0EYsbpllIgl8/s320/IMG_2130%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The following takes place between 6:00 and 7:00 pm on July 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span>. My name is Will Nelson and this was the longest day of my life.<br /><br />I arrived in Ho Chi <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Minh</span>(Saigon) at the airport with no cash and no idea of what to do. Vietnam is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">apparently</span> by far the least <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">westernized</span> of any country in the region. My plane left in about twelve hours but somehow I didn't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">think that</span> all the guys dressed in green with guns and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">walkie</span> talkies wanted me to hang around the airport. (Oh <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">and</span> a bit of a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">side note</span>, if you have a beard, a Canadian passport and were born in a country that's been making the news because of failed bombing attempts, give yourself an extra hour to clear customs!) "Okay I said to myself, no big deal. Let's think rationally. I'll approach a tour desk and ask for help. Except one problem. They didn't speak broken English.....their English was beyond repair. Alright I thought, best get some cash because usually that will get the ball rolling. That looks like an ATM over there. Ah! All the signs are in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Vietnamese</span> ....do I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">speak Vietnemese</span>? Searching...... the answer is no. Shit.Okay let's hit a bunch of buttons and see what happens! Let's see....looks like it's asking me how much I want to take out. What the $%^*????4,000,000d.....WHAT THE HELL KIND OF CURRENCY IS THAT?!? I don't want to take a goddamn <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">mortgage</span> out!!! I'll just take out 15,000d. Alright back to the "travel desk." "Hello!.....I would like a hotel.....yes sleep for a few hours.....you know a place? Yes I have money. Here..........what the hell is so funny? What's this? Currency exchange? Oh alright, let's see....the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">exchange</span> rate is 15:1....you mean fifteen thousand of your shitty dollars are worth one US dollar?!? And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">I thought</span> we had it bad. Okay I'll get more cash out and be right back.<br /><br />Ahem....yes it's me again. I just took out money and here it is. I want a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">place</span> to sleep. Yes I'm tired. I just spent nine fucking hours on one of the shittiest airlines I've ever been on. I'm pretty sure that pilot crashed on the landing and I'm in hell......why are you nodding and smiling at me? You don't understand a word I'm saying right now do you? Okay where is a hotel? Ah! Good, a book with a bunch of hotels? Yes I want a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">cheap</span> one! $14 a night, sounds good. They're full? No room? Okay what else? Is it cheap? No I'm not spending$195 a night. What do you mean nowhere else? Give me that goddamn book! (Snatches the book out of her hand.) There! What about that one? Yeah that's what I thought, nice try though, get calling right now! They have a room? Good. Fine. Super. I'll take a taxi. You've been more than useless, come to Canada, our airport will welcome you with open arms."<br /><br />I managed to get up to Hanoi in the north without any other major problems. I expected to be greeted by my travel companions with hugs and kisses and open arms!! Instead I met <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Skeletor</span> and what appeared to be a starving war refugee who informed me that we would be spending my first day in the South-East Asian region in a hospital because they contracted the Ebola virus <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">somewhere</span> in Laos. All joking aside, whatever they had was pretty nasty. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Every time</span> they went into the bathroom it sounded like someone was dumping a bucket of golf balls into a deep pond. But a few IV drips later and they were bouncing around and ready to go to our first museum....maybe that should read, "I was bouncing around and they decided to take me out for some fresh air."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM08rT6-6b-d94DUyO2VfpTHIeuAcUj_UQhQou89N4JKkwRGBqUvsv4Rge6LKBgpXTyfnLh2YSBgXtKPYmBR4wsgpP9wLVccAOOBVd5o-I89Oen1aREVXJayKutgokuHGayEAatV83eYQ/s1600-h/IMG_2070[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088503901720044002" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM08rT6-6b-d94DUyO2VfpTHIeuAcUj_UQhQou89N4JKkwRGBqUvsv4Rge6LKBgpXTyfnLh2YSBgXtKPYmBR4wsgpP9wLVccAOOBVd5o-I89Oen1aREVXJayKutgokuHGayEAatV83eYQ/s320/IMG_2070%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's the only picture I took of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Ethnology</span> Museum. Weird that they picked up chicks back then the same way that I do now. Apparently "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Ethnology</span>" is the study of people and cultures. Who cares? Let's get to the prison!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBeAfXEcPpVbxHWwoFt1lXrgmnTE7l6K78esM8AutPAEgFuxvdJXIsxc7ATjmRNFPClHPOB6rdGDiugspiGbuT3zFgowx-jUwtWfgzNC3vPrG27yWdDC0_r0tyCGox6EWtuP8t-WAr8k/s1600-h/IMG_2072[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088503906015011314" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBeAfXEcPpVbxHWwoFt1lXrgmnTE7l6K78esM8AutPAEgFuxvdJXIsxc7ATjmRNFPClHPOB6rdGDiugspiGbuT3zFgowx-jUwtWfgzNC3vPrG27yWdDC0_r0tyCGox6EWtuP8t-WAr8k/s320/IMG_2072%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These guys must have been "petrified."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-VzUdtkRW308XaQ-YvonL4e8bf5gK1Wwk-Dt7qjgylSaJgC1XcuWfKffh2zQtqDKN9uAoVYZRnNEnL6h88jnjB5Dx1ku0oiiHe_BlInb51JWiTa-8XvP0uRB5jaaJxr23nBoS7dHGDg/s1600-h/IMG_2083[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088503068496388514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-VzUdtkRW308XaQ-YvonL4e8bf5gK1Wwk-Dt7qjgylSaJgC1XcuWfKffh2zQtqDKN9uAoVYZRnNEnL6h88jnjB5Dx1ku0oiiHe_BlInb51JWiTa-8XvP0uRB5jaaJxr23nBoS7dHGDg/s320/IMG_2083%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This photograph really stuck with me. This is the prison warden talking to all of the American <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">pilots</span> who were shot down over the country during the Vietnam war. Right before their release, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">pilots</span> were given all of their personal possessions back, and unlike other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">POW's</span> during the war, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">pilots</span> were treated rather well. Some of these guys had been in jail for the better part of a decade before they were released!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMljP_atjuitfZzYmPXLCnxaGze0-xBqFrVUt-eg-g05J7kn8nYlKP23hwChMWdih2agXrezF_O6yUuT6oR8kwFF0qq45BsthfDgeubeSRfR9SbgIl5pQFAllkNhwUtz-Xd_HFNzPK0Q0/s1600-h/IMG_2073[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088503064201421202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMljP_atjuitfZzYmPXLCnxaGze0-xBqFrVUt-eg-g05J7kn8nYlKP23hwChMWdih2agXrezF_O6yUuT6oR8kwFF0qq45BsthfDgeubeSRfR9SbgIl5pQFAllkNhwUtz-Xd_HFNzPK0Q0/s320/IMG_2073%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Circumcision was mandatory.<br /><br />Museum hopping was getting a little tedious and just when I wasn't sure what to do I was in the travel office when I overheard this guy mention an upcoming football game. I'd never been to one before so I struck up a conversation with him and the next night the four of us went to the Asian World Cup! (Which, by the way, is sort of like watching the American Cricket Team in action but it was a blast anyway!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbpmlVFMPYDfsg0EK2gfTLbFwShkogXILx10vAbRTfgOv_Bld7stHlMmAf9RnMNTEouZOfmTS6JqKRFgVPY1qW3uZR11IhJdeH9qeJCy_NsKh-yaHQQ99j6ZemM9nXDoDA5RF2L0qx98/s1600-h/IMG_2086[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088503077086323122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbpmlVFMPYDfsg0EK2gfTLbFwShkogXILx10vAbRTfgOv_Bld7stHlMmAf9RnMNTEouZOfmTS6JqKRFgVPY1qW3uZR11IhJdeH9qeJCy_NsKh-yaHQQ99j6ZemM9nXDoDA5RF2L0qx98/s320/IMG_2086%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since the girls were still a little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">queasy</span> we stopped off at a dirty little diner that was wedged <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">in between</span> an alley way and tucked ourselves into a $1.50 feast!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_bdqF3Pj34EIEXgfW5XX-iCQ5fLv1vcGK6o1lJ5PBW-Z1H0xVxdpYpE3bXhDTcFy6EIgwtHso2pLJlVfpUJSqZ9DrPvWKcx8LsVq7sWqRm42iGnc5D0uhAxlpJ-ZI6qe_v_0x2ylFDs/s1600-h/IMG_2092[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088503081381290434" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_bdqF3Pj34EIEXgfW5XX-iCQ5fLv1vcGK6o1lJ5PBW-Z1H0xVxdpYpE3bXhDTcFy6EIgwtHso2pLJlVfpUJSqZ9DrPvWKcx8LsVq7sWqRm42iGnc5D0uhAxlpJ-ZI6qe_v_0x2ylFDs/s320/IMG_2092%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The stadium was outrages! I'd never been to a sports event where the army showed up before. I tried to get a picture but the guys in black with truncheons looked a lot tougher with their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">truncheons</span> and black attire so I moved on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIJ6LiRW33XkoQ4k4x9HjWrfjVQPGD5n2wKu5LgdJNsFjWikiFX-OuTuZo-xdi0mF_m_2BjLALR1aFAaAo_qUtmV7pIvO9beLbZpZ2zGFGyB9hm2Fw3x_IwMmsgVEaFg4muYOwkD01xM/s1600-h/IMG_2094[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088503089971225042" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIJ6LiRW33XkoQ4k4x9HjWrfjVQPGD5n2wKu5LgdJNsFjWikiFX-OuTuZo-xdi0mF_m_2BjLALR1aFAaAo_qUtmV7pIvO9beLbZpZ2zGFGyB9hm2Fw3x_IwMmsgVEaFg4muYOwkD01xM/s320/IMG_2094%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Go Vietnam!