Gary Gam Dang

Many of the random locals here have begun calling me Gary Gam Dang, which means Gary Red Cheeks.  Although this name was originally made up by an American, it has stuck well with the Thais.  Many of the teachers at school call me it as well as many people outside of school.  I am not sure exactly how it has spread so fast, but one idea has something to do with a teacher always introducing me as Gary Gam Dang, even when she is on stage in front of a hundred people.  All in all, it could be a worse nickname.  I have heard of several internationals here who have nicknames like Elephant and Fat so no complaints on my end.

My good night

My good night...  I have to write this fast, because my good night is quickly becoming my bad night as I haven't finished planning for tomorrow yet...  My good night: I frequent a bar called the Come Inn Bar (soon to be AJ's Bar and Bistro).  It is unlike most of the other bars around here for two reasons.  One: the pool table is what you would expect it to be (many pool tables here are smaller and harder to play on).  Two: the girls don't try to go home with you.  I like this bar.  Tonight I stopped there and played some pool and cards with the staff there.  At one point in the evening, two of the girls who work there got all excited and asked if we were friends.  I was hesitant to respond, I was not sure if they were suggesting that I date one of them or not.  So I pointed back and forth between them and asked if they were friends, and then one of them caught on and said, not girl friends, friends.  I said that we were friends.  Another Thai who frequents that bar told me that I was a good farang (foreigner).  I throw this story out because I am making connections here that excite me.  Friendships with people very different from me, but friendships nonetheless.  The Thai people are incredible.  So willing to share what little they have.  Yesterday I was fed two meals off of some Thai friends' plates.  It was good food, although one meal burned my mouth for an hour after I ate it.  I am in a great mood right now.  I am making good friendships and experiencing the beauty that is Thailand.

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.