Phang Nga

  Here are some pictures from my weekend trip to Phang Nga.  This first one the "port" where our longtail boat departed from.  We then proceeded up the bay.

 The following three pictures are of some of the beautiful limestone cliffs/islands that line bay.  They were majestic.

  The fifth picture is of some paintings that were on the ceiling of an overhang where the water had eroded part of the limestone cliff away.

  The next four pictures include Koh Pannyi.  This is a sea gypsy villiage built on stilts into the by with one large limestone island protecting the rear.  The villiage has a mosque that we visited.  I was also gyped by some gypsies after taking a picture with their monkies.  100 Baht for a photo with a monkey sounded good, but after the picture was taken the price increased.  I think it was because another gypsy threw his/her monkey in the picture too.  Note: I write "his/her" because I am still not sure of the proper term for a ladyboy, which this gypsy is.

  Past the village, we went through a mangrove forest.  It was peaceful.

  After the mangroves, we went through a tunnel in a limestone pillar.  In the photo you can see that there are huge pieces of limestone hanging off of the main piece.  I hope that I am not around when they fall.

  The next three are at the famous Koh Ping-gan, also known as James Bond Island for its guest apearance in the movie "The Man with the Golden Gun."  The first of these three is the very famous limestone pillar that seems to be on everything tourist-related in this area.  I had this bright idea of taking a picture where I looked like Bond with the island in the background, but decided against it when I saw that everyone else on hte island had the same bright idea.  The next is of a stalagmite that had formed inside of a cave on Koh Ping-gan.  The final of these three is of a moniter lizard that I saw swimming along the island.  I have to guess that it is a white-throated monitor lizard because it was virtually identical to the one I used to own.  I thought about picking it up, but decided against that as I rememberred how violent my "tame" one was.

  The final picture is of a waterfall in a national park on the mainland of Phang-Nga.  My battery in my camera was low at this point, so I stopped taking as many pictures.  All in all, it was a very good trip.

  In case you were wondering, I am still doing good.  I am alive, and I am well.

A few pictures

Please understand, I do not think my my pictures can even begin to capture the beauty of Thailand, but there have been many requests, so I am going to try my best to update this with pictures every now and then.  The first one is me at Nai Harn beach, with an island in the background.

The second is the same island...and some swimmers.

The third is the island again, taken from above.  I like to watch the sunset from some bluffs overhanging the beach.

The fourth is the view from the bluffs looking straight down.

The fifth is another view from the bluffs, looking to the left.

The sixth was taken at a beach on the North East coast.  I do not really know the name of it, but it was very beautiful.

The seventh is a weird, eagle-like bird that was at our swimming pool.  Be nice birdie, I am scared of you.

One last photo for now.  This is another one of me (you get to begin and end this blog by seeing my face, how lucky).  This is me at the Come Inn Bar, it is a local favorite where I like to get a Tiger and play some pool.  I usually lose, but I am improving.

The death of Little Gary

I just got back from dinner.  I had roast frog with garlic.  It was good.

A quick update

Hello,

Here is my quick update:

I completed my first full week of teaching.  It was a lot of work.  It was difficult.  But I enjoyed it.  A lot.  For those of you who don't know, I am teaching 6 different classes, which means that I have to organize 30 different lessons each week.  I am teaching earth science, physical science, chemistry, physics, algebra 2 and precalculus.  The science teachers also elected me department chair (my four votes beat out Mariah's two) and I am looking at an impressive resume when I finally finish here.  But for now, it is a lot of work.  But, I enjoy it.

I have already from several teachers that multiple students really like me.  This is very encouraging.  Especially since some of the students who like me were involved in a petition last year to get rid of the teachers who formerly had my position.  All in all, good things.

Life outside of teaching doesn't realy exist anymore.  Outside of the weekend, I might have a few free hours a night that are spent eating, cruising on my bike, and sometimes playing pool at a local bar.  I am becoming quite the pool shark and had a Belgium man swearing at me the other day for beating him over and over again.

Once again, just about everything here is going well.  Life is good.

