Sizzled. Burnt. Toasted.

Sizzled.  Burnt.  Toasted.  Fried in more ways than one.  Simply put....done.  It's been a long week and we're not through yet.  One more day of teaching here in Phuket before the next phase of the journey.  All week we've been at this one government institution rotating around a group of approximately 800 students between the 32 of us; taking turns with 35 minute lessons.  Basically it's been a 630 wake up, then a 40 min bus ride, anxiously-waiting-patiently our turn to take a crack at the little buggers, a generous lunch provided by the school *fried rice w chicken or pork/ w/fruit, then the bus ride back just to sit in another 2 hours of class and then having to write out our lesson for the next day along with creating necessary materials/visual aids.  Mildly irritating in a way but honestly not bad having learned seemingly enough to feel competent in front of the class. 

  

Trying to look serious on the job.

 "No.  You see, if you really want to make it you need to get into 'import/export' - but first -

forget English--you gotta learn Chinese."

"Okay, you two, you and you, you fight her.."

On a progressive note, placement confirmed - Ayutthaya.  For those that may not know Ayutthaya is Thailands old capital and splattered with ruins.  Looking forward to the experience having never been there myself.  I'll be teaching at an all girls high school, supposedly an M-3 and an M-6 (equivalent of freshman and seniors).  The M-6 was explained to be a 'gifted' course which I may be running some extra curricular projects.. TBD.  It sounded like I was getting a pretty good deal on my placement and accommodations but for all I know, they just say that to everyone to make us all happy.  I'm going with the flow of it and asking questions when they feel necessary.  Classes start on May 25 but I'll need to be at the school prepping on May 18.  Probably settle into the town around May 10 or 11.

More in the future..?

Even with tight finances (ESAD USF) I think I can pull off a fun little excursion North.  Now that my mate Mark (**he's Canadian but not the annoying kind.. you know, the whole 'maple syrup' and 'moose sounds' crap. he does like Tiger and recently he got me convinced that Chang ain't so bad, but Leo can still suck a fat one) anyways, as I was saying, now that my mate Mark..the Canadian, well, he recently passed another land mark "thai-style" test ie. the squat jon. "Damn, my quads are sore." Way to go Mark! My point is we get along well enough that I think we're gonna take a trip to Chiang Mai for a few nights before hopping on some motorbikes for a little road trip to Pai.  Mark has to be back in Bangkok for some stupid cultural immersion course, but I don't have to. (**I'm like 98% sure it's because he's Canadian).  So while he does that, I'll probably be begging for bahts or drawing portraits of stray dogs in exchange for Kaeng Khiao Wan.  That's the quick and sleazy of it in my current state of mind, *note title.

**apologies if you're reading this Mark.  Call it even for the stove.

 

Just a cool shot from the pool.

Deadwood

"Pain or damage don't end the world.  Or despair or fucking beatings.  The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back"  Al Swearengen

Respect the Buddha

        
             Perhaps I should be taking it easy seeing as how my genes tend to attract the strep a little too easily.  But you know what, it's Saturday, I don't have an agenda, I do have a motorbike, and there's some pretty cool stuff all around.  I'd be stupid NOT to be zipping around the island, slapping bugs with my face, smiling at the oncoming traffic, honking at elephants, and doing double takes at the massage ladies hollering for some attention ..wait... that was a lady right? 

*a well placed guard rail.

(Tip: try not buying your petro from the bottles on the side of the road, pretty sure it's watered down.)
   

            I did handle some biz today - delivered some US mags to my old barber friend, handled some shopping and rubbed shoulders with the locals, then tried paying my respects to a friend that passed from a motorbike accident.  Only friends of the family were around.  Respect to Buddha.   Since death is just the beginning in their eyes, a tragic accident isn't so tragic.  In memory of Kane I continued my ride to the other side of the island, snapped some shots at Kata Beach, the back of the Big Buddha, and Patong off in the distance.  

 *That little itty-bitty white thing that you can hardly make out on the top of the hill is the back of the Big Buddha from my previous post.

 *view from Kata Beach

                                                  *jacket lift and Bacardi = beach essentials.

 *Kata Beach at the bottom of the hill (bay #1, midground) Patong Beach (bay #2, background)

           Nothing wrong with the solo ride, but a few folks from back home wouldn't have hurt.  Even if it is just a motorbike, riding around on two wheels just can't be explained in text.  You gotta be there. 

A motorcycle in my future?  Maybe someday... maybe. 

Ill in Paradise..

