Entries this day: Lunch Ridin't_around_with_Avery earache flight ground_transport hmmm!! however, now_ear_this

Lunch

11:25am ICT Sunday 11 July 2010 (day 14718)

Went to lunch with Air at the vegetarian restaurant nearby, and then she let me ride her motorbike to go play with Avery.

Ridin't around with Avery

5:06pm ICT Sunday 11 July 2010 (day 14718)

Avery invited me to join him today riding motorbikes around a mountain near Chiang Mai. I balked at first, and he was like, "well if you wanna go email me a time and place, and I'll meet you."

To: Avery

19:25pm yesterday

Hey Avery

I'd like to join you guys tomorrow on your motorbike adventure...  I've gotten permission from Air to borrow her bike.

Can I meet you at the "parking lot" of North Gate at noon?

- - - -

Hey mate

I was at north gate from 11:50 to 12:35, but since I hadn't clearly stated in person that I would come, and hadn't gotten confirmation after sending my email last night, I've headed back to my apartment to chill.

I hope you have a fantastic day roaming the wild yonders around Chiang Mai!

  peace
   - Rob

So, in short, I didn't join him. I did, however, chill for 20 minutes in a tree near the gate while waiting.

earache

7:24pm ICT Sunday 11 July 2010 (day 14718)

Dang. I have a crapper of an earache. That's not really the plan when one's about to go to scuba diving paradise.

flight

10:54pm ICT Sunday 11 July 2010 (day 14718)

About halfway one-fourth (dang) through the flight, and my tummy is hungry, my ear hurts, Johnny and U-Cow are safe and happy, I remembered my sunnies, book and hat, I just ordered some spring rolls, and my computer's battery is 93% full.

11:22pm ICT Sunday 11 July 2010 (day 14718)

My tummy is relatively full, my ear still hurts (but perhaps not as annoyingly), we're now nearly halfway through the flight, and I just wanted to say that I *think* I'm beginning to get a sense of what ... ah dang I forgot.

Um, but I was thinking that our experience of time really changes everything. Hungry / full / pain / pleasure / battery at 93% before and 88% now / hot / cold / hat / glasses / U-Cow.

Oh yeah, I think I intellectually am beginning to understand the idea that things are temporary.

ground transport

1:14am ICT Monday 12 July 2010 (day 14719)

Had to push hard to get anything close to a decent price for a taxi; dude wanted 900 baht at first, and I was like, "no way," and he went to 800. Two women who were sharing the same taxi were given the price of 500 by their counter rep, so I planned to pay that much as well.

Chatted with them on the way from the airport to Phuket town. Ali was most talkative because Jess's ears also hurt from some sort of sinus thing. They're both just out of uni in The Bay Area of northern California, and wanted to do this trip before embarking on their next adventures. Job for Ali (I didn't ask her what), and law school for Jess, because she "likes to argue."

They were in Chiang Mai for the past couple of days, and plan to head to Vietnam after chillin' in Phuket area for a bit. Interestingly, they said their friend got to stay just one night in Koh Phi Phi and said it may have been his biggest regret of his trip, having pushed it to the end and had to head back sooner than he wanted to leave Koh Phi Phi. I'm glad, therefore, that I'll be there a five days.

I told Paige I'd be on the 8:30am ferry, but it was fully booked when I arrived at the counter, so I got passage on the 13:30 ferry (500 baht).

Arrived at my hotel first, and I gave them my card because they're also going to Koh Phi Phi ("tomorrow or the next day")

Got out and the guy was like, "800" and I was like, "500" and he continued to give me 200 baht change for my 1000 baht note. I was like, "dude, no," and walked away without giving him any money.

He didn't pursue me; I had expected him to be like, "okay okay 500," but he just stood there and then eventuallly got into the car and was driving off by the time I had woken up the clerk behind the counter and gotten 500 baht note to give to the taxi driver.

I really wonder if Ali and Jess were like, "omg wtf" during the time that I hadn't paid. I may ask them if they write me.

hmmm!!

1:59am ICT Monday 12 July 2010 (day 14719)

I just went wandering around my new neighborhood with laptop open, looking for free wireless signals. Didn't find any, but I did find an ATM and decided to see if I can get money on my credit card, and I could have, had I brought my credit card.

Oh snap. I don't have either my bank card or my credit card. Apparently I didn't transfer them when I changed (back) from my bluejean wallet to my old black wallet with chain. Dammmmmmmmmmmn.

So I've got 868 baht on me now (after having spent 500 on taxi, 500 on ferry ticket, and 400 for hotel room (that does *not* have free internet access. wtf)).

I guess I'm going to ask Paige for a loan tomorrow, or offer my thai massage services, or somethin'.

however,

2:10am ICT Monday 12 July 2010 (day 14719)

Thankfully, after walking around for 30+ minutes with my laptop out, I arrived back just before it started raining.

Okay, I'm going to sleep.

now ear this

2:35am ICT Monday 12 July 2010 (day 14719)

I just took a shower, as in, just a rinse and didn't get my head wet. My right ear is ringing, and seems unwilling to pop (equalize pressure), but can hear properly, so at least that.

Still raining. I've taken my contacts out and *now* I'm going to bed.

2:41am ICT Monday 12 July 2010 (day 14719)

actually, after I lay down I realized my right ear was throbbing with each heartbeat. I checked its hearing ability, and it's about 70% normal. If I rub my thumb and fingers gently together I cannot hear it (with my right ear), but if I rub them firmly, I can.