Tonight and life so far

  I would like to believe that I am going to update this frequently, and include everthing that has happened so far, but the truth is I probably won't.  With that said, here is what has been happening in my life:

  This week was my first week teaching students.  There was a halfday on Thursday and a full day on Friday, so overall, very manageable.  I like my classes.  Although I am now in charge of teaching six different classes (earth science, physical science, chemistry, physics, algebra 2 and precalc), I am excited for them.  Unfortunately, I believe that the learning curve for my first year of teaching will be steep and painful.  Fortunately, I am surrounded by a staff that I enjoy and am confident will be willing to help me.

  I spend my day today relaxing and riding my new motorbike.  A beautiful Honda airblade (125 cc and automatic) I am very excited to have my own transportation for my free time.  I am currently at a local bar, a personal favorite, and I just got my butt handed to me in pool by several beautiful Thai bargirls.  I do not feel ashamed though, because I am sure that they play for hours a day.

  Life so far...  It is great.  There are a lot of things about this place that I have experienced and loved, and many more yet to try.  I have eated fresh pineapples and mangoes (although they are currently out of season) and drank out of coconuts while on the beach.  I have watched the sun set over the mountains and ocean and had Thai massages.  I have found places that I enjoy and can call my own.  Overall, I am adjusting well.

  I hope that everything is going well for all of you in the states and I hope that I can occasionally update this.  If it has not been updated in a while, know that I am either busy planning lessons or getting a sweet tan on hte beach (while it is winter over there).  I love you all.

Contact Information

If you would like to contact me:

The email that I will be checking are kearnals@yahoo.com

My skype account name is: garykearns

Cell phone: 085-783-3426

When calling from outside of Thailand, you must insert the numbers 1166 after the initial 0 (for example, my home phone would be dialed: 0-1166-76-289-412 - I think).  Land lines typically have 9 digits while cell phones have 10 digits, this is normal.  Either, or both, of these numbers might change once Drew gets here, we'll see.

Mail can be sent to the school at:

QSI International School of Phuket

PO Box: 432

Phuket 8300

Thailand

 

Packages can be sent to the school directly at:

QSI International School of Phuket

81/4 Moo 1 Chalermprakiat R. 9 Rd

T. Kathu, A. Kathu

Phuket 83120

Thailand

My arrival

Ok.  So I haven't really had much contact with all of you back home so far, but I want you to know that I have spent almost three hours writing this first sentence.  I'm trying here, I really am, but I have already experienced so many new things, and as you should know, physics guys aren't exactly known for their great communication skills.  So here it it:

I left Minnesota at 7:10 PM on August 2nd.  I had meant to eat one last burrito from Chipotles for lunch, but my stomach was a little edgy and I thought it best for the flight not to overfill it beforehand.  As soon as the plane took off, my stomach relaxed and I regretted leaving behind my last trademark steak burrito with black beans, rice, tomato and green chili salsa, cheese, lettuce and sour cream.  With that aside, the flight went really well.  From Minneapolis we went to Los Angeles, followed by Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and finally Phuket.

As I was exiting the plane in Taipei I missed the beginning part of an announcement, hearing only "...is punishable by death in China."  This was a little unnerving.  I later found out that it was referring to drug trafficking.  Overall, Malyasia Airlines gave me very good service.  Even as I was on the hour and a half flight from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket I was given a meal.

After going through customs, I was picked up from the airport by a school employee and a driver.  The drive to my new house scarred the crap out of me (yes, not just scared, but scarred).  I had heard about Thai driving, but hearing and seeing are two different things.  It is very animalistic, the bigger vehicle always has the right of way, but the motorbikes still criss-cross and cut people off with seemingly no regard to their safety.  The lanes mean nothing and I don't think there is a speed limit.  People cros the median to pass each other with incoming traffic and cars will make left and right turns around you at intersections.  If a Thai does get into an accident with a foreigner, it is automatically the foreigner's fault.  I could live here my whole life and never get used to the driving.

Arriving at my house was a welcome relief after traveling for 36 hours, and I have settled quickly.  

I love you all, -Gary.