Sorry for not having posted for a while, but after I left the Gili Islands, it was about 2 weeks without being able to find internet (that was not closed or down ( Read more... )

Well, I am now in Indonesia... Right now I am on Gili Trawangan (for the 3rd time) typing from an internet cafe which is running on generator fed power... It is a small island and sometimes there are power issues. I have now been here about 1 week and have done about 8 dives ( Read more... )

After the craziness of the full moon party, it was off to Koh Tao for some diving. On my first visit to Koh Tao, I got my PADI Advanced Open Water at Sea Shell Dive Resort. As I talked to all the touts for different dive resorts, I heard that they had changed hands, and since their rooms were pretty umm...rudimentary, I decided to go talk to ( Read more... )

Well, I now have been to two Full Moon Parties on Koh Pha Ngan. This is truely an interesting event. Basically you have the entirety of the beach (and inland for a few blocks) setting up shop to sell booze, food and flourescent body paint to 5000 or more tourists (and a few Thais). I really mean the entirety. Every storefront and spot on the ( Read more... )

Well, I am now in Koh Samui. This time I took the bus/ferry from Bangkok which was cheaper and not too bad (except it left at 6am!). I have to confess I have not been doing too much. Sitting on the beach, going to cafes/bars, reading, even (gasp) watching some TV. It is nice and relaxing, but I feel like a slug for doing it ( Read more... )

Well, I finally managed to get moved out of my apartment in Tokyo and get on the road. I needed more time to sell the furniture that I had, so I was lucky to be able to sell all the major items, though it was painful to accept the prices I had to. The final walk through went ok, which surprised me. The floor of the apartment was the softest most ( Read more... )

Yes, I know I last wrote a month ago (is anyone reading anymore?), but at least I am finally getting to it ( Read more... )

I figure now that it is some 8 months later, it is well overdue that I post about the trip through Vietnam. The flight from Vientienne to Ha Noi was fairly routine, but while waiting, I got convince to get "free transport" from the airport. This was of course based on the fact that they would take me to their guest house with the expectation that ( Read more... )

After Luang Prabang, I was eager to head to head to Phonsavan in the Laos interior to see the Plain of Jars. Not long ago, this journey took several days due to difficult road condition and the Laos embassy's tourist information links say to permit 3 days for travel to Phonsovan, so with only a dozen days planned for Laos, I needed to get going! ( Read more... )

Yup, I am finally getting around to posting again! I won't be catching up or even nearly doing so, but at least I can get a small start ( Read more... )