I’m back in Seoul. I can’t remember which day I got here because I lost track of the days halfway through my holiday, but I know that it’s more than a day ago and less than a week. I think it was Tuesday. It was a great holiday and it finished all too soon. Now I’m back and looking for jobs in Korea. Also, I have the urge to ride a motorcycle again, so bad.
Let me fill you in on the story of my trip. My third day on Phi Phi started with me rushing like mad to make the ferry off the island. I madly threw items into my suitcase, sat on it to make it fit and with a final cursory glance at my room to make sure everything was packed, I left. Looking back, I think it might have been better to stay there an extra day. But there was something about living completely amongst backpackers which didn’t appeal. I had done my island swimming, now I needed some cultural exposure.
I made it onto the ferry, just in time. In Thailand, it is easy to break a sweat just walking around. Had been running, pulling my two suitcases over the cobbled streets of Phi Phi, dodging tourists and motorbike taxis. As I was running, one such taxi and it’s deadly sidecar came too close, forcing me and my cases off into the gutter. He even had the nerve to toot. I felt like chasing after him and making him pay, but I really had a ferry to catch. Once on, I descended to the lower cabin and sat out the rough ride. The sea was quite choppy. I remembered that this was the monsoon season and looking out on the horizon I could see the dark clouds billowing. Sitting there, I think I was in the best position because weary travellers from the upper deck would come down to the lower occasionally, wet from the sea spray and sick from the motion. They’d wobble about before grabbing a sick bag or two and then fall into a seat. My real reason for hiding out wasn’t the motion, I can take that quite well, no it was the sun. I was already reeling from two days earlier when I’d happily burnt myself to a crisp with my then-unknown SPF 2 sunscreen. I had to avoid the sun as much as possible. I didn’t want to go from maroon to scarlett.
I arrived at Phuket and quickly headed to the airport. I decided to use AirAsia to fly back to Bangkok. It is the cheapest way to get about SE Asia. I think my 2 hour flight cost 65 aussie dollars. If I’d used the web to make the booking it might have been even cheaper. Landed in Bangkok, found a hotel in a familiar part of town and went there by taxi. When I got to my room, I was not completely impressed. The aircon was right next to the bed, and the room was blazing hot without it. My nights there consisted of a hide and seek game I played as I got hot then cold again. I heard another customer complaining as I was walking out to get some food. Apparently he had lots of cockroaches in his room. It made me feel a little better about mine. Back in Bangkok again. Each time I got back to this strange city I felt a little better about being there. It really does grow on you. I found a restaurant which specialized in English style fish ‘n’ chips. I welcomed the idea with glee. My next day and a bit was filled with a whole heap of shopping. I bought some DVDs, a whole lot of clothes (copied designer clothes, yipee!) and some gifts and souvenirs. It’s a great place to shop if you have the opportunity and the spare luggage weight. I was already over my limit so I had to do a necessary purge of old and unfashionable clothing. Even after the purge, I still had to squeeze everything in.
So all in all it was a great trip. I have one lingering question about Thailand though. What is with all the damn katoeys? For those who don’t know, a katoey is a man who dresses up as a lady and possibly has had the surgery to match. In Thailand, they are EVERYWHERE. It’s not just like, oh here’s one here and there’s one there. I was seeing them in every place, every location. In groups of university students, in queues for the bus, a whole bunch walking toward me and giving me the type of eyes that I never want to see again. It’s an amazing phenomenon and I just don’t understand why Thailand has so god-damned many of them. A girl I spoke to there said that she knew of a guy who was dating one and didn’t even know it. I don’t understand how you can’t. Sure, the surgery and enhancements are good as far as surgery goes. But spend oh I don’t know, like 2 seconds to look and you see the broad shoulders, strong jaw and hmm how to say? uh MANLINESS of their appearance. I don’t see how you could miss it. I also found out my first night that many ply their trade outside my hotel after dark. Can you now picture my budget accommodation? However the only thing stopping me from going to Khao San road where I could find nicer accommodation was the fact that I’d be back with the backpackers and I didn’t really feel like that. So it was a colorful part of my stay. What I don’t understand is who actually pays to have them? At first I’d think gay guys, but then gay guys like men, so what’s the use of a female body and someone who is trying to act female when you’re turned on by the opposite. Then I thought, well maybe straight guys, but what straight guy in his right mind would be turned on by another man. So I don’t know who patronizes them but I guess there must be quite a few, given the number.
Anyway, now I’m in normal-as-anything Korea and I don’t have to worry about such things. I can safely say that Thailand is great to visit on tour, but I’m glad I’m living in Korea. I’m still dreaming of motorbikes though…
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