Another day spent hanging out on the beach. It was such a refreshing change to get away from the hotel yesterday and see some of the island. There's transportation into a nearby town, which is basically a pick-up truck with a canopy covering. The town is full of touristy shopping: Thai knock-offs of Rolex watches, Gucci bags and copyright infringed music, except Thailand doesn't recognize international copyright laws, and other than a few pieces of clothing, there's very little worth purchasing.
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| Fisherman's Village near Bo Phut Beach |
I'm looking forward to getting back to Bangkok. Harvey and Tracey prefer to spend their days sitting on the beach drinking for hours. Harvey is most unpleasant company by mid afternoon, when Anna makes an attempt to encourage him into the hotel room for a sobering nap. By then, she is sufficiently frustrated, which ends up instigating some sort of family feud. It's usually a great time for me to watch the waves, while playing with the stray puppies I've befriended on the beach.
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| Photo by Sharon Schneider |
Fortunately, I found a recent Lonely Planet guidebook for India in town for $6. From what little I've read so far, it's money well spent. Not only is it pleasantly distracting from the daily drunken tirades, but I am getting the sense from the traveler's hints and tips that it's a place that requires some preparation.
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"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."
~Groucho Marx
