Hello to everyone. Thank you for the great comments and encouragment, it's much appreciated. I should say though that I must have given the wrong impression of my feelings and situation. I was of course bummed about Corina and I not working out and her going home but I was not in the least bummed about being here in Thailand by myself. I was in fact looking forward to it. Some time to myself to do some thinking and reflecting. I still have things I have to figure out in my life but don't we all. In my eyes and my heart I'm still young.

My time alone, funny enough, turned into only 4 days. Danielle left on the 15th for Bangkok and I went to Krabi for a few days as you know. I did my Visa run to Malaysia on the 18th and then on the 20th I headed down to Lanta. On the way to Lanta I met some great people. We were all sitting at the front of the boat talking and I looked off to the right out at the ocean and was amazed to see a Baracuda jump out of the water and with great speed skip along the surface for about 200 feet. It was just amazing to see.

When I got to Lanta I met up with Melissa (22) and Mandy(21). So my time alone was short lived. The girls are great. I met them at a place on Lanta called Lanta Paradise Bungalow and it really was Paradise. We shared a room for 300 baht ($12) and enjoyed days by the pool swimming and looking out at the ocean and the nights were spent in the bungalows bar drinking and trying to learn Poi. I'll try to post a picture so you know what poi is. The girls are from Abbotsford as am I and funny enough we met a couple guys from the next resort from Abby too. Small world. With the Abbotsford guys was a young Swiss guy named Toby who was really interesting. He's 23 and just passed the tests to become a member of the S.W.A.T team. He's traveling for a couple of months before he goes home to start training. I'm going to keep in touch and try to hear what I can about his training and the experience.

Also while we were at the resort we met up with a couple of Kiwis (New Zealanders) named Jessie(22) and Rhiannon(23). They had been teaching english in Taiwan for the last 6 months and were now traveling through Thailand. They have decided to travel with us so now it's the 5 of us traveling around for a bit. The Canadian girls want to head to Chang Mai for a week before they head home on the 20th of December so we will probably separate from the Kiwis around then.

I don't really know where to start. The 5 of us left from Lanta Paradise on the 24th and headed to a little island called Ko Kradan. We had heard it was really nice and decided we would give it a shot. We got a boat from the Lanta pier and headed south. We were told it would be a 1 1/2 hour ride where we would be tagging along on a snorkeling tour. What we didn't know is that we would be tagging along while people did their snorkelling. Our 1 1/2 hour ride turned into almost 4 hours. If I would have know we were going to be visiting these places with the tour I would have had my shorts on so I could have been swimming too. Luckily 3 of the girls had their suits on so they did a little swimming.

One stop was into a long cave that came out into a kind of walled off sandy beach. Like what Dave and Allie saw in Mexico. Very cool I was told. Anyway, we finally got to Ko Kradan and it only had one resort. We checked out the rooms and found out that the ones right on the beach were only 100 baht. Divided by 3 thats only just over $1 Canadian a night. We were very stoked. We put our stuff away, the three Canadians in one room and the Kiwis right next door. We then went for lunch.

Then it started. A guy from the resort came who had better english and told us that the rooms we had put our stuff in were really 1000 baht ($40) a night. The cheapest rooms were 500 baht ($20) a night. We decided to take two of those and moved our stuff, which luckily we hadn't unpacked, into the new rooms. While the Kiwis went to read the 3 Canucks, as were called here, decided to go for a walk. The beach was beautiful, so very beautiful. Sometimes you're just walking along and it dawns on you where the hell you are. The whole amazing truth of where you are and what your doing. This was one of those times. Sun was out, water was turquoise, the sand on the beach is so white and soft and everything just seems perfect.

The power at the resort didn't turn on till 6pm so we strolled along killing time. The girls, Mandy and Melissa, saw a long thin log up about 5 feet off the ground that was across two trees leaning out over the beach. They thought it would be a good picture to get up and both sit on the log. You can see where this is going... After a couple of pics Mandy decided she wanted to hang upside down and have her picture taken so with Melissa still sitting on the log she turned around and swung down to hang by her knees. With the momentum of swinging down the log snapped and both came crashing down. Melissa landed on her feet and ass and Mandy landed right on her shoulders with her knees hitting the ground beside her head. I must say I missed the picture. After making sure she was ok, about 15 seconds of crying followed by mad laughter, I decided to go back to where I was and snap a few more pictures. It makes for a good sequence of photos and some good laughs later.

Mandy was ok so we did some more walking and exploring. Found some big crabs and Hermit crabs. Very interesting. When we got back to our bungalow we noticed we had no water. We thought it may turn on at 6 with the power. I'd've had the runs for a couple of days leading up to Kradan and with no water in the bucket to flush with I couldn't use the bathroom which I was really needing to do. When 6pm came around we finally got power but still we had no water.

