I couldn’t be bothered with the long way so I took a motorcycle taxi as I have done many times in Bangkok. It’s a scary thing to do, they duck and weave in and out of traffic and you hang on for dear life. You search the older blokes as they have the more experience on a bike.

This fella was waving me down and so I negotiated a fee. 400 baht down to 150 in seconds flat. That’s a little over AUD$5. I said to him that if he gets me there safely I will give a tip. His face lit up.

I had my little backpack on and tucked everything away as I know it was going to be a hell of a trip on the back of this 250cc bike. Everything secured, this is my regret, not keeping out my Flip video camera for those potentially great occurrences that just may occur. To be honest, I was just considering what would happen if I was to fall off..

We took off down Kaosan Road, straight into the heart of the RedShirt March. I mean, straight into and through the heart of it. There were by this time in the arfternoon, 100,000 Red Shirt demonstrators just around the corner, and we parted them to the dismay of the organisers. There were barricades, soldiers and police, there was tension vibrating through Red shirt chants, cause this was the day that it was apperently going to get real fiesty. My taxi bloke insisted that we go straight through the march, defying attempts by Red Shirt oarganisers to stop and go back. Man, I so wish I had the foresight to have my camera filming, cause this was really amazing. Only about 50 meters from where the huge stage had been erected as the heart of the demonstration for the past 3 weeks, we beeped and bustled and he screamed at the people all dressed in red to get out of the way. We were only at a crawl so I could have been filming.. bummer, would have been a real hit on youtube I bet.

It took us about 10 mins to get through, and we both cheered each other and laughed as he hit the throttle and I hung on for my anticipated hell fast trip. 30 minutes later after many a bump on the dodgy Bangkok roads, my helmet coming off on the motorway at one stage, we made it to Sukhimvit and he was well impressed about his timing. Now he could go back there through the back way and look for another fare, but no doubt he would take another route…

It was one of those amazing experiences that make me the person I am, whatever colour shirt I am wearing.. blessed.

Just for the record, the current Thai government has met with the Red Shirts today and yesterday, and there is a lot of talking to do yat. Check it out in line if you are interested and see where the stage is and wonder how me made it through…

Exiled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is somewhere in the world but has huge support from the common people of Thailand. These people are the ‘Red Shirts’. Thaksin was ousted via a miltary coup in 2006, and parliament eleceted a new Prime Minister whose name is really hard to pronounce let alone spell. Since 2006, there have been many a protest as to the situation, as the common people have somewhat of an adoration for old Thaksin. ( I might just add that he Thaksin is one of the richest man in South East Asia, owning most of the satellites and communcation services worth billions.. )  However, it has all come to a head this month.

Last Saturday, I had to get to Kaosan Road in order to have a look at the new stray shop site and of course to put Calypso and Njoy stickers around everywhere. I mean everywhere! I don’t like Kaosan Road so much, it’s a hassle to get to but it is where ALL the Backpackers go to stay. It’s cheap and somewhat crass at it’s best, but hey, if it’s where our demographic are, I need to go there too. I took the river boat to get there, the journey itself is a good one, taking almost an hour from where I stay in Sukhimvit where I stay.

I only lasted for a mixed fruit shake ( very very yummmm all throughout Thailand + Laos) and the lenght of the road twice in order to palster stickers. Graham had left so I didn’t find the location of where the Stray shop will be but I am sure it will be a ripper. This location will also feature in our promo in August. It is also where we need to onside the travel agents and teach them how they can make money from selling Cairns/Qld product.

Anyways, I had to leave. I couldn’t be bothered with the long way, so I decided to risk the back of a motor cycle taxi that would get me back to Sukhimvit much quicker. This was my only regret in Thailand, and on the next post I shall explain…

I met here an unidentified member of the animal club and headed to my favourite bar on the island, the Reggae Pub. This place is an institution, and has been for 22 years now. I remember after seeing the Backpackers coming through with the T-shirts years ago, that I had to do get there.

