Never a dull moment on Patong Beach, Phuket

Not much time to write this entry but there are a few plaguing stories I must get off my chest.

1. After age 5 it is not "ok", "cool" or "in good taste" to bite someone's arm while flirting. So Ryann and I are sitting at the bar having a nice game of Connect Four (I won all of the many games except one where Ryann admits that I lost because I was checking out a guy) and these two guys next to us strike up a convo. Well I don't know how drunk this guy next to me was but at least 4 times in the conversation he decided to playfully bite my arm. Any of you the know me AT ALL know it was completely out of my character to let this slide but I didn't want to get my ass thrown out of the Tiger Discotech because weirdo didn't know where the line btw flirting and outright stupidity lie.

2. DO NOT strike up a political debate on the dance floor of a disco. Ryann and I were dancing (to some annoying Eurotrash music) and this group of about four guys in pink visors (shoulda been a red flag, I know) appear around us. So we start chatting with them and one vehemently tries to put his visor on my head, let me tell you that last all of two seconds. Then he asks where I was from and says he's from Sweden. Well after he got wind I was from America the low blows busted out. I can't remember the exact words that riled me up so much, but it was to the tune of how awful a country America was and how we need to get the F*** out of everyone else's business. OMG INAPPROPRIATE. I know some of you reading this would have probably dropped kicked the sucker Chuck Norris style (and believe me I wanted to) but I held back and after attempting to set him straight for a good five minutes I dropped the subject and walked away.

Beach is gorgeous. We are going to a all inclusive $1000 baht party at a place called Rock City tonight that is supposed to have an amazing Nirvana cover band. We were guaranteed that there would only be westerners there - cuz as out little Thai waitress told us last night, stay away from the places that you have to compete with cheap/ready and willing Thai girls to steal guys away from you, ha. Tomorrow we scheduled a trip to the Phi Phi Islands that includes snorkeling and visit to a monkey beach.

That's all for now!

Is that brownie green??

Woke up yesterday morning with a horrible hangover from a few (well def more than a few) Leap Year Martini's at the NYC Steakhouse in the heart of Bangkok. But fret not, I persevered and was good to go by happy hour. We went to this Mexican buffet at a Cajun restaurant called Bourbon St. and it hit the spot. It is truly unbelievable how this city caters to every kind of craving for food you have. This place had some serious TexMex although the queso was a little watery, but ya know you just can't beat a good Bob Armstrong from Matt's el Rancho and why would you want to. Anyways, the important thing was that the rita's were stout and the guac was muy bueno. In fact the rita's were so strong that I was easily convinced by Ryann to go karaoke'ing. So we asked one waitress for suggestions on some karaoke bars, . . . about 5 waiters later we finally got a solid answer in English. The Holiday Inn was said to have a great karaoke bar with thousands of English songs so away we went. Well of course after a twenty minute cab ride out to the HI we find that the place had gone under. No prob though, Ryann asked the concierge for a close by suggestion. She told us to go to a place called The Sphinx so we hopped in a cab anxious to embarrass ourselves on the stage. So we get to The Sphinx and it actually seems pretty upidy so we go upstairs to the karaoke lounge. We arrive and the place is empty, it was only 830 so we just sat down ordered a round and Ryann decided on starting off the night with some Backstreet Boys. So it wasn't too long before a group of young Thai guys arrive and they start in on the karaoke and drinking. Then more and more young trendy looking Thai men arrive. And then again more tight shirted, popped collared Thai guys come in. . . are you getting the picture yet? Well Ryann befriends this one guy in which the ice was broken over a little duet of Sandy and Danny "Summer Nights" from Grease - great entertainment for me. So after the song the guy comes by and chats with me and Ryann. At this point I'm feeling a little tipsy so I just come out with it and ask, "So is that guy you're with your boyfriend?" Apparently the guy Peter was with was just a friend but he did have a boyfriend named Louis back in Portugal, they met over the internet. Next I just decide to blurt out, so this is like a gay bar right, peter? Yeah, the freaking concierge at the freaking Holiday Inn sent us to a gay karaoke bar. And personally the more interesting the clientèle at a karaoke bar the better, but I have to stop and wonder - what the hell was this woman at the Holiday Inn thinking. Did she think to herself, oh look two young pherang (white - that's what they call us over here) girls surely I should send them to a male gay bar because that's the kinda scene they would thrive in. Sheesh. And this place wasn't like around the corner, it was a good cab ride aways. Ha, oh well we made friends and Ryann sang her little heart out while I almost laughed up a lung watching her.
So that's what we did last night. Tomorrow we are flying out to Phuket and soo pumped. Can't wait to celebrate Valentine's Day at the Banana Discotech on Bangla Road in Patong Beach, Phuket!

