Monday, April 30, 2007

The end of my trip....

Phew!

It’s been a while since I have written last and it hasn’t been because if lack of things to write about. Let’s see. I finally arrived in LA and I was excited about having Zee come meet me. We have been friends for about 10 years now (maybe longer) and I have been threatening for years to come out and visit him. It just so happened to be his birthday (Happy Birthday!) and unfortunately I was so pooped from the flight that all I did once I got there was nap. The evening was quiet though as Zee ad I just did dinner and a movie. We went and saw 300 and I loved it. Now for most of you that haven’t seen it yet, I strongly advise it. Finally there is a movie about a war that was actually beautiful to watch. What I also loved was that the entire movie showcased 300 extremely beautiful, buff guys. 300!!! Even if there was no plot at all, I was very happy watching the film, but surprise, surprise there is a plot and it is great! It is my favorite movie this year by a long shot. And guys, don’t be discouraged, even though there was no shortage of near naked men (hooray! a movie for us chicks!!!) in fine form, there was a sufficient amount of T&A to keep you watching. Although it is nowhere near the same amount for us ladies (finally!!!) I think there was enough to be considered an apology.

The next day was a great day as Zee and I did some shopping and then met up with Jac and her boyfriend Luke. They had flown in for just a few days on their way back to Australia. We met years and years ago in Ko Phangan and then met up the following year and traveled through Laos. It was great to see her and finally meet the guy I have been hearing so much about. It’s not very often that you meet couples that look and are so connected. I can say that I have only met a few but these two compliment each other so well. Zee took us for a fantastic Mexican meal. It was HIS birthday and he popped for the meal. I have to say that it is just how amazing that guy is and I am so grateful to have wonderful friends like that around.

Luke, Jac and I then went to Rodeo Drive and Hollywood Boulevard the next day and had a full afternoon just wandering around looking at all the things that tourists should. I was happy to see Robbie Williams walk past us while I was shopping in Barney’s. He didn’t look as hot as I though he would have, but he did just get out of rehab, so we should just give him a break. What I did find shocking was how the paparazzi were already waiting for him when he walked out and waited for his car. Amazing! It’s really as bad as it looks. It’s almost disgusting how people harass “famous” people.

The next was my favorite LA day… Disneyland!!! It was all our first times and it was a blast. Who couldn’t love being at the happiest place on earth? We were lucky, for some reason we didn’t have to wait in long lines. The rides were fun, the company was fantastic and it was a great day to wander around and look at this crazy made up world. I would love to go again, but maybe next time on Mushrooms. Something that Jac, Luke and I couldn’t help but continually point out was how disgustingly obese Americans are generally. It was a huge turnoff to see family after family waddle around and feed their children crap all day. It was crazy that finding something healthy to eat in Disneyland was nearly impossible. There was no shortage of candy, sugar drinks and McDonald’s fries, but salads, anything vegetarian or just regular portions of food (as opposed to super sized meals) was non-existent. I can’t believe that I didn’t see more kids have sugar tantrums around Disneyland. Actually, I would have to extend that to a lot of LA as well. Most places that we all went, there were loads of fast food places to eat, but we had to walk or drive a long way to find just a regular sit down restaurant. I’m surprised at this because I thought that with so many people in LA looking so plastic, I would have thought that it would have prompted some sort of healthier eateries to crop up.

On the way home from LA, I flew business class on Alaskan and I got to sit beside Kathleen Robertson. If you don’t know who she is, she was Claire from 90210. Not necessarily my idol, but she was amazingly nice and hotter in real life.

It was a great trip and it was fantastic to see some familiar faces and lovely friends welcome me back at the airport. I love going away, but it makes me all that much happier to come home to such a great place to live.

I stayed at home for a couple of days and then flew to Seattle to see the Martin Sexton show. I don’t really need to say that his concert rocked as that is a give in, but I can tell you I was more than blown away by his performances. It was like he had tapped into some sort of religious movement on stage and the entire crowd was digging it. The amazing thing about this guy is that sure, his cd’s are fantastic, but his live performances are unforgettable. I have seen a lot of live acts that top my list of fantastic… Pink Floyd, Marilyn Manson, Beastie Boys, David Gray, Ben Harper, Lollapalooza’s (which included Nirvana one year)… just to name a few but, by far, when it comes to a humble musician just jamming for his fans without a massive production and light show, he wins, hands down. Here is a sample of his sheer energy on stage… Martin Sexton Rocks!

I also got a chance to wander around Seattle for an afternoon and check out Pike Place market and also Starbucks original flagship store. I loved Seattle and like San Francisco, it is one of the few American cities that I could live in (if I had to). I also had an opportunity to check out he Human Body exhibit at a gallery when I was there. I am speechless about how beautiful this exhibit is. What they have done (dr’s that is) is they took actual human cadavers and injected it with rubber or some sort of material so that they could then preserve and dissect keeping entire systems intact for viewing. All of them bone structure, circulatory, nerve system, digestion, reproduction etc…. And then they had bodies posed with others or on its own running (with art skin peeled back so you see what muscles are needed), or the male and female form embracing (so that you could see the differences in our bone structure. It was all done artistically and tactfully so that it was thought provoking and beautiful not grotesque. I spent hours wandering through that exhibit and I urge any people who hear of it go to their town - to go check it out.

