Age of Aquarius
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Small updates and life lessons
Since I haven’t updated in quite a bit I think the best way to do this post is to hit the highlights of the past 2 weeks and then get down to the real stuff.
Ko Chang
So while killing time waiting for Charlie to meet up for some shenanigans I decided to head to Ko Chang in the Gulf of Thailand for some snorkeling and beaching. This was actually the first point that I started traveling by myself. Any fears that I had about traveling alone and being lonely only lasted for a few short hours as I immediately met up with some wonderful English bloaks who I befriended for my few days on Ko Chang. It is extremely easy to meet people who are also traveling alone. I also met this great couple from Seattle who were DJing at this beach club and got to say that I was with the DJ and got VIP status which was pretty cool. I took an all day snorkeling trip/booze cruise and made friends with some of the Thai boat crew in a fantastic game of monkey in the middle and learned a new way to beer bong using a snorkel. More details on that later. I really had a great time on Ko Chang and was so sad to leave the beautiful clear waters. But then I got meet up with Charlie.
Ko Pha Ngan
Full Moon Party. This had both good and bad things. At the moment im going to concentrate on the best parts then address the bad. This party was awesome! Buckets galore, fire shows, beach time and fun company. We met up with some really funny Aussie beefcakes, Toby and Cameron, who taught us the meaning of the word Chad. Now in Aussie terms a Chad is a stereotypical American, so unfortunately our fates and new nick names were sealed, myself becoming a Chadette. These guys were hilarious though, we made up a secret handshake, body painted crazy designs burning man style and saw the amazing dance moves of Cameron the linebacker what must have been popular back in the Aussie disco era. I also got Charlie pretty good when he passed out at around 7pm from being drunken ALL DAY by drawing a bright pink neon penis on his back then waking him up and walking him (actually more like a heavy stumble) down the street. I consider this to be fair play especially if you knew about the face licking incident of 2003.
After full moon party we had to leave for Cambodia which I am currently writing this post from, but as I am running out of internet time I want to make a few comments about the bad aspects of full moon party and will get to Cambodia in the next post. The day afterward I couldn’t help but feel like my soul had been destroyed just a little bit, because in juxtaposition to Burning Man this party had no purpose except to get as drunk and fucked up on drugs as possible (Don’t worry Mom and Dad, we didn’t do the drugs, we only drank). Walking down the beach the next morning left me heart broken because it was littered so heavily with trash, straws, buckets, used condoms, wrappers, and all then the people who may or may not have been dead just laying face down passed out on the sand. The worst part though was that none of the tourists who caused this mess had any intention of cleaning it up, they left that for the locals to do, and this left me heart broken. The lack of compassion and responsibility that was shown to me during this experience was truly eye opening. At least at Burning Man there is a purpose, I mean yes you do party very hard, but you also look at the art and extreme measures are taken to clean the playa up afterward. But the poor people on this island are left to clean up the party carnage of stupid drunken tourists, and this happens every single month. The worst part is that as much as I would like to think these tourists are stupid it is actually quite the opposite. Every single person I talked to had been college educated, well traveled and fairly worldly. So for me to realize that I was contributing in completely disrespecting the beach and the Thai people who were basically our servants really made me sick with myself. I picked up a few straws and buckets the morning after to lend a little bit of help but it couldn’t have nearly been enough. This party really pointed out to me the lack of respect and compassion the people participating in this party had. And I must say it was heartbreaking. Well sorry to end on such a sad note, and my pics wont upload at this computer either. but ill come back soon for updates on Cambodia.
Love you all
xoxo
Ko Chang
So while killing time waiting for Charlie to meet up for some shenanigans I decided to head to Ko Chang in the Gulf of Thailand for some snorkeling and beaching. This was actually the first point that I started traveling by myself. Any fears that I had about traveling alone and being lonely only lasted for a few short hours as I immediately met up with some wonderful English bloaks who I befriended for my few days on Ko Chang. It is extremely easy to meet people who are also traveling alone. I also met this great couple from Seattle who were DJing at this beach club and got to say that I was with the DJ and got VIP status which was pretty cool. I took an all day snorkeling trip/booze cruise and made friends with some of the Thai boat crew in a fantastic game of monkey in the middle and learned a new way to beer bong using a snorkel. More details on that later. I really had a great time on Ko Chang and was so sad to leave the beautiful clear waters. But then I got meet up with Charlie.
