Doing my best ...

I'm just doing my best. I tried to extend my stay here at the hotel right after I was rejected from the flight once again this morning. I had a consistent airport WiFi signal just long enough to confirm that the rate would have been the same as the previous day. However, the signal was neither strong enough or steady enough for me to complete the booking. Now the rate is 215 baht higher. There's nothing that I can do. I'm stuck. I have to shell out the money … again and again and again. I'm just doing my best but that often seems to lead me in directions which are less than ideal. I would have saved money had I booked the hotel last night but the quality of the WiFi connection was completely beyond my control.

For instance, arriving in Bangkok at rush hour attempting to make a 5:30pm Bikram class. It was silly to have expected to be able to make it in time but I just did my best. I booked my original flight so that I could make it to the 7:30pm class. When I discovered that 7:30pm had been canceled, I arrived at the airport early in order to catch the previous flight. I did everything in my power to make it happen but my potential can extend only so far. I'm obviously learning some big lessons about spending money where it's worthwhile but the biggest lesson is doing everything possible to make something happen but to then release attachment to results. I would have loved to have been able to take a Bikram class on Friday but I had no control of disembarkation and baggage claim and subway transfers. I was stuck. I made sure to show up when and where I needed to be then just let the rest transpire. What can I say? It was rush hour and of the scores of taxis that passed, not a single one agreed to pick me up.

When I did finally make it to the hotel, I took some time to settle in … to unpack a bit and be OK with the fact that I would have no yoga for the next two days and that though the hotel advertised a sauna that, in fact, such an amenity did not exist. I left the hotel to hit the town. I made it only two blocks before being hounded by two police officers on motorcycles. They stopped me and stepped me back up onto the curb. They asked me to provide a passport and to empty my pockets. One of the two was busy examining my chapstick. I swear, he took the lid off to inquisitively extend and retract it four times before convincing himself that it was not contraband. And it what other situation could I feel a greater sense of helplessness? I knew that I was doing nothing wrong but I had to be respectful and to take all of the harassment in stride. Stuck.

This is my same tactic for the current airport situation. By booking standby flights, I saved about $750 on the initial cost of my international flights not knowing — when it was booked four months ago — that the flights would be so full. Without a confirmed seat, I simply have to show up at the airport and wait as all of the other passengers claim the privilege of getting where they need to be. If, when everyone else has boarded, there happens to be a seat for me, I'm on. But after going through these motions on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I'm still in Bangkok. I'm doing everything possible but a seat is a seat and there are only so many of them to go around. So, I'm stuck. It's identical to the situation with the police officers. I have to be polite and patient as I watch the unfortunate situation unfold before my eyes. I will do my best to make things happen the way that I'd like but I ultimately have no control of where the wind will take me.

In attempt to find an economical route from Bangkok to my hotel, I decided to get comfortable with the Bangkok bus system … or at least attempt to do so. After waiting for over an hour for the arrival of the #38 bus, I switched to Plan B and made it over to the subway where I bumped into the desk attendant from the Bikram studio. He promised to accompany me to the next bus stop where I'd find an alternative route to the hotel. Just as before … busses were coming quite frequently: the 136, the 96, the 545. But there was no sign of the bus for which I was looking. It was a blessing to run into Jit on the train and I'm so fortunate to have had him there to keep me company while I waited. So Jit got me into a taxi and helped explain to the driver where I needed to go. Right off the bat, I realized that the driver was going in the opposite direction of my final destination. I just assumed that he was setting up course for a more efficient route. But after about twenty minutes of this we ended up even further from the hotel than where I had initially started at that original bus station. So my attempt to save money has now landed me in a worse situation than when I had started. I'll end up spending more than if I had just taken the Airport Link straight to the airport. I refused to pay that driver any more than the cost of the toll that we crossed. I explained the situation to a motorcycle taxi driver and he managed to get me on my way to the airport. (By the way, the poor condition of the Bangkok streets give an entirely new meaning to "…bounce like a motorcycle ride.") This drive has the best of intentions but about thirty minutes pass before I realize that he thought that I wanted him to take me to the Airport Link train which would take me the rest of the way to the airport. He misunderstood. And now it's fruitless because it's too late at night to catch the train. I was finally able to waive down the THIRD taxi driver and seem to successfully explain to him where I need to be. But almost three more hours in the back of this taxi pass (as the driver gets lost amid the confusing limited access roads surrounding the airport,) before we finally make it to the hotel. At this point, the 45 minutes commute has taken me four hours. And these are precious hours that I was planning to use to lie down for a bit before spending another few hours at the airport waiting to see if I'm lucky enough to have scored a seat on the flight from Bangkok to Tokyo.