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBraNxizstpq3QvjxwBQa9LBctbOSqpUxbE722jxuFoKLtChQx26WdCgV6x3TbLQ2bCuwZfw996sK4b0vpYj6HQrk6W4z_UNVK-X0fL0pDEVE9-1cax6H-iFufeTBB6cr5mo0z-RShttM/s1600-h/IMG_2098[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088492837884289266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBraNxizstpq3QvjxwBQa9LBctbOSqpUxbE722jxuFoKLtChQx26WdCgV6x3TbLQ2bCuwZfw996sK4b0vpYj6HQrk6W4z_UNVK-X0fL0pDEVE9-1cax6H-iFufeTBB6cr5mo0z-RShttM/s320/IMG_2098%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Take...me out to the ball game....take me out to the crowd! They don't care if you're white or your black. Please god please just let me get back (alive.) So I'll root....root, root for the home team.........obviously I'm joking here it was AMAZING! Everyone was so friendly. We WERE however the only black and white people there and I think I must have been in about 600 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">photographs</span>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnC117QZxXFWFi7RmoHHIF2G84WuWEYVGA1hU6TG8fPdHW6n2nwpLnzjhSyWNVLsBg5AGLnu5du7Uh5rfO-dPK3uW1xpgsTFqQF45I_8Vi-GDX0_19CZIYd2goPGE8ZsF0Ac9rpi4WkqU/s1600-h/IMG_2105[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088492846474223874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnC117QZxXFWFi7RmoHHIF2G84WuWEYVGA1hU6TG8fPdHW6n2nwpLnzjhSyWNVLsBg5AGLnu5du7Uh5rfO-dPK3uW1xpgsTFqQF45I_8Vi-GDX0_19CZIYd2goPGE8ZsF0Ac9rpi4WkqU/s320/IMG_2105%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Vietnam!!!!......Vietnam!!!......it's not creative or anything but boy was it catchy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMDDMIcCi__QHoxGFponuteT3781MYTpNb46nrV1uGDZj1ADJSSC6Csf1mwl0LZTzKWj3JSmZqbt5DFweVjJA7muU6ukMPzCuqmWV3BWg1vBxRZ4YTnQyZ-zRaS6MUfM1b5-WSYAJCJE/s1600-h/IMG_2106[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088492850769191186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMDDMIcCi__QHoxGFponuteT3781MYTpNb46nrV1uGDZj1ADJSSC6Csf1mwl0LZTzKWj3JSmZqbt5DFweVjJA7muU6ukMPzCuqmWV3BWg1vBxRZ4YTnQyZ-zRaS6MUfM1b5-WSYAJCJE/s320/IMG_2106%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We made sure we had our team colours on too!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQZPljbFnFeBnlH3SuJhzg816PTQ7QLkoEAsf33ZQFwbVvX3OKEjTqoaGy_7caEr_HxL6NlG0m0PBJejGlNXPj_QNJe-tcgsT4-0kS2WMkoKYJg3ZRTqXt1Zh1WhbdQSoMOKN5ApEgM0/s1600-h/IMG_2125[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088492859359125794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQZPljbFnFeBnlH3SuJhzg816PTQ7QLkoEAsf33ZQFwbVvX3OKEjTqoaGy_7caEr_HxL6NlG0m0PBJejGlNXPj_QNJe-tcgsT4-0kS2WMkoKYJg3ZRTqXt1Zh1WhbdQSoMOKN5ApEgM0/s320/IMG_2125%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And guess who won? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">WAHOOOOOooooooo</span>!!!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjquBiFS-amS-2xu2WhWzKPpBOHm07m5uVlQUmvWBIieN7Y7-Kkd7n8Ea2qHccLy1HPXRDr6594-pW4FDcweW9cTUcLimQSZv7Pq7Zd55OOWwNUHO3fulyH0vBK8viqYSZ2ODHp-8jnXo/s1600-h/IMG_2132[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088488770550259874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjquBiFS-amS-2xu2WhWzKPpBOHm07m5uVlQUmvWBIieN7Y7-Kkd7n8Ea2qHccLy1HPXRDr6594-pW4FDcweW9cTUcLimQSZv7Pq7Zd55OOWwNUHO3fulyH0vBK8viqYSZ2ODHp-8jnXo/s320/IMG_2132%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And after the game was over the gay pride <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">parade</span> came by for an appearance. Then it was off to Ha Long Bay for a little R&R and then on to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Sapa</span> for some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">trekking</span> before it was back to Hanoi!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQcackgTdW7OlRjPukXBez3t1r6FszRwvrR6hZW0wGWK7Gx24A8ppyhc6TpdBeIve9b-HpbYihFWGMgvdH-UjMzgB35pphiXsjlDjEuxjbjuAwFvy9qR9PNy-fLwC9DA1OJBmXqwoZOg/s1600-h/IMG_2136[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088488779140194482" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSQcackgTdW7OlRjPukXBez3t1r6FszRwvrR6hZW0wGWK7Gx24A8ppyhc6TpdBeIve9b-HpbYihFWGMgvdH-UjMzgB35pphiXsjlDjEuxjbjuAwFvy9qR9PNy-fLwC9DA1OJBmXqwoZOg/s320/IMG_2136%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />After an exciting time at the football game we decided to go a little more traditional and treat ourselves to the wonderful art of water puppetry. This was cool for approximately six seconds. Granted the whole "play" was in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Vietnamese</span> so I wouldn't understand it anyway, okay fine I can deal with that. But for some reason or other the director felt that it was his obligation to make us a part of the show. Did they go all out on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">aesthetics</span>? No. Did they have audience participation? No. Did they give me my money back? No. They turned the volume up so high that I swear to god my ears started bleeding. Anybody who has trouble staying awake at work should really look into a copy of this. The play makes you feel like you're a POW in the late 60's. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">couldn't</span> hear anything for two days afterward except the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">incessant</span> ringing noise and for some reason I developed a craving for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">spring rolls</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Chuckie</span> movies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxaNmvwJj3RZpso9nnQX6EPx0wiptwe7yXu8IsT4gBz49akbTB0G2aCFPmuTv6SD3K2KqQVNdr6igv7LdVMJCd7o18sKqcADP9LEUgPcQgsWmPXvRSulW8fI2FV3cFcNimsnvHeMr_VQ/s1600-h/IMG_2290[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088488783435161794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxaNmvwJj3RZpso9nnQX6EPx0wiptwe7yXu8IsT4gBz49akbTB0G2aCFPmuTv6SD3K2KqQVNdr6igv7LdVMJCd7o18sKqcADP9LEUgPcQgsWmPXvRSulW8fI2FV3cFcNimsnvHeMr_VQ/s320/IMG_2290%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Museums can get awfully boring but this one was really interesting. Across from Lenin Park is the Vietnam War History Museum. The above picture is of a Soviet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Mig</span> fighter jet that shot down a bunch of American fighters......or so the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">placard</span> claims.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjLTkh9E804Hz7ysNiO7h6dl23grJ5Xmc1GS-CpQAaXa0sLFj7uxjCo_hsBWXP3qpSWZ3fvWfrRY599ZyJdFNvl7HTGuTdBBnplrgXGIPBnJ1qVpJ5_EsWUkmeinMihfM1-vKP9B9uf8/s1600-h/IMG_2300[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088488792025096402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjLTkh9E804Hz7ysNiO7h6dl23grJ5Xmc1GS-CpQAaXa0sLFj7uxjCo_hsBWXP3qpSWZ3fvWfrRY599ZyJdFNvl7HTGuTdBBnplrgXGIPBnJ1qVpJ5_EsWUkmeinMihfM1-vKP9B9uf8/s320/IMG_2300%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This famous photograph was taken in the middle of the Vietnam war. It's of a soldier armed with a three pronged bomb that he has to plummet, (along with himself,) into the hatch of an enemy tank which was considered very brave...............um.............yeah.........I guess you really had to prove yourself before you made Sergent.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JAtE6SFkixIDexF3iHxrkDojSnTcGH8FqjwIqxIrcRgupCinPKpm61LXUoS13eTu3VzkMX_AJojxb_FkV15Ude_RRkV6N6ByJ-2EsgyJgOnQluy686TnbvhXCsGDkxbWcu9s1Viqtj4/s1600-h/IMG_2311[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088488800615031010" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JAtE6SFkixIDexF3iHxrkDojSnTcGH8FqjwIqxIrcRgupCinPKpm61LXUoS13eTu3VzkMX_AJojxb_FkV15Ude_RRkV6N6ByJ-2EsgyJgOnQluy686TnbvhXCsGDkxbWcu9s1Viqtj4/s320/IMG_2311%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Missiles</span> are cool.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf9XJrcfLoNMRy7RvafCqPPl3xLJ7j0F2OIyq7DUMqySv1_PV_NTgHE0mC2xG_4QS1HDbJCl3fzau3RR3IlDbCaeWCHRO-49hUZrSXomYST5Stt6cGK5NrsnQamT5ha5Ospdh-vyIfKo/s1600-h/IMG_2319[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088486223634653266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf9XJrcfLoNMRy7RvafCqPPl3xLJ7j0F2OIyq7DUMqySv1_PV_NTgHE0mC2xG_4QS1HDbJCl3fzau3RR3IlDbCaeWCHRO-49hUZrSXomYST5Stt6cGK5NrsnQamT5ha5Ospdh-vyIfKo/s320/IMG_2319%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the tank that smashed through the walls of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Presidential</span> Palace in the famous picture taken on April 30<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">th</span> 1975.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNgeEMdcYZsGHxhIAbaxYGy7EIsDwRuDJpaqX-FTgVat2N9zZLgb7C2XxW5rQZOiOLjmkDkRMY3dWpktiOqASysoqF33wPqOQG8Au4R5SkNvPlAv9XygaOk7Ibnr4ylHrDo0zQv03TGk/s1600-h/IMG_2322[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088486232224587874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNgeEMdcYZsGHxhIAbaxYGy7EIsDwRuDJpaqX-FTgVat2N9zZLgb7C2XxW5rQZOiOLjmkDkRMY3dWpktiOqASysoqF33wPqOQG8Au4R5SkNvPlAv9XygaOk7Ibnr4ylHrDo0zQv03TGk/s320/IMG_2322%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />All of these aircraft were taken down by the North <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Vietnamese</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">between</span> 1964 and 1975.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTqYnB7mxJiVMXW8tIiPmPRrOJ97ztuXpflDvNRLBn-I0waUN470m-r-NVVI-5B60qE9M39kC4RsvnnWHWMhpR7Dq60X0L4J9j5r24MxClf3sk0IQyMVUGnvdWWeO7QkQuX8qjrtl1TY/s1600-h/IMG_2329[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088486236519555186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTqYnB7mxJiVMXW8tIiPmPRrOJ97ztuXpflDvNRLBn-I0waUN470m-r-NVVI-5B60qE9M39kC4RsvnnWHWMhpR7Dq60X0L4J9j5r24MxClf3sk0IQyMVUGnvdWWeO7QkQuX8qjrtl1TY/s320/IMG_2329%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />No wonder the US lost! The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Vietnamese</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">developed</span> the technology to shrink their soldiers down to the size of ants!! Now how can you fight against that?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGLQMXhxduyBG1rIAddV4EZ0G3XckKdTN2KY8yc1V9KmRMF6nWYLFO_SR2lmY3y9EacwaEVm6Ig_dYY7PswMqqbYE6ZCj4-_-mShqNuyBnttl25Cng5rEXO_XiVT0mQROlHJLoZoSt98/s1600-h/IMG_2334[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088486245109489794" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZGLQMXhxduyBG1rIAddV4EZ0G3XckKdTN2KY8yc1V9KmRMF6nWYLFO_SR2lmY3y9EacwaEVm6Ig_dYY7PswMqqbYE6ZCj4-_-mShqNuyBnttl25Cng5rEXO_XiVT0mQROlHJLoZoSt98/s320/IMG_2334%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the Hanoi Flag tower which sits right in the middle of the Army <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">quarters</span>. It's surrounded by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">equipment</span> taken from the French during the Vietnam war for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Independence</span>. Yes the French lost that one too.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xW1qlEbrP2iqXRrtF1H6G5aRImN1zTNnHUWOTPDJlqjYBbQvsY1nGkHZw-OANp4I9QT8jWD_8FAg6BgHH50u21hoWaVS6B1zSIE7FlaMgsLe6k_5Ey2CS0v9v16_yUoU6Ghv-hsmgao/s1600-h/IMG_2336[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088486249404457106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xW1qlEbrP2iqXRrtF1H6G5aRImN1zTNnHUWOTPDJlqjYBbQvsY1nGkHZw-OANp4I9QT8jWD_8FAg6BgHH50u21hoWaVS6B1zSIE7FlaMgsLe6k_5Ey2CS0v9v16_yUoU6Ghv-hsmgao/s320/IMG_2336%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And lastly Lenin Park!! This statue is a true <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">testament</span> that capitalism will never take hold in this part of the world............massage for $7 US? Sure, why not?Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-53927793698726406122007-07-03T19:04:00.001-07:002008-12-09T23:38:01.677-08:00Syndey (July 2-5)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRio3YWwLE9uf6dWxAPtiIwhmTskfc2ANwO5-aFy3cgijr-3Z1q3sHmcm-o_0MoyVbF5hX1yxtTo2yB7MEhIzMZuRcwDafij_RFdR9MZD4hkaNBrNg2pKsjZj3bik6JM8oeaL4fWQwoQ/s1600-h/IMG_2038[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083496264180222626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRio3YWwLE9uf6dWxAPtiIwhmTskfc2ANwO5-aFy3cgijr-3Z1q3sHmcm-o_0MoyVbF5hX1yxtTo2yB7MEhIzMZuRcwDafij_RFdR9MZD4hkaNBrNg2pKsjZj3bik6JM8oeaL4fWQwoQ/s320/IMG_2038%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I arrived in Sydney and this was the last leg of the Aussie part of my trip. In a few days I fly out to Vietnam into a whole new world. (Shining, shimmering spleeeeendor!) Ads was nice enough to put me up for a few days so I repaid him by taking him out to the ice bar with a few friends I'd met on the road. Pay $40 for two mix drinks and a half an hour of freezing your ass off? Who wouldn't be tempted? Since Adam wasn't a low-life like me, he actually had a job to go to in the morning so I had to amuse myself by taking in all the cultural aspects that make Sydney so unique. Like the museum for instance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD82ZsXrHbXz_HzsJx6ETE8re263dhnujjquyb2bj7BSFbiklYsyy-8JnPEnVQVEou0_j_mmEQQX4nj1uj9ifnMHfWYAO-DMt61qrZGB1KTrmX7L8912t5E7ADBEccqJ4eo0q5ZI_62is/s1600-h/IMG_1978[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083504995848735490" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD82ZsXrHbXz_HzsJx6ETE8re263dhnujjquyb2bj7BSFbiklYsyy-8JnPEnVQVEou0_j_mmEQQX4nj1uj9ifnMHfWYAO-DMt61qrZGB1KTrmX7L8912t5E7ADBEccqJ4eo0q5ZI_62is/s320/IMG_1978%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Told you I'd get pussy on this trip.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj2CwhiuY4di50a3fYErMhB_NvjrWZTvLUm-pIayTPVbVTjnfVLrrbfvjX0mCbyBTuFL0h4G1poWD5ffOOAqyKZ8_f1rEvcA8QPZtaJrJ5UM6JsrVTz3XF9PDThKguhovMc9tt9EqHkM/s1600-h/IMG_1986[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083505004438670098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzj2CwhiuY4di50a3fYErMhB_NvjrWZTvLUm-pIayTPVbVTjnfVLrrbfvjX0mCbyBTuFL0h4G1poWD5ffOOAqyKZ8_f1rEvcA8QPZtaJrJ5UM6JsrVTz3XF9PDThKguhovMc9tt9EqHkM/s320/IMG_1986%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I thought this was pretty cool. A cow got his leg stuck in a barbwire fence and rather than remove the wire or turn him into a cheeseburger, the farmer did the only humane thing possible. He made the animal suffer for ten excruciating years just to show thousands of tourists what a healing bone looks like. Thanks Farmer Brown!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZniLsJZhVJOGuZYewuKY5JlBM1CjOXWEqcpCM4DIGZsTgFBLDFF4g6vwaUiGKqf7nTjWgQ4J1YYNqyJ0FxOl_CpdJ857N8CIp4f660AcHl9wvF1u92d4J1eYMedJZk0cWUDRjk3mSigQ/s1600-h/IMG_1985[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083505013028604706" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZniLsJZhVJOGuZYewuKY5JlBM1CjOXWEqcpCM4DIGZsTgFBLDFF4g6vwaUiGKqf7nTjWgQ4J1YYNqyJ0FxOl_CpdJ857N8CIp4f660AcHl9wvF1u92d4J1eYMedJZk0cWUDRjk3mSigQ/s320/IMG_1985%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The bone ranger!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE2FyIpBPHo7RHJNywDvYL5JPq-18tBuRQWDfAKKAbF_PGcxH5QbomGY8rzFIQSiD8qyKgLbDoiTitH76IBrPreqJmi6McMTdq6v1TtPDrBkzNZsAGgqL0lJ6Ect3oDFPoNggNK_mo2s/s1600-h/IMG_1987[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083505017323572018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifE2FyIpBPHo7RHJNywDvYL5JPq-18tBuRQWDfAKKAbF_PGcxH5QbomGY8rzFIQSiD8qyKgLbDoiTitH76IBrPreqJmi6McMTdq6v1TtPDrBkzNZsAGgqL0lJ6Ect3oDFPoNggNK_mo2s/s320/IMG_1987%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In all seriousness this museum was pretty cool. They had an exhibition on rare stones and gems, an exibit on aboriginal history, a skeletal section and.....hold it a sec......did that thing just move?!?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RDFJgmu7uCzOedmQnwGZi3cpLYIUyUjChJlW44PMm-pF8UfxIHqKfcwQqXrYk6lVrG0GrNXrEBbXgiVIGJC9VY4eyYpxRhKtAHljbmLDwbjyBNuXR6xX2IMiZgd4gen_gSgPog96L6Y/s1600-h/IMG_1992[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083505025913506626" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RDFJgmu7uCzOedmQnwGZi3cpLYIUyUjChJlW44PMm-pF8UfxIHqKfcwQqXrYk6lVrG0GrNXrEBbXgiVIGJC9VY4eyYpxRhKtAHljbmLDwbjyBNuXR6xX2IMiZgd4gen_gSgPog96L6Y/s320/IMG_1992%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This might be my favorite picture that I took on the trip so far. I love that even the two year- old kid in the corner thinks I'm immature.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lJ9tyKvEXns_evoIxdmy0McSVqAslp6E_EI4palxxGpuoBwqnCvgaYCswoihS4DVUKZ15HhSTZqFeEFDDTdphYz6ohH7GN9pU9UrmPT4qbRXP5gi1hJOt8JHZlAMMc0062CwahdM9pM/s1600-h/IMG_2000[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083500563442485938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-lJ9tyKvEXns_evoIxdmy0McSVqAslp6E_EI4palxxGpuoBwqnCvgaYCswoihS4DVUKZ15HhSTZqFeEFDDTdphYz6ohH7GN9pU9UrmPT4qbRXP5gi1hJOt8JHZlAMMc0062CwahdM9pM/s320/IMG_2000%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Artsy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeo9Vx3Gzcow6nWn04QNm9Yc-_TtD4ziPaNA19Zjgsse8BTGWX37JM7N86n555f3BNIxRJq0odsxlUumt8s84FIV2HVJCC8RAbXZJ-iHbI7Qz-OMMArnCcY1LOXy5M-mlmvGG87NPnjU/s1600-h/IMG_2003[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083500572032420546" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeo9Vx3Gzcow6nWn04QNm9Yc-_TtD4ziPaNA19Zjgsse8BTGWX37JM7N86n555f3BNIxRJq0odsxlUumt8s84FIV2HVJCC8RAbXZJ-iHbI7Qz-OMMArnCcY1LOXy5M-mlmvGG87NPnjU/s320/IMG_2003%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This exhibit "rocked." (Digging deep for material here.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfHE3IzO4kv1lPIgtG4jk1KK98hNjfBJLY_4_JktO4kk2_C2lK9o0cp0iCwe4EN6uFfFdl1KLSgRQlTO-_DGzjx86HPhPWZfXTiXuIgubd6XCku5iIctBByTbz-0kKJCRYmX5tnUPu8U/s1600-h/IMG_2010[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083500580622355154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfHE3IzO4kv1lPIgtG4jk1KK98hNjfBJLY_4_JktO4kk2_C2lK9o0cp0iCwe4EN6uFfFdl1KLSgRQlTO-_DGzjx86HPhPWZfXTiXuIgubd6XCku5iIctBByTbz-0kKJCRYmX5tnUPu8U/s320/IMG_2010%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Steve Hull of Spiders.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_v2iIdcOkPz2v5kwNkYebYGFfag1hK9wsWYpERThUcYvhIWBjBizjVjZBdqPpKY25MbSLV01p04UkiRjP86r7UQIPGHVqRI8zfsnDOyo5AsmbWFa7qMmL93VXjsO0fwNF_Mx1MSnduA/s1600-h/IMG_2014[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083500584917322466" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_v2iIdcOkPz2v5kwNkYebYGFfag1hK9wsWYpERThUcYvhIWBjBizjVjZBdqPpKY25MbSLV01p04UkiRjP86r7UQIPGHVqRI8zfsnDOyo5AsmbWFa7qMmL93VXjsO0fwNF_Mx1MSnduA/s320/IMG_2014%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This specimen explained how I was to improve my love life.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V-ASxTb21Gz8upfM7TyXzcPlzOQ3zMNqpTwLE1W81RoREa-z3kfdnf0H0-AHHerzcYie0c2qM-6goGi6B0BHA4U4pbkLm8VkE-df3GNU-9VcZcTitAq21Rbf_-e0kfcYPeCz3Agbbrs/s1600-h/IMG_2021[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083500593507257074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7V-ASxTb21Gz8upfM7TyXzcPlzOQ3zMNqpTwLE1W81RoREa-z3kfdnf0H0-AHHerzcYie0c2qM-6goGi6B0BHA4U4pbkLm8VkE-df3GNU-9VcZcTitAq21Rbf_-e0kfcYPeCz3Agbbrs/s320/IMG_2021%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I don't think this is quite what Jesus had in mind...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqneyaHBDb0Y1KL5aB0sXjRj-Ila-OU0FAFOyhRPFV4zYIhcHi5xQl3Ki53MRwxxvgaonoyEHlt8tkvc8zBkM010KrnLMmryQShTBKn69_RuNtOZQa0LzCU1bN4sDks9D9tO7tahN2WJ4/s1600-h/IMG_2023[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083496229820484194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqneyaHBDb0Y1KL5aB0sXjRj-Ila-OU0FAFOyhRPFV4zYIhcHi5xQl3Ki53MRwxxvgaonoyEHlt8tkvc8zBkM010KrnLMmryQShTBKn69_RuNtOZQa0LzCU1bN4sDks9D9tO7tahN2WJ4/s320/IMG_2023%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When you're by yourself you make your own fun. At this point the security guards started giving me weird looks so I decided it was time to depart the museum.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gNn5qIHQD_agMGLobxFwbHwrYbttAepV497VCy_Xa2jqK2Wu1vVf4_VT2NE4IcWc6OeponkQDi_EPStOqM1Y8q3-bMs1MUG6h86nYx7_51YnkqvFosGty1CCmjxGQnYgNZ52te3wAHY/s1600-h/IMG_2027[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083496242705386098" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gNn5qIHQD_agMGLobxFwbHwrYbttAepV497VCy_Xa2jqK2Wu1vVf4_VT2NE4IcWc6OeponkQDi_EPStOqM1Y8q3-bMs1MUG6h86nYx7_51YnkqvFosGty1CCmjxGQnYgNZ52te3wAHY/s320/IMG_2027%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day I had breakfast at a cafe downtown. I thought these birds were pretty neat until I had to wrestle my milk and sugar packets away from them. This guy was even less amused.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWQJlqYeC8mir0mOozAcR6yQcC7kK1uSwd8W4UGA8D260sfA901yg0jhvszy4zCQzs6yvi6VP8mqZds1dgWaOHu-NVi5F0DdJp9ysVHHtsAD4bizBUQcRE_xKweWtLmRJEGgVshzGjUA/s1600-h/IMG_2032[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083496247000353410" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWQJlqYeC8mir0mOozAcR6yQcC7kK1uSwd8W4UGA8D260sfA901yg0jhvszy4zCQzs6yvi6VP8mqZds1dgWaOHu-NVi5F0DdJp9ysVHHtsAD4bizBUQcRE_xKweWtLmRJEGgVshzGjUA/s320/IMG_2032%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Had to do it...................here's the second most taken picture of a tourist attraction in Australia......the Harbour Bridge! (Clash cymbals here.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFGBuJe2ad0tWeYM-rCAB63VCL_eoCY9weEaWwIRg1EYKr4At4tzvFX-riq2-kf5Cu5Kbe1rA2w_YwfxaOtwsmw5PuHt8-Wz-rahYiRKaGyj4jq2sN8Dw8GRIualrlJwKDZIbiuiFS1o/s1600-h/IMG_2035[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083496255590288018" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFGBuJe2ad0tWeYM-rCAB63VCL_eoCY9weEaWwIRg1EYKr4At4tzvFX-riq2-kf5Cu5Kbe1rA2w_YwfxaOtwsmw5PuHt8-Wz-rahYiRKaGyj4jq2sN8Dw8GRIualrlJwKDZIbiuiFS1o/s320/IMG_2035%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here is the most taken photo of a tourist attraction in Australia. The tour was really impressive however, I even got to see all the different theatres within an hour which is a rare occurrence.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT_3Ue_MADU_FeypC_2le8DjtN8lhRJ7v1jdnyE9pds7hSMLGRLapXEKZAQG-omjW5WuisH45_b81SHCAZSP2D5lFnElYeW1omHW2EXEomVdIWycTtgZ75s-2vgDLKY6rZSOdXtlnhD8/s1600-h/IMG_2040[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083492398709656082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT_3Ue_MADU_FeypC_2le8DjtN8lhRJ7v1jdnyE9pds7hSMLGRLapXEKZAQG-omjW5WuisH45_b81SHCAZSP2D5lFnElYeW1omHW2EXEomVdIWycTtgZ75s-2vgDLKY6rZSOdXtlnhD8/s320/IMG_2040%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A few friends and I also made it over to Manley Beach and although it was cold it was still worth the fairy trip over!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Id7H6K_eWSe9p2qqcRkcP1FjRpAdKLvezeMvpmTsG3Ogm9SJXTps9BMfpBPaFX8KQ0_HNRsnRZjfaQgqkwCb8uPm5FNW9acg0mqINKSjVYX6T9d6ZXkRZhiVjMymwh9mDyu7njptYR0/s1600-h/IMG_2042[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083492407299590690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Id7H6K_eWSe9p2qqcRkcP1FjRpAdKLvezeMvpmTsG3Ogm9SJXTps9BMfpBPaFX8KQ0_HNRsnRZjfaQgqkwCb8uPm5FNW9acg0mqINKSjVYX6T9d6ZXkRZhiVjMymwh9mDyu7njptYR0/s320/IMG_2042%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDSBmnvftUC0FMrlmAWD9GlvZ9Qk8p1fCbqz4ADihyDvIRlPd1ni6BgB3ax87csNizVUSOqaH5tkSvW823Q6Y86PZbMevmt6y6-ZXy0x-KErr9UPZuwBBr6QChV1ky6gteEUM1955M_Q/s1600-h/IMG_2048[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083492415889525298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDSBmnvftUC0FMrlmAWD9GlvZ9Qk8p1fCbqz4ADihyDvIRlPd1ni6BgB3ax87csNizVUSOqaH5tkSvW823Q6Y86PZbMevmt6y6-ZXy0x-KErr9UPZuwBBr6QChV1ky6gteEUM1955M_Q/s320/IMG_2048%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyJNwedu5dOLcizCqKux54ByrFpRCiSiW4zgJ5d9o3bxEUfqmK1haGgpTSdyo8uU3Pb-99yjmctH2zO2tXgwEPHxibg62-5_fax9j4ssgAOtZ7ZMZQU_bNa9L8P-ktXVG1fmsh6C8nc8/s1600-h/IMG_2051[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083492424479459906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyJNwedu5dOLcizCqKux54ByrFpRCiSiW4zgJ5d9o3bxEUfqmK1haGgpTSdyo8uU3Pb-99yjmctH2zO2tXgwEPHxibg62-5_fax9j4ssgAOtZ7ZMZQU_bNa9L8P-ktXVG1fmsh6C8nc8/s320/IMG_2051%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Call me Wharf.