And so, just to digress, in 1994 I did. At that time it was a little more challenging to get to Samui as a Backpacker. It took me about a day and a half from Bangkok by all local transport, and finally from Chumpron I caught the local junket style boat over to the island. The boat was pretty full of Backpackers, almost outnumbered however by the Thai touts on the boat trying to sell you a place tio stay and all sorts of things. This old guy I remember asked me where I was headed. I told him to the Reggae Pub. And with somewhat of a sincere and surprised look on his old fisherman’s face he sad : “Oh no, Reggae bar burn down last night… finit.”  “yeah right” I said, but he ressured me that it had and so it did. I got there and it was still smoldering with all the authorities trampsing around wondering what to do. Bummer, after years of wanting to see it, it let me down…

Back to the story. We went to the Reggae Pub where there was a ten piece band and some great music. Met some fellow Aussies from Airlie Beach, good couples, and made a new friend in ‘Mano’, one of the waiters there. He had a really cool staff shirt on that said ‘all for one’ with great colours of the Reggae rainbow, and of course I was wearing a Calypso T, so we immediately started banter about how we would trade shirts. This bloke was so cool he gave me the shirt off his back! Well, I guess I did reciporcate by doing the same. I was chuffed with my new fashion accessory, but it was not until I got back to the hotel that I realised the shirt he had given me was a very well worn one, with stains and sorts of stuff that I still can’t get out. All the same, he is happy with the clean crisp stylin’ Calypso T that he said he would proudly wear… it’s all about the branding anyway.

The funniest thing I saw on Samui was an Isreali getting arrested. This was a larf. There are far too many on this island, loose and full of ignorant juice. No offence Rffi, but I am sure you can all understand what I am referring to if you have been to Samui.

Walking back to the hotel I couldn’t help but to admire the police motorbikes that were straight outta the 70’s. Rippers, CHIPS all over but no sign of Jon + Ponch. There were 3 bikes and 6 cops, 2 on each bike. But these bikes were comfortably parked up on the main street whilst their jockeys wacthed in ernest the Liverpool v West Ham game on the BIG screen at a bar. This main road is a one way street and all of a sudden this Isreali wanker with fake stocking tattoos down his arms ( the type they sell on the street if you want to look tuff, literally stockings for you arms that loook like tattoos…not! )  flies up stream on this one way street on a fake Harley, a Honda it was, just like his tattoos, really bloody crass. The cops were straight on their bikes and after him like Jon + Ponch but really pissed off that he had the audacity to ruin their viewing of the football match. Bloody funny I tell ya, to see him spread eagle up against a car, pockets emptied and taken away. Great stuff, really impresive to watch, everyone, locals, toursists and lady-boys alike all applauded as they took him away.

That was Samui, back to BKK

Over the years I have made some great friends here, all of which are from other parts of the world making business in this incredibly busy Backpacker mecca. I always enjoy the catch up, and of course the party which inevitably happens. It’s like Cairns in a way, there is always an excuse to get on it, and that’s the way it will remain.

This is the place is where we have decided to put on a promo for Cairns, and in particular our businesses. 4 daze after the full moon party on Koh Panghan in August this year is the target date. Just on the beach at Vibe Bar, we will attempt to do a cross promotion with Cairns and Koh Tao, as there are a lot in Cairns that have gone through Koh Tao, and vica versa. There is also Don who is moving to Bangkok to take on one of the big bars there. This will also be a place to promote, as wel as Kao San Road…

Watch this space.

Lots to say, but more important stuff to say in the next couple of posts…

Now, for those who have been to Thailand, you will know that when a girl talks to you, she wants to have sex with you and get paid for it. That’s the sex trade that is rife in Thailand, that’s why I like Koh Tao where I am heading to catch up with all my mates cause it doesn’t happen there. I know to get straight out of Koh Samui and head to Tao where I can realx and party with my mates.

Anyway, in Laos there is no sex trade which is wonderfully refreshing. You can only have sex with a Laotion if you marry them. So to talk to a girl is a simply friendly gestre that helps them practice their English.