Inflated hotel rates, missed Bikram classes, questionably-intentioned police officers, unconfirmed plane tickets, roundabout public transportation … these are all components of my trip which are costing me. But he incredible display of fresh orchids at the airport, heart-shaped fried eggs, an afternoon of peaceful relaxation by the pool, a few delicious meals, a piping hot bubble bath with a candle and a glass of wine, coconut ice cream … these are all of the moments of ecstasy which help to keep me going. I'm just doing the best that I can and trying to find some beauty in each of these situations as they come. I'll often find a beautiful frangipani flower juxtaposed among the sweltering corrugated steel and garbage and squallar of the ghetto.

Luis gets lonely being so far from home. Clare feels foresaken when she dines alone. I don't. But I do find it challenging to get adequate sun-screen coverage while on my own. I'll use that as an excuse for my absurd tan-lines. And I don't think that it would be particularly fun to play mini-golf (at DinoPark) without someone to share in the fun. I did feel some pangs of loneliness while at the beach two days ago. I mean, how much is there to do in the ocean when you've got nobody with whom to frolic? I'm fairly good at being independent but I guess I have my moments.
When you're with someone, that relationship … that thing … is the most important thing in the world. Worries of satisfying the other person can inundate every waking thought. And when that precious thing is in jeopardy, it's suddenly the end of the world. Thoughts are now consumed by what could potentially be damaged or destroyed. Christina was just broken up with (via Skype.) And I've been there; I empathize. Relationships are tricky. The adorable British couple behind me in line to check in at the airport today were in the midst of it. She almost lost the passports — he's too demanding and accusatory. (That's how much I could gather from the conversation.) I've been there, in that identical skirmish at the airport. But the good moments are priceless. And I've been there as well. Despair and ecstasy. Without one, the other is unable to exist.
I had a lovely experience at the airport today. Once again, the lovely check-in attendant granted me an exception to the baggage allowance. I have a Limited Release on my souvenir/gift suitcase. I hate to be that guy, cruising through life with a sense of entitlement … expecting exceptions to be made for all of the rules. That's not me. (I hope.) However, it's enormously helpful for me to avoid paying surcharges for the gifts that I'm bringing home for my loved ones. After all, this is my third flight since Chiang Mai and all of those fees would accumulate quickly. I've apparently had some pretty terrific airport karma but some pretty terrible hotel karma. We'll see how things go tonight when I check in to the Manhattan Hotel in Bangkok. It's true: I'm getting a head-start on my NYC transition by spending the next three nights in "Manhattan."
Bikram's wife is holding a seminar in Bangkok this weekend. Good timing, right? It's brilliant that I'll get a chance to see Rajashree and to stop by to catch up with all of the out-of-town visitors. It's very serendipitous that this trip prevented me from attending the New York Regional Championship but that it will allow me to be a part of the Thailand Regional Championship. So everything is good, right? Well, until I realize that there are classes canceled this weekend for the event. I honed in on this specific flight particularly so that I could attend the 7:30pm class at Bikram Bangkok. I dropped the owner a quick email last night to inquire about possible class cancellations. And sure enough: no 7:30pm.
But I arrived at the airport early in attempt to snag an earlier flight. I've never done that before but it seemed to work out well. I have a boarding pass for the 2:30pm flight. We'll see how all of this goes. If my wishes are granted, I'll be sweating in Half Moon by 5:45pm. Long story short: I spend way too much time in life, pondering decisions: before, during, and after. You'd laugh (or perhaps cry,) if you ever found out how much time I spent calculating flight times and how they'd coordinate with available yoga classes. All of that invested time is suddenly wasted when motor bikes stall or flights are delayed or classes are canceled. But here we go; I'm on my way. All studios are closed tomorrow but I'll cross my fingers for tonight.
Regardless, I have to trust that I've made the proper preparations and that the ultimate result is beyond my control. Whether that time has been wasted, I must let go. One of the songs that was playing at my bungalow restaurant yesterday was preaching: "Everybody's telling me stop sticking to yesterday." I'm doing my very best to live in the present moment and enjoy the good and the bad. Sometimes it tough. After all, I am living twelve hours in the future. (That's a little my-time-zone-is-twelve-hours-ahead-of-yours joke. I know; not particularly funny. Don't worry; I won't ever put you through that again.)

