Backpacking in Luxury- Part 2 Catching the Bus

Well KL was nice. Much cooler then expected. Went to the Petronas towers, did the touristy thing and took some pictures, then we rushed off to  catch our bus. We had bought the tickets early and had them in hand as we rushed to the temporary bus platform at the new, temporary bus station. Imagine a parking lot. A large one. Now fill it with a lot of buses and a few large tents that the bus companies set up sales tents in. That was the station. As the bus stated to pull away, I jumped in front of it and waved down the driver, holding the tickets high. We boarded and away  we went. The trip was mostly fine and we had no real problems until trying to leave the country. Remember folks, always get a arrival and departure card, be you arriving by plain, train, bus or boat. We didn't get or ask for one upon entering Malaysia and this slowed us down when we were leaving, but worse we didn't get an arriving card for Singapore. This slowed us down so much that by the time we filled them out,made it through immigration and found our bus, we were able to read the licence plate on the back as it left us there... (Beware of Transnational) Luckily we had our bags, and with them our tickets, and with the tickets, and another bus driver of the same company taking pity on us, we made it into the city with a bus all to ourselves.

Backpacking in Luxury- Part 1

Ahh to travel. Today finds me on a train, in a second class berth heading south to Butterworth, Malaysia from Bangkok, Thailand. As the time goes by with the Thai country side, I notice that it is much more comfortable than all of my girlfriend, Oa, friends made it out to be. Just the day before when we were sitting at the coffee shop at their office, they were making faces and noises when I mentioned we were taking a train and doing the whole backpacking thing. From the fuss they made, you would think that I was taking her south in the back of a truck, no bed or bath and the same set of cloths for the whole trip. Reality is this is a fairly luxurious trip, considering how little money we are spending, and the style we are traveling in. We have a bed, and even our own room for many of the nights, and we will even be staying at a nice hotel in Koh Samui. Travel is by 2nd class sleeper train, nice and air conditioned, then by a first class bus services that has in chair movies, a microwave, and even massage chairs. We are even making a short flight. But no, to them, its fly or stay home. Oh well, this way we can see and do more, even if it means we only use a few shirts for the next two weeks.

Well, it's the next morning, and it wasn't so bad. The sleeper bed was soft, they added an extra cushion to it to be sure, and the sheets were clean. The only complaints I had are because of my height (the bed was a little short) and I had to fight off a couple cockroaches who wanted to sleep in the bed with me. This made Oa suddenly glad that she had chosen to to sleep on the top bunk, as they we not making it that far up the wall. Those two things, and the three kids bunking across from us who woke up and started making noise at 5am are the only things I have to complain about...

We have crossed the Malaysian border now, and after a few more hours on the train, we left it at Butterworth and hoped onto a bus to take us the rest of the way to Kuala Lumpur. Its a nice enough bus, and the trip is only going to take about four and a half hours. What gets us is the view. It really is beautiful, and green. Honestly, if someone had said this is Malaysia to me and shown me pictures I might not have believed them. It's just to clean and neat. After living in Thailand for the last 2 years, I just wouldn't expect a middle of nowhere road to be so nice. Don't get me wrong, Thailand is great, but I keep having this weird feeling that I am really in some mountainous part of Europe or in some warm part of Japan, and not in Southeast Asia at all. If I wasn't looking right now at more palm trees then I had ever seen in my life, I wouldn't believe my own eyes...

Ah reality has come to check on me as we enter a small city. Around me are low, concrete buildings, with peeling paint that has water stains running down the sides. It might look different on the road, but in the city its the same. Southeast Asia all the way. Right down the the run down public restrooms that you have to pay to use.

Mexican in Bangkok

OK, a little extra about me. I grew up in southern California, specifically Huntington Beach and San Diego, so when I say I grew up eating Mexican food, I mean I have had it in nice restaurant's, beach huts, home cooked, quick eats places near freeways and even off the roach coach (endearing term for the mostly Mexican styled food trucks that end up at construction sites) since as far back as I can remember. Now this means that when I want Mexican in Thailand, I am normally disappointed, or it is close, but not quite right. Until a couple weeks ago when I picked up a BK Magazine. They had a special review on a place so I checked it out. I have now eaten there twice and I must say, it does not disappoint. So far my girl and I have had the super beef burrito, 10 and 12 inch, the chicken Quesadilla, and the 'wet' steak burrito. As well as chips and salsa and chips and guacamole. The picture below is of the 'wet' burrito plate. All

