last night was manuel's birthday and we hit the town in patong for some drinks and dancing! the nightlife here is gaudy and there are many drunk australians but the air is warm and heavy and just makes you want to stay out all night long...

we made it to the beach! and i am thrilled to be warm. the sea is beautiful and despite the tsunami warnings, i feel careless and free out here in the sun! the cold korean winter is far far away, and i'm just thinking about eating pineapples and working on my tan...

hopped an overnight train from bangkok down to the andaman coast- quarters were less than spacious but with good friends and a hot food cart it hardly mattered! also, i had never been on a train with beds before, which amused me endlessly. how magical to roll over in bed and see the sun rising over rural thailand!