I'm off to see the wizard

A sad day in SE Asia

Well I'm fine and safe hiding up here in the north far away from the disaster in the south. The tsunami which generated waves as high as 10 meters (33 feet) hit the southern islands yesterday morning killing at least 839 people and injuring 7,261 more. This occurred in places I had visited only a few weeks ago and my heart goes out to all of the friends and families who lost loved ones. Life seems to be carrying on as normal up here but I have seen many people huddled around their TV sets watching the disturbing images and I have spoke to a few who lost a friend or family down there. On the morning news I saw the news caster break down into tears and one of the guys working here told me lots of people are in shock because nothing like this has ever happened here. I'm keeping an eye on the news to see what else is going on with it and wish I could go down there and do something to help but I don't think there is anything I can do. When I saw the people sitting around watching the news it reminded me an awful lot of 911 and it makes you think about how every second we are alive is precious and can be taken away from us with no warning. Death gives no warning and we need to just enjoy every second we are lucky enough to be on this beautiful planet.

On to a lighter note, I ate bugs *barf* I can't believe it but I did it, I've always said I have to try everything once and sitting there with those bugs it took a lot of courage to do but I did it. They were deep fried and that was all I could really taste. It wasn't that they tasted bad just the thought of it was bad enough, the little meal worm things weren't that bad but the huge grasshoppers, well just wait until you see the pictures and you'll understand what I mean. Luckily I had a huge beer to wash out the taste and I didn't barf. I tried one of each and then threw out the rest. I took a few pics altho none of them are as good as the chicken feet ones but they'll do.

And now for my wonderful day today. I walked around the town and stopped at a few wats. spent a bit of time talking to the monks there. It was good talking to them and I think I will have write a whole other whole post on religion when I have more time. After visiting the wats I went to the city park which was amazing, nice ponds with fountains and bridges and beautiful flowers. Garbage cans every two feet so it was nice and clean. I sat on a bench over looking one of the ponds with this old dude and read a book for a while. Then I went out to the street and got two bbq polkas and a bottle of naam (water) for under a buck and went back into the park and watched these guys play a game similar to hackysac but there was a three sided net suspending about 20 feet above them. They used a larger ball and were smacking it around pretty good. I took some pictures b/c its hard to explain so I'll post them next time I have access to a card reader. After that I went and sat and read my book some more but stopped to watch a lady and her litte girl feed the fish in the pond. I was amazed at how big the fish were and it was so nice to see the joy on the little girls face as they came up to grab the food. After that I took a sawngthaw (a converted pick up taxi), they run all over the city and if there is someone already in it they will take you if its on the way to their destination if not you wait for the next one. In the back was a Muslim couple with their kids and they were singing me Christmas songs the whole ride. They were so cute and I just didn't have the heart to tell them I was Jewish. LOL Now I think I'm going to get a massage and then pick up some beer and relax on the patio with my book and some good music.

posted by Brandon Share @ 7:08 PM