It's so easy to complain. Why are the negative things in life so much more tactile than the good ones? The check-in experience at my last hotel was one of those not quite enjoyable situations. I booked in advance online using a discount booking service and decided to splurge a bit: I went for the place with the pool and the room with the balcony and bathtub. I was excited. However, my excitement was defeated when my expectations were not met. Promised on the room description were WiFi, a bathtub, a refrigerator, and a balcony. (Now you might think that a bathtub is a fairly extraneous amenity but after not seeing one for over a month, it was pretty enticing.) The first room that I was showed had neither a bathtub nor a refrigerator. After bringing this to the attention of the staff, the alternative room that I was showed was missing a balcony. I was given the option to upgrade to a deluxe room for an additional 350 baht per night but that is too much for me. Should I stay in the room with no balcony? Should I demand the deluxe room at no additional charge? Should I request a refund from the online booking merchant? They were unable to provide what was advertised and they lied to me a few times during the interaction. Mistrust is exhausting. I couldn't trust a word that these people were saying because first they had only an inferior alternative room, then they had only an upgrade-room, then they were fully booked and had nothing for me. I initially thought that I had a beautiful place to stay with all of the desired amenities. Shortly after, the amenities were yanked. Then I was led to believe that the place was full and that I without a place to stay (after already paying for the room.) It was all a bit emotionally daunting. To add to the emotional distress, I was lugging my four huge bags up and down four flights of stairs as I was being shown room after room of upgrade options.

It's becoming very apparent to me what type of situations make me grumpy. The place where I'm currently staying is much better. The people are nice and the accommodations are as advertised. But the WiFi is terrible … basically nonexistent. After fiddling around for over an hour last night, I simply decided that I would have to save all of my computer stuff for an off-site location. Earlier this morning, I sat a restaurant with a cup of coffee using the WiFi. I could tell that the owner was a bit annoyed that I was only ordering coffee. She reluctantly gave me the WiFi password and everything was going smoothly … taking care of business. She must have pulled the plug on the WiFi because after fifteen minutes of uninterrupted signal, it was suddenly gone. She said that the signal is strongest upstairs in the guest rooms. Ridiculous. And a WiFi connection doesn't just mean access to FaceBook and BlogSpot. It's about researching hotels and booking flights, both of which I have to accomplish this morning. True, I'm working on less planning-ahead in life but I don't think it would be wise to show up in Bangkok tomorrow night without some sort of prearranged bookings.

On Sunday, while climbing to the highest viewpoint on Koh Phi Phi island, I hit another obstacle. I was drenched in sweat. Now, I'm no stranger to sweat but in this situation — climbing the steep hill, in the blazing sun, with jeans, socks and shoes — severe perspiration was unavoidable. There's a tiny hut at a midpoint of the climb. The woman (who clearly lives there,) sells water, and doritos, and beer. You know, the essentials for tourists engaged in an exhausting climb. I passed by the hut but then reconsidered. Giving in to the desire to wipe my brown and clean my glasses, I inquire about the cost of one her scarves. (Keep in mind, every article of clothing of mine is now already saturated.) She quotes 150 baht … more than I wished to spend. So I turn around and head for the hills. After reconsidering again, I return to the vendor and surrender to her inflated price. Seeing that I'm pretty desperate at this point, she replies "Now, it's 200." Unreal. I walk away in disgust. With a feeling of complete animosity, I decided to keep to myself that if she simply soaked some towels in eucalyptus and stored them in the fridge, that she'd have a gold mine. I'll save all of that entrepreneurial brilliance for myself.