Ko Pha Ngan
Full Moon Party. This had both good and bad things. At the moment im going to concentrate on the best parts then address the bad. This party was awesome! Buckets galore, fire shows, beach time and fun company. We met up with some really funny Aussie beefcakes, Toby and Cameron, who taught us the meaning of the word Chad. Now in Aussie terms a Chad is a stereotypical American, so unfortunately our fates and new nick names were sealed, myself becoming a Chadette. These guys were hilarious though, we made up a secret handshake, body painted crazy designs burning man style and saw the amazing dance moves of Cameron the linebacker what must have been popular back in the Aussie disco era. I also got Charlie pretty good when he passed out at around 7pm from being drunken ALL DAY by drawing a bright pink neon penis on his back then waking him up and walking him (actually more like a heavy stumble) down the street. I consider this to be fair play especially if you knew about the face licking incident of 2003.
After full moon party we had to leave for Cambodia which I am currently writing this post from, but as I am running out of internet time I want to make a few comments about the bad aspects of full moon party and will get to Cambodia in the next post. The day afterward I couldn’t help but feel like my soul had been destroyed just a little bit, because in juxtaposition to Burning Man this party had no purpose except to get as drunk and fucked up on drugs as possible (Don’t worry Mom and Dad, we didn’t do the drugs, we only drank). Walking down the beach the next morning left me heart broken because it was littered so heavily with trash, straws, buckets, used condoms, wrappers, and all then the people who may or may not have been dead just laying face down passed out on the sand. The worst part though was that none of the tourists who caused this mess had any intention of cleaning it up, they left that for the locals to do, and this left me heart broken. The lack of compassion and responsibility that was shown to me during this experience was truly eye opening. At least at Burning Man there is a purpose, I mean yes you do party very hard, but you also look at the art and extreme measures are taken to clean the playa up afterward. But the poor people on this island are left to clean up the party carnage of stupid drunken tourists, and this happens every single month. The worst part is that as much as I would like to think these tourists are stupid it is actually quite the opposite. Every single person I talked to had been college educated, well traveled and fairly worldly. So for me to realize that I was contributing in completely disrespecting the beach and the Thai people who were basically our servants really made me sick with myself. I picked up a few straws and buckets the morning after to lend a little bit of help but it couldn’t have nearly been enough. This party really pointed out to me the lack of respect and compassion the people participating in this party had. And I must say it was heartbreaking. Well sorry to end on such a sad note, and my pics wont upload at this computer either. but ill come back soon for updates on Cambodia.
Love you all
xoxo
posted by Juli at 7:43 PM
3 Comments:
We knew you'd see new sights and learn new things about the world and about yourself. You'd marvel at your strengths and learn from your mishaps. You're right on track, Juli. Enjoy and be safe.
Much love,
Annis xoxo
I was very excited to see you're back blogging again. And yes, world travel does teach us as much about ourselves as about those we visit.
Auntie J xoxo Happy 24th
Hey Juli,
Happy Birthday!!! Are you really 24 and traveling the world? Very cool. I've read lots of your blog and loving fantasizing you in these amazing, growing,fun, crazy,expanding,scary, life changing situtations. YOu are really experiencing the world vibe--sometimes with to many tourists but mostly not. You bring me into the mix as you write. YOu are a wonderful engaging writer--keep doing that--I feel like I'm there with you. I want to go to Thailand after seeing it through your eyes. I look forward to your accounts of India. Keep blogging and living the world. Happy happy birth-----day. Hugs and love Aunt Mary ps--we're in Utah skiing with Matt and Cynthia--its gorgeous here and I can still ski goodie.
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