 *cough, cough.  Sucks being sick but better now than come Monday when I’m in front of 40+ teenagers.  Yep, it’s just about go time, at least for our volunteer teaching gig which goes on all next week.  It’s Friday evening and I haven’t been feeling top notch since this past Tuesday.  Nothing major, certainly not the ol’ BKK belly, just a little off.   Folks are heading out to Kho Phi Phi tomorrow for some post Songkhron fun.  I’m sitting this one out having been there already and not recalling it screaming my name to come back for more its ugliness.  Of course, I recommend it to anyone that has never had a real spring break, god speed.  Looking forward to a solo motorbike venture tomorrow.  Seeking out the best barber in Thailand to shave me neck, share some words with some old friends at the guesthouse that Darrell and I stayed at last time around, and pick up some supplies for Mondays lesson.  I’m teaching the kids a few words on ‘electronics’ and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be rad.    Questioning if I should push a switch with one of the other trainees that’s being place in the far north close to the Laos border.  She’s not excited about being that far from BKK.  Not knowing where I’ll be exactly, but certainly closer than that.  Anywhere the experience will be what it will be, but I do wonder.  Door #1 or door #2…

Scooter love'n

It’s the end of the first full week and the suns still shining despite a few loose ends in the States.  I wake in the morning, a quick mix of Nescafe which surprisingly has more of a kick than expected, bust some taiji, spread some Nutella on a few pieces of bread, top with a banana, and 20 meters to class.  Break time has been mixed with lunch at one of the local restaurants which cater to the small tourists community, the food vendors; satay, roasted chicken, green coconut curry, or a low-key meal in the room of tuna sandwiches or prepackaged noodles.  This all hangs on how much ‘beach time’ is needed during that day’s lunch break.  The course itself is informative and intense starting at 9am and goes until 4:30.  It’s a much appreciated reminder that this isn’t just a vacation.  Next week we will be doing our student-student teaching to familiarize ourselves with using the curriculum.  The third week we will be volunteering at local schools for hands on training.  A few of the schools are orphanages and don’t have no English teachers at all (yes, I’m going to be teaching English) and our participation may be the only English they're ever exposed to.  It was explained to us that we’re seen as ‘rock stars’ to these children - sad how quickly glamorized expectations can fizzle.  Rumor has it that I’ll be assigned somewhere in Ayutthaya, Thailand’s old capital just North of Bangkok.  This isn’t confirmed, nor is the age group.  

                       This past weekend was something of a celebration for having completed our first week in the TEFL course.  Friday was a group outing to Rawai Beach, dinner drinks and dancing.  I suspect it will be one of the few, if not the only time, such a large majority of the group gathers together.  Nothing against the idea, just logistics are tricky when accommodating a group of 20+ folks with varied agendas.  Saturday was successfully spent on boat adventure to a remote island 30 min away.   

For having little to do with ourselves the day seemed to disappear quicker than anticipated.  A few times I reminded myself that it wouldn’t be like this for long and to enjoy these moments.  Over all the people are fine but there’s always going to be a few that you gravitate towards; closer company is enjoyed by a small circle with rotating representation from Canada, S. Africa, Romania, and the ol’ USA. 

Just got back to the room after a dip in the ocean to cool off from today’s motor bike excursion. (Can't tell from the pic below but that's a gravel trek going down at a decent angle and I probably shouldn't have been risking the road rash..)

Hit the main highway and ventured towards the Big Buddha on the hill.  After a few missed turns and friendly stops for directions (and to pat the elephants) we conquered one of the highest peaks in the area.  Earned our celebratory meal of some of the best pad thai in Phuket served up by one of the sweetest generational trio, mother, daughter and grandmother who seemed to be just as stoked to have us as we were… maybe more.  After the wolves refueled and enjoyed the last morsels of the meal, the pack saddled up and ventured on in hunt of nothing more than a good view.  Not too hard to find as long as you keep your eyes open.  Scooter love’n..

does this thing really work..

......ok, so I've never blogged before but living abroad for 6 months seems like a pretty damn good reason to give it a shot.  So, with that said, I don't know if I set this up correct - that's my disclaimer.  It's Sunday, April 3 and this is the 3 day since I arrived in Phuket.  First night I spent in Patong after arriving from Incheon at 11:30pm.  The beach town was pretty much closed after midnight so not much to see on my arrival.  The next day, I ventured around a bit, got a taste for the potential debauchery the area had to offer and decided to go ahead and split to my new home for the next 3 weeks - All Seasons at Naiharn Beach.  By chance, the resort/hotel is about a stones throw (literally 50m) from this beach that Darrell and I discovered two years ago, discovered in the sense that we'd never been and it was something of a paradise at that time.  Crystal clear, blue/green water with about 300 too many Russian tourists.  Even with that said, it's not a crowded area but definitely caters to the tourist.  The accommodations are more than I'd ask for but can't complain.  A dip in the ocean or pool, a decent work out in their fitness center, taiji in the kids club (I mean, no one else is using it)  and a lake worthy of a little jaunt around, which surprisingly I've made a morning routine .... doubtful it will continue once classes start.  I've been here two actual days, and happy to say I've received a total of two massages, and no, not the naughty kind.  Today I picked up some goods from one of the markets - even though I'm staying at this resort I can't be comfortable spending tourists prices.  A 30 min walk and I'm paying 40 baht for my pad thai, vs 90 baht at the restaurants just outside of my hotel.  Okay... I think I'll cut this short since I really wasn't ready to write something and I just wanted to see if this works, plus I'm being charged by the minute at this place which is kinda lame, but what ever, I'm in Thailand and you're not so there..

                                           $1.25 for just what the stomach needed.