zahkaria's

After hours of wonder why my sleep patents are up shit creek, it dawned on me that maybe it due to my Thailand detox.

I've some what lost my marbles between here and Kathmandu add the extreme humidity and heat changes that has produced birdflu/malaria like symptoms (i think people call it the common cold). My head can feel the squeeze. Last night i was on a train from Chaing Mai to Bangkok. The whole 17 hour overnight trip screamed bug disco! With a half moon and bright florescences cabin lights made for a wonder land of dragon flies, mosques, cockroaches and your everyday bugs flying about in search for the moon to guide them home.

Problem being the ~ 20 'full moon' florescence disco bulbs buzz away. At about 1am i gave up on trying to sleep and tried to find the damn light switch. I passed back and forth looking for that mythical switch that might turn day into night. I tried to ask the ticket man, i tried everything. the end result was dreams full of bugs(which i hear are good omens in dreams), the screaming of train wheels entangling those voices of sleep and providing me with about 2 hours of completely broken sleep.

Now i realiszed that I've been using this blog not as a update of my travels but more of a complaint window. I don't really included all the fun antics that I've been up too. or the crazy live tv shows that I've seen while dinning on the back streets of Thialand. for these real deal, enjoyable moments, you'll have to hunt me down in that real world and remind me because to tell the truth, i would need a video camera to properly demonstrate these things (i thank sis for telling me you would lend me one and never providing the goods).

I'm not in hell, altought i sometimes i make out to be, i'm just tired, warn with a touch of ball'ding (Not going the way of my farther i hope) plus i'm turely dead broke.

It might be the forced detox or maybe its other reasons, but Thialand really isn't for it. India, however much you hate the places it has experiences so profound that there is a sense of walking that neural between love and crazed madness.

I'm going to try and sleep in the room i call an oven. I'll catch you all, soon, maybe....

Zac

ps. i included a picture of me. i look like a stoned monkey falling out of a tree crossed with an American football player with huge shoulders with a hint of get a freaking haircut. this was shot by Dj Hot Hot Hot (lol) ... some may know him as Dj 10Raphid or others as just james. Either way, maybe oneday he'll get the mix right!

oh and to all that expect photos, mmm i haven't really used my camera since the mountains (where i had problems with getting film, then all my batteries died because of the snow) and add the fact that the places i sent my pictures to be developt fucked up half the rolls. kind of leaves me, and every one else, a little out of luck.

Ladies and Genteel. Boys and Girls.

I'm now in Thailand. Where its expensive, yes all you guys and girls who told me Thailand is dirt cheap haven't travelled the Greater India (Nepal, India, Bangladesh. Bhutan, Andaman Islands). Okay yeah rip-offs are everywhere, i can restock up on clothes for the coming months in the most expensive 'designer' clothing.

With an increase in cost an increase the friendliness (i guess). India is a very hostile country, not physically aggressive but more mentally challenging. The constant stimuli really numbs the mind. Every one here thinks I'm too laid-back. But Thailand is just relaxing compared to my last 3 months of adventuring, almost a little too relaxing. If i compare the major cities, the City of Angles (Bangkok) with its 7.5 million people and New Delhi's wopping 22 million (yes guys that's Australia in one city) piled on top of each other, you can kind of try and imagine. But then not all of India is extreme. i was sleeping on secluded beaches with crystal clear water, but then you'll find it in Thailand. Felt snow flakes fall into my cheeks and snap freezing my toes. (you won't find that in Thailand :P)

I'll be home in 5 days, 1st March, If any one knows of any cheap rooms for rent. or any one wanting a waiter can they point then in my direction - as of today, i have 100$AUS left...

Zac

Well,... What to say, I'm currently in a little bit of a nightmare.

I've missed my flight to Bangkok. Not because i was late, but because i was ticketless ( a story i'll extend one day) , it didn't matter that they could see that i was meant to be on the flight with there little computers or that i had a copy of the ticket.

What does means is?

I'm now stranded. I need a new paper ticket + reschedule fees (250$US) OR i buy a new ticket at ~ 250$US. I'll be getting hold of my travel insurance to see what they recommenced as I'm hoping that they will cover the expense

I might see you all back home...

Airahcaz

Looks like its a no go on uploading my second half of India pictures. I'm going to fork out some cash a get a digital it bangkok. Just a small snappy camera. My SLR is a bit of a pain, big and heavy for quick snaps. Basically what you guys want any how. I'm still trying to hunt down other peoples photos who I've seen as there have been some amazing images.

I'm heading to Kathmandu today, Spent my two nights in Podkara. It is amazing, with beautiful views from monasteries or onto mountain ridges. I hired a much bigger bike this time, 500cc, freaked me out at first because it was a proper road bike and none of this cross/trail bikes that I'd been learning on. Road up to view the summit at sunrise. \breath taking. \it was more like you could reach out and touch it.

It seams that all of the Hindu world 'drinking' is confined to the male sex. My old flatmate would have a heart attack if she was here. \i really don't know how guys meet girls....

10 more days of epic experiencing....

Zac

Okay an update,

So my trip into Nepal, it kind of went badly! my first scheduled trip into Nepal was cancelled because of insurgent activity, leaving me to travel around India for another 2 weeks. My second attempted happened to fall on the same date that Darjeeling would experience a freak (once in 4 years) snow storm that left a good 2 feet of snow on everything. The locals all thought i was the luckiest Indian. With a total blackout for 48hours. I spent the snowed in weather either eating at cafe/restaurants or huddling in front of a wood fire while drinking coffee with a Thia master monk and his followers. It was quite amazing.

Travels (and i guess locals now) use the general term (third world country name) + time to demonstrate how the change in time. for example, Indian Time, is generally 2hours later then real time. This however depends on which part of India you are in. Nepalese Time is 1.5x that of India (similar to there exchange rates) so 2hours is really 3hours. When this phenomena is applied to traveling from the boarder to Kathmandu we have a total bus travel time of 16hours. But it was all worth it. I arrive on Shiva's Festival weekend. Hear i stoked on your typical fake trekking clothes, i now have a gortex jacket that fits. (real gortex well at least it feels like it) and bunny wear like gloves, beanies and a yak scarf. I'm all set for Australian winter now.

I can't wait to be home, i just want some stability and normality back in my life. Well, ok, i did find a steak house that does huge scotch fillets for 100 Nepalese rupees (2$) including chips and steamed vegetables. I'm not back for another fortnight, finish Nepal in a couple of days 20th and then try and detox in Thailand till 1st of March.

going to eat a cow. hire a bike and see what i can find.

Ciao
Zac