Dead Air....

The lack of communication is not because something tragic has happened. I just haven't moved in three weeks...so there's not a ton to update.

I spent the last three weeks climbing on Ton Sai and an island called Koh Yao Noy, both of which are complete paradises (can you pluralize paradise?). Rock climbing, swimming, running, kayaking...outdoors 24/7 in beautiful tropical jungles and hanging off gorgeous cliffs.

So.
Freaking.
Amazing.

I think what really grabbed me about the experience was the whole climbing culture. It was like being in a Club Med for athletic hippies - little bungalows with hammocks outside them, beers on the deck looking out over the ocean after a day of climbing in the heat, kayaking on rest days and going for early morning runs on the beach.

The competition aspect of climbing is also pretty fantastic. Although there's a certain amount of friendly competition to see who can get to the top of a route first, there's also this sense of comraderie and mutual support that is incredible - people yelling up suggestions of where to put your foot next or what the next move should be, showing you how to tie a new knot at dinner, teaching you how to rapel and belay - everyone wants everyone else to succeed and love this sport as much as they do. And ultimately, any sense of competition doesn't matter - when it comes down to it, it's just you versus the rock. Winner take all.

I am completely addicted, and now am choosing future destinations based on the proximity to good climbing.

...with the exception of my next stop, which has nothing to do with climbing.

I'm currently sitting in an internet cafe in Ao-Nang, waiting to catch a bus to go do a 10 day silent meditation retreat. I know a lot of people who have walked out of these things...I'm really hoping I make it through. 10 days without talking, reading, writing, listening to music (that one's gonna kill me), sleeping on a hard floor with a wooden pillow, eating 2 meals a day, and doing yoga and mediation from sun up to sun down. Woah.

Catch you on the flip side.

battered, bruised and beaming

A summary of the last few days of my life: a rat the size of a large cat (think Garfield) became my roomate. He (she?) hangs out in the rafters, I sleep under my mosquito net and we make a great team. Until Garfield decided to eat my underwear. There's now a piece of masking tape down the middle of the room.

Monkeys ransacked the bungalow and decided to take all of my tampons (yes, you read that right), and spread them allllllll over the path in front of my place. I came home from climbing to find a note on my door from my neighbour Mark *(who until this point I had never met) which read "the monkeys got your 'stuff'. It's down at reception". Not embarrassing at all. Cheeky buggers.

I no longer have legs, I have mosquito bites and bruises. And cuts and scrapes. And Muscles. capital 'm' intended. Lynn Hill watch out, cause this kid's goin for a shot at the title. I. Love. Rock Climbing.

Tonsai has the best male-female ratio I have ever witnessed. 5:1. No further comment necessary.

Tonsai has the best athletes I have ever seen. We spend the evenings drinking beer and having chin up competitions and slack line contests. I suck at both, but I'm a champ in the beer drinking department, so my credibility with this crew is still fine.

Tonsai's water is disgusting. Railay is a ten minute walk away. The water there is superb. And the beach is about a km long, white sand and beautiful. Beats a treadmill or bikram studio any day of the week.

...did I ever mention I love my life?

And yes, I miss you all. But I manage to wipe my tears away long enough to have a teeny bit of fun each day. xox

We ain't on Kao San Road any more Toto...

If there's a heaven this is what it looks like.

To be precise, after two days in Bangkok (which was good, but nothing to really write home about), I am now in a place called Tonsai. And it is beautiful. Right by Railay if anyone's been there...

Tonsai is a mecca for rock climbers and with good reason - the cliffs here are spectacular. Huge, covered in dark green vegetation, surrounded by white sand beaches and clear blue waters.

So clearly I am now an expert rock climber. And by expert I mean I did it once. And got to the top. Like a big girl. Damn skippy.

I could be here for a while: the people are amazing (locals and climbers)..and gorgeous (rock climbing does goooood things for a body apparently!), the accomodation is cheap and comfortable, the beer is plentiful...need I go on? Truly a slice of paradise.

Pictures to come. (although I can pretty much guarantee they won't do the place justice).

PS: my bungalow neighbours are a family of monkeys. Four of 'em. Cheeky buggers.

And so it begins...

Two years of talking about it.

A few more months actually preparing.

And now, finally, it is time.

Depart demain, 13h30 Vancouver-Seoul-Bangkok.
Arrival Feb 4 00:30h....

See you then.