We had to whip out the books and find a hostel or hotel. We decided to stay in Pak-up hostel not far from anything we wouldn't mind seeing. We took advantage of the night and walked around, found a random festival of sorts with a stage for participants in some karaoke event. It was alive with a night market, food, and accessories for whatever you could think of.
This is where Mel and I had our first encounter with the King.
We were enjoying some cheaply made cocktails and some mediocre sushi when the clock struck 6:00pm. We were a bit confuse when everyone around us stood up and was still. I wasn't sure if it was like the start of an American baseball game or what was happening..
We stood as everyone else did and stopped what we were doing.
The song was in honour of the king.. the nation.
Now before I say anything more I want I make a statement that it's illegal to speak of the royal family with any negative context. This is a law that is much different than other countries. So with travelers, they should be aware and educated on this so they do not make any remarks, and find themselves in trouble.
We enjoy some Thai ice cream and some children performing on the ground playing instruments. This is a common practice, at least from what we've seen.
I'm eager for a burger. We find a place to eat. It seems like an Australian bar and grill or something. I gotta ease off the American. India was rough and exciting. Thailand is great. But food.... Yeah I need that burg.
We are happy to get some rest in the hostel which is actually pretty nice. Only 250฿, which is around 7-8 USD. Booya.
Next day we head off to Ko Phi Phi. We got a ticket at a ferry office the night before. I forget the exact price but just as everything else, once you but something you find it cheaper elsewhere. We rode on the ferry to the island watching the cool clear blue water under the skies. It's a long two hours or so, and we approach the long tail boats you dream of and see in pictures. The boats are all lined up on the sand, the bungalows are in sight, an many, many people trying to recruit for the next dive. Diving is huge here. I want to try so bad. It's very cheap here for this kind of sport. If you want a diving license, do it in Thailand. As so I've heard. I haven't done it yet and I want to. I am rather poor.. So even though it's cheap, I have bills to pay, haha. Dang student loans.
Were walking through the people trying to sell things, and are lookin at the poorly scaled map. Easy to read but confusing at first as anyone would be with anything new.
We reach our place to stay for the night after a short walk (long walk in respect to the islands size). We check in for one night and realize that in two days, the boat returning to krabi will be too late for our flight. We apologize and tell the hotel we need to check out after one night.
Everything is alright, after some brushing around for our documents. Walking to our nice little hut, we take a look off the edge of the hills and it's got a great view. We are able to unload, and go enjoy the beach!!! Yes! This island is hounded with tourists and party goers, Muay Thai, tattoos, etc.. Were walking around trying to find some things to eat or just see. We keep passing this 'pirate' restaurant? It's quite funny. I'm not sure if Mel knew the whole time but I didn't realize the restaurant had multiple openings to enter from either side. It was all open air walls/pillars, but i didn't know that. I guess I just couldn't see through to the other side? Everything is so crammed here. Nuts. At least for the Farang (westerner). We also keep passing this place called 'The Rock'. It looks like a dominant restaurant, more expensive and up on a higher level. Literally.. Elevation.
Mel and I spend some time on the beach walking out to the water, explore the weird slimy sand creatures we found that look like clear spaghetti and slurp themselves back into holes as soon as they make contact with someone. Ewwww. Hehe.
We spend a decent amount of time on the beach laying there. Relaxing. It's nice. I see a group of guys throwing a football. Man I wish the guys were here. My dudes would love to have a catch in the mile long ankle high water. 
After some photo ops, and some relaxing on the beach in front of some tunes from a nearby bar, we head on up to bed.
We hear and FEEL the bass from the beach. It's bumping outside like crazy.
Were in one of the farthest places to stay, too!
I take a look down towards the beach, much lower than where we are currently. It's loud, there are lights, fire twirlers, an it's like the night is young. Mel and I don't feel like going nuts, we try to get some shut eye, wow that music was loud. Haha. I can't imagine staying closer down towards the beach.
Now, we wake up, eat a nice complimentary breakfast, and are headed out back to Krabi.
It's funny, we ask if no assistance for this man to help us. They load us in a truck, on the back. Kinda like a sungtaew. Were going down the sometimes steep hill, one way hardly paved path. Holding on for dear life at points to not fall off, haha.
The end comes near and the truck stops. We unload our bags and the man throws them in a sort of square cart/trailer/dolly thing. Were wondering what is happening then realize it has wheels. He's pullin it! He starts to pull our bags through to the ferry on the other side if the island. We feel bad because we just walk behind him, passing all the other foreigners feeling like this is some sort of, indecent treatment. We try to say we can take the bags but the man insists. He's extremely kinda smiling, and generous.. Then again... this is just a walk to the ferry.. Not Mongolia.
We reach our ferry early, watch some fish under the docks, wave goodbye to the scenery and take a much wanted spot on the top of the ferry to lay down, in the beating hot sun. Another two hours or so back to Krabi. Easy enough we just walk around Krabi and search for a place to stay again. Worst case scenario we go back to the hostel, otherwise we just keep looking for a nice place to relax and feel comfortable.
We find a place and are able to bring down the price a little bit. Mel says 'screw it' and takes her card out, haha. WOOO. A/c hehe.
Were just roaming the streets we were roaming the two days before and are ready for our flight back to Bangkok. This is where it sucks. Going back to Bangkok means Mel and I are coming to an end in our vacation and fun.
Besides from the excitement of getting back to Bangkok, and getting my luggage from the storage unit, there wasn't too much more excitement other than good old Khao San road. We were staying on Khao San road. This road is permanently closed and had a vast amount if bars an restaurants. This place goes WILD at night. From Ping Pong show offers to laughing gas, to just hanging with friends or gettin down on the dance floor.. It has a chronic environment. I mean that in a both positive and negative way.
Katie Matero, my Student Staff Coordinator in Johnson Hall for the Spring 2014 semester. She's taking the course too. We message each other and find out she and others in the group are coming to khao San road. We decided to meet at 7 eleven. Mel and I wait around and meet up, get introduced to some people, and have a night turn old. We watched foreigners take the 'spotlight' in search of peer acceptance, watched child break dancers, are scorpions and eventually made our way to 'the club'.
The Club. The entrance is a large oval neon sign which has a small opening with some
Guards standing under it. You pay a cover fee which gives you a stamp for re try and a drink once you get in. (Ticket). The doorway leads you down a long ish dark hallway, which seems darker when it's your first time and you are under the influence. Definitely quesionable at first when you are unsure of the territory and surroundings you are in. Mel stayed in the room for this part which is okay, but I really wish she came! It was nuts. The hallway opened up to (again seemed larger than it was while under the influence.. Haha) a huge opening of a dance floor with a center rounded DJ stage. Lasers and lights and robots filled the underground club feel of the cement walls. Katie and I walked in an got our picture taken and were put on the club's Facebook site. Oh boy. Then we were all going wild snapping pics and dancing to some wild house/techno music. A bit intense. After being there more often now, it's definitely not as insane or wild as it felt. It felt like I was in college again.
Despite all the crazy fun, we all separate and hit the sack. The next day, Mel and I were going to head to Ayuttaya for a few hours. After Ayuttaya Mel is going to have her one night in Bangkok. Within te next 48 hours I'd be off to meet my group for the TESOL course. I'm eager to meet people and get started but... I'm definitely going to miss Mel. She was a huge uprising of spirits for me after all of the highs and lows in India. India... You got me good, but I'll be back some day. I want to. See more, volunteer more... I need to understand you more. Damn Delhi. Haha.
Up next: Our day in Ayuttaya.
Goodbyes and see you laters wih Mel.
The end of the beginning.. And the beginning of the rest of my life.
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