Featuring: Guest Blogger – ½ Pint (“same, same, but different”)
“Same, Same,” as I am on the same trip as Barbara, but “different,” as I am not actually Barbara. This is a very popular saying here. Like our cooking teacher, Ya, said today, “red curry, green curry… same same, but different.” So I’d like to thank Barbara for giving me this opportunity to write in her blog.
So - I arrived here at Railay Beach, Thailand, eight days ago. I did not lose my passport on the plane (as my mom feared) or get sold into white slavery (as my grandma feared). I am now tanned, massaged, relaxed and a little bit buzzed. I live in a little hut on the other side of the path from Barbara and Jen (the cheapo side – no AC or shower curtain... I shower right next to my toilet – very weird). I wake up every morning, eat a free breakfast, and then sit by the pool until noon (wearing 30 sunscreen, mom). 
The afternoon is when the activity starts. Kayaking, snorkeling, shopping, climbing, and cooking…well, not all of those activities in one day. But here is a bit of a synopsis:
Last Sunday, we went out on a sunset snorkeling trip, to find Nemo (mission accomplished). Here we are after finding the poor fish and reuniting him with his father. 
If only we could’ve thrown our jackass, stoned, South African tour guide overboard (and I’m being nice). This was the never-ending trip. At one point, the guide and his much younger Swedish girlfriend left us alone on the boat to wait for a ride back to our beach. I started to calculate how long the swim back would take and whether I could survive those little jellyfish bastards that enjoyed stinging me earlier in the day (p.s. I’m ok mom)
On Tuesday, April and I finally got to go climbing. Krabi is touted as having some of the best rock climbing in the world. And since my only comparison is the Portland Rock Gym, I will have to agree. We went climbing with Jam Rock, Niang and Sarot were our guides. I wish I had some pictures for you but I couldn’t get the camera to upload to Barbara’s computer. So you will have to wait for the Ofoto spread. (*Disclaimer – no, mom, I swear, I wasn’t climbing up big rocks, I’m actually crawling horizontally over the rocks, they are on the ground.) April and I climbed one route that provided an amazing view. It was higher than I have ever climbed. How high? Damn high (as Sara Pyfer would say).
I enjoyed the climb so much that I decided to go back again yesterday. We climbed through a large cave and ended up on this rock here
, supposedly called the Taiwan Wall (I believe anything told to me). [Editor’s note: It’s actually “Thaiwand Wall.”] I got to look out at our beach while climbing up 30 meters (anyone translate that into American for me – duh). So freaking amazing. So many great Europeans on this climb. I came back wishing I was European as I think I deserve 6 weeks off a year instead of the measly two weeks I get. But anyway….
On Wednesday – Jen, Barbara, and I hiked out to the Princess Cave. Here is what is in Princess Cave
. Yep, lots of phalluses. These are left by fisherman, as offerings to the Princess God for successful fishing. Refer to Jen’s Ofoto pictures for hundreds of phallus pictures (I think Jen really misses Pete). After exploring the cave, I felt like the Princess god would be watching out for me, and I wandered out to sea
.
Today, Friday the 13th, was a fabulous day. The three of us went out to Ya’s Authentic Thai Cooking School. We learned how to make four types of curry, Pad Thai, three soups, fried rice, and two different stir fries. 
We also learned green papaya salad. Ya informed me that a man looking for a wife would see how she did “banging” with the mortar and pestle. If she was lazy or weak with the banging, he’d pass her up. Here I am practicing my technique… I am quite a good banger
. Then we ate all of that food…
. We ended the day with foot massages in Ao Nang and I bought yet another scarf and a tie for my bro (does he even wear ties?).
Anyway – that is it for now. I only have three days left here. Hopefully one more day of climbing and then a day of kayaking. And then to Bangkok. Until I am finally back to the dark, wet, rain of Portland. Will I be needing a kayak to get home from the airport?
KIMBO