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDVmtaxBmeV7inDc_r1mO7ThuJvc1EM82krQxdmk-bfbIBDowpEwwyYhxMHZAQ3Pq8wow5mP0NBC-beNtP-1aJXCNjlZgb5ih-pK5oTwZr7_HOFlkyG5y32FZMWzaG2xah2aFqAb2RsA/s1600-h/IMG_2058[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083492433069394514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDVmtaxBmeV7inDc_r1mO7ThuJvc1EM82krQxdmk-bfbIBDowpEwwyYhxMHZAQ3Pq8wow5mP0NBC-beNtP-1aJXCNjlZgb5ih-pK5oTwZr7_HOFlkyG5y32FZMWzaG2xah2aFqAb2RsA/s320/IMG_2058%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And so dear readers, it is here that a chapter in this story ends. Having spent a glorious four months touring New Zealand and now Australia, I must depart and continue the next saga in the adventure. South-East Asia.............heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer's Willie!!!!Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-36001028472105573562007-07-03T19:03:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:38:04.068-08:00Melbourne (June 28-July1)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2jzuXqmHmPffQRk-qejVEuybyraV9WNJtkN5k7j_FU8UzEFsCDjMGYkCATnpOlUkFdScGgfai1oLaS5Novfpm-nnjKcHnfFdkycF_fowIDi5byo4tNEnuOVdCHITiXAUUWH_HCXxTBg/s1600-h/IMG_1910[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083485346373355970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2jzuXqmHmPffQRk-qejVEuybyraV9WNJtkN5k7j_FU8UzEFsCDjMGYkCATnpOlUkFdScGgfai1oLaS5Novfpm-nnjKcHnfFdkycF_fowIDi5byo4tNEnuOVdCHITiXAUUWH_HCXxTBg/s320/IMG_1910%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> Ah Melbourne!! I loved this city! Not only did I get to go to an Aussie Rules Football Game but I scored free accommodation with a friend's family!! An night where I don't have to worry about someone stealing my shit? Sweet!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0u-Bh98xzHZ9jCQUVBO5qZf2CifdIeiRhn4k4OBGYOJufbydj0lFsvKO73VlylCrulIWr4ieI0K0nWATn-fAd18J2E4_RA_uppyfTRvBliIU0y9fKjbAGEvL7xRDdt4z3f4NXSX9684/s1600-h/IMG_1917[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083485350668323282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0u-Bh98xzHZ9jCQUVBO5qZf2CifdIeiRhn4k4OBGYOJufbydj0lFsvKO73VlylCrulIWr4ieI0K0nWATn-fAd18J2E4_RA_uppyfTRvBliIU0y9fKjbAGEvL7xRDdt4z3f4NXSX9684/s320/IMG_1917%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It takes about a half an hour of watching this game to figure out what the hell is going on. My favorite play is when, (unlike in the NFL,) a guy is going for a kick with no padding and someone from the other team runs into him full steam from twenty yards out. I'm going to throw it out there....these guys are probably tougher than I am.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZXsE95i9SwiPZcH_YStBQY2tK2ei4txinombOOE1b-Py6z6h6oRl3DONpV8FTtsTpXs6lCLbj6kaeT70yiWrzCqedMYkANRgcqvu-6R-18sUIbuOuyfDiaVmqxK91zIpp7T4Co9H4Pk/s1600-h/IMG_1919[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083485359258257890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZXsE95i9SwiPZcH_YStBQY2tK2ei4txinombOOE1b-Py6z6h6oRl3DONpV8FTtsTpXs6lCLbj6kaeT70yiWrzCqedMYkANRgcqvu-6R-18sUIbuOuyfDiaVmqxK91zIpp7T4Co9H4Pk/s320/IMG_1919%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since it was standing room only we had to make do and have drinks with the fans from both sides.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wDVcE0I08qLmGaiisH-ElxV-znQ746XUV32Ig1TYIfjbj2_pP6_MGmmBaOW25Ty9I_PYqHDVI6_Sum2jeeQ3duPv-_QcsANJyMemi9khsp04I4gTBYOQWJszw7s33j9i-6HLrGT_DcM/s1600-h/IMG_1922[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083481283334293842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wDVcE0I08qLmGaiisH-ElxV-znQ746XUV32Ig1TYIfjbj2_pP6_MGmmBaOW25Ty9I_PYqHDVI6_Sum2jeeQ3duPv-_QcsANJyMemi9khsp04I4gTBYOQWJszw7s33j9i-6HLrGT_DcM/s320/IMG_1922%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Practically everyone showed up to watch the game...even the Ku Klux Klan!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF781YHgr61vALoVi-nUIEFNPrLJLfgWt2-Va9NafU6HBFr_NxXA_c6BqY7kwieyyWEE_TMVBXjeKD5LVr1uU55GcmJBosa9sDbCfRrKt-dEQdSQgvdzjRdQwKlKtuIM46FDlaneXhcD4/s1600-h/IMG_1931[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083481287629261154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF781YHgr61vALoVi-nUIEFNPrLJLfgWt2-Va9NafU6HBFr_NxXA_c6BqY7kwieyyWEE_TMVBXjeKD5LVr1uU55GcmJBosa9sDbCfRrKt-dEQdSQgvdzjRdQwKlKtuIM46FDlaneXhcD4/s320/IMG_1931%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's good!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCGQe-8LYbKnPL-YPT0V3MAJnWnp5antmmZ9pc4IXoeNN-4aQUgo9cpvimeRQK9M557ezSs5IFS_JiQd7UjnM4-EBUYEseEa2UPF9qniSHHKbibOQvSBZIoxv2Yd5HbpW5d4Dci8xUMY/s1600-h/IMG_1937[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083481296219195762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCGQe-8LYbKnPL-YPT0V3MAJnWnp5antmmZ9pc4IXoeNN-4aQUgo9cpvimeRQK9M557ezSs5IFS_JiQd7UjnM4-EBUYEseEa2UPF9qniSHHKbibOQvSBZIoxv2Yd5HbpW5d4Dci8xUMY/s320/IMG_1937%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day some friends and I took off for the Queen Victoria Market which is where you'd go to find 50 pairs of socks for $12. Or a belt buckle with a skull and cross bones on it. Or get a discount on an airport transport container for pets. You can get pretty much everything here!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XgJjWDOvyG24qGjr15eb2PWX_8fvPrlBN8M40807kYPHJmF6up2TcGtoK9GYpuYiErOFRaB8exvBeUU-TVWXUZXwtjpr_uMsvbd2H7jkV7MLGHJHPNYWLLFg2kO6jc5AD3A6M8TdQYs/s1600-h/IMG_1938[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083481300514163074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XgJjWDOvyG24qGjr15eb2PWX_8fvPrlBN8M40807kYPHJmF6up2TcGtoK9GYpuYiErOFRaB8exvBeUU-TVWXUZXwtjpr_uMsvbd2H7jkV7MLGHJHPNYWLLFg2kO6jc5AD3A6M8TdQYs/s320/IMG_1938%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After a couple of hours at the market I needed a rest so I opted to check out of the hostel where I was staying and head on over to my friend Charlie's place. Chuck wasn't there but his family had been given a brief and let me in anyway.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN68mRuHffYyCzxp91xCc0h05isKHBIiLLk8XXkpJrf1h_a-L6XSLBnZ_wJA4cPFwk4eonXk_ee-yLF3Wj2dUdt_d06SpipVilmzo6abtgiRio4nQAl2zlmigObGfS4tDo3fh3pLOrQ0/s1600-h/IMG_1942[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083481304809130386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN68mRuHffYyCzxp91xCc0h05isKHBIiLLk8XXkpJrf1h_a-L6XSLBnZ_wJA4cPFwk4eonXk_ee-yLF3Wj2dUdt_d06SpipVilmzo6abtgiRio4nQAl2zlmigObGfS4tDo3fh3pLOrQ0/s320/IMG_1942%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a view out of their window, that's how close to the rugby stadium they are.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoyAOGsuKSDezvJH_bYaUmyRT-rN-B9-3Mp17_Ps1WNFsTpnbXsgw391KmAxuS6yDOqy8csoJuL74g-FyQHroltxiLAVrkpGroOQoqS_xWfx21XucZY39USBYxv2jsOSD5iaXKFd2nEg/s1600-h/IMG_1962[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083485342078388658" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoyAOGsuKSDezvJH_bYaUmyRT-rN-B9-3Mp17_Ps1WNFsTpnbXsgw391KmAxuS6yDOqy8csoJuL74g-FyQHroltxiLAVrkpGroOQoqS_xWfx21XucZY39USBYxv2jsOSD5iaXKFd2nEg/s320/IMG_1962%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />No I didn't end up in prison. Well I sort of did but as a tourist. This is a picture of the Old Melbourne Gaol where such notorious criminals as Ned Kelly were hung.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SuRsnKbaj_yQuRIuXU6hecxRaoVcyrOLewvOFyfvOBUFCcBOSuvNMynQUMPIP5IeW0DZbx-5NPngh3fhVw_HzwzucKYZczPrdt1EueSZm8q1az3ROeg76ioUwn1kZqZ7dVU9GWO6QMw/s1600-h/IMG_1968[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083488773757258226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SuRsnKbaj_yQuRIuXU6hecxRaoVcyrOLewvOFyfvOBUFCcBOSuvNMynQUMPIP5IeW0DZbx-5NPngh3fhVw_HzwzucKYZczPrdt1EueSZm8q1az3ROeg76ioUwn1kZqZ7dVU9GWO6QMw/s320/IMG_1968%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />By the way, in case you're ever in Australia or apparently England, the word "Gaol," is not pronounced "ga-oul." It's actually an alternate spelling of the word "Jail." I'm just letting you know you idiot so that when you are asking directions for the place the locals don't say, "What the hell are you on about mate?" and then I looked at my shoes embarrassed.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6JUnh4ofA6Ym4NpdYoN0BfJVE25AtQ53YpMjbPjod_2T1-EwMF1NuD08o_sEBARjEEiQUeGf89pdz4YkypPD4Ob3n8Oq7XCm1D4kt0F0i82tEsiTjhL1tuivgVYYN9A-inDIX-MlKDE/s1600-h/IMG_1954[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083488778052225538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6JUnh4ofA6Ym4NpdYoN0BfJVE25AtQ53YpMjbPjod_2T1-EwMF1NuD08o_sEBARjEEiQUeGf89pdz4YkypPD4Ob3n8Oq7XCm1D4kt0F0i82tEsiTjhL1tuivgVYYN9A-inDIX-MlKDE/s320/IMG_1954%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm not saying Ned Kelly wasn't a bad ass or anything but it would have been pretty hard to ride away from a bank robbery all inconspicuous like dressed like a Night's Templar in a dominatrix outfit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-982yfWdcrX52hRV-E74DOGYPOyejjW5isJnfUgFKaiWWDqPUU6D87X8GwcsNSI0hOooyIlYK1puGADS3TSv0CfnWitwmw1QPOUnGCRJklDtdYThfVB9KtiMP7FO-QsDS2GgOPaRkA4/s1600-h/IMG_1959[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083485337783421346" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-982yfWdcrX52hRV-E74DOGYPOyejjW5isJnfUgFKaiWWDqPUU6D87X8GwcsNSI0hOooyIlYK1puGADS3TSv0CfnWitwmw1QPOUnGCRJklDtdYThfVB9KtiMP7FO-QsDS2GgOPaRkA4/s320/IMG_1959%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />136 people met there death at this very spot. That's the beam and the trap door used in most of the hangings. Cool!Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-44672070023165207942007-07-03T19:02:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:38:06.033-08:00Great Ocean Road (June 26-28)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDILiXKsglRqPnK_jcxyDMxArb-7YVhY36ajl1dEGRTVnjGGPLg9uEY38O2WBf1HUczVEilUt2C7I_QuR9bQBSVcwRGMqb1FiBhhyKttfwR-aBPD2m089A0qBkX8B3G4JpRW4KtMiBgK0/s1600-h/IMG_1843[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083305228329863474" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDILiXKsglRqPnK_jcxyDMxArb-7YVhY36ajl1dEGRTVnjGGPLg9uEY38O2WBf1HUczVEilUt2C7I_QuR9bQBSVcwRGMqb1FiBhhyKttfwR-aBPD2m089A0qBkX8B3G4JpRW4KtMiBgK0/s320/IMG_1843%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Onwards and upwards!!! It was time to leave Adelaide and head into the Victoria territory. A dozen of us piled into a bus and off we went!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTTyaz9Fjydy_6urBZPTnY_ySNLOZBSlC3XDv-N1Ih425eDkkIqIYEtQoAH8eEzZPRsbwWaeF19Z8572ChYOzBQK6rbG8BkYxDLXCTUvaweQjNUS2t5qJiV0exOh-BRFvGR_blYgcac4/s1600-h/IMG_1848[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083305236919798082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTTyaz9Fjydy_6urBZPTnY_ySNLOZBSlC3XDv-N1Ih425eDkkIqIYEtQoAH8eEzZPRsbwWaeF19Z8572ChYOzBQK6rbG8BkYxDLXCTUvaweQjNUS2t5qJiV0exOh-BRFvGR_blYgcac4/s320/IMG_1848%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While very beautiful the weather took a turn for the worst on the second day and on one of our nature walks it actually started to snow!