Be Thankful For What You've Got

Writing this post on Wordpad and then posting it because the resort we're on has shitty computers that are always down and invariably you end up losing all your posts when they crash, usually the ones that have taken you eighteen hours to type up. They are running on 512k and advertising as Hi-speed internet. Hm.

Yesterday I had a wonderful birthday, shared with my loved one and our new friends, Vicky and Paul, who we hired a jeep with (for the day about 15 squid, not bad) and we drove to the other side of the island to explore. Where we are on the island seems to have been the best bet because it really is peaceful and as it is still off season, the beach practically on our doorstep is only ever filled with about ten people max. The scenery is wondrous, and we couldn't of asked for a better setting to spend the next weeks chilling with our books.

Anyway, off we went at about lunchtime in our newly aquired jeep, the Reggae Village Fun Bus, girls in the back with our knees against our chins and our hearts full of hope, along the rough and ready tracks of the island - destination: Haad Rin Beach. This is the scene of the infamous Full Moon Party (and Half Moon Party) on the island, where everything gets notoriously messy on the beach. In the day time it is a plethora of restaurants and good shopping (well, handbags and necklaces made of shell) and at night it gets rowdier.

The beach itself is beautiful and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the beachfront before heading off to be manicured and pedicured to within an inch of our lives. I, myself was jumped upon by a disapproving Thai lady who gave me the third degree about my rough heels, clicking her tongue loudly and eyeing me as though I had just kicked her new puppy. Then she started to massage my shoulders unexpectedly, played with my hair and kept muttering "Too much. Too much hair. Tsk", under her breath. I was too scared to resist the pummelling and just smiled sweetly.

A good day had by all finished off nicely by a bumpy ride back to our resort in the pitch darkness in our rickety old jeep.

And this morning we awoke at the ungodly hour of 5 AM to get to the same spot again to watch the sunrise. We arrived at about 6.20 AM on the same beach in Haad Rin only to witness the spectacle that is closing time for the beach bars.

Small groups of people scattered the beach, amid empty bottles and trash, completely wasted and not even remotely ready for bed. I have to say, witnessing a fucked-up Aussie bloke pummel a much smaller dude into the sand and a super geek losing his virginity to a Thai prostitute in the sea, all before breakfast has got to be a first. All this without even a cup of tea inside me.

Rocker almost got embroiled in the saga with the small dude on the beach when he started shouting at a chick, but was soon deterred by the hard as nails Thai girl, who shook his hand and said "I ok, he my friend, please don't hit".

So all ended happily.

It's our friends' last night tonight so we shall all go out to dinner after a siesta and maybe fit in a short boat ride around the island in the meantime.

And now my list of things to be thankful for, as mentioned yesterday:

• My family - particularly the fact that I was born to two parents who love me fiercely and have allowed me to grow into the fiesty young madam I am today. I may have lost one parent along the way, but know I was loved and know I am still loved by my mother, who is the strongest most interesting person I know. I'm also quite partial to the company of my brother who is growing more and more like my father in looks and personality every day, even though he still farts on my dinner when he comes home...
• My friends - I love people. And I love to collect new friends, love to find out more about them and enjoy their idiosyncrasies, the weirder the better as far as I'm concerned, usually works. But I like the Oldie but Goodies the best and the Ones That Are Constantly There and the Ones That Feel Like They Never Left When You See Them. I am also a huge fan of the Ones Who Just Get Me. They are the most fun because no explanation is ever needed, everything just flows. I truly hope the friends I love the best know who they are, if it transpires that this is not the case then I will be happy to re-iterate in a lovely message with their names on.
• My Imagination - it's a joy to have this imagination, I tell you. I might be so bold as to say it even feels like a Gift from God somedays (whoever she is). My subconscious mind is the most fun by far but my waking life ain't so shabby either, and if I could just figure a way to stem the flow from my mind to a computer keyboard I might one day be a great genius. Or at least a situation comedy writer of some stature.
• Rocker - what can I say? I just love the guy. *Sigh*
• Lucy Fur - my soul-mate and the hardest thing to leave behind, no question.
• Douglas Coupland/Haruki Murakami - I love both these men with all my heart for being great writers with great imaginations. I also love them for keeping me company on my travels...