5.25.12

Ok, so, I spent most of the afternoon recovering from that stupid Ambien. Ugh. Drank lots of water, laid down for a long time and watched movies.

Around 4pm or so, I was finally feeling human and decided that I would find some food before I became overly hungry again. One thing I will say, it shouldn’t be too difficult to lose weight in this climate. Half I will sweat off and the other half will drop off because heat makes me lose my appetite. Yay for diets of circumstance!

This time I left my camera in the room. I wanted a walk, unencumbered by a purse or suitcase or backpack. As a good friend once told me, “You have to realize that sometimes you can’t take a picture of everything.”

Ventured down to the 7-11. An orange Fanta and a Kit-Kat made me feel right as rain (which we actually haven’t had any of since I have been here). I started walking in the direction that the signs indicated might lead to a beach or water of some sort. I believe the water is in the west, so I assume I was headed north. This way led to the less quaint part of Ban Phe. However, it was still lovely. I stopped and headed towards the water when I got to Sribanphe Pier. Wow. It points directly at Koh Samet which you could see clearly in the distance. A green, lush mountain coming out of the teal water. The waves just kept washing up against the pier and the shore and the breeze was constant and wonderful. I walked halfway down the pier and just stood there, drinking it all in. I honestly couldn’t say how long I stood there. I must have seemed odd to the people working in the seafood restaurant next to me.

On more than one occasion in the last couple of days, I have wondered to myself, “What were you thinking? What have you done?!” Standing there staring at the ocean and the islands, drinking in the wind off the water, I just marveled that this country is my new home and realized how amazingly lucky I am to have this opportunity.

Thank you to everyone who got behind me on this (which is actually everyone since not a single person told me I was making a mistake).

I wanted to eat at this restaurant with little cabanas near the pier, but the adorable girl who greeted me told me that they were closed today and would be open tomorrow. It is difficult to tell when something is open or closed here since so many places don’t have doors or even gates.

Instead I enjoyed a plate of Pad Tai and an iced tea at the Coconut German Restaurant. I am avoiding all non-Thai food right now. I don’t trust that it would actually be what I am expecting (I have seen pictures of what they think pizza and hotdogs should be topped with). And my stomach is still recovering.

The sun doesn’t really seem to set here. It just kind of goes away. I keep waiting for a spectacular sunset over the water but haven’t had one yet. I think I was spoiled by the Colorado sunsets.

My second day in Thailand gone and I am in bed at 9pm. And up at 4am. Lovely.