Same Same But Different

Things I will never take for granted again:

1. flush toilets

2. toilet paper

3. fans

4. real coffee (not the instant crap!)

The first two are pretty much my only requirements at the moment! 24 hour electricity is nice, but not too big of a deal.

I’ve fallen in love with air conditioning…but alas I have to enjoy my few stolen moments with it when I’m in the 7/11. I don’t think I will ever complain about the cold again! I actually get quite excited when it turns cloudy now and especially when it rains! Anything to keep the burning hot rays of the sun off my skin for however long it lasts is a welcome relief.

I hate the bugs here! I wouldn’t mind them so much if they would quit eating me alive. Am I really that tasty? I’ve got big red welts all over my body to prove it! I just came back from the pool and I’ve got a new bite right on my elbow. My elbow! Seriously, another huge welt right on the bone.

There are things I will miss when we aren’t here though. Mainly:

1. Cheap massages

2. Cheap and tasty food (especially the sidewalk vendors!)

3. Cheap beer

4. Cheap clothes (when I can find something that actually fits)

5. Cheap living

Things we don’t do at home but I’m used to now:

1. Take off our flip flops before going inside a restaurant, store, our own bungalow, even to the reception area of wherever we are staying. (except in Bangkok, you leave your shoes on in Bangkok!)

2. Cold showers. Gotta love ‘em!

3. Eat with a spoon. Thais never put forks in their mouths, the fork is used only for putting the food onto the spoon.

4. The wait staff really do wait. If they come over to take your order and you’re not ready yet, they stand by your table and wait until you are. When they bring the bill (which you always have to ask for), they stand and wait until you give them the money.

5. In a store, it’s very common for the sales people to follow you around while you look at things. Like literally follow you around like a lost puppy. If someone did that at home, I would walk out but here they are just trying to be helpful.

Things I hope I never get used to:

1. Old fat white men with young pretty Thai women. They are everywhere!