These girls rocked, Nit and Noy, 2 sisters that had come up from Vienteine with their other sister Dah, and brother Bui. We shared a Beer Laos and then headed to another bar to meet their other sis and bro. I can’t believe how beautiful Laos and the people are. So much far removed from the Thais, no offence at all, just distictively different and more relaxed. You see, Laos is like Thailands little brother, and the Thais seem to treat Laos with contempt from what I have learnt.

Anyway, the 5 of us continued drinking at another quieter bar and that when I started to learn all about this family.

Nit lives in Sweden and is only in Laos on holidays. She even has a Swedish accent which was kind of cool, she is beautiful and all the family have wonderfully big hearts. They took me in as their new bro, great stuff. I didn’t have a bus booked to Vienetiene the next day, so they kindly offered to give me a ride. We had a fun journey back to the capital, stopping for sugar cane juice and photgraphs with mine and Nit’s cameras. Unbelievable, what a great family, and now my newly adopted one from Laos. I didn’t have a guesthouse booked in Vienetiene so they insisted that at stay at the family house with them in the city.

Lucky me. I spent about 72 hours with them all and had a wicked experience. In total, I think they are 16 Laotions living in 2 houses on one city block. Kids of all ages, grandma etc. I was the centre of the party, Nit translating most of the time with Noy and Dah speaking ok English. Dah is a real bloody comedian and married to a Manchester miner that works in China. She made me laugh and I didn’t even know what she was talking about.

They took me everwhere, a most memorable time spent with a beautiful family. We went to visit their little brother at a police training school about 50 kms out of the city. This was interesting, being in the training ground of the communist police of Laos.

It was all about me, they were just as happy to have me in their lives as I was them. I slept in Noy’s bed with Nit, the 3 of us, no funny stuff although I must be honest and say it may have crossed my mind

They took me to the markets, took me for another blessing and finally dropped me at the airport to catch a flight to Koh Samui. I was quite sad to part ways with them, Dah making me laugh as they all wave goodbye  to me passing through customs. I will stay in touch and see them when I get to Laos next time. Having just arrived in Koh Samui, I miss them already, all things Laos, and of course Beer Laos, my other new freind!

Under the advice of Graham, Emi and many a traveller I took a mini bus down to Vang Vieng. The local bus was a no go, and the VIP bus was said to be bad also. The mini van was good, when it showed up. So, 13 hours after due departure I arrived in Vang Vieng. man, what a freak show this place is. As I stood on the back of the overcrowded tuk tuk from the bus station to where I was heading to camp for the night, there was a wanker chasing the bus, maybe from  USA wearing a bikini, a long blonde wig and many a texter scrawl all over his embattled body. He was screamin: “new blood, new blood, welcome to Vang Vieng. Free mushroom shakes all night at Q Bar.” Just the kind of welcome I was expecting after many a stories about this place.

This is where all the Backpackers come to go tubing down the river, eat mushrooms, smoke pot and drink litres of whatever kind of alcholic beverages they can, usually buckets of vodka redbull. Oh, and get laid of course, how could I forget that.

I checked into the guest house, washed the dirt, dust and smoke off me and headed in to the town centre with my wits close to my chest.

Many a Backpacker cruising out in various laid back bars watching Simpsons, Family Guy and all those kind of travelling sit coms from the States. It reminded me of Tonsai Beach Krabi. I wandered around and couldn’t help but to venture into Q Bar as I passed. What an experience.

It was loose to say the least. A ripper of a bar, full of Backpackers out of their heads in full flight. It was only 9pm! Behind the bar were Backpackers working, most of whom seemed to be indulging in the extra-fungial treats that litter the fields of Vang Vieng. I asked one pretty English girl what the story was, she said she came for 2 days 10 months ago…. need I explain that one to you? This place was totally out of control but I am glad I made it there. Most were in get up of some kind or another, bikinis and wigs were the flavour for the boys, the girls just had bikinis and shorts, I counted a total of 7 nipples hanging out un beknowce to the chicks wearing them. Yeah OK, you couldn’t help but to notice. Really, you couldn’t. It was just crazy free love on ‘out of it time’. I had to have a shot of Jack with my Beer Laos to feel like I could fit in some how. No thanks to the mushrooms, Beer Laos was my stable and I was happy with that.

