The first signs ....

Let me start by giving a little warning. I am posting this blog obviously for others to read. However I am also using it as a journal of sorts. If you know me then you already know that I have a quirky nature and can use somewhat harsh language along with being rather politically incorrect. If this bothers you .... stop reading now and close this page because I don't want anyone sending me email or posting comments about how I might offend anyone .... Other than that I hope you have fun following me around SE Asia. I really have no idea what to expect and I am completely looking forward to just letting things unfold.

  The hardest part for now seems to be letting go of all of the weird stories and imagery for various books and movies that have clouded my vision of what to expect. Throngs of transsexual lady boys and prostitutes everywhere waiting to be plucked by creepy old tourists ( Gary Glitter ) like low hanging fruit, food poisoning and pick pockets at every turn.... That and the nicest sweetest people around with great food, culture and beautiful surroundings. I have a feeling it will probably be somewhere in between and I am just going to try and erase all of those images out of my head.

I have just been working and trying to keep my head down and slowly accumulate all of the things that I want to take with me. Books, shoes, backpack etc. But up until today it has been something of an abstraction, a trip that was still way off in the future with only a couple of little shopping moments. But today I went to the travel clinic! Nothing says vacation like having 5 needles jammed into both arms. Measles, mumps, rubella, Hep A, Hep B, Hep C, flu, typhoid, malaria pills and more. I was wondering if I was going to a foreign country or working cleaning a roto router turd truck. But the funniest part of the whole thing was the warnings she gave. The medical information was blandly stated .... "be careful of this and that " but her tone was almost the tone sales people get after reciting something a thousand times. Until she got to one section. " Oh, I almost forgot .... and this is important. " Her tone turning a little more like that of a concerned mother. " Animal bites ..... if you get bit. Rinse it out and go to the hospital to watch for rabies." a little pause ...... " don't look the monkey in the eye ........ don't smile at the monkeys ....... they'll attack you...... by the way, if not treated ..... rabies is 100% fatal " Don't mess around. If the monkey bites get to the hospital..... Okay then, have a great trip!"