Day Fourteen - Bangkok then the long, long trek back 😕

Terrible nights sleep.  It was very humid then new guests arrived at 2:30am, they weren't particularly noisy in all fairness. I was a sleep until 4:30 but I think what kept me awake was the fact that apparently the board has been put up outside the cottage saying To Rent.  No big surprises I was expecting it but my head was racing as to what I need to get done now, now and how the hell am I going to do it all. I guess it's all getting a bit real and it's a tad scary when there is only me to arrange it all.  

So shower then my delicious breakfast.  Me and the older woman have been teaching each other english/thai.  God only knows what we have been saying to each other.  I need to be out of my room by 11:30 but as I thought there is no problem with a shower and change of clothes later in the day.  So I will use my market bag to host my evening and flying home clothes (coat can go in the case, that really is one step too far)! Today I will not venture far, just stay local, there is nothng I need to get.  I guess I feel a bit flat this morning. It's a typical Karen thing ....... Doesn't know what she wants, I guess I have been like that most of my life lol. Me and my friend Jackie were 'talking' last night and we compiled a list of attributes any future 'partner' of mine has to have.  Obviously, I am not expecting him to have them all, see I can do compromise but remember I am a Virgo.  So if any of you know a candidate, please put his name forward for selection lol.  He must be:

Preferably 6'4" then I will feel tiny lol

Preferably younger than me - real age not 29 I'm not that sad lol (Andrew Murphy keep quiet lol)

Dark hair, with a beard and broad shoulders

Preferably foreign but I can negotiate on that lol

Does yoga, reiki and meditation

Is a vegetarian

Can find and bring me a mangosteen (or even know what one is and has eaten one will do, see compromise lol)

And love the Far East as much as I and loves to travel and have adventures

Now there are 7 million people in London.  Can anyone work out the odds?

It's not looking good is it?

I think Green Day sum up how I'm feeling.  It's one of the songs on my playlist for when I leave Stoke.  I have told Andy that I know I will be in a state so just ignore me, he will, I will put my iPod on and listen to some selective songs and hopefully by the time I get to no later than Stafford I will be ok.  Anyway, enjoy Green Day, but listen to the words.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQ8N1KacJc

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs, and still-frames in your mind
Hang them on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoo's of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life

Well considering I was going to have a quiet day it is now 14:45 and I have walked 12354 steps aready.  Today's quest was to return the plug I bought the other day, as it was the wrong one.  I walked past the shop four times yesterday but it must have been closed with the shutters down because could I find it?  But found it first time today.  Sung Song (I bet you have Neil Diamond in your head now lol) wrote me a note In Thai explaining what I needed.  It reminded me when I was sent up the shop by my Mum with a note.  Anyway, no joy.  The shop would only exchange it for a multi country adaption pack which looked as if it belonged in the 1950s and was made of bakerlite. Needless to say, there was no refund.  So I tried a couple of other electrical shops but I have come to the conclusion that no one travels outside of Thailand - mind you why should they it is a beautiful country.

I ended up down a little road that I was familiar with.  If any of you have seen the Hairy Bikers in Bangkok lol it's the road where they cooked for the tuk tuk drivers.  Found a dodgy looking plug lol but he wanted 100B for it - really I think not.  Walked a bit further and got one for 60B.  Got to love a bargain.  So Jackie if saves Nigel doing a re plug on my lights I bought for my new bedroom lol.  I then went to sit in the park. Remember, the one where the guy was meditating.  It was lovely just watching the river flow by. I guess I will be doing a lot of that in London, watching the river.  I was listening to Damien Rice and was getting a bit upset to be honest so I decided to meditate and time I wasn't joined by any Americans.

By now it was getting on for lunch so I started to make my way to Jenny's when I saw these huge plastic bags with a zip for 160B about £3.20 and I thought that would be fine to pack my two duvets and pillows in when I move.  Oh the elderly woman who served me was so lovely. Anyone would have thought I had bought the whole shop.  She beckoned me over and have me a handful of cashew nuts and something that looked like cannabis lol wrapped in paper.  I was so touched by her kindness and thanked her, in Thai, as I left eating the cashews.

Jenny was delightful.  She knows my name now, I suspect the french guy has told her as Sung Song has told him.  I was quite taken back to be honest.  I ordered papaya salad and she asked if I wanted it spicy ........ Silly question.  Then she really made me think.  She said when do you go? I explained it was later tonight and that I did not want to go and she said why? Just be happy.  And that is it isn't it, just be happy.  It's the fundamental belief of all Buddhists that all should be happy.  The papaya salad was bloody hot lol but bloody lovely, I wish I could make this at home; maybe when I am in London and can get the ingredients.  Popped back to the hostel to drop off new storage bag and to find out what the cannabis looking thing was that the 80 year old had given me lol.  The girls said oh it's, it's it's but no english word was found.  So I said do eat it? The girls said yes so in my gob it went.  It was chewy and quite hot tasting but I wish I knew what it was because it was gorgeous.  So here I am, in the cafe across the road, drinking an iced Americano and feeling ok, I'm feeling happy Jenny.

Last lot of washing is in the laundry, my old faithful thin towel lol and suitcase etc is in the storage room.  Plan for later is to have a shower and hair wash and wear my summer dress for the last time for another 12 months and go to Jenny's for my favourite - Mossaman Tofu Curry and Brown Rice.  Airport transport has been arranged for 22:00 and I will, if it kills me lol, cram everything in my suitcase. If I am fortunate enough to come back again next year I have it planned lol.  I will have a few days with my friends, here in Bangkok then for about £14 I will catch the air conditioned train over night to Chang Mai which is north of Thailand and have a few days there. The. I will go into either Loas or Myarmar (Burmha) and have a look around there.  I guess it's ok to have a plan for just in cases lol.

So said my until next time to Sung Sing then off to Jenny's for the final supper - my favourite tofu mossaman curry and brown rice.  Said goodbye to Jenny with a big hug and kiss then she said you come back to Bangkok as an english teacher it is not a problem I can get you a job.  So I have a job in Cambodia on hold now I'm wanted in Bangkok ....... I need to get a job in London first.

So my friends I will post this now.  Bus wink be here in 40 minutes so I better get my UK clothes on and get ready for tears when I say goodbye to the girls.  I hope you have enjoyed reading the rantings of a mad woman and thank you for accompanying me on this amazing adventure.

Much love. X