The first 24

(8.26.08 9am) As i write this from my phone, i'm sitting in the honolulu airport waiting to board a plane for taipei, taiwan. its currently 9am (hawaiian time) on tuesday morning, at 1am (bangkok time) thursday i will step off a plane in thailand; the first leg of a solo 3 1/2 month trip to southeast asia. many have asked me in the past week "r u nervous" i would reply "not yet, it will probably hit me when i get to the airport" well i'm still not nervous. now i'm just trying to figure out if its the trust and reliance i have in g.o.d..or if its just my oversized ego that assures me everything is going to be ok?

(8.28.08)i'm in Thailand, its 4:30 am, i've met a friend: Irish Brian, he helped me find a room, we walked around Khao San Road, he pointed out some Lady Boys (they were the hotter of the thai girls) i still can't tell the difference but he swears they were boys. I managed to leave my passport laying the Tokyo airport unattended while getting a bottle of water, then i went back to get it the clerk hunted me down and gave me my american express that i left at the cashiers counter!! i've gotta get better at keeping track of my stuff:) K, it's bed time now.
love ya all!

Aloha
(8.29.08 11am) It’s currently 8pm Bangkok time. I’m sitting in the back of a 40 passenger tour bus, listening to Israeli music in Hebrew, heading from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. It will be a 12 hour bus ride which departed at 6pm and we will stop once at 11pm for food. There are 23 people on board, 8 Israeli’s, Two from Turkey, two from Japan, 5 from Korea, 1 from Whales, Andy from England and myself. I know this because before the bus departed I befriended two cute Israeli girls and then proceeded to draw Andy, sitting across the isle into the conversation. Then, about 15 minutes into the bus ride I walked to the front of the bus and met everyone on my way back to my seat in the back row. Andy said he really appreciated me uniting the bus because otherwise we would have all spent the next 12 hours not talking to each other. Those of you that know me know that I’m not one to keep to myself, especially when there are, foreign, hot girls around. About half the people on the bus have just purchased a ticket for the bus, as have I, for 350-550 baht (32 baht= 1$). The remainder have purchased a tour package, around 5,500 baht, which will take them by bus to chiang mai, then trekking for 3 nights including food, lodging and tours. I’ve opted to keep my “let the spirit move me” idea going and just figure it out once I get to chiang mai.
I arrived in Bangkok at 1:30 am on Thursday 8.28.08, after leaving Honolulu at 9:30am on Tuesday 8.26.08. My route was 71/2 hours to Tokyo, Japan where I had an hour layover followed by a 3 ½ hour plane ride to Taipei, Taiwan. During my 5 hour layover I took a bus into Taipei City, about an hour bus ride. Upon reaching the city I took a subway to the Night Market, where there were lots of food stands and shopping in an almost carnival like atmosphere. As a matter of fact there were several carnival games to play. I walked around for 30min before heading back to the airport to catch my flight to Bangkok, Thailand. From the airport I took an hour Taxi (metered) ride to Khoa San Road, which ran me close to 500 b. On the cab ride I was required to pay the tolls on the highway, and give a (forced) 40 b tip. There was a light ran when I stepped out of the cab and began walking down Khoa San Rd. There were people scattered about, eating talking and stumbling drunk. Almost instantly an Irish lad, Brian, cracked a joke asking if my bags were heavy. I let him know I had just arrived and it was my first trip. He was on his 6 trip to Khoa San Rd and offered to show me around. He led me to the guest house, Sawasdee; he was staying at and helped negotiate me a room down from 800 b to 650 b. They showed me a sign which stated “The hotel reserves the right to check ID of any non foreign guests. Lady boys are not permitted in the rooms. If you require a guest, the hotel is not liable for any loss or damaged property” I dropped my bags and off went headed for the bars! On the way Brian pointed out some Lady boys for me. Honestly they were the more beautiful of the girls I saw that night. Each time I commented, “she’s cute” he would reply “lady boy” followed by “Mate, look at the size of her shoulders, if she’s taller than you she’s a lady boy” Our destination became Go Zibo nightclub which carried a 300 b cover charge. Luckily for us a drunken 19 year old Thai girl asked Brian to pretend to be her boyfriend in exchange for her paying his cover and buying him a drink. He then in turn paid my cover. Apparently they would allow her in the club, under-aged, if she was with a foreigner but not without. I met a cute Australia girl in the club and then headed back to my room. It was about 4:30 am before I made it to bed.