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX1aPOCzx1oerIIdiT9iO3f1jrTOjyvpm2h32__Iqjc8HB2pXO2S05719_PcGcl-bS-xE10t1N1Pk2ql0RyMw-zE6uGqKmnNEiW5pVr-vjWxQN01M1o7hZeIwP65Z3iQ6hog_DorYu9s/s1600-h/IMG_1854[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304244782352610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcX1aPOCzx1oerIIdiT9iO3f1jrTOjyvpm2h32__Iqjc8HB2pXO2S05719_PcGcl-bS-xE10t1N1Pk2ql0RyMw-zE6uGqKmnNEiW5pVr-vjWxQN01M1o7hZeIwP65Z3iQ6hog_DorYu9s/s320/IMG_1854%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Damn straight.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hIVUxV3ap-a14S5XYZz3tuz1bFCczhjfWJnzBjL_uDV35EGa-eiwTdlXRdYf0EAORCFmNNfPiK4ZQ_nWWrX78DUGb3_FQyh0BMHRoytPMiFZ7fMUeaBVmaupDBBUaTO7irKFmljppuM/s1600-h/IMG_1860[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304249077319922" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9hIVUxV3ap-a14S5XYZz3tuz1bFCczhjfWJnzBjL_uDV35EGa-eiwTdlXRdYf0EAORCFmNNfPiK4ZQ_nWWrX78DUGb3_FQyh0BMHRoytPMiFZ7fMUeaBVmaupDBBUaTO7irKFmljppuM/s320/IMG_1860%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After hiking for nearly an hour I got to the top of the cliff and took this picture just as my eyes were beginning to freeze shut.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirH9mKVAkmu5D3gObRzA1Yw5SZcjT0zal6-T9IY5-vMcOL828S1X3Ev-BkRbabgRIPayugenRYC1GcugJgkoUK8gMlI33V_r6JxTBCw8MMVQfDnbGS749QiSi8xRbiHtDHH9djhDcXIR0/s1600-h/IMG_1861[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304257667254530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirH9mKVAkmu5D3gObRzA1Yw5SZcjT0zal6-T9IY5-vMcOL828S1X3Ev-BkRbabgRIPayugenRYC1GcugJgkoUK8gMlI33V_r6JxTBCw8MMVQfDnbGS749QiSi8xRbiHtDHH9djhDcXIR0/s320/IMG_1861%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Damn it's cold!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLLodX3ah1z6Kz3hgC5xZKWt9EHn7m6ONWnBk5D6pCJe1Kc3olTWlHvRqtkRdlL31DyiqIgCjmJVUzvTlAwyQ-oVLVbOfEk2jD7spTpY7YCMqA42trkkjZbJmXYJ2Dby91sBpM59rL6c/s1600-h/IMG_1872[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304266257189138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLLodX3ah1z6Kz3hgC5xZKWt9EHn7m6ONWnBk5D6pCJe1Kc3olTWlHvRqtkRdlL31DyiqIgCjmJVUzvTlAwyQ-oVLVbOfEk2jD7spTpY7YCMqA42trkkjZbJmXYJ2Dby91sBpM59rL6c/s320/IMG_1872%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day the weather cleared up and we continued our journey along the coast.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjobc6mH0iaf1snMCJlPGzOf2aAWykqOg_zWmBtYpHrf6IJHQS0KanxGA_n4n8SGyUh8PXHZr_SvC_BTX84m_kRNg_XmNdgQ41KtCnASrt2zC_IiWlgGZrC_5az9OlW4x_cpvfJcUZlhc/s1600-h/IMG_1879[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083304270552156450" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjobc6mH0iaf1snMCJlPGzOf2aAWykqOg_zWmBtYpHrf6IJHQS0KanxGA_n4n8SGyUh8PXHZr_SvC_BTX84m_kRNg_XmNdgQ41KtCnASrt2zC_IiWlgGZrC_5az9OlW4x_cpvfJcUZlhc/s320/IMG_1879%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This drive really was impressive as millions of years of weathering and erosion left some remarkable rock formations. Luckily we had an experienced driver who took her job on the road very seriously, always keeping one hand at 10 o'clock and the other at 2.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aeynhvLjeMVEnDv3D8uwjM1hPxt7kVGK2h_gx8-0-qpFduaP6Vkuit0nmkWo6pCgrh3Ca2sQMkK_gsKQipbCYjQmEu5xkAwB7UA6F3tc2PGtgERPXzaAeggb8m-qeSjcVJWMcnAsZRg/s1600-h/IMG_1896[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083300568290347154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aeynhvLjeMVEnDv3D8uwjM1hPxt7kVGK2h_gx8-0-qpFduaP6Vkuit0nmkWo6pCgrh3Ca2sQMkK_gsKQipbCYjQmEu5xkAwB7UA6F3tc2PGtgERPXzaAeggb8m-qeSjcVJWMcnAsZRg/s320/IMG_1896%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Finally we made it to the "Twelve Apostles." I found the name highly ironic as a few of them have fallen down and toppled into the sea. Originally these formations were called the "Pig and its Sows," but the Australian government felt it could attract more tourists if they put a religious spin on things. How sacred.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSQFp93q2yvYfugaPcnMhULXesDbXIGi75GhNwEGHQ88a2Ziz1e-zJZkSyfyl7XKqIkRGBYkxI98vLYulqLT_1pk6rik9uU75fGBVOCbVAVzTO8BdOmAl8i8l7704vQVyU-wB67T3KhU/s1600-h/IMG_1889[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083300576880281762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSQFp93q2yvYfugaPcnMhULXesDbXIGi75GhNwEGHQ88a2Ziz1e-zJZkSyfyl7XKqIkRGBYkxI98vLYulqLT_1pk6rik9uU75fGBVOCbVAVzTO8BdOmAl8i8l7704vQVyU-wB67T3KhU/s320/IMG_1889%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzTWot1CcQxhDueFyIWM_NafodmgkZivbs1JwAQPUyCMdgV6s2nmioQNY1vBQ6c4ZI39d4KHFP1fdA-suo7pNJChYPVtYIWY4eS1eiUiHHVxYwAlsHptCRTsVBK5e4qiY3XodHWqLAYM/s1600-h/IMG_1899[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083300581175249074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzTWot1CcQxhDueFyIWM_NafodmgkZivbs1JwAQPUyCMdgV6s2nmioQNY1vBQ6c4ZI39d4KHFP1fdA-suo7pNJChYPVtYIWY4eS1eiUiHHVxYwAlsHptCRTsVBK5e4qiY3XodHWqLAYM/s320/IMG_1899%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We also stopped by a formation that used to be called "London Bridge" but the bridge had also fallen into the sea. Why do I bring this up you ask? Get this. Two tourists had just walked over the bridge and got stranded on what had become an island just off the coast. They had to get rescued by helicopter and it was on national television. I'm sure this would have been quite the adventure had it not been two people who were out for a little romantic rendezvous cheating on their spouses!!! BUSTED!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGVb4a7sJMAZV2D7I5katqItovz1dluDDC8KiiBH0n6J0lO-kSLCxDqOjum5-WA8RVOTjXWhrVxe5pqb41-igkakEkN0yWB2dD6ciwz79f3mvFcYimJwUS3-QaG-0srFPb_kjtb6A8K8/s1600-h/IMG_1900[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083300585470216386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGVb4a7sJMAZV2D7I5katqItovz1dluDDC8KiiBH0n6J0lO-kSLCxDqOjum5-WA8RVOTjXWhrVxe5pqb41-igkakEkN0yWB2dD6ciwz79f3mvFcYimJwUS3-QaG-0srFPb_kjtb6A8K8/s320/IMG_1900%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once again remarkable scenery. Weird story though. At the place we stopped for accommodation on the second night there was 14 of us and 16 beds. One of the remaining beds was occupied by a Dutch tourist who's brother had recently been a victim of the shooting in Melbourne, which was pretty sad. Luckily his brother is going to pull through with no permanent damage. So I thought to myself, lets play a game to try and lighten the mood and I chose an old camp game called "Johnny Whoops," that involves you tracing your hand into the air with the fingers of your other hand. This would have been a lot of fun except that the guy who's brother had been shot was missing one of his fingers........."Willie Whoops!!!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcuohbGbh9CyyHYrIqBN5a2Lm9FIHsIbi7LJCstadgJQA4xxvIMd8R98CmD1YKQ23Aq9sjrtPupQpNO93UbfFZVwnzJpFydy63xUGBq21q8grqbKYQN8jN9wwKyBos6sI4DunJJtOaC8/s1600-h/IMG_1905[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083300598355118290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcuohbGbh9CyyHYrIqBN5a2Lm9FIHsIbi7LJCstadgJQA4xxvIMd8R98CmD1YKQ23Aq9sjrtPupQpNO93UbfFZVwnzJpFydy63xUGBq21q8grqbKYQN8jN9wwKyBos6sI4DunJJtOaC8/s320/IMG_1905%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-45534702512031479862007-07-03T18:25:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:38:08.253-08:00Adelaide Wineries (June 24/25)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSCeuzF5Vw9TCIsJQTfOkKjZp1__T1t9uEwS_Rp_X4eg1x8o0xobbKph8VfmKFO7zBMrzsBGh4Bwa6QvhW00JO799I2irf_QFbKp0qvTZeMQj7sorHxutcPNVoTVL423hN9pnbS_C8BE/s1600-h/IMG_1793[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083156330403645570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSCeuzF5Vw9TCIsJQTfOkKjZp1__T1t9uEwS_Rp_X4eg1x8o0xobbKph8VfmKFO7zBMrzsBGh4Bwa6QvhW00JO799I2irf_QFbKp0qvTZeMQj7sorHxutcPNVoTVL423hN9pnbS_C8BE/s320/IMG_1793%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This day went downhill pretty much as soon as I woke up. Part of the package I bought included a day trip to four different wineries located in Barossa Valley around the hills of Adelaide. On the way there we stopped by the biggest rocking horse in the world. But they were charging $2 to climb it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sTIqn3lJvvQRi7d5fGrDRcwqqAuqDsya4WZvq1U1_kC2fYtR5og8qxgAQJ8Ydt5wo9CMl7w1kW7HpwnUuwvfq77l1dp9dGGLHWYW8NpceYK21mSvHE4DijRcT5I9tF-sq7WHeTtbPHA/s1600-h/IMG_1794[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083155608849139762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sTIqn3lJvvQRi7d5fGrDRcwqqAuqDsya4WZvq1U1_kC2fYtR5og8qxgAQJ8Ydt5wo9CMl7w1kW7HpwnUuwvfq77l1dp9dGGLHWYW8NpceYK21mSvHE4DijRcT5I9tF-sq7WHeTtbPHA/s320/IMG_1794%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So I climbed the little one instead.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwa55GS7MjLo07t9QB1DVlCuEqtaeQVQNFVEzg9KCx-X-XueFjJvGYhGxv_RC9T6OTjKbXqnb_st79vlJFd0isdLkOgZiy2nQWx6guDZqvqj6bqVv0tGFh_Jb-mQqUgOz4cyzNBnhnzA/s1600-h/IMG_1797[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083155617439074370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwa55GS7MjLo07t9QB1DVlCuEqtaeQVQNFVEzg9KCx-X-XueFjJvGYhGxv_RC9T6OTjKbXqnb_st79vlJFd0isdLkOgZiy2nQWx6guDZqvqj6bqVv0tGFh_Jb-mQqUgOz4cyzNBnhnzA/s320/IMG_1797%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our first stop was the majestic Jacob's Creek which was one of the oldest wineries in the area. Being a red wine drinker of the opinion that all white wine tastes like vinegar, I was a little disappointed at having to "taste" about eight different white wines before the good stuff came along. I put the word "taste" in quotations because no one spits it out.....at least no one did in our group anyway. Down the hatch!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Vk-1kL0N9V1TTkwbqHI26w7NsQW7V_9MA40pbv2bfEqXwOG_WopBfUVIrOndhwlIPi2D6xKSbtW4OcdZ3eFILImR-RqZFNjb-5O14YE_50Oz490L5F4pwjAx9xSTjZud9X4yUmNxAQ0/s1600-h/IMG_1808[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083155626029008978" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Vk-1kL0N9V1TTkwbqHI26w7NsQW7V_9MA40pbv2bfEqXwOG_WopBfUVIrOndhwlIPi2D6xKSbtW4OcdZ3eFILImR-RqZFNjb-5O14YE_50Oz490L5F4pwjAx9xSTjZud9X4yUmNxAQ0/s320/IMG_1808%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our next stop was VineCrest which was my personal favorite. This was one of the smaller wineries in the area that had won hundreds of awards for their unique blend of berries. They also had a huge selection of red wines and since some of the people in our group hated red wine I offered to take their samples off their hands. You know.......in case my palette missed something the first time around...