Posts

We celebrated the New Year in San Antonio, home of the fried brownie and the Alamo. We will never forget.

Victoria is the capital of British Colombia on the Southern tip of Vancouver Island. It’s about a 6 hour trip from Portland, including the drive to Port Angeles and the ferry across the Sound.

We had a great time up there, and I thought I’d post a few travel tips and suggestions.

I spoke with my friends in Chile yesterday. It sounds like a mess, but internet, telephone and electricity is finally back- and all the people I know well seem to be safe.

The main bridges connecting Concepcion with the suburbs all fell down, several buildings in the University where I did my study abroad burned, looters took all the gasoline and raided the super markets. The army is now on patrol. The towns on the coast no longer exist.

Fourtet at the Independent in San Francisco, $1.75 beer at the Bean Bag Cafe across the street before the show.

Carli & Kyle –

Thailand is awesome! We’re staying at the guest house across from the wat, just down the street from the 7-11 and between the portait of the king and the meditating Buddha. Remember that one? It’s really close to the wooden bullfrog vendor and the chicken kebabs. See you soon!

Love,
Eric & Devin

Angela & Heidi –

Greetings from Thailand! We’ve just spent an exhausting day at the beach engaged in some serious elephant hunting. These “changs” are everywhere. Our sunburns should be perfected by the end of the trip. Oh, and the tuk tuk drivers say hello.

Cheers!
Devin & Eric

David & Argenta –

Thai banditos have captured Eric and are asking for a ransom of 10,000 baht! Please wire the money ASAP!

I’ve booked you an AM flight to Bangkok tomorrow. Meet me at the airport. He was last seen at the ping pong show on Soi Cowboy. Otherwise the trip has been great!

Love, Devin

My motorbike broke down on the far side of Koh Chang yesterday, and the old Thai man who picked me up was pointing out the changes. “The road was paved 10 years ago,” he said. “But it was built for motorbike, not car.” He honked the horn as we rounded a blind corner on the steep single lane road.

“Out here there was nothing,” he said. “Or just small bungalow. 40 baht a night. Lamps at night, no electricity.” Now the bungalows are at least 400 baht, $10 dollars, and they come with fans and televisions and internet.

Hat Sai is the largest beach on the island and the first stop after the ferry. In all ways it’s the typical tourist strip- beach bars with loud American pop music, large resorts on either side of the road, restaurants, internet cafes, tailor shops, tourism offices and three 7/11s.

As you get further from the pier, the towns get smaller and less developed- but “Lonely Beach” now seems like it was badly named, and new construction is everywhere.

What did the Buddhist monk say to the hot dog vendor?

Make me one with everything.