Dad's visit!

Well, Dad was here for a foot blistering ten days of action. In that time we saw more than most people see in a month of traveling around Thailand. I'll spare you all the details, but it was a great trip that I was hoping wouldn't end. But alas, Dad is back to work and I am cramming for the GRE. Life is fun some days and boring as heck the next. Check out the photos for an idea of what we did while he was here.

Thailand is invaded by Yankees!!!

We had two good friends visit us at the same time! Ronjon was only able to spend a few days, but Steve clung on like a persistent dingle berry for weeks on end. There were good times, sad times, scary times, and of course a few disturbing moments. For instance the time Steve and I had a PG rated night at the lady bars only to be visually violated by an unscrupulous lady boy on our drive home at 5 a.m. Neither of us were prepared to see such a nicely enhanced chest followed by the dropping of trousers in the middle of the street... ridiculous. Here are a few photos of other things:

One bald man said to a balding man, "hang on man, hang on."

Spiceeee

Look at those happy diving faces, let's blow some bubbles!

The ladies

Thai ghosts... lookout, they're everywhere

Making whiskey friends

Getting a little too close don't you think?

Shortly before pretending to be David Hasselhoff

Drinking games... everyone's a loser in one way or another

Token scenery shot

Steve had to literally stand on the heads of tourists for this shot

Failing to fly yet again, what a disappointment

It was fun having visitors, and now we have a month to rest before my Dad, Kelly's Mom, and Kelly's friend come to visit in October. Over and out

Random Photos

So we are "back to work" teaching the youth of Thailand. In this update are a few pictures including everything from the house, to the English camp we did in Koh Sok, to the shedding of my long fur. Check out the photos if you want to know what we have been doing!

The New House

     Well we finally got out of our cramped crappy row-house and moved into a beautiful place with a garden and big yard.  We face a rubber tree plantation and wake up to the sound of birds every morning.  It's paradise!  We kicked off our first weekend with a proper American cheese burger barbecue.  Needless to say with Kelly's culinary skills it was a delicious success.  Here are a few photos from the night and we'll add more shots of the house soon.  All of you that have wanted to come visit but haven't found a good reason, you have an excellent spare bedroom now so come on over.

Painful Moment

We were at the weekend market (see Jamie's blog for some nice pictures). It was evening time around 6:30 p.m.. The sun had just set and everyone was jubilant. There were people buying orchids, fake Levis, weird lawn ornaments, along with more exotic items like fried insects. Kelly and I happened to be doing some t-shirt browsing when a surprisingly horrible thing happened. I know some of you may not believe what happened next but I promise you I could not create such an event with my dwarfed imagination. Over the dusty loudspeakers, placed throughout the market to play music for the masses, came Billy Ray's country voice singing about his achy breaky heart! Ughhhh. I don't know if it ruined anyone else's night like it did mine.  I looked around and was amazed to see that most people were actually going about their shopping as if nothing had happened! 

What is this world coming to you ask?  I don't know... I just don't know.

Well, I guess that after 6 months the blog has been cracked open again!  Rick forgot to tell everyone that he is also starring in the TV show LOST as Daniel Faraday.  Creepy.

Me love Thailand long time

Here is a disturbing picture of me with the birthday cake Kelly got for me. Sorry if some of you have nightmares.

Anyways, it appears we are gearing up to stay in Thailand a little longer. When it came to discussions of our next move we just couldn't convince each other it was time to leave. We have finally settled into the area with a group of friends and beautiful places to keep us busy. I have been volunteering at the local Phuket Aquarium http://www.phuketaquarium.org/ (I helped with the website!), finishing up my PADI divemaster training, and now I teach English to kids on the weekends. Kelly has shown her endurance and ability to put up with anything as she is almost done with her first full year of teaching! She will be rewarded with three weeks of very easy teaching followed by three weeks of paid vacation which she deserves.

Our latest plan is to be here through October this year. We are looking for a new house to move into for that 8 month period, which will be a good change from the screaming children we have next door and the pesky thieves in the neighborhood we have been struck by three times. The last of which ended in me chasing them down the street in my boxers at 1:30 in the morning screaming profanities. Needless to say a change will be welcomed.

We are uncertain of course of what happens after October, so don't bother asking Mom. We are both interested in going back to school but who knows what the future holds for us. I hope all is well for everyone, drop me or Kelly an email sometime and let us know what is new with you.

I promise to make more frequent posts (that is of course if something interesting happens).