Dec 11,12,13, 2014

Nothing exciting for the last several days.  I just laid around, sat in the sun, enjoyed the half functioning shower and air conditioner.  In the afternoons I would explore Koh Phangan on the bike.

Just before I came across the largest Yang Na tree on the island, I encountered a police roadblock.  I had read that the police often set up roadblocks and conduct searches for drugs on the plethora of young folks on the island.  There were about 4 policemen standing in the middle of the road and they made me stop, turn of the bike, get off the bike and take off my daypack which they searched thoroughly.  

My pack was almost empty and I had only brought it with me so I could carry some groceries home.  They looked all through my bag then gave me a pat down, checking the contents of every pocket.  Then they asked me to open the compartment under the seat. Then I was given a green light to continue. It was the only search stop I witnessed while on the island.

I had read that if you were caught with drugs on Koh Phangan....and I am sure that at the Half Moon Party there were plenty of them, though I was not ever offered any....you could bribe the police with a couple of hundred bucks and get released.  

In Kathmandu I was repeatedly offered drugs dozens of times from peddelers on the streets of Thamel.  I laughed at them or ignored them.

I took the ferry back to the mainland, an enjoyable 3 hour boat ride.  

I caught a bus from the ferry terminal to the Surat Thani bus station then took a ride in the back of a tuktuk the rest of the way back to Hip Box 26.  After a bit of confusion, I was able to successfully convey that I already paid for a room last week.  Then I was able to get the bag I left with the desk before I departed to Koh Phangan. 

I settled into my shipping container converted into a cozy, clean room with a good AC and shower.

At Hip Box I met up with two young Brits, Romona and Tom, and we later walked about a mile and had dinner together.  She was a singer/actress and he made music videos. We drank some beers and enjoyed the evening around the pool.

Early the following morning I took a taxi ride in the back of a tuktuk to the Surat Thani airport and caught my flight to BKK then connected to Chiang Rai.

I have made the following 13 flights so far on this trip:

Portland to Washington DC

DC to Munich

Munich to Ankara

Ankara to Sinop

Ankara to Istanbul

Istanbul to Kathmandu

Lhasa to Kathmandu

Kathmandu to Lukla

Lukla to Kathmandu

Kathmandu to Bangkok

Bangkok to Surat Thani

Surat Thani to Bangkok

Bangkok to Chiang Rai

Namaste