I've pondered how annoying that it must be for these merchants and business owners to constantly deal with stingy, clueless, (and often disrespectful) tourists. That's why I've decided that it's important to remember to smile when things are good. It makes those pleasurable moments even lovelier. When you break things down, the truth is that I'm sitting here, enjoying a freshly squeezed Ginger and Tamarind Juice. How could things get any better than this? At the airport on my way from Krabi to Samui, I was treated so kindly. I'm not sure if this person liked me in particular or if she is this sweet to everyone. After determining that I exceeded the baggage weight limitation, I was told that I'd have to pay for the excessive kilograms. I proceeded to reconfigure the contents of the bags: heaviest items in the carry-ons and lighter items back into the checked bags. Bags now wide open, all of my belongings are sprawled on the airport floor as I consider my options. I had already done this to a certain extent during my initial packing but I was scraping the bottom of the barrel here. After about ten minutes of resorting and weighing in, I was still overweight. Look … 'm skinny. The total mass that I consume on the plane — with all of my bags — is probably a lot less than the fat guy sitting next to me. Why doesn't everyone weigh in by stepping on the scale while holding all of their baggage. That's the way that I'd like it to be! Ultimately, the kind attendant allowed me to redistribute heavy items into my roller board and carry on three bags rather than just two. She went out of her way to bend the rules in order to accommodate me when in the end, I should have just sucked it up and paid the fee. I was so grateful. So I smiled. I smiled each time I saw her again (which was three or four times because she played several roles in the airport procedures.)

It's easy to complain. Last night, while at the cafe, an enormous frog hopped over my foot. There was an eight-inch lizard waiting to greet me at the door of my bungalow. But everything is really good; I'm in paradise. Last night, I scored a mojito which cost me $1.94. Thailand has destroyed me. how am I ever going to enjoy a mojito made by anyone other than a "Bar-pro Asian Champion?"

So American

I overheard someone ask for the time at the airport the other day. "It's half past one" was the girl's reply. No it's not; it's 1:39pm. But that extra nine minutes meant nothing to either the girl responding or the guy who was asking. To me, those nine unaccounted minutes could make or break. It's so American.

I'm doing my best to learn that it's sometimes OK to be only two or three steps ahead rather than fourteen steps ahead. I've been booking hotels, flights, and ferries only a day or two in advance. It's an new thing for me. I'm doing alright with it here. I just wonder if the same mentality will be able to be applied once I'm back in The States.

At the moment I'm checking into a place where I can hear a Scissor Sisters song coming from the bar. Thank goodness. Finally, some good music in this country. On one of the ferries last week, we were inundated with "...until the 12th of never ... and that's a long, long time." I think I heard that song three times over the course of the ninety-minute ferry ride. And it's rare that you'll ever hear the original American artist; it's always a cover.

The best tough, is passing bars and clubs which boast live music. It's always awful covers of easy-listening American music. Most times the (usually Thai,) singer is completely oblivious to the correct lyrics and just sort of mumbles an makes up his own. It's just like when you're singing along to that new song that you hear on the radio. All you know is the chorus so when you come to the bridge, you just play it off like your alternative lyrics are actually a suitable replacement. The only difference is that these guys are on stage!

Something that's not very American is how easy it is to settle the bill at a restaurant. 170 baht for vegetable korma, 50 baht for naan. No tax, no tip. You can simply drop 220, walk out, and call it a day. Easy.

It's about freedom. That's what makes vacation so lovely. You can do whatever you want whenever you want and however you want. (And I think traveling alone allows for even more of that.) Granted, there are impediments, of course. For instance, the rain today was a huge impediment for me. Quite inconvenient. There were several activities that I missed today because of a few random downpours. I've been told that this type of weather is entirely atypical for this time of year and today, I was actually accused of bringing the rain with me. Trust me, if I had my choice …

I have three separate outfits hanging to dry in the closet as we speak. Getting caught in the rain in NYC on my mountain bike is one of my least favorite things. But being a newbie on the motor bike while rarely knowing where exactly I'm headed and how exactly I'm going to get there — that makes things so much more burdensome. But the rain didn't stop be from starting my day at a nearby lake which is a destination for the locals. It was early in the day so I was literally the only one there. Peaceful and tranquil. I drove the circumference of the lake along the windy, jungle road. Then it was off to breakfast. Again, I have no idea what I ate but it was delicious. The cook came out at one point and was flattered when I went back up for a second helping. Little does he know that I always go back for seconds. I didn't let on though; I allowed him to delight in the moment.

Next, I was off to Kathu Waterfall. It paled in scale to some of the other waterfalls I've seen yet it was still nice to be enveloped by the sounds of nature: the water, the locusts, the fogs. (In yoga, we have Frog Pose and Locust Pose but no Water Pose. I'll work on that one.) Following the waterfall, I made it through some of the rain before stopping in for a coffee and some shelter. In the rain on the bike, my vision is obstructed, I have a hard time breathing as I'm being pelted with drops, the wind sends chills through my bones, and I'm drenched. There's only so much that I can bear before seeking refuge. But stopping for coffee every hour can cause issues for this caffeine-sensitive boy.