I awoke at 10:30 the following morning and made my way out to Khoa San Rd which had transformed to a bustling market place full of Thai’s trying to get money from you for anything possible. Clothes, Jewelry, Electronics, Food, Massage, Cabs and of course Tuk Tuk’s!! Tuk Tuk’s are motorized bikes with covered seating for 3 on the back. These are non-metered and the price in negotiable. Also regular cabs will try to leave the meter off so you have to specify that you want “meter”. I walked by a lady making omelets in a wok and asked “How much?” “20 b” she replied. “Includes rice?” inquired, she nodded. When I went to pay she said “30b…30b” “No, 20b” I insisted “30 b w/rice” we went back and forth and finally gave the food back and walked away. Now its not that 10b is a big deal, it’s about $.30us it was just the principle. I eventually found another stand and got an omelet w/rice for 25b which was overcooked and a lot smaller than my first purchase. While eating Gayani, a girl I met on couchsurfing.com, called and told me to meet her. She was hosting a girl from Germany. We went to a lil India place for lunch and then walked Khoa San Rd. Gayani suggested we check out the temples so we waited for a Tuk Tuk driver to approach and she negotiated 5b per person for him to take us on a tour of temples. The catch was we would have to stop by a suit shop as well. The Tuk Tuk drivers have an arrangement with the shop owners to bring travelers by their shops in exchange for gas coupons. Our driver was very upfront about his being the reason our tour was so cheap and told us we didn’t have to buy anything, just look interested. We took pictures at the first temple and released birds for good luck at the second. Then we stopped at a suit shop. We looked around for a few minutes and then left. Our driver told us we had to stay longer, “we go another shop, this time 5-10 min, sit down, look at catalogs, talk to sales person, so I get coupon” When we left the Tuk Tuk sputtered and soon ran out of gas. We were informed we’d have to take another tuk tuk back to Khoa San Rd. Gayani argued with the driver that he must pay for our new tuk tuk since we had already paid him. I took over and after few he finally conceded, at which point Gayani refused to let him pay. She said she just wanted to make the point that he was wrong, but the 15 b wasn’t a bid deal. Later night Gayani took us out to a night club on Khoa San rd. and after about an hour she suggested. We leave to meet a friend of hers at another night club. A 20 min cab ride later, dressed in shorts and slippahs, we showed up at the club which ended up being a very swanky nightclub with a dress code. They wouldn’t allow me in but her friend was in a private party in the back of the club for models. She told me to just walk in and if anyone asked just say I was a model. It worked, however they did give me shit about my slippahs, I just explained I was a model and no one told me about the dress code. Not only did I get free cover but they gave me 5 free drinks as well. The next morning I met Nin, a Thai girl I met on Couchsurfing.com, for lunch and we visited some more temples. She lives in N.E. Thailand and was in Bangkok the funeral of her aunt. She found me a bus ticket to Chiang Mai for 850 b on a bus. I took it upon myself to look around and I found one for 350 b thru a travel agency suggested by Kamera, a girl I met from Couchsurfing.com in Maui. The bus departed at 6pm so I spent the rest of the day playing on the internet and walking Khoa San Road taking pictures and playing “Thai hacky sack”. I ate at the same Pad Thai food stand each day, 20 b for pad Thai and 10 b for spring roll. I convinced him to allow me to make my own food my final day and he filmed it for me (www.youtube.com/timlara).
(8.30.08) We arrived in Chiang Mai this morning at 7am and at breakfast at a guest house, then walked to the main road where we found vegetarian restaurant in Chiang Mai, Taste from Heaven, where they have free wifi. Roy, from England, who owns the place is sitting with us talking story and answering questions. He also owns a Elephant rescue camp where they save abused elephants. It’s currently 10:14am. Andy from England, Natalie from Israel and myself are killing time until noon when a Thai friend of Andy is picking us up for a day trip to Pai. Apparently they are rioting in Bangkok currently and they are telling travels to head out of the city. Andy and Natalie both have about a week left for their travels and I will probably hang with them until they leave. I’m going to post this so we can check out the city before we head out to Pai. A hui ho!

