Day 28 - Saturday, March 12 - Lo Lanta

I woke up at 7AM and figured out with all my tossing and turning and hanging out on the pitch black beach for those few hours, I really hadn't slept much throughout the night. The power on the island was still out and they had no idea for how long. This happens on occasion and life on the island continues just as before. I went right to the "front desk" and asked if they would have a room with Air Con tonight. She told me that C-2 was becoming available today and I could move there. PERFECT! I would be able to get a good cool night sleep tonight. I would have to leave the D row of cottages which has become home for the past few days with Dave and Katie and Dave and Carolina by my side but I think we'll survive.

I hung around, had breakfast, and moved my stuff to my new room as soon as it was cleaned. Dave and Katie came to see my new digs and said they were sorry to see me leave their row but understood how important Air Con was for those hot, sweaty, tropical nights. Sometime during my move, the power came back on so I tested the Air and it was great. I was already looking forward to this evenings sleep.

I rented the bike for another day, and took a drive north into town to see if there was any chance of finding some new flip-flops. Last night I was cleaning some of the road dust off mine, and it seems there is a tear in one that will give out any day. My poor Sanuk's, the best flips ever made, are not much longer for the world. Now I'll have to find a pair to hold me over until I can replace them when I get home. The problem..........finding a pair of flips in a size 12 American. The Thai don't grow their feet that big! Trying on shoes here is a real adventure! You tell them you want a size 12. Then you have to figure out what size that is in Thai. They don't really listen to your size as they just take a pair off the wall and give them to you to try on. When your foot is hanging off the end and they are clearly 2 or 3 sizes too small, they say, "ah, good size for you - fit you good - 200 baht". It's then a fight telling them that they don't fit and you aren't going to buy them. I then tell them in my English version of Thai, "no, I need bigger" and so it goes. Finally, you walk out on the street to the next stall and do the same. Remember, these are never proper "stores" as we know them, rather street stalls all selling the same crap.

In town, I had lunch, walked around, found an internet place that charged the normal 1 baht a minute over the 2 baht we've been paying down in our world, did a little catching up on the blog, and found a pair of flip-flops. Yes, on my 4th try, I found a pair that actually fit. They are a size 17 but that means nothing as a different size 17 I had tried on at a different place was about 4 sizes too small. They are not nearly as comfortable as my Sanuk's, which ironically, are made in California but is a Thai word for FUN, will have to do. They say "Nike" on them but somehow I don't think that Mr. Nike will be seeing a dime from my purchase. I can't imagine that this lovely store owner bought my "Nike's" from a reputable Nike rep. After all, like everything else, they were 200 baht.

Back at Miami, I swam, relaxed, and happy hour came as usual, just like clockwork. The waves on the beach were much larger than usual and you could see a little panic in some visitors eyes. It turns out there was a hurricane somewhere in the Indian Ocean and these waves are a side effect. The hurricane is moving towards Australia - it's not coming anywhere near Thailand so for all you Jewish mothers reading this, RELAX, we are fine.

The happy hour went just as planned - as it always does. Me, Dave, and Katie on their porch, and Dave and Carolina on theirs, sipping our large Beer Changs at 45 baht each. Always remembering that being the size of 2 US beers and 6.4% alcohol, 2 of them leave you nice and relaxed, if by some chance, the stresses of the day in Paradise somehow got the best of you.

The 4 of them decided to go to Cook Kai's for dinner. I opted to have dinner on the beach at Miami and selected a most incredible dish from their extensive menu. I originally was going to get fried rice with chicken for 50 baht and have a cheap dinner. Instead, like last time, that giant raw seafood boat caught my eye and those giant jumbo prawns called out to me. This time, they grilled them with vegetables and served it soaking in a great curry sauce, of course with a little side of steamed rice. It really was quite superb and all for 170 baht. It was just under $4.50 so I'll have to make up for that overage in my budget when ordering tomorrows meals. It was totally worth it as it was quite excellent.

I made my way to my new room, looking forward to sleeping in C-2 with Air Con, and passed out. I heard them knocking on my door for me to join them at Mong's for an after dinner drink, but there was no way I was getting up from my nice cool slumber only to fall asleep on the bar. It was so nice to be having a pleasant sleep. My company would have to wait until the morning when we all planned on taking a little bike trip to the caves on the southern end of the island. Dave and Caroline will ride on the back of me and Dave, and Katie will ride her own bike. My goal is to get back in one piece so I can write about the caves.

Thanks to Phil Collins, I just chalked one up for "another day for me in Paradise!"