The Heat

As I packed my cameras into my bag, I wondered which one would see the "unfortunate death" on this trip. There was never a question of if, but which and when. I have lost a camera on just about every international trip...some were literally lost, one dropped 5 stories onto concrete, etc. I crossed my fingers and hoped it would be my point and shoot and not my dslr and as it turns out, my point and shoot has spontaneously combusted. Serious here. It went into my backpack one night, and then the next morning I grabbed it to shoot some video and the LCD screen was a big spiderweb of black lines and apparent goo oozing around inside. That's how hot it is here in Thailand people, camera's spontaneously combust. It is so hot that this little "falang" has a forehead that looks like a molting snake. I've never burned and peeled like this in my life...and I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

I had hoped to post more while traveling as it seems a lot easier than posting it all when I get back. I love technology--to think that a blog can replace a journal to save your memories. But alas, with busted camera and slow internet speed, I'll have to wait until I get back to sort through photos and post about the trip. And truthfully, I'd rather spend time with family now. I feel almost greedy about this last week with them all. I've met great aunts and uncles, cousins and darlings. Here in this little village near Denchai, it seems everyone here is actually family. Introductions from everyone in this little town start with "He is brother of your grandmama" "She is darling of your mama's cousin" etc. I think the equivalent would be like living in a subdivision in which you are actually related to everyone within. You would ride your motorcycle down the street to buy breakfast from your uncle's darling, run down to your cousin's to pick up ice, and in the evening, various family would show up with contributions to sit with all for dinner.

I've loved everything about this trip so far, the family stories, the walks around, the sites and the weather isn't even all that bad if you take 3-4 showers a day, which everyone seems to do. The only dislike I've harbored on this entire trip are the damn roosters that wander the family property. They are truly and 100% of the devil. In those children's books, you are told they crow at dawn, and I always thought it was just once, kind of like a cuckoo clock. But really it's whenever they feel like it, dawn, 2:00am outside your window, 4:00 in the afternoon. Evil creatures.