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UdwyfFmic12LjYh8xKOE8xbmhnSwt8VHB0onHgziD5cCPWvG4-ARkML3P7sLO85ArwuyZHpdHZ90hTkL2QBCrEAeJ7kvYkOlBTzP4Tx2Mp4jVqjDkPyzMV6fRx-jkweiqXuCC2ILwfU/s1600-h/IMG_1810[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083155630323976290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UdwyfFmic12LjYh8xKOE8xbmhnSwt8VHB0onHgziD5cCPWvG4-ARkML3P7sLO85ArwuyZHpdHZ90hTkL2QBCrEAeJ7kvYkOlBTzP4Tx2Mp4jVqjDkPyzMV6fRx-jkweiqXuCC2ILwfU/s320/IMG_1810%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At this point things began to get a little hazy. I figured that I had consumed approximately two bottles of wine and it wasn't even 10:00am yet. I also skipped breakfast so as to better prepare my mouth for the bold tastes that were to come.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcZiwmsWGRfE0Sb2MPZbr2FYk5Wf-xM5MV8xwC8S4n6qmauD7tNyuUaXA3phUhZrtSWzpLGkhOZKJI0ssk3e1YsGfp6pargqama2XZavBEhLgAZiuYpWb4HWZZaUgA87Bo_xvCp5rmZQ/s1600-h/IMG_1813[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083155643208878194" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcZiwmsWGRfE0Sb2MPZbr2FYk5Wf-xM5MV8xwC8S4n6qmauD7tNyuUaXA3phUhZrtSWzpLGkhOZKJI0ssk3e1YsGfp6pargqama2XZavBEhLgAZiuYpWb4HWZZaUgA87Bo_xvCp5rmZQ/s320/IMG_1813%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I found a new friend outside the winery as I was rolling around in the grass outside the vineyard like an idiot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90FIWR4azD9Bd9FKQjRXNKEDqgJhadD9xDbk5FhjypHMVq4L6GBmVm0JK1QaMq5UHXxon5H-b8q4vw4SFQDAdDHrEky1TIXYYaouPJn3X62pW4wSDJ-qZTZBR0ql3Zfxu5BwZCRlSB7E/s1600-h/IMG_1815[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083151374011385826" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90FIWR4azD9Bd9FKQjRXNKEDqgJhadD9xDbk5FhjypHMVq4L6GBmVm0JK1QaMq5UHXxon5H-b8q4vw4SFQDAdDHrEky1TIXYYaouPJn3X62pW4wSDJ-qZTZBR0ql3Zfxu5BwZCRlSB7E/s320/IMG_1815%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My friend grew tired of me very quickly.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINqNQ05sBNvbaEEYJDFMpJ9gqCYMhzgnZo3SKLzK-nILtp4791DGOvdkaP3nS66ytQEk9_x70hFuK_2KPAlKf_i-y6wTuKmCW9rn6sR8xF2WasEK8LPL654KLLQmaOHprV67yPRrZRRQ/s1600-h/IMG_1826[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083151382601320434" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINqNQ05sBNvbaEEYJDFMpJ9gqCYMhzgnZo3SKLzK-nILtp4791DGOvdkaP3nS66ytQEk9_x70hFuK_2KPAlKf_i-y6wTuKmCW9rn6sR8xF2WasEK8LPL654KLLQmaOHprV67yPRrZRRQ/s320/IMG_1826%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next winery was Richmond Grove. I remember that it was very dark and cold for some stupid reason this was the only picture I took of the whole place. Oh! But they did serve bread sticks to us while we were wine tasting.........actually...........come to think of it........ they only make me eat the bread sticks while wine tasting....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhsXa_NyRALVsCg_32nm3fgTj208xpZ5LdowCC75ZsBNrue4RqN_ClcbOoCuZNtoEjRfKgcfFH86K1cQB_pv5-9E5xAeQJRwm_ICdTn4eoY4I9pyTr4s96JBzlfinHBUJkBEvtDCn8_4/s1600-h/IMG_1835[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083151391191255042" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhsXa_NyRALVsCg_32nm3fgTj208xpZ5LdowCC75ZsBNrue4RqN_ClcbOoCuZNtoEjRfKgcfFH86K1cQB_pv5-9E5xAeQJRwm_ICdTn4eoY4I9pyTr4s96JBzlfinHBUJkBEvtDCn8_4/s320/IMG_1835%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On to beautiful Bethany!! I was so enthralled by this enchanting vineyard and the rolling hills that surrounded it that I bought two bottles of Shiraz Cabernet. I'm pretty sure that they just sold us the bottles to get us out of the place. We all smelled terrible, our speeches were slurred, our vision was blurred and our teeth looked like we'd eaten ten jam sandwiches and forgotten to brush. The bartender gave me a funny look when I asked him for Absinthe but I think he would have found some if I'd pressed him hard enough.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj4zbTzXuJmSXrcfVhFL4-h5gL_czQUQpj0FQioZnmzqwZb0UIVhKN3GMtTXQ50kikPQShQHmiuyJhe5IXD0ycRQj2S5aDdHckAmfmxfS-HZSKCG24r8pJzXiHkH9xbdpBzJJzS4Qc9M/s1600-h/IMG_1838[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083151399781189650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj4zbTzXuJmSXrcfVhFL4-h5gL_czQUQpj0FQioZnmzqwZb0UIVhKN3GMtTXQ50kikPQShQHmiuyJhe5IXD0ycRQj2S5aDdHckAmfmxfS-HZSKCG24r8pJzXiHkH9xbdpBzJJzS4Qc9M/s320/IMG_1838%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And get this. On the way home we stopped at a pub that told us if we each bought six beers they'd give us these Carleton trucker hats. I needed a hat anyway and since it was technically free I couldn't pass us such a good deal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJOFuYNyeFgXny-E0dUrooMOS6E1ej2I-zzn0GZiqgjqEVbh6Gtdem21r9DUinKvt7bRR5m7Ryjggz_bPktwh2Z9kfPTiJX2Hf2GZwJwUTpPg8AkJaX9ZWDtYRKzlepXgQqRZvke31Bg/s1600-h/IMG_1839[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083151408371124258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJOFuYNyeFgXny-E0dUrooMOS6E1ej2I-zzn0GZiqgjqEVbh6Gtdem21r9DUinKvt7bRR5m7Ryjggz_bPktwh2Z9kfPTiJX2Hf2GZwJwUTpPg8AkJaX9ZWDtYRKzlepXgQqRZvke31Bg/s320/IMG_1839%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I think I was in bed by 7:30 that night.Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-74541309382037544582007-07-03T16:35:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:38:12.387-08:00Alice Springs to Adelaide (June 19-24)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8EIbRqwHhSpi2Y7cTMfOAAHxReVsN_J1FFcHJVnzSJrD9ke4hJQfLafzhqcbnp6ROnACcoeW_A9a99_i3J4axaRTsqqZPvXxrLDISrc1euH2gZEczI5mi9vLKvv1hBql11WLnPa9Ibs/s1600-h/IMG_1545[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083135259294091218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8EIbRqwHhSpi2Y7cTMfOAAHxReVsN_J1FFcHJVnzSJrD9ke4hJQfLafzhqcbnp6ROnACcoeW_A9a99_i3J4axaRTsqqZPvXxrLDISrc1euH2gZEczI5mi9vLKvv1hBql11WLnPa9Ibs/s320/IMG_1545%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After living it up in Alice Springs for a night, (read: trying not to get jumped by a bunch of hoods outside my hostel,) I signed up for a 5 1/2 day camping trip that would take me farther into the outback and all the way down to Adelaide in the Southern Territory. The first night we camped at a place called Kings Creek Station under the stars. Being the camp person that I was, I picked up my swag, (which is an extra warm sleeping bag with padding,) and hiked about 200m into the bush to sleep by myself that night. There was not a soul around and since there were no lights the stars that night were incredible! The only sound was a curious dingo who kept me company while I fell asleep.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbNDmRxVI08VdAC3nk8zdO3adnHaSjn0HyYV7an7ImfCgXHT_6AYx5IMHBUaw5_CnNpa3dpcwolFpxrvyH9w8QFKb1O-eMmXWLz7vrrQyRiFH6ie99VBpKQWRiSmmIB2Yg0TnrGpOftI/s1600-h/IMG_1563[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083133631501485954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbNDmRxVI08VdAC3nk8zdO3adnHaSjn0HyYV7an7ImfCgXHT_6AYx5IMHBUaw5_CnNpa3dpcwolFpxrvyH9w8QFKb1O-eMmXWLz7vrrQyRiFH6ie99VBpKQWRiSmmIB2Yg0TnrGpOftI/s320/IMG_1563%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next morning we headed into Kings Canyon to experience the gorge and try and sweat out all the Bundaberg Rum that we'd drunk the night before.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDt8eHayuZjNat67uiY8G7Zg-m8TT9qKLlUea6LMm-SmTYnPHzAZz9IRme4PeFZ9S54FCKAxxLVnqk7U3sZHO-5S6IweShdRq9wbi_qzuYOtYJ36C_oPuFdisUZvBbYueLYaRISKeBok/s1600-h/IMG_1571[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083133644386387858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDt8eHayuZjNat67uiY8G7Zg-m8TT9qKLlUea6LMm-SmTYnPHzAZz9IRme4PeFZ9S54FCKAxxLVnqk7U3sZHO-5S6IweShdRq9wbi_qzuYOtYJ36C_oPuFdisUZvBbYueLYaRISKeBok/s320/IMG_1571%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In all seriousness.....(seriously,) the place was really cool and the hike was definitely worth it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTzGOUKw78t17M1v4QIQXlYLEBcBcPFULLtXC7ovoFYA1olca1_68dh_rQURotNjf5m8NwHKbqG4IX06qNNDA3FtTcSlMcoOzI32jD674URYckIy8QVZLBAubnOjfewAEdl0XDJnERzE/s1600-h/IMG_1585[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083133648681355170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTzGOUKw78t17M1v4QIQXlYLEBcBcPFULLtXC7ovoFYA1olca1_68dh_rQURotNjf5m8NwHKbqG4IX06qNNDA3FtTcSlMcoOzI32jD674URYckIy8QVZLBAubnOjfewAEdl0XDJnERzE/s320/IMG_1585%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is me pretending to be Indiana Jones.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e_p6UIUlZHKn0ygV5n-V9A785PqbcmY1xFS7ZPp5LCS7FP3V7Kve5fsofma5VULN5fzISqHCylR-aameDcmriAd5uwUSAUDSuWzIOOAas2-Vq5XlYE18GWEVjqTtr8udh3q95__RLFw/s1600-h/IMG_1609[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083133661566257074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e_p6UIUlZHKn0ygV5n-V9A785PqbcmY1xFS7ZPp5LCS7FP3V7Kve5fsofma5VULN5fzISqHCylR-aameDcmriAd5uwUSAUDSuWzIOOAas2-Vq5XlYE18GWEVjqTtr8udh3q95__RLFw/s320/IMG_1609%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After that it was onto Uluru for sunset. (Those of you that are uneducated might refer to this geographic phenomenon as Ayers Rock but it's not called that.........it's called Uluru.) Chew on that. Funny enough the clouds came out and ruined the whole damn sunset, the best picture I got that day was actually of the outback behind the Rock!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Yc75NUbvC3YgLQOHqxWF3Jtcpzo3mEufO1XAitfUw-rVVN683tsKVRinl0lBMwbLUxoeMTsC9oAGPBlSCLxr_WSAL4Deag02ZHlVKWchkAFUuphcXzWh9B2Sg0VmeitOnpbjG5-ncZM/s1600-h/IMG_1621[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083133665861224386" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Yc75NUbvC3YgLQOHqxWF3Jtcpzo3mEufO1XAitfUw-rVVN683tsKVRinl0lBMwbLUxoeMTsC9oAGPBlSCLxr_WSAL4Deag02ZHlVKWchkAFUuphcXzWh9B2Sg0VmeitOnpbjG5-ncZM/s320/IMG_1621%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That night it was back to camping underneath the stars, in true Canadian fashion I showed the group how to make smores, which apparently they weren't as excited about as I was.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB337cqkTvTEkrQ0ZUvKNtng6_Iu4dTGbgr6-OoD4Qt_bQ-CBx-fWSeWJsET9GtYhU7IUOcnJnrkMvCEIiQJpKf4t0_fGL3MT9dCDPbhsOeCyEaX9ULSBXOYjz6-G-CguTSOhu_iWWVmQ/s1600-h/IMG_1638[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083130942851958578" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB337cqkTvTEkrQ0ZUvKNtng6_Iu4dTGbgr6-OoD4Qt_bQ-CBx-fWSeWJsET9GtYhU7IUOcnJnrkMvCEIiQJpKf4t0_fGL3MT9dCDPbhsOeCyEaX9ULSBXOYjz6-G-CguTSOhu_iWWVmQ/s320/IMG_1638%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day we headed to Kata Tjuta better known as the Olgas to hike through the Valley of the Winds. This place is also sacred to the Aboriginals.....in fact come to think of it, I'm pretty sure everything in Australia is sacred to the Aboriginals. The amazing thing about this place is that if you stare at the rock formations long enough, they start to look like things. Like a Cheshire cat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OeE3NofAVezXV3ScmkDLhN1PhLp2R-MQT5QHOl4r7hn6JRWeT278FPI_pdWajeR3WMDyL-KkFxs9UGkC-YfrcRbFl1cvlJOaYwd8Z8iVvHNWfAbdt61NRtkVTRkSyVYd3_ulzIJ30Ow/s1600-h/IMG_1652[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083130955736860498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OeE3NofAVezXV3ScmkDLhN1PhLp2R-MQT5QHOl4r7hn6JRWeT278FPI_pdWajeR3WMDyL-KkFxs9UGkC-YfrcRbFl1cvlJOaYwd8Z8iVvHNWfAbdt61NRtkVTRkSyVYd3_ulzIJ30Ow/s320/IMG_1652%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Or a giant vagina!