quick update from SE Asia

O.k. so this is going to be quick because internet where I am in Thailand is ass fuck expensive.. for Korean standards, for American standards, for anywhere in the fucking world standards.. it feels like I'm paying a brick of gold for this..

Anyways,
Our stop in Taiwan was awesome. We did shit like eat awesome food off the streets, went to the National Museum of Taiwan which is apparently one of the top 5 best museums in the world.. we checked out night markets which were crazy congested and had many interesting sights to see.. lots of pojang-machus(food carts).. yeh yeh. We also rented bicycles for about $2 and rode them around the Keelung River(I think?) for about 2 1/2 hours. It was pretty amazing.. I haven't ridden a bike in forever(I miss you Cornelius.. my old ass heavy fucking bike back at home ).. so that was definitely grrreat.

We arrived in Thailand.. and it's been pretty crazy. We're getting pulled this way and that way from people who are trying to get us to ride in their cab, eat at their restaurant, get a massage, whatever. People are just trying to sell us anything and everything.. while trying to rip us off of course. It's been frustrating getting lost anywhere because anyone you ask for directions on the street, will either try to direct you to do go to their guesthouse or whatever, or they'll not tell you where to go to spite you.. it's been kind of annoying. But yeh, it's definitely been interesting here.. the first few days we arrived at Kaesan Road(sp?) which was like fucking WAEGOOK-ville on crack(foreigners).. it was like.. bros and hos.. I saw a muscle tee here, a tribal tattoo there, and bleached blonde hair everywhere.. tons of Euro trash as well... we were walking through the streets embarrassed as fuck because we couldn't really say that we were different.. it was hard to fade into the background when we had our giant assbacks and our pale and yet to be tanned skin. We spent the next day looking around temples.. which were were really ornate and awesome.. we saw the giant reclining Buddha which was really cool to see upclose and in person. Afterwards, we made our way to Phuket town.. which took 4 bus transfers and about 22 hours.... then we rented motorbikes and rode around the city... but Pat and I accidentally lost Peters for a few hours.. and I thought I was going to have a panic attack.. luckily Peters found his way back to us and I almost cried in relief. Blah.. anyway, we're at some beachy place right now.. the beach was completely awesome and it was so fun to be in the waterrrr. We're also getting our tan on.. I haven't had a tan in like.. 5 years.. or .. more. We watched the sunset.. and any time you see a sunset on the beach, it's always pretty epic. Actually, at one point, I stopped watching the sunset and found myself absolutely entranced by this family playing nearby. I always go gushy at the sight of a happy family... their daughter was at most 2 years old, and their son was at most 4 years old.. and they were just throwing a little ball around and the kids were running around, giggling and chasing after the ball.. everyone looked like they were having a blast.. it was just a really sweet scene...

Blah. But bad news... I lost my fucking wallet...in....Thailand...
I don't know if it got lost or stolen.. or maybe lost and then stolen.. but either way, it's my own damn fault for not paying enough attention. And anyone who knows me, knows that I'm usually pretty good at not losing stuff.. I've NEVER lost a cell phone, or a wallet, or my keys before.. so this fucking sucks that the one time I do is in a foreign country.. so.. yeh. And anyone I try to call, such as the minibus companies that drove us.. and no one spoke English.. but pretended like they did.. so that was pretty frustrating. I finally just gave up and emailed my bank to cancel my cards.. I can't even find a phone card here so I haven't been able to phone my bank... ugggh. Anyway, I freaked out about it on and off for the past 2 days... but I guess I've decided that I have to just get over it because what else can I do? And I'm still here having a blast, so.. yeh.. everything in my wallet can get replaced.. so whatever. It'll just take time and money I guess... drivers license, alien reg, all bank cards including Korean and American, Yonsei ID.. blarg. I guess I just have to figure out a way to get money now... luckily Peters has a wells fargo account so I can transfer money to him to give to me.. so hopefully now Peters won't lose his card. O.k. well I have to go.. I know I have emails to write back to everyone so please don't think I'm not going to write back... I really want to write nice heartfelt messages when I have time to think about it.. and cheaper internets. O.k. well I hope everyone is doing well. Please keep writing me and I miss you all.