One Month Down

So yesterday made one month of van life! And in 15 more days i take off for my travels. So far everything is going good. I get my shots next week, tuesday, which is the last thing in the list of things i need to do. I haven't made an arrangements for places to stay or things to do when i get to thailand, the first stop on my trip. I figure i'll just play it by ear. I do have two friends that spend 3-6 months a year in thailand so i'll probably talk to them before i go. A friend of mine just got back from Bali and said she had an amazing time :) I have ALOT of contacts for Australia, friends of friend, and my friend Carolyn and Elle just got back from Australia and N. Zealand. As far as Fiji goes i don't even know what to expect. The Gen. Manager from the resort i use to work at is a GM of a resort over there so maybe i'll try to get ahold of him?
I can no longer park in the area i've been parking my van and jeep. Appearantly someone called the police and made a report that i was living in my van. I have friend that lives right up the road and thats where i said i live. Last night i slept at a friends house and tonight i'll try another spot out.

Pictures of my new home!!!!

Here are some pictures of my new home, the first picture is how it looked when i bought it, then followed by an "after" picture of how it looks now that i've moved in.





If you click on the picture it will open in a new window, bigger.

Let the journey begin

Aloha,

Sorry so long since I last wrote, i've been very busy! June 29-July 2nd I was camping at Kahoolawe, then July 5-6 we were camping on Molokai. Then when I got back on sunday my landlord told me I had to be out the next day: July 7th, instead of the 10th as previously discussed. So I frantically packed and was able to get out by that tuesday. So since the 8th of July I've been sleeping in my van. So far I've slept at the beach, up-country and in front of friends houses. Sleeping in a van isn't bad at all, its just trying to find stuff to do during the day or places to go. I've also realized I don't need as much stuff as I originally thought i did. I've downsized the van 3 times already. I do have a full size bed, 6-drawer dresser, gas stove top and lots of underbed storage. I also have a converter so i can plug electronics (cellphone, laptop, coffee grinder) into my cigarette lighter. For Internet I've been driving around apartment complexes until i pick up a wireless signal or using the wireless at the surf shop i work for. I found out Maui is a really good place to be homeless!!! Churches make dinner for homeless people that is actually really good. Starbucks gives me pastries when they close at night, which i eat for breakfast the following morning.
About my travels: I've purchased a ticket for $3,000 which includes travel insurance. I fly from Hawaii to Thailand on August 25th. Then from Thailand to Perth Australia on October 8th. I'm currently trying to change that ticket so I can fly into Darwin, Cannes or Sydney. During my month and half stay in Thailand I will be buying a separate r/t ticket to Bali. I fly from Sydney Australia to Auckland New Zealand on October 28th. Then from New Zealand to Fiji on November 28th. Then from Fiji to Oahu, HI December 9th and back to maui on the 10th!!! I'm sooo excited. I've already found tour guides for my Australia leg of the trip. Two of my students for surfing are from the Gold Coast and they have put in contact with some of their girlfriends. So everything is coming together really good. I also have friends that frequently travel to Bali and Thailand so I'll have good contacts for those places as well.
Ok so thats it for now. Oh Ya, being a van guy isn't bad at all... i've already had a dinner date and movie night in my new house: the van!!!

UGH!

So today I sold alot of stuff from my house and packed alot of the stuff I plan on keeping. I loaded my new house, the van, full of boxes and for where I'll be storing my stuff. On the way I stopped for coffee and when I came back out the van wouldn't start!!! Luckily the guy I bought it from is a Mobile Mechanic and he came and replaced the battery. He put a re-furbished alternator in it before I bought it and he said he thinks its bad. So tomorrow he's going to fix it. So thats one day down with not so much accomplished. I think i'm gonna load the jeep up and head to storage so its not a complete waste of a day.
Travel Plans: I've also talked to some people who have lived in N. Zealand and traveled alot. Apparently Nepal and N. Zealand are going to be freezing when i'm there and India might be during Monsoon season. My former bosses wife is a travel agent and she suggested I buy a ticket to N. Zealand and then just get one way tickets independently from there to where ever I want to go. Or she also suggested a "Circle the Pacific" ticket for around $2000 that would allow me Australia, N. Zealand, Fiji, Thailand..and such. Then if I wanted I could take train/bus/independent flights while i'm using that ticket. Sooo much to think about. I'm a little confused!?!?!

"Van Guy"

So here's the latest developments... Today I found out that I no longer have until the 10th of July to move out, but that I have to be out by the first?!?! That gives me ten days, however I have a very full schedule and I'm leaving to Kaho`olawe on the 29th to return on the 2nd of July. So really I'm down to 8 days. I haven't even begun to pack or get rid of my stuff. Needless to say this next 8 days is going to be very crazy!
I've looked more into travel and apparently I should cut out South America, cause its gonna drive my flight cost up at least another $1000. I'm also thinking about cutting out Africa and traveling a lil more in Asia and Europe since I'll already be in those continents? Today I began looking into what countries I will need a VISA to visit and already received my VISA for Australia.
Another new development and title of this post is, I am now a officially a "Van Guy". Yep, that's right. I bought a full size cargo van($1200) today and it will be my home for the next few months til I leave Maui. I'll post pictures of it in the next post.

Flight Itinerary

Ok so my initial dream itinerary was: Maui -New Zealand-Sydney,Aust- Bali, Indo- Thailand- Nepal- South Africa- Buenos Aires- Maui. Yesterday I started researching flights and the first website (Airtreks.com) quoted me $5,200- 7,800 depending on my dates. They also added in the following places, which i can stay over in or just get a quick layover: Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, London, San Jose, LA. However with them i would have to buy my own ticket to Honolulu and back to Maui. Today I called (airbrokers.com) and was quoted $5,300 for the following route: Honolulu-Fiji-Auckland -Sydney-Bali-Singapore -Bangkok-Kathmandu-Bangkok-Johannesburg-London-Honolulu. Again I would have to buy my ticket to Honolulu and back. Tonight I found a company called OneWorld, they offer up to 16 stops in 3 continents $3,900, 4 Continents $4,100, 5 Continents $4,900. With them I can start from Maui and I only have to confirm the dates/location for my first flight. I can make the rest up as I go!!! Some minor fee's might apply the for that kind of flexibility I'm willing to pay a lil more. The downside is that without having a fixed schedule... I might not come back for a while :) I'm gonna call them tomorrow!! If anyone else knows secrets about how to get the best fare/route for traveling the world, please let me know!!!