Hi. I'm blogging from Epcot Center. Oh wait no, I'm blogging from Singapore.

Singapore, being a fairly recent country, feels as if the ribbon has just been cut only a few days ago. Our first morning we asked the guy at our hotel what the greatest hits were that we couldn't miss - he suggested Chinatown to eat and shop, for more shopping we could head to the 24 hour department store in Little India, and then to Orchard Road for a little more shopping. He reccomended that the following day we hit up Zico City, a mall built just a little bit out of the city limits, that is essentially a city under one roof, great for shopping and eating. I was a little surprised by the emphasis Singaporeans put on shopping (i was used to the 24/7 eating from Thailand). but come on? mall after mall after mall, might as well go to King of Prussia. But I've been a little blown away. It's been raining since we stepped off the plane so being that most of the city is either entirely indoors or undercover, the rain has not been an inconvenience. just to get to the MRT (subway), you take the underpass, which only turns out to be another mall built underneath the city. Parts of city still resemble the past, colonial architecture and all, but just behind the low two story Havana-like buildings towers great space-age structures. And then there are the riverside outdoor malls that have been built to mirror that colonial look - each building housing a different ethnic restaurant: thai, korean, japanese, chinese, persian, greek, you name it. Each country is represented in its most Disneyfied way in Singapore. It's really strange here - English is the local language because it is the common thread between everyone who lives here - in one way or another the entire population is some sort of an ex-pat: American, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, etc. Singapore is more of a melting pot than New York or LA. ...

But, I'm getting ahead of myself, allow me to backtrack a few days. ..

I know I've mentioned Bangkok, but did I say how crazy it was?? In the three days there I think I saw it from every perspective and every possible mode of transportation. Low Bangkok: 16 year old thai girls arm in arm with 60 year old farangs (foreigners), Backpacker Bangkok: Ko Shan Rd. where Thai massage parlors, hostels, irish pubs, go-go bars and laudrymats line the street, stray cats are rampant, and after 2am they cannot serve alcohol, only Whiskey or Vodka. Highend Bangkok, luxiorious hotels (did not stay, just stopped in to use the loo), restaurants and clubs that are packed with eastern european models.

After Bangkok was Ko Sumui, which was dissappointing when we arrived and learned there was no beach because of a typhoon, and bad weather expected for the next few days. During our stay the crowds picked up and we had a great time with the Swedes and Aussies - Americans are rare in Thailand. Took the ferry to Ko Pha Ngan for a night - home of the new moon and black moon parites. Ran into the brits we did the jungle canopy tour with back on Sumui, drank some special shakes, and laughed with them all night. From PhaNgan we headed to the other side of the thailand penninsula, just 250 miles away, only it took all day and 10 different legs of transport to get there. Once there I saw blue skies for the first time in a few days, it was fucking beach weather finally!. From Krabi you can hire a long boat to take you to the different islands - saw Maya Bay where The Beach was filmed among other beautiful spots. The thing with this part of thailand is that it attacts so many people because it is so stunning, which then takes away from that serene thai beach you hold in your mind... Farangs everywhere.

so now in Singapore. going to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon. I know there's o much more I wanted to write, but its too late in the early morning.

Looking for love in Thailand

Ok, big breath... I feel like there's so much to write, but no time to write it. Why be sitting in an internet cafe in Ko Sumui while I could be sitting on the beach?? Actually, weather's not so great today anyway...

So my take on Bangkok... the city was intense, really intense, I need a vacation from Bangkok. You do not stop for a minute, not for a second. Nothing like New York. (Granted, we were trying to fit a lot into just a few short days.) The city is huge, to go anywhere takes about an hour even if it's just in your neighborhood. Traffic is at a 24/7 standstill. The Skytrain and subway only take you so far, the skytrain goes to one point down river, then you have to take a boat upstream, and the whole transportation process becomes a production. Taking a taxi becomes stressful and you find yourself arguing with the driver about where you want to go - he wants to take you to his friends restaurant, or his friends shop, but you just really want to go to the Grand Palace - not hungry, don't want to shop. The meter taxis hate to put the meter on and often refuse leaving you on the side of the street or willing to pony up the 400 baht. Many times they take you somewhere and tell you your destination is just around that corner, you trust them - they know the city better than you, obviously - you pay, and then you learn your destination is really no where near your present location. Shit, duped again! The tuk tuk drivers like to do the same thing, but charge more for the agrivation; they can because every tourist wants the experience of driving in a a tiny thai truck - what can only be described as a wheelbarrow with a lawnmower engine, on steroids. It's a good time actually, despite the cloud of pollution. And finally, you find yourself constantly bargaining, negotiating, arguging over 100 baht - about $3, that you're spilting between four. Wtf? You become incredibly cheap, when you expect it to be. But then it becomes about the principle, right? These people are hustling and cheating, and we don't want to be those stupid tourists who get duped all the time.

