After a week of Koh Phang nan lovin- Bailey leaves- his trip is over. Over the past week we blazed a few trails on the bikes, some epic hikes, and especially nice some epic beach sessions. A black moon party came and went. Ole Bailey looked like Georgie Jung from the movie "Blow" - tan, aviators, and an unbuttoned shirt- "One for the Road man!" ha ha, he left in a back of a pick up, in a cloud of dirty hippies, and stoned Euros- the vacation was good for the ole boy.

Milla, Brian, and I tire of the scene at the "Sun View" bungalows, sad folks who have seen "The Beach" one too many times. I don't think some of these cats ever left the common area- too hip, tied to the loaded friesbee and the handrolls. We hop on the Hogs and tear into Thong Sala (Dodge City) to buy a one way south to Krabi. News from Nepal gets worse by the day. Riots in Kathmandu. The West calls the King a bully, I can't wait to get the real story. I'll be there in a week or two.

Ko Phang nan, Thailand

The trip to Ko Phang nan involves a crazy night bus south, then a 4 hour boat over. About a 17 hour trip total, at the end of which you are needing nothing but nice banana shake, and a cool place under a Palm tree. Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, this bustling little tourist island drums up visions of tropical paradise- blue/green waters, drooping palm trees, and old thai folks lay about. If you want to party, its only a 45 min. sketchy taxi ride to the far side of the island- home of the full moon parties, Haad Ren. Our location is a chill ideal. Over the past few days we bound across the island on our Hogs. These little red mopeds, like a geriatric version Easy Rider.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, sideswipped by the heat and no rooms to rent at 2 am. we rough it in the bar district Ko Shan Road with the lovely Moncheri in tow. Fast forward 10 hours later- noon, 3 to the wind, we run into Brian O'Donnell and his girl friend Milla.

A few days were spent acclimizing and sorting out plans. Rabid tut-tut drivers controlled the day, but Mr. Chang ruled the night. The airwaves held hostage by loud Thai pop, the Guns and Roses of yesterday, and Sir Ian Brown bob in and out of little stalls and the smells of chilies, sewer, diesel, and a touch of lemon grass bring you to the point a little shy of sensory overload.

I traveled over with Chris Bailey- Mr. Baileyson to the ladies. This is his first time out and he's stoked to be away from the 9 to 5. I've known him since we were 13-BoyScouts, Troop 100. His trip was Japan- everything else is icing. 2 weeks of sun and fun and then back to the grind.

We ran into Brian O'Donnell and Mila at the hotel the first day. I had heard Brian was coming but never figured we would find each other the first hours in country. A few years back Brian hiked the A.T., and at the end he just kept going, hitching all the way to California, then hopping a train back to Boston. He met Milla, a Russian exchange student while both were serving time at the NOC photos dept. Milla speaks 5 languages- Russian, Tartar, Turkish, English, and Arabic. They are in Thailand to pick up jobs teaching English for a few months before heading up to Russia, overland.

Japan

In a last minute decison Chris Bailey talked me into an extended lay over in Tokyo for 2 days. Visions of Lost in Translation- the land of clean lines and power pop -we did a whirlwind tour, accompanied by the lovely Sugio, Cheers. I am with Bailey-son. We blew through 2 days/ 2 bills. All I have is images. It was too fast to hold a hard memory. Bundled in two coats- plume wine induced ramblings, the Shinjuku soul stealers we are.