Sawatdee ka

I think I've been on a plane for about 27 hours in the last five days, but I've finally arrived in Bangkok. My pack arrived safely as well; I was a bit worried, as I had to check it due to my itty bitty purple pocket knife. I guess those TSA screeners actually are looking for those things.

I checked into my hostel, showered, wandered the streets, got some food, and got a massage. I'll probably just hang out around here (hostel), grab some dinner, and go to bed. My Thai sucks, if the confused looks on the peoples' faces is any indication, not to mention if I do get my question across, I have no idea what they're saying in response and just stare blankly. I've been gesturing, and they've thrown in some English, so I haven't starved yet.

Tomorow I fly out to Phuket, which is a touristy island on the Adaman Sea, where I will catch the boat for my SCUBA trip. I'll be living aboard the boat for 6 nights/5 days, which will sail around the Similan Islands, a group of islands and national park off the Thailand coast near Myanmar. The schedule says 19 dives, 4 of which are night dives. It sounds pretty intense, but I should see some cool stuff and hopefully won't get too seasick. My guide book says underwater visibility is reduced in late March/early April, but this is also the best time to see manta rays and whale sharks! sweet. Here's a link to the company I'm going with, if anyone actually feels like looking it up (I'm too lazy and my internet time is limited, so I'm not posting any pictures. Sorry): http://www.jonathan-cruiser.com/ . I'll obviously be out of contact until I get back from that next week.

Bye bye for now.

Taipei

I've arrived safely at Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport in Taipei, have purchased some unneeded duty-free cosmetics, and am now using their free internet. I have another hour or so to kill before my flight to Bangkok, which I will use to brush up on my Thai, but I thought I'd at least let everyone know that I did not crash into the Pacific.

Special thanks to Sarah and Nick for seeing me off in style and driving me to the airport, to Susan for letting me borrow her digital camera, and Angie for transporting the camera and some of my SCUBA stuff to Miami for me (oh, and I'm supposed to say that Frances rocks for some reason).