Last night we only let it happen once. We put our foot down when one cab driver told us we had to walk up the mountain to get to our destination, that the road was closed, she still wanted $200 baht though... a car drove past, right up the mountain. Uh uh sorry, road's open, let's go. You have to be firm, even rude at times. But then you're like, damn, it's 50 cents... and you look around and see the poverty, and just say fuck it.

Anyway, we arrived in Ko Sumui last night around 6pm, 12 hours after we left our hotel in Bangkok - a trip we expected to take 4 hours at the most took 12. Duh. Nightlife was disappointing, where is everyone?? Off season, next week people here. Also, weather sucks, perfect weather on western side. The boat tour operators are even discouraging their own tours - typhoon last week, water's rough, can't swim in it. I think we might take off early. We have a friend in Phuket, go there maybe.

I want to love it here but I don't yet.

Half Way Around The World

I'm in Bangkok. It's 1030am, it's 1030pm yesterday at home.

oh, quick london recap: I was getting a little antsy, and honestly kinda tired of doing the touristy thing every day so on Wednesday I chunneled it to Paris for the night. Spent the night with Michelle, who just happened to have an extra invite to a private gospel christmas show at the town hall. Afterwards she took me to a great French bistro: warm goat cheese salad, steak tartare, and Ile Flotante (floating island - sounds nicer in French) for dessert. From there we strolled the Champs Ellyse, which was draped in all its Christmas finery. I slept in a proper bed that night, it was a great mini vacation from London.

So now i'm blogging from Bangkok... Yesterday for sunset we went to Wat Anun, a temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya and had a little pad thai snack in the next door hut. We did the Suan Lum Night Bazaar for dinner and bargaining -stir fry crab in a thai curry sauce - awesome, and a couple liters of Tiger. To finish off the night we hopped in a tuk tuk to Kuan Sam Road, a bar-lined street that's a regular spot for backpackers.

Since being here, not even 24 hours, we've taken the Sky train, subway, taxi, river boat and tuk tuk. Bangkok is huge and the transportation options are endless. The tuk tuk experience deserves a blog entry in itself, and right now i'm being rushed off to get massages at another historic temples that doubles as a massage school.

more later....

Mind The Gap

I'm am seriously obsessed with the tubes and buses of London. Granted they stop running a little early, aaand they're a little pricey .... but, it is the best public transportation i've ever used!

yep, that's it.

Come Together

Today I put The Beatles on the ipod and headed over to Abbey Road. Saw the Abbey Road Studios where the album was recorded and the famous crosswalk (or "zebra" as the Brits call it) from the cover of the album. This was after an tastey Dim Sum lunch with Ed and his friend at the Pheonix Chinese restaurant where Tony Blair sips his wonton soup. Tonight we've got tickets for the play Love Song with Nev Campball, Kristen Johnston, and Cillian Murphy.

Cambride tomorrow I think.


Cheers*

Londontown

Let me first say that anyone who believes the Brits have the worst food and dont know how to eat, never dined in London. From the fifth floor restaurant at Harvey Nichols to a tiny French bistro in Soho, it's been a non-stop food tour since I arrived. Even Harrod's, which I had expected to be an impressive department, just blew me away. Not only was it the most posh department I've ever seen - Saks Fifth Ave doesn't compare - it was honestly the WalMart of luxury. I mean, imagine any high-end food market and multiply that by 10 and maaaybe it would compare to Harrod's. Room after room of the best anything you could ever want - white truffles that go for 4500 pounds per kg ($9000!?!!). The meats, cheeses, seafood, pastries - it was a foodie's wet dream. No detail at Harrod's is left as average.

Aside from eating Bruce has been rolling me through town: Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, New Bond, Regent and Oxford Streets. Visited the Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery, and British Musuem. Big Ben was more stunning than I knew. In all the places I've ever wanted to visit London was never high on the list - I think i figured how different could it be if they speak English too? London has proven me wrong. The language is the only similarity to home - and even that is only similar on a basic level. London just has this energy that I dont feel even in New York. Things are cherished here, everything seems to be done with care that you don't often see at home. The independent business owner appears to be surviving and thriving in London as well. I've seen one Borders Books, and at least one independent/specialty bookshop per block!

anyway, i've got another meal to eat....

Holy Crap

I leave tomorrow. Looking forward to the Ambien for the flight over.

I might be more nervous then excited. I think I'll get excited once I'm there.

As scared as I am for this trip, I think I'd be more scared of settling too quickly into routine life in Philly - don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to that, just not ready for it yet. I went skydiving, so what the f - I can do this.

15 flights, i think ... damn

Anxious would be the right word. yeah, anxious.