Fuck it, we didn't get a bucket . . .

Instead two nights ago on Khoa San we went for the 3 liter majigger that had a spout at the bottom so whenever you needed a refill you just filled 'er up yourself. . . classy, we loved it. Then we went to an upstairs bar with some live music. Man the Thai's are hilarious when they cover American songs - we had the pleasure of listening to "Every breast I take" by Sting, ha.
Today we dined at Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant in Bangkok. This place was originally in promotion of safe family planning, but when HIV and AIDS become the huge issue of topic in the 80's this has become primarily their focus.
For those of you wondering, the origin of the name: Cabbages are a common food in Northeast Thailand, in fact they are a staple part of the diet, they are grown in all villages, there are everywhere and everybody uses them. Now, if condoms could be as common and used as often, then some of the population and health problems facing Thailand could be overcome!
Anyways, the place has great Thai food and it actually was the first time I had delved into the local food and yes I have been in Thailand for almost three weeks already . . . but seriously they have every type of food you could imagine here and it seems I am more attracted to say a chicken sandwich at Tony Roma's or chicken quesadilla's at an awesome texmex place called Coyote, sue me.
Ryann and I just booked our flight for Phuket for Thursday afternoon. For those of you unaware, Phuket was hard hit by the Sunami a few years ago but that hasn't stopped virtually anyone from visiting - we have had a hell of a time finding hotel rooms that weren't full near the beach and the popular hot spot of Bangla Road. We are staying at two different hotels, first couple night at Tiger Hotel and the next two at Rico's . . . should be interesting to say the least!

Fuck it, let's have a bucket . . .

We have so much to update and so I will begin with where we last left off. For those who are unaware, there is a famous young hippy area round Bangkok called Khoa San Road. So about a week ago Thursday, Ryann and I trekked out and investigated this area. Never seen so many white people in an area in Bangkok such as this, I realized, this is where all the foreign young white partiers go. Before we arrived my aunt had told me about this infamous bucket that they serve in this area. It's called a bucket, and I'm bringin this little recipe back with me to the states for some insane fun. First, they bust out a bucket. The style of the bucket varies, anywhere from a beach pale to like a big pitcher. Then comes the ice, added by a huge flask of possibly the cheapest whiskey available. Next, a can of pepsi, followed by some off brand red bull. Let me say, before this stuff came up the next day - I was it's biggest fan. Price 240 baht, which translates into aprox. $7US and with the amount that is consumed in this, you would be happy paying even $15US for it. Well, needless to say two buckets later I have no idea how we got home, and even less an idea of how not much money was missing from my wallet. I'm sure almost every one of ya'll reading this can remember many a nights where a blackout occurred and the next morning the dread of opening the wallet ensued. . . but on this road, in this city, have no fear - this shit is CHEAP!
Next day . . . vom. And although my stomach felt like it was the morning after new years eve, I refrained from saying I would never consume a bucket again. Bc lets face it, it really hurt so good. ha. We have already made plans to make it to Khoa San Road tonight, our first day back to Bangkok from Bali. Oops. I will see what tomorrow holds for my tummy . . . yikes.