the food so far has been so good that I keep expecting to hear Spanish from the kitchen. The Quesadilla is almost an inch thick (the one above is a small, they also have a super version), and the dips are thick and rich in flavor. The regular burrito comes wrapped in foil and wax paper, just like you would get in Baja or California and is stuffed with chunks of beef, beans, guacamole, rice and veggies. And as you can see from the picture, the plate burrito is huge, stuffed with everything you would want in a burrito, topped with guacamole, sour cream and red sauce. From now on when I want Mexican in Bangkok, I will go here. If it is full, I will wait. The name is La Monita Taqueria, dress is casual and price is between 250 and 350 for most of the main dishes, so its not exactly cheap, but if you want the real thing, its well worth it. Located at the Phloen Chit BTS station, in the shopping complex parking lot area on the left. For more information see their site here www.lamonita.com

English Camp in Kabin Buri

About a week ago I was able to go o some work out of the city in Kabin Buri. English Camps with Dragonfly! It was a blast! If anyone has some time while traveling to Thailand or other countries in the area, hooking up with a local English camp group is definitely a worthwhile experience. Now I have done maybe 10 of these English camps and everyone is amazing. I like to do them in the summer to supplement my income when the scholarship cuts out.

Usually they start out with a long drive out to some very local place such as a temple school or sometimes a small private school in some province or town that is never seen by tourists. The drives are fun because they give you a chance to talk to people from all walks of life, everything from American sounding English expats who grew up in Thailand to exchange students who just got off the plane from some other English speaking country. You will also run into Thai's who speak English better then native speakers, so don't think this is a foreigners only game. Once you arrive at the location you normally grab your bag and find a 1 inch thick mat to call yours for the next few days, check to see if there is a AC unit or if its just a fan, and then head to the bathroom, and see if there is a shower, or a bucket. I should mention now I think that this is not for the spoiled or high maintenance people who can't handle doing things the local way.

Once everyone has arrived, if its early enough you will all go out to dinner, but as we had eaten before we got there this time and knew each other from previous camps we skipped the getting to know your roommate phase and went to see the football game (soccer to us Americans). After the game we all headed back to the room to settle in for the night and go over the game plan for the weekend.

The next day we head out for the morning meal and then off to the homeroom, in this case the homeroom was a large outdoor stage area with three fans for the 200+ kids, 8 counselors, and 8 school staffers who were there to make sure the kids learned something and didn't goof off or leave. We started off the day with introductions. This is where you get to stand in front of all the kids who's age's range from 10 to 18 and get them to play some kind of game so that they will remember your name. After this we break the kids up into teams and they make name tags for themselves as we do the same. It may be international greetings, get to know your teacher, or the song and dance game, but it is the start of 2 days of games and learning.

The first day is spent getting to know your team, and helping them earn points and stickers by encouraging them to speak English to you and by keeping them motivated so that they do well in the games. It helps that there are prizes at the end. By the end of the first day we were doing well. Today was temple game day so that meant that at the end of the day, the kids get to build a game booth of their own and charge us and other teams Dragonfly Money to play games (there is always a balloon stomp game, no matter what). The team at the end with the most money wins. After that we hook up some lights while the kids are cleaning up, check the music and next thing you know, its a party! Dancing kids, teachers and staff will party till 10 or so and then everyone is off to bed.

The next day we spent doing a nature walk/obstacle course, some aerobics and a few other games (can't tell you everything or you will never try it yourself!) and finish off with the all time favorite powder game. When its all over and you have had your shower and are heading back to the city, you can't help but wonder when the next camp is, and if they might need another person to come help out. Because in the end, the money isn't that what keeps you going back to these, it's the kids, even if they do bombard you in the powder game (see picture).

Sizzler in Thailand

OK, I know I know, why eat at Sizzler right? Because they make a good steak for the price and we had a craving. If you are in Bangkok there are a LOT of international food choices but if your craving a good steak and don't want to drop all your money at the New York Steakhouse then Sizzler is the place to go. I went out with my girlfriend and her dad and they only wanted to eat the salad bar. But me I am a big guy and well, I like meat. I ordered a combination plate tonight consisting of a piece of spicy chicken and some pepper pork. The pork was better then expected while the chicken was OK. Since moving here I have eaten at so many chicken places that are absolutely great that I really expect a lot from a place serving chicken. The meal came with a baked potato, topped with sour cream and wrapped in foil. Over all a good dinner, and filling, but not very interesting. But you don't go to Sizzler for interesting, you go because you know its good and you feel like pigging out on the salad bar and unlimited lemon ice tea.