I stopped off at the boat show in Victoria to visit Cathy at the boat show. It was great seeing her and a few people and once again be around an environment I love - boats!

So now I am home and enjoying things as they happen. My short term plans are… reno the kitchen, garden, work out, have as much fun as possible and look into getting a job. If any of you know of anything seasonal or part time, let me know. Love the fact you got to voyeur onto my journey.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Alright, alright... I'm coming!!!

Hey y'all,

It's been a whirlwind of a trip, but I promise you that I will be making a post shortly. I would like to say that I have had nothing going on, but that would be a big lie. I instead I will just say that I have been too busy. Gotta love you and leave you, but no worries, I will give you a courtesy post shortly and let you in on all the ....stuff!

Muah

Monday, April 9, 2007

You can check out.... but you will never leave!

Back to Thailand!
 
Wow, is this post ever over due.  Must have been all that ‘living in the moment’ I’ve been doing since I landed in Ko Phangan. 
 
The flight from New Zealand was uneventful, but I was surprised to hear the announcement when we landed at 1 am that the outside temperature was 29 degrees!  I am not kidding when I say that it is hot here.  Damn hot!  The average temperature hovers around 34-37 degrees and at night, it doesn’t cool off..  Thank goodness for air conditioning!!!
 
Lucia came up to meet me in Bangkok and we spent a few days being girls and shopping like rock stars.  We also found happy hour (oh bless! 2 4 1 drinks!) at a fancy hotel with a gorgeous pool and rode the motorcycle taxis through Bangkok like locals.   After that much needed girl time, we parted ways with me heading South and her North.
 
Arriving into Ko Phangan is like going home for Christmas break.  It is a familiar place for me that I hold so close to my heart.  I headed back to Haad Yao beach to be welcomed so warmly by the family I always rent from.  It is nice to see them after being away for a month. 
 
I have found a killer house that I am now renting in Haad Yao.  It is cut into the hill so the views I have are amazing.  I have a kitchen with fridge, huge room with a/c (man, it’s super hot here!), and even a bathroom with a beautiful soaker tub. All this, for a princely sum of …. $16 per night.  I am getting more spoiled every time I come here.  Next year I am going to be such a princess… where I am going to stay?
 
The other great thing about coming back to a familiar place is all the friends you have met from previous.  Ko Phangan just happens to be this weird vortex for people.   Once they get here, all the plans about checking out Northern Thailand, Laos or Cambodia end up getting scrapped.  There are so many people who come with great intentions to stay for just a few days and then they end up riding out their month long visa never leaving.  Not so bad, as I have done it more than a few times, but imagine losing days to all the parties all over this island.  Kodiak (a wicked Canadian that threw a party discussed in previous post) laughed about it over dinner tonight when he says that he’s been here for almost 3 months. It’s shocking to a lot of vacationers, who ask him constantly what he does while he’s here, but he just tells them that he has barely any time to hit the beach because of all the parties.  Colin returned today from traveling around Thailand while I was in New Zealand and he said that when he got off the ferry, he knew he was going to see all the same faces that he left here a month ago and the first person he saw was Kodiak who admitted he hadn’t even left the beach, let alone the island and then Kodiak told him where I was.  Colin couldn’t believe that nothing seems to have changed and that we are all still here.  It truly hasn’t, my friend.  As the full moon party nears, a few more familiar faces that I have mentioned in previous posts will be returning for this island’s biggest bash.   I am looking forward to seeing them as well.  This island does have that Hotel California feel to it.  You can check out… but you’ll never leave! 

On a sad note, a car hit my cute little puppy, Jackass - the day before I returned.  My other dog that followed me everywhere, Mama, is back by my side and… is once again knocked up.  And even though she answers to Mama, I am starting to notice she is quickly recognizing ‘Knock-up’ as another name she will come to.  She is living with me in my new house and guarding it very well.  I love her company.
 
Ok, now onto a little rant…  I have received a few emails from some of you asking me about the trip and why there hasn’t been any mention of the boys here.  I am aware you are used to my stories and trash talk, but I assure you, I am still the same Merie.  I went on a temporary hiatus to insanity when I agreed to stay away from making out with boys while I was on this trip.  I can’t tell you why on earth I even agreed to such a thing (and of course it was a insecure guy who suggested it!), but maybe it was a bit of a challenge to see if it was at all possible for me to accomplish.  Apparently, it is not. I have tested my limitations and I can honestly share with you all - there is no guy out there I have met, that is worth the wait.  And seriously, it isn’t realistic.   I am surrounded by hot single people on this island, why would I not sample what traveling has to offer????  After this realization that all this was ridiculous (I have only wasted a few months), I am off the wagon.  And, there is no better way to kick off the fun times, than with a quick session in Bangkok.  After being chased by a cute naked English guy for a couple of days (are you looking at my ass?), I began to remember how much fun being single really was!
 
Anyways, I have rented a motorbike to get myself around the island I am having piles of fun.  I have altered my plans to stay in Thailand for longer and I have cut out going to Ontario before LA.  It is too cold to go there after all this heat.   There are a few parties and more pictures to follow, but I really need to get on with my day.  Hope you are all well!!!