There were of course the owners of the place from Laos keeping a watchful eye on the goins on, but really outrageous is an understatement at best. All falang, or foreigners, there were only 2 what seemed to be local girls in the bar sitting down having a larf at the shannegans. I think that they and I were te only ones that hadn’t been tubing down the river all day damaging the body and having a great adventure. I had to go and say hello, and that was when the next adventure kicked in, more beautiful Laos hospitality and cultural immersion.

Next.

Would just like to acknowledge the awesome hospitality of Graham and Emi for looking after me here at this great pad on the banks of the Mekong. Had a blast, met heaps of new mates and learnt a lot. Will be looking forward to having Kumsook come and stay in Cairns with us.

Will let you know what this next stop is like, apperntly pretty wild.

I have learnt that there are lots of Backpackers here, and it’s slowly becoming the new Thailand without the beaches.

I have learnt that in the rich western world, we often frown and have too many worries.

I have learnt that these people who don’t have near what we do re just happy with the simple things.

There are no lifes little luxuires as we know them.

We take running water and electricity for granted, education and all the other things.

I have learnt that I have nothing to complain about in life full stop.

I want to come back here when Stray starts off and go from there.

I have just found my Udon blog but having trouble getting it to post.

I have just learnt that we are going to research the Backpacker bars here tonight and drink more Beer Laos.

I have learnt lots, but there is still more to come.

Later ron.

What a school, unlike any that we have been educated in, the prniciple asked if I could help develop the school in a way to raise funds to buy more books and just in general contribute to the future of the students. I was a little perplexed that I had been asked to do such a deed, but after being there and seeing what it wasn’t all about, I now feel obliged to do whatever I can for the school.

I am still thinking of what I can do, first things first I guess, I will start a facebook page about the place and go from there. Maybe I can find someone to start up a website and a back office on line where people can donate just small amounts to pass on. Maybe sending books, I don’t know, but when I get home I will get amongst it and see what I can do.

So, today, Kumsook took Graham and I to the school that he left his village for here in Luang Prabang. This place is a lot more developed than yesterday’s, but still nothing flash except for the beautiful hearts of the young ones that study there. The football pitch was a dusty track, the foodhall/tuckshop was under a tarp, only 1 room had computers, half of which didn’t work.

We sat in the maths class whilst Kumsook took an exam. I was pleasently surprised how well he did, for some of the students had no answers for any of the questions as we perused the room. Maths wasn’t my best subject, but I really felt for the ones that had no answers. A little sad, so I paid particulat attention to them.

Of course, as we all had in our class at some time, the smart ass who would finish the exam really quickly, probably with a perfect score as he roams the room bragging about it. Yeah, you know who I mean… I bet you are thinking about that one kid at your school~!

Anyway, off to English class where I was really keen to participate, and so I did. You see, many moons ago I spent a couple of years in Tokyo teaching English and I really enjoyed it. Spending nearly 18 months with some students whos started with no practical conversational skill, and leaving you having reasonably fluent chats was very gratifying, so I was really keen to put my whole self into this class here today.

This was heaps of fun, the special guests in the class, a real honour for us and Kumsook, we roamed the class helping the kids with their exercise books that had been supplied by the Australian government. I got up in front of the class and went through the page on ‘a typical Laos kitchen’ and ‘renting a house’. Most exciting, I really felt an impact was being made, and so it was according to the teacher with broken English, Kumsook and the expressions on the kids faces. The class finished a little early as the teacher was actually late! This one both fun and fantastic, I will definitely do it again next time I come to Luang Prabang.

It is however, time to move on from here to the next destination of which today I will decide. Maybe I will head to Vang Vieng where all the Backpackers tube down the river and take drugs, or maybe just head down south to Koh Tao in Thailand and see Gatty and the crew down there. I will let you know.

Out.