Monday, Jan 2, 2017

After yesterday’s journey here to Bangkok (about 27-1/2 hrs door to door) and a 12-hr time change, sleep was an experience.  We did our best and stayed up until about 6pm before falling asleep.  I woke up at 10:30pm… then 4am…  and finally at 7:30am.   We went downstairs for the Youth Hostel’s breakfast, then went to the gym (at the hotel next door) – it was about $5 total for the two of us.  Annie did her meditation and  yoga workout while I worked out in the gym… mostly on the treadmill.  After about 45 minutes in the warm, humid gym (I was the only person there), I was drenched.  I didn’t need the sauna…  I felt like I worked out in one.

We never use ATM machines in the States…  and it’s been 2 years since we used one last in India.  I planned to bring US cash with us and exchange it whenever we needed it.  However we ran out of cash last night and found out today’s a national holiday for the banks and money changers….  After an easy search, we found an ATM machine and realized we didn’t remember how to use itwe couldn’t even remember our password.  After a few tries and getting ready to skip eating today…  we found a machine that was working and even accepted the password and card.  What a nice moment!

We had a light lunch and took a boat tour to see Bangkok.  That was relaxing.

Returning to the Hostel, we looked for one of the famous Thai foot massages.  The place Annie decided on was booked, so we kept walking down the alley way.  The next place was booked… and the next… finally we found a little place that had a group of young guys sitting in front… all wearing black leather jackets like they were a motorcycle gang from the 1950’s.  We walked in, wondering what we were getting into?  Two of the guys walked over and set us up.  An hour later (and about $12-15) we walked out relaxed.  We strolled down a block we hadn’t looked at before and saw one for massage place after another.  Some of them had as many as maybe 30-50 chairs set up with people all getting massages at the same time with less than a foot apart (no pun intended?)

We bought some mango from a street vender and ate it as we walked back to the youth hostel.

The next objective: figure out our next destination.

The priority:   snorkeling

We spent the next couple hours looking through “the Lonely Planet” (a guide book) and looking at recommendations and videos on the internet.   For $1000-2000/night a few of the places looked nice enough….  but for that price IT WASN’T GOING TO HAPPEN!  For $10-15/night most places looked wrong for us or nice enough but too far from the water.  There are so many Islands to choose from here.  To make our decision we kept focusing on the best snorkeling to isolate which island, and then for the hotel -the proximity to the water, the aesthetics of the property, and the price.  We found a place and tried booking only to find they won’t have rooms available for the next few months.  Back to the drawing board.  A few tries later, we booked a place for 5 nights.  If we like it, we’ll stay longer… otherwise we’ll stay in another place on that island… or change islands?

Tomorrow’s main objective will be finding out how to get there – cabs/boats/flights… what combination.  We’ve looked at so many places I can’t remember if this was the one that said we must be prepared to walk in the ocean carrying our luggage for a bit to get on and off the boat.  Annie’s main bag is 40 pounds…  mine is a bit over 50 (including 20 pounds of balloons).  We also have our backpacks with daily supplies.  This might make a good blog entry… especially if we get a good photo which I know I won’t be thinking about taking while playing the part of a mule – I’m now more thankful for the kettle bell classes we’ve been taking for years at the gym.

It’s after 11pm for me now.  Annie’s busy sleeping and I’m “on my way”.

Good night.

Allynn

One thought on “Monday, Jan 2, 2017

  1. Well, well, it’s morning now for you two! Hope the dreams were lofty and the bodies moreso. . . They’re going to need it to cope with “walking to shore” with two ton bags. . . Allynn, maybe your balloons will come in handy to build you a hot air balloon or, perhaps, a rowboat? OR, better yet, maybe Annie can prop a “Bridge, “lay down a “Plank,” or build a custom “Navasana” to help you guys cross? Well, kidding aside, am sure the guy rowing will try his hardest to bring you up close to shore with the promise of a balloon house, helicopter or maybe just a new “LooK”! ! ! The FUN begins! ! ! Just do us all a favor and get there safely — you managed to get THIS far and the suspense is building! ! ! New Year’s HUGS to YOU BOTH! ! !

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