Determined, I continued on to Phuket Town which reminds me a lot of Chiang Mai. It definitely bears more of an urban feel than most of the island. Chinese shrines are much more prevalent here than the typical Buddhist temple. I managed to find a traditional Buddhist temple where there was some sort of ceremony in action. I was reluctant to take a photo because I thought that it may have been a funeral. However, I decided that the guests were enjoying themselves entirely too much for it to be a gathering of mourning. Besides … when you die, do you want your life to be celebrated with three huge roast pigs under a tent in the rain?

I discovered an awesome night market where you can find all sorts of food and wares … even chicken feet. I mean, that's what those are in the photo above, right? [Click on the image for a closer look.] What else could they be? Do people really eat those? I promise you that I will not purchase anything from a vendor who also sells chicken feet. I also stumbled upon a few incredible viewpoints which overlook the entire city. It was impressive at night but I can't wait to wake up early tomorrow morning in order to get a daytime taste of the visuals. I stopped in at the mountaintop restaurant for Green Papaya Salad.

I have to pack things up again tonight. Four nights in Kathu and tomorrow I'm off to my next destination. It's only thirty minutes south of here but I'm transferring to a place which is a bit more luxurious and a bit more conveniently located for the beach. I'll be paying twice what I'm paying here but I managed to negotiate $13 less per night than what the owner was originally asking. That knocked 25% off the price. I can hear the rain outside; it's pouring. While I'm on my bike in the rain, I find myself audibly pleading with the rain to stop. "Okay, give me a break; please stop raining." "Alright, just wait. Give me ten minutes. That's all it will take before I'm home. Ten minutes. Come on, you can do that." The locals must think I'm nuts.

What a terrific day today. I started off with a trip on the scooter in order to watch the sunrise. Granted, things did not go as planned, I was still able to find a nice spot to enjoy the spectacle. I didn't make it to the View Point that's listed on the map but it's probably better that I didn't. It likely would have been crowded with other tourists if I had. But rather, I veered off of the road and found a spot that was completely secluded and I had it entirely to myself. I mean, it smelled absolutely rancid (… that seems to happen from time to time in Thailand,) but the sites were well worth it. The fleet of old, run-down long-tail boats made for nice foreground subjects. I also found a cozy little swing that had been attached to the branch of a tree: perfect front row seat.
Another benefit of getting a bit lost is that I discovered a vegetarian place. See, things are hard once again. I was so into the groove of where to go and what to order in Chiang Mai. Now, in a new location, it's back to square one. Plus, people tend to speak less English in Phuket than they do up north. I'm not sure exactly what I ate but it was yummy and I was promised that it contained meat or fish sauce. Sometimes I just have to take their word for it. Then, it was on to Wat Chalong which houses thirty-six individual Buddha's. I witnessed some fantastic views as the morning prayers echoed through the valley as they were being pumped through loudspeakers throughout the temple grounds. One of my favorite temple activities is to catch glimpses of shimmering sunshine off of the mirrored mosaic rooftop serpants. I got some good ones this morning.
Situated nearby, is the famous "Big Buddha." Known as the best viewpoint in Phuket, I was able to enjoy some of the surrounding scenery both during the windy trip up the mountain as well as once I reached the summit. But the sun was hot as hell so I underwent several additional applications of sunscreen. The 60-million Baht Buddha image is (after twenty years,) still undergoing completion so it's fascinating to see the project partially finished. There's a smaller Buddha image — behind the main one — which appears to be completely supported by a few cables strapped to its larger counterpart. I'm not sure if the added support is necessary due to the recent flood damage or if this is simply an intended phase of completion.
Continuing further south, Clare introduced me to Jungle Curry (a blend of curry which has a water consistency because it contains no coconut milk. Traditionally it's made with wild boar but certainly not my veggie version.) Accompanying lunch was a tour of the luxurious amenities of Sri Panwa Resort located on the Panwa Cape. No words could possibly describe the magnitude of beauty inherent in this setting. The facilities are so well-designed and beautifully maintained. The lighting, the audio, the horticulture: every detail has been met. After lunch, I was treated to a dip in a private salt-water pool, a nap in the sunshine, and an outdoor shower suspended over a pond with lily-pads and fish. Incredible.
The plan was to finish off the day with a Bikram class but the 7pm class was canceled for some holiday. Of which holiday prevented me from attempting to mend my unusually short hamsrtings, I'm unsure. In place of yoga, I spent the evening further exploring Patong which is known as one of the most tourist-infused beaches in the country.