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJl-yQsGSR5PjbULd6lumlQaVcKt3HJXNX4r4JQJfAlJoxP_VGeBUyCqYUDAg8PSpL05u4YmwVsp-wxfm5yh599Z0K-Eq-xxZej4gOzD_HJYCq0Zs85D5FhWdC3JK1OUUIlh_uOuNqV8/s1600-h/IMG_1651[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083130947146925890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJl-yQsGSR5PjbULd6lumlQaVcKt3HJXNX4r4JQJfAlJoxP_VGeBUyCqYUDAg8PSpL05u4YmwVsp-wxfm5yh599Z0K-Eq-xxZej4gOzD_HJYCq0Zs85D5FhWdC3JK1OUUIlh_uOuNqV8/s320/IMG_1651%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdokJlvvlntbndJ7YDLjMpMR44FMPT1Zr2HXjoqabs0YRBxMnIuVONkENkanaNvV45aG6rCOUlZBNUj8IEz8kixZns3i1pD8TJ5BBSaS9z3btACIp5bbBmk6aWgqYjtcHlS8LWQw2Bdg/s1600-h/IMG_1659[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083130964326795106" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdokJlvvlntbndJ7YDLjMpMR44FMPT1Zr2HXjoqabs0YRBxMnIuVONkENkanaNvV45aG6rCOUlZBNUj8IEz8kixZns3i1pD8TJ5BBSaS9z3btACIp5bbBmk6aWgqYjtcHlS8LWQw2Bdg/s320/IMG_1659%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then it was back to Uluru to get yet another picture of the damn rock. I took so many stupid pictures of this thing that I never want to see an Australian postcard ever again. I felt like we were dating. Uluru is expecting pebbles next spring.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MeW8Mq2cC9_Iz6dzIhk5SfAJX4pWSoy4MMNkGS7uI7SVIizFm8Rwd_ZsCHU6ePcHb-hOgh5UoA21Wb69LS3DErNZvtGo1_zIDrciyHsI8S8FZp-NLvoNDqsUMz-jjsBTblpJu2cdQnA/s1600-h/IMG_1663[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083130972916729714" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MeW8Mq2cC9_Iz6dzIhk5SfAJX4pWSoy4MMNkGS7uI7SVIizFm8Rwd_ZsCHU6ePcHb-hOgh5UoA21Wb69LS3DErNZvtGo1_zIDrciyHsI8S8FZp-NLvoNDqsUMz-jjsBTblpJu2cdQnA/s320/IMG_1663%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCEe0bAmFVRUvVJEjHF7dwHk0OtO1XDYXxA-MzMiVc9_UEzd0rZ4jYzvdNUY4vIbGx_K61o7FeVLZHnX2mFU5tnX6wmpXC4DsLzYE2UW8ZgAChD6v_U3xvIoWzpwxg-SeoaAc-NJyW5A/s1600-h/IMG_1674[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083128103878575842" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuCEe0bAmFVRUvVJEjHF7dwHk0OtO1XDYXxA-MzMiVc9_UEzd0rZ4jYzvdNUY4vIbGx_K61o7FeVLZHnX2mFU5tnX6wmpXC4DsLzYE2UW8ZgAChD6v_U3xvIoWzpwxg-SeoaAc-NJyW5A/s320/IMG_1674%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sunrise at the Rock.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy00BFrfktEY92KibJ-xe1B8rOtkN5832i3d22McMSSIOk5VjELdBQk3ilpSzSy3MPrwlewiDnOghBOnON4-io8NimZH0sztW9KmDz2TwvKS0faXW-WDRohZ9i3oFL8p_LKAACxCq-vo/s1600-h/IMG_1683[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083128108173543154" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy00BFrfktEY92KibJ-xe1B8rOtkN5832i3d22McMSSIOk5VjELdBQk3ilpSzSy3MPrwlewiDnOghBOnON4-io8NimZH0sztW9KmDz2TwvKS0faXW-WDRohZ9i3oFL8p_LKAACxCq-vo/s320/IMG_1683%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yeah, yeah I know. Ayers Rock is sacred to the Aboriginals. And they get really upset when someone gets hurt or worse, dies (as 35 people have done,) while climbing the Rock. Well I do respect other cultures but let's get realistic for a second. I didn't fly halfway around the world and drive 2700kms to take a bloody picture!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9C4bDeQcE_6SLoanybJgERFZJbSqhjy3Qwxc4IFpMcD0EbRHk4F4pnh_mXHCFw2U7Spg_QkHsNdfRV8AopTfrlFHTfKaKhnM46N1K37ggkSkyppvk0r-upLirlK-jL9XvwkOy2z3RtzE/s1600-h/IMG_1697[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083128116763477762" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9C4bDeQcE_6SLoanybJgERFZJbSqhjy3Qwxc4IFpMcD0EbRHk4F4pnh_mXHCFw2U7Spg_QkHsNdfRV8AopTfrlFHTfKaKhnM46N1K37ggkSkyppvk0r-upLirlK-jL9XvwkOy2z3RtzE/s320/IMG_1697%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My parents climbed this thing about 10 years ago and I have to hand it to them this climb is pretty tricky in spots. The first half has a sort of chain railing that you have to hang onto otherwise the wind would blow you off the edge. After that you're on your own!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85lOKQKW9Oom6bFZRO_eFHnue8I1hM0RbzZK5uTN2rQJZiyhaL01mIze3SXxcd0yadJ8fs8e6kMaJrVqDyVetNFW29x1va858J84bouP2UG0p2HRlVlYvt1_gZM3IDIhL2fQeVP5gTN4/s1600-h/IMG_1722[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083128125353412370" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj85lOKQKW9Oom6bFZRO_eFHnue8I1hM0RbzZK5uTN2rQJZiyhaL01mIze3SXxcd0yadJ8fs8e6kMaJrVqDyVetNFW29x1va858J84bouP2UG0p2HRlVlYvt1_gZM3IDIhL2fQeVP5gTN4/s320/IMG_1722%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I raced as quickly as I could up to the summit so as to be the first one that day to conquer the Rock!!! I later found out that this feat is about as prestigious as getting "employee of the month" at McDonald's.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuL7tHaUL26rV01B0OIMOa8dBpsH5TBRtH5qz04tZqBuLKmZbkqcCq8qcdQvd1eL7jy8tR-vnSUpIfSrUTqTOuCFyQ1jeek0bkoF9hVeJCGuRQGaUNt6UR8h6Iot4011KMSKzL-XeR2k/s1600-h/IMG_1724[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083128129648379682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsuL7tHaUL26rV01B0OIMOa8dBpsH5TBRtH5qz04tZqBuLKmZbkqcCq8qcdQvd1eL7jy8tR-vnSUpIfSrUTqTOuCFyQ1jeek0bkoF9hVeJCGuRQGaUNt6UR8h6Iot4011KMSKzL-XeR2k/s320/IMG_1724%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Still it was very peaceful up there, I had the whole place to myself for twenty minutes and it really was beautiful. We also stopped by the cultural center to learn more about the Aboriginals, and as much as I do joke about it, the culture aspect was pretty interesting!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctL9jBqfMrX8FUIB936a5PDiDHWLNsyFdeVIEByX6KCc-ulCm3-IFIUjkdSCA-Gx-Cy4v3JF8X89ojzeuv8YqItQZeWvEHQuFhYhesaZ-FREjbedFp1zxAorZts7mFYPs3MCt6G6yqaU/s1600-h/IMG_1752[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083123121716512402" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctL9jBqfMrX8FUIB936a5PDiDHWLNsyFdeVIEByX6KCc-ulCm3-IFIUjkdSCA-Gx-Cy4v3JF8X89ojzeuv8YqItQZeWvEHQuFhYhesaZ-FREjbedFp1zxAorZts7mFYPs3MCt6G6yqaU/s320/IMG_1752%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day we headed past the north/south marker and headed down to the mining town of Coober Pedy, the Opal capital of Australia.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1qeY54Xd84gPvzOrAFl1ElGWlRx18-4pGt_MNoaQxOKzd53tQtZegPvvYa1H6cX29GvW_UTySeBM7NYo8AqClO0f2T8y3LG7ydXA7QdQfAVJgmeuIJVQIfy72xiala9uofLbY134e0U/s1600-h/IMG_1754[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083123130306447010" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1qeY54Xd84gPvzOrAFl1ElGWlRx18-4pGt_MNoaQxOKzd53tQtZegPvvYa1H6cX29GvW_UTySeBM7NYo8AqClO0f2T8y3LG7ydXA7QdQfAVJgmeuIJVQIfy72xiala9uofLbY134e0U/s320/IMG_1754%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a picture of the hostel we stayed at. I'm not kidding, it used to be an underground mine!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PaRtpHvOZr-VqymDeJMmOQ8ByurkJ4J88HJpWtKobN3KFZ9-jXY-aXR3veSkDECMoUcGTqwc4dIQA3_xA0PBEBaE2k79ZURE01Fm52hLRl3l3ThBn_MCaFg43VmpxuRvTXXTMqlAm74/s1600-h/IMG_1767[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083123138896381618" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PaRtpHvOZr-VqymDeJMmOQ8ByurkJ4J88HJpWtKobN3KFZ9-jXY-aXR3veSkDECMoUcGTqwc4dIQA3_xA0PBEBaE2k79ZURE01Fm52hLRl3l3ThBn_MCaFg43VmpxuRvTXXTMqlAm74/s320/IMG_1767%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One thing I can say is that the mine was warm, the temperature had been hovering around one degree for the last few days and a real bed was certainly a welcome change!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaS5A8GCvB1kc4fNsp0JJL6LYnMGQYYpMTq3B3uqJS-eslneH3Gr8gIAboy-lxB_12eFq3UrVccmS6kYz_x0MtH3zCey-Geqj9ps8TvAeDrXuyRPfkkEiW4TeKsiELec3kiXPNziABzVE/s1600-h/IMG_1772[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083123147486316226" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaS5A8GCvB1kc4fNsp0JJL6LYnMGQYYpMTq3B3uqJS-eslneH3Gr8gIAboy-lxB_12eFq3UrVccmS6kYz_x0MtH3zCey-Geqj9ps8TvAeDrXuyRPfkkEiW4TeKsiELec3kiXPNziABzVE/s320/IMG_1772%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After an amazing sleep we said goodbye to the Outback and headed off to Adelaide. This trip was incredible and if you're ever in Australia I would highly recommend it!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrilmXYb26P1qaGgDXqibTAwbfFUKG7TWRqIGnQPKMUqOazKHQ5i4NOtGv66TcOacqkCyz5XSw2LFqM5msb3tHPJ7sPl86J4TJLKcK3prX5F708k1_F8jdEHPoLeqvELQpgECN6frteY/s1600-h/IMG_1773[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083123151781283538" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrilmXYb26P1qaGgDXqibTAwbfFUKG7TWRqIGnQPKMUqOazKHQ5i4NOtGv66TcOacqkCyz5XSw2LFqM5msb3tHPJ7sPl86J4TJLKcK3prX5F708k1_F8jdEHPoLeqvELQpgECN6frteY/s320/IMG_1773%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105041271677100645.post-89396793721959905222007-06-25T04:22:00.000-07:002008-12-09T23:38:15.801-08:00Cairns-Alice Springs (June 16-18)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDmFtt8n2lWtGGVw8gRDaaPaAWCEbAABuaKySI7BfvUL8k1OgAvSBugYz3o1ScKdpELVD6Kxdmp75YgeV58o7kMK1wFqJDvIjvV59Ne6eDQyCWj26ZixmvHmmiCyMf075x4y9M3H7v54/s1600-h/IMG_1410[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082902278793119282" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDmFtt8n2lWtGGVw8gRDaaPaAWCEbAABuaKySI7BfvUL8k1OgAvSBugYz3o1ScKdpELVD6Kxdmp75YgeV58o7kMK1wFqJDvIjvV59Ne6eDQyCWj26ZixmvHmmiCyMf075x4y9M3H7v54/s320/IMG_1410%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So after saying goodbye to a good friend of mine from Amsterdam with a few shots of the dreaded Absinthe, I decided it was high time to get the hell out of Cairns and start seeing the 'real' Australia. Cairns is a fun city if you're into freezing your ass off in the lagoon<br /><div><div><div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeUFtVW9FwR21NSkwS2XcT4hm4WU6SpdkVVaHWb1SOAxRnFuaJ6BAC4SbEZJLJ5rr2CeQyGUUlrkeL05Z0tPGsqgQywn1duZ_bCgEJbcVMqh-PnqMp45Jk0RQL5tobgViMXVZ0UqxTLw/s1600-h/IMG_1425[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082902287383053890" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaeUFtVW9FwR21NSkwS2XcT4hm4WU6SpdkVVaHWb1SOAxRnFuaJ6BAC4SbEZJLJ5rr2CeQyGUUlrkeL05Z0tPGsqgQywn1duZ_bCgEJbcVMqh-PnqMp45Jk0RQL5tobgViMXVZ0UqxTLw/s320/IMG_1425%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />or trying to purchase a pair of sandals in the shape of crocodiles.....it's basically tourist shit heaven. So I opted instead to sign up for a three day outback tour that would take me all the way out to Alice Springs in the middle of the Northern Territory. Besides, I was sick of the weather as it had been raining solidly for almost 12 straight days and I figured if it didn't get sunny in the outback then it never would. This was my tour guide Al.</div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUlG1T4wS41zW6V_zljealQIoiu5l0PcephFauBdIFhyKZOO4mIm8r8VLTZB4Mh8gxhcOV0ZmmWwfrt_3ZbnfVMHXWyTuOj0evd8kBibzPgwzySD1eG5dH6JFKJ-uxMnvGGa5gEvrzoE/s1600-h/IMG_1487[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082891854907491730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUlG1T4wS41zW6V_zljealQIoiu5l0PcephFauBdIFhyKZOO4mIm8r8VLTZB4Mh8gxhcOV0ZmmWwfrt_3ZbnfVMHXWyTuOj0evd8kBibzPgwzySD1eG5dH6JFKJ-uxMnvGGa5gEvrzoE/s320/IMG_1487%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /> </div><div>What I didn't realize was that God was playing a cruel joke on me that weekend and decided to make it pour even harder after the first day on the road. Since most of the roads were washed out, we couldn't take any of the dirt paths and had to stick to the paved roads instead, which changed out trip from a meager 2100kms to an excruciating 2700kms.......sweet! The picture bellow was taken of a road as it was washing out underneath us!