Melissa and I were in our room reading when Mandy came over from the Kiwis room and said there was a beautiful butterfly in their bathroom that she wanted Melissa to see. Within a minute I heard my name being called. I had no interest in seeing a butterfly and so reluctantly got up and went next door. When I got there I knew that there was no way it was just a butterfly. All the girls were crowded onto a bed closest to the door. They told me there was a spider in their bathroom. Melissa hates spiders and so they thought the butterfly joke would be funny. It kinda was actually. Well the girls had been afraid of little spiders since I'd been with them so I went into the bathroom with a little drinking glass to catch it and get it out. Well the fucking thing was so huge that at first I couldn't even see it because I was looking for just some little thing. It was as big as a fucking turanchula.... the body wasn't as big but the leg span was huge. I was like Holy Fuck.... "Didn't you see me going in with this little glass, how do I catch it?" Now I never kill anything, just catch it and throw it out, but this thing was so huge I really contemplated just getting one of my sandles and squashing the mother fucker.

I grabbed the bucket that we use to flush with from the bigger bucket of water and used that to make my move. Well that thing was so fast it had coverd two walls and was behind me on the other wall blocking my way out before I knew what to do. I was trapped in the bathroom with this damn thing and a little bucket with no lid. The girls were screaming and I was yelling to find me something to cover the bucket with. The bucket was actually a big bowl. After a lot of swearing and picture taking I finally got the thing in the bowl and it's bloody legs were so wide they were about as round as the bowl. The girls could only find a roofing tile to put over the bowl and when I went to slide it between the wall and the bowl the tile was so thick that the thing started sticking it's legs out through the cracks and I almost dropped the whole damn thing. We finally got it outside and I got to be a hero for one night. lol My god, it's hard to act brave when your scared shitless.

Later, after we calmed down, during dinner we mentioned we had no water and the lady in charge started yelling at people and soon had them scrambling. Needless to say, after dinner we had water and had our respective poops. Wahooo They also told us that on the 26th there would be a party of 200 people, thai people, coming to the island and since they were the only resort we would have to clear out by then. That gave us only two nights. We decided to leave after one night. The next morning we spent on the beach and swam in the beautiful warm turquoise water. It was so nice boats would show up periodically and let of loads of people to snorkel before moving on to the next destination. Imagine... lying in the sun tanning after swimming in the beautiful ocean, reading your book. Turn you head to the right and there are four beautiful women you're traveling with tanning in bikinis. Turn your head to the left and there is just miles of beach and turquoise water and open ocean. Lay still enough and the crabs come out of their holes and explore around you, picking at the tassles on your sarong. The dog who you made friends with laying in the sand above sleeping. If ever I dream of paradise it will be that day on the beach.

Around 2:30pm on the 25th we headed out to the neighboring island of Ko Muk. About 2 miles from shore the engine on our long tail broke down, propelor shaft chain, and we had to sit and wait for awhile till another boat came. It gave those of us in the boat a chance to meet and talk. Another boat came and we transfered our stuff over and made it the rest of the way to the other Island. When we got to Ko Muk the prices of the first resort were ourageous. 1290 baht ($58) for three people. After we looked at the room the manager came and he upped the price from that even higher. We decided to move on and found a little ugly place for 300 baht. We had been spoiled by Lanta Paradise because for 300 baht this place was not the same. lol The people were nice though and it was kinda kozy. The power didn't turn on till 4pm but then broke by 6pm and everyone at the bungalows dining area was eating by candle light.

Sounds romantic but it's not quite how it seems. Candles attract bugs and it's hard to play cards and eat with one candle at a table for five. We had an early night and at 9am this morning we were on our way by boat and mini bus to Trang and then a bus up to Krabi. From 8am when we got up to 9:30am I had been to the bathroom three times. Having got the runs everytime I get on some sort of transportation it's an adventure. Never knowing if I'll make it to the next stop. Try using a squat toilet in the back of a full bus, trying to aim while the crazy ass driver is driving the bus like it's an god damn indy car. Loads of fun.

Today we got into Krabi and I had called ahead and gotten us rooms at the Chan Cha Lay. The girls like the place so thats where we'll stay for a few days. Tonight we went to the restaurant down the street and watched Bad Boys II and ate. The girls are all reading now or in bed while I write my blog.

Tomorrow I'm going to show the girls around Krabi Town and we are just going to relax. We are going to go over to Railey Beach the day after tomorrow where for the day the 5 of us are going to give rock climbing a try. Very cool because I was the only one that wanted or could afford to do it when Corina and Danielle and I were here earlier. Now the 5 of us will do it. The adventure continues. I guess my alone time is going to be put off until the girls head home on the 20th of December. I'm still looking forward to my time alone but I think it may be a little harder than I think being as how it's going to be during Christmas and New Years.

I wonder what I'll be doing during that time. I fully realize the adventure and opportunity that I have right now and I want everyone to know that I am doing and will continue to do what it is that makes me happy. This really does make me so so happy. The best way I can describe it is as if I was a child again. Every day brings something new and wonderful. Every day is an adventure and a wonder. I wouldn't trade this time in my life for anything. I wish you all could experience this with me. I have no doubt that when I look back I will count these as some of the best times of my life. For now I travel with four beautiful young women. Would I change anything..... would any of you? I didn't think so. My friends and family I miss you much but I'll be home before we all know it. For now the dream continues....