Letting go

I woke up early this morning. Yeah, there's certainly a lot going on in my head at the moment. Today is the very last morning that I'll wake up here at Ban Ruan Jai. It's the last time that I'll wake up to the nocturnal noises of the city. It's the last time to experience all of the wonderful attributes of this city.

I'm going to miss it all quite a bit but I think I'll especially miss some of the terrific people whom I've met over the course of the month. I'll miss everyone from school, both staff and peers. I'll miss my reliable Green Papaya Salad master. I'll miss my spunky kombucha brewer. I'll miss the guy who runs my guesthouse (and his adorable mother and father who always greet me with a language-shattering morning smile.) I'll miss my bicycle buddy. I'll miss the bell on my bicycle and how I ring it with the intentions of just saying "Bring-bring … good morning" rather than "Bring-bring … get the hell out of my way!" I'll miss my acupuncturist. I'll miss the wise and caring guy at the herb shop. I'll miss the random people on the street whom I recognize and see over and over again. I'll miss the incidental people whom I meet in the park who tell me that I look familiar before realizing that they've taken my Bikram class on the Upper East Side. (Small world example number one-thousand, three hundred and sixty-four.) I'll miss serendipity. I'll miss what's become of four weeks of research and exploration of this city. In such a short time, I've created quite a little network for myself. I was tempted to skip the beach altogether and to just stay here for my remaining two weeks in Thailand but I've been promised how much I'm going to love the beaches. So, off I go.

I wonder how similar things will be in the south. I wonder how prepared I'll feel based on my experiences up here. I wonder if my myriad travel-lessons will come in handy. In an earlier blog post (from February 6th … almost exactly one month ago,) I mentioned my train-mates and their attitude toward the four-hour delay in the train arrival into Chiang Mai. There's just an easy mentality, in this city, surrounding expectations and outcomes. It's a nice lesson in yoga. It's an easy life … an easy way of living.

There's a particular energy here in this city. Perhaps it's due to the fact that there are so many explorers. There are so many people, away from their respective homes, seeking new experiences. There's a certain mentality here. I see it in NYC among the tourists … the people who are on vacation. You know that mentality: the people in Times Square who are pointing and gauging, completely oblivious to the agitated New Yorkers who are aggressively trying to get to where they need to go. That same lightness is present here among everyone: both travelers and locals, alike. The natives don't necessarily have a lot here but they're happy. They're happy to wake up early and work hard for seemingly very little monetary reward. Though their lives are filled with obstacles and hurdles, they make it all look quite easy. They make it work. They don't let things eat away at them. Perhaps it's because this city is packed with so much inherent spirituality. People seem genuinely happy. This trip must be doing something for me because one friend thinks I'm "relaxed" and the "travel-type." She was surprised to hear that it's my first trip and that I have truly no previous travel experience. Another friend was convinced that I was lying about being from New York. She saw some sort of easy-going spirit which she swore had come from the opposite coast of the United States. She said "You've got to be from California." I've been riding my bike a little bit slower. I've been surviving without the use of a cell phone. I've been taking things as they come. It feels nice. I suppose the trick is to either make travel accessible (so that we can experience things like this more often in life,) or to make the benefits last upon returning home … to incorporate some of this fantasy life into our real lives.

So, I'm leaving all that I've created and all that I've discovered. But that's OK. It was three weeks ago, that I was sitting at dinner with a peer who mentioned how nice it was to reach an age where one has finally unearthed the ability to be alone ... without being bored. Obviously, I'm sharing this with all of you and clearly, you're all in my thoughts often. But I'm alone; I'm on my own. So I must leave this city and move on to Phase II of my trip: VACATION!!

Flight info: Thai Airways #129 (CNX) Chiang Mai ➤ (HKT) Phuket Monday, March 5th: 1:40 PM - 3:35PM. And now, back to packing. I'm already five kilos over my permitted baggage allowance so I've got to figure out how to bring some of that light mentality home with me … but without contributing to the weight of my luggage.