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU0S_tUlhDZIphIpCo1F6b_w5zqelaawhh8itZYceqP1QvYfF_uPHz929GNlF3CHkC2YrQOhcP-y-txd_s_pRda8lJMB7wjjfLQqRgeUPmioOttpiIqgAmNOhwCx_IkMt2CzJXiKaisw/s1600-h/IMG_1486[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082897829207000610" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU0S_tUlhDZIphIpCo1F6b_w5zqelaawhh8itZYceqP1QvYfF_uPHz929GNlF3CHkC2YrQOhcP-y-txd_s_pRda8lJMB7wjjfLQqRgeUPmioOttpiIqgAmNOhwCx_IkMt2CzJXiKaisw/s320/IMG_1486%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />For those of you who want to feel like you're the last person left on the face of the earth I highly recommend the drive. There is absolutely NOTHING out there minus a few scattered towns that look like the set of the movie "Wolf Creek." On our first day, we stopped off at a pub that made you feel right at home by displaying all of the pickled poisonous snakes that had been caught around the bar.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX8RRWdqCnCMAoGgzmq8ywJTxfQ0-TV_EioTQ5UjZ-V9Pc1XJrc3etyPSLTZQ3aYgaAMIa4UOfbcBd3KStfEZTJdPKLNMzzK6xvlgj-F3dCnb0QypaF5qzV11v-J_Ejxl8hIvF_BKaho/s1600-h/IMG_1429[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082902291678021202" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX8RRWdqCnCMAoGgzmq8ywJTxfQ0-TV_EioTQ5UjZ-V9Pc1XJrc3etyPSLTZQ3aYgaAMIa4UOfbcBd3KStfEZTJdPKLNMzzK6xvlgj-F3dCnb0QypaF5qzV11v-J_Ejxl8hIvF_BKaho/s320/IMG_1429%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /> </div><div>In the backyard there was an emu that would casually stroll into the pub when it was bored. There was also this guy who was a little pissed off so we kept our distance!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEuZpDvSPqYK_bvorl9LU0I0gGd8rTPd0f_QBhxoHNwaFXvPJbN4fdJJk60qZlcMsJjgErfJVeEXN03A_WKJTCOj_jeQBuGr0A_UMqbVdHsiG_4WQeDW1U_JcXQTsyE2D51fQR4dU6sA/s1600-h/IMG_1434[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082902295972988514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEuZpDvSPqYK_bvorl9LU0I0gGd8rTPd0f_QBhxoHNwaFXvPJbN4fdJJk60qZlcMsJjgErfJVeEXN03A_WKJTCOj_jeQBuGr0A_UMqbVdHsiG_4WQeDW1U_JcXQTsyE2D51fQR4dU6sA/s320/IMG_1434%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />I still showed them how we did it in Canada though!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVxQ6yYzbC6cvzTLzVYOz-1BBqiX-2rE84ZvbRr0SQpPMf57gm7VuhbGl-4m1_KmQjkv15VRX3R1Ht1JqpBwAuETGYUbrFNG1fJ4K-Tn7YBLeSndBXhmk8_X8qSI_pAt8Z3DfJyh_YbY/s1600-h/IMG_1442[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082897812027131362" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVxQ6yYzbC6cvzTLzVYOz-1BBqiX-2rE84ZvbRr0SQpPMf57gm7VuhbGl-4m1_KmQjkv15VRX3R1Ht1JqpBwAuETGYUbrFNG1fJ4K-Tn7YBLeSndBXhmk8_X8qSI_pAt8Z3DfJyh_YbY/s320/IMG_1442%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That night we stopped off at at a quaint little town for the night and partied in the only hostel/bar in the area with all the locals. These were interesting people if you enjoyed debating the finer points of cattle farming and shitalking the local cops when they came to clear everyone out at around three in the morning. The 'ol "Nelson Charm" wasn't working that night so I had to resort to other means...</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmnFoj0xxqDbFCQGv0MMsBCR5BlXRRXdQwL_BL9Ey7FzUDafdGS8JyjuW2kTdYZQp14w1ggcXG3nu8jL1rDewmd8NW1g9EwKDe19F9VPjadKGmXDhocb-Pr6lyVIZWEL0jmQ7eaYFJ-s/s1600-h/IMG_1445[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082897816322098674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmnFoj0xxqDbFCQGv0MMsBCR5BlXRRXdQwL_BL9Ey7FzUDafdGS8JyjuW2kTdYZQp14w1ggcXG3nu8jL1rDewmd8NW1g9EwKDe19F9VPjadKGmXDhocb-Pr6lyVIZWEL0jmQ7eaYFJ-s/s320/IMG_1445%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next day we departed for the town of Waltzing Matilda which is a really big deal in Aus because it's the name of their unofficial national anthem. It's a song about a thief who commits suicide by drowning himself in a waterhole rather than face some jail time for stealing a sheep. Thankfully, this way of thinking has percolated into all forms of Australian culture today and honestly I think it's amazing that some of these people can even get their legs through the correct pant hole in the morning.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb02IoBXXwaPjEKU3Oe-j_yYsUeRCYSDU2354aXFN_PsRfOlxsV3MOHx97LFvqpEZsXuQFKaycJ85Ea5dXNF_YwpUbV9uojS8bkjuQ8Hcd_fSsh0mGcP8r14y612qhgK_7s4Jw7c-f4CE/s1600-h/IMG_1456[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082897820617065986" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb02IoBXXwaPjEKU3Oe-j_yYsUeRCYSDU2354aXFN_PsRfOlxsV3MOHx97LFvqpEZsXuQFKaycJ85Ea5dXNF_YwpUbV9uojS8bkjuQ8Hcd_fSsh0mGcP8r14y612qhgK_7s4Jw7c-f4CE/s320/IMG_1456%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />After that it was off to the Walkabout Creek Hotel where the movie <em>Crocodile Dundee</em> was filmed. (The first one that is, not the one where Paul Hogan goes to New York or whatever..) </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI2v38CLjnwyLw3CrHbdAVCvQKrW9qfoufwNBkI4qQxmlt5eqiY_aXjN0knzgMSfXO0XY377t45oiG3ngZ9NTuk_1b4hSfcH3UZjv9ephpM9cucrDZPfn2x-YjoDjIS-vbdrxSK5VyvU/s1600-h/IMG_1483[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082897824912033298" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXI2v38CLjnwyLw3CrHbdAVCvQKrW9qfoufwNBkI4qQxmlt5eqiY_aXjN0knzgMSfXO0XY377t45oiG3ngZ9NTuk_1b4hSfcH3UZjv9ephpM9cucrDZPfn2x-YjoDjIS-vbdrxSK5VyvU/s320/IMG_1483%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />That night we celebrated out arrival at the hotel by getting wasted and making passes at one another.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OkX_1DctGmke7FEPVUiQFAeFFA3wy2Eu7HIgsSZ0ikkr8guIFaJdiJlAvzq6hewiSZZnu_HNy5d_z6mz29zykT5qmzccCEEWgS-n4XF_ehRbex_2JXJ1nyWdpqhj-oefcj9SUQoOaqk/s1600-h/IMG_1493[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082891859202459042" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OkX_1DctGmke7FEPVUiQFAeFFA3wy2Eu7HIgsSZ0ikkr8guIFaJdiJlAvzq6hewiSZZnu_HNy5d_z6mz29zykT5qmzccCEEWgS-n4XF_ehRbex_2JXJ1nyWdpqhj-oefcj9SUQoOaqk/s320/IMG_1493%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />With a hangover and an early start under our belts the next day we took off at five in the morning so we could make it to the natural rock formation known as "Devils Marbles." At one point in the road, there are no curves for 67 kms, you really do feel like you're in the middle of nowhere!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsl0zzWEP5pRf7ctGrVAjHVEVVU0PfFO3L7I_eOicNQt6rnIDo7THCRXs1JouJWYwXNrJDe5OqusGytxzqF54xK1TxBtmpaKOdPJsCVvw3e8qkGDtUY5Uub9NnlxAUs0TrYKj_hhCJOk/s1600-h/IMG_1500[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082891867792393650" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsl0zzWEP5pRf7ctGrVAjHVEVVU0PfFO3L7I_eOicNQt6rnIDo7THCRXs1JouJWYwXNrJDe5OqusGytxzqF54xK1TxBtmpaKOdPJsCVvw3e8qkGDtUY5Uub9NnlxAUs0TrYKj_hhCJOk/s320/IMG_1500%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2VxGqBaggcGvJz7DAvsARe1g3D0ldDgrbq1hFKdMHBVToMHmnmkrDxVTj0Nuy6GXPrvHiSNohfkudEXy1LGmXiZiVD7Z8_6l76dvBFIA2VlV6tfNdXkQFzyXtH3dYTkOOzg6TlzFAqA/s1600-h/IMG_1510[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082891876382328258" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2VxGqBaggcGvJz7DAvsARe1g3D0ldDgrbq1hFKdMHBVToMHmnmkrDxVTj0Nuy6GXPrvHiSNohfkudEXy1LGmXiZiVD7Z8_6l76dvBFIA2VlV6tfNdXkQFzyXtH3dYTkOOzg6TlzFAqA/s320/IMG_1510%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />The devil's marbles truly are an incredible sight, they were formed by a combination of erosion and cracks in the earth's crust and the whole site, (we were told repeatedly ad nauseum,) is sacred to the aboriginals.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vtCzGEGlC_Ehvn74RFVn7xed7q8qzkCVwrdIbq9wacr2plb9LPBibbvHvrAOTlsyxYPykoHXeOXz49LoD8sUB5NPeWSG68PuPP3jBsmK9Slalxz6ajej-4jUglgp-HwhP1QH0rGwHog/s1600-h/IMG_1516[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082891880677295570" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vtCzGEGlC_Ehvn74RFVn7xed7q8qzkCVwrdIbq9wacr2plb9LPBibbvHvrAOTlsyxYPykoHXeOXz49LoD8sUB5NPeWSG68PuPP3jBsmK9Slalxz6ajej-4jUglgp-HwhP1QH0rGwHog/s320/IMG_1516%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1INZAX__NZpronPzDCdhA-xaWJb9sSrfE8SNBbmVR8-OQMHP0_IjLd0VQgFQ4V4g3tI0ADsXyuI3oLOprmoDZrazkWOQtDwIprSbsAInCzHuXgfkFbgLHZyD51Tm8tTHr5fVmXZsbpI/s1600-h/IMG_1520[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082886911400133954" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1INZAX__NZpronPzDCdhA-xaWJb9sSrfE8SNBbmVR8-OQMHP0_IjLd0VQgFQ4V4g3tI0ADsXyuI3oLOprmoDZrazkWOQtDwIprSbsAInCzHuXgfkFbgLHZyD51Tm8tTHr5fVmXZsbpI/s320/IMG_1520%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Very sacred to the aboriginals.... </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm96f9EJScYkGYKd-9tZXOr6-ck1wCXXB-XkT5RdyO_ux2B-GQafWlGoKzdJq0DGtrsw-e7jVKKqJM8QNVluMNXCYRaB0DKj0L0cxNuGAyWb7QTsqqDdVFSVPfKFb3itqaRVXG-69TwCI/s1600-h/IMG_1521[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082886919990068562" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm96f9EJScYkGYKd-9tZXOr6-ck1wCXXB-XkT5RdyO_ux2B-GQafWlGoKzdJq0DGtrsw-e7jVKKqJM8QNVluMNXCYRaB0DKj0L0cxNuGAyWb7QTsqqDdVFSVPfKFb3itqaRVXG-69TwCI/s320/IMG_1521%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrSJlo3Jh_qPWGgDLrdN-rtXNAtENJNb4Jrc7FCiWXdp5H82iISMq90bKvSbPvR5aT5eKGXip6MNxJ7bIK-g16sqpiG73ecbWqCvSuMNW-eahNW71_p6lhCZEa0ojUtwvFf3o3eWeLmg/s1600-h/IMG_1523[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082886928580003170" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrSJlo3Jh_qPWGgDLrdN-rtXNAtENJNb4Jrc7FCiWXdp5H82iISMq90bKvSbPvR5aT5eKGXip6MNxJ7bIK-g16sqpiG73ecbWqCvSuMNW-eahNW71_p6lhCZEa0ojUtwvFf3o3eWeLmg/s320/IMG_1523%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>EXTREMELY sacred to the aboriginals!!!!!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcH8jKYGLWPbut07GIuxCdnANnIoPWoeNHKbzQheI5mMTjRbga0MiwwS-T_aQjJRfYe3HAcvPSmlzs_KD3y_f3fNhSvWZfpgQ4xE_4dSHvULJyGfMAYMhwnfkrc1uhrENH5vyOiGZOkE/s1600-h/IMG_1528[1]"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082886941464905090" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcH8jKYGLWPbut07GIuxCdnANnIoPWoeNHKbzQheI5mMTjRbga0MiwwS-T_aQjJRfYe3HAcvPSmlzs_KD3y_f3fNhSvWZfpgQ4xE_4dSHvULJyGfMAYMhwnfkrc1uhrENH5vyOiGZOkE/s320/IMG_1528%5B1%5D" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />Finally it was off to one of the only four remaining telegraph stations in Australia before we made it into Alice Springs. I only took one pic of the town but I think I managed to capture both the cultural divide and the unique history that makes this one of the most lawless and dangerous towns to live in in all of Australia.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8PXh270_DtebYJwrM8EtZYk20pkphhJBcrSnDzSZnPz0kQXlBbPz_7e1_HSMhQ9dHiC_QPFeBh9uT-S8WaVNLpp1bmeqDms5YiuuP8BCQstHAe5fzXIOOuB7KY0hhtbyWQ_kf_KPHFc/s1600-h/hell.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082914184442463874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8PXh270_DtebYJwrM8EtZYk20pkphhJBcrSnDzSZnPz0kQXlBbPz_7e1_HSMhQ9dHiC_QPFeBh9uT-S8WaVNLpp1bmeqDms5YiuuP8BCQstHAe5fzXIOOuB7KY0hhtbyWQ_kf_KPHFc/s320/hell.bmp" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div>Willie Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14720470629590338710noreply@blogger.com