Buns of Steel and Banged up in Bangkok

We have been somewhat stuck here in Bangkok waiting for a Vietnamese Visa. The office was closed due to Chinese New Year... for 5 days! We were able to stay with a friend for the week so that helped cut down on expenses. A big thanks to Toy and Michael from the US who allowed 3 dirty cyclists to take up some floor space in there bachelor pads. They showed us around town and we "made party"!

We went to a floating market outside of Bangkok where all the commerce is done in canals. It was really cool to see gondola like water crafts paked with all their wares. It was a very nice contrast to see a more grass route style of commerce rather than the bland hegemonic american style malls that are plaguing the earth.

A few days ago I had a rough time in the big city. I was playing bumper bikes with Coral. I was looking to merge with traffic as I turn around I got a little up close and personal with Coral's buns of steel and literally bounced of her ass and fell into traffic. Cars honked at me on the ground, luckily no one ran me over. Later on in the same day I was once again looking over my shoulder to merge with traffic and I ran into a stopped car, this time I braked just in time and kissed his bumper with my front tire, the problem was I was clipped in and took a nasty fall trying to get out of my bike. By the end of the day some bruised knees, calves and thighs and another scar to add to my already scarred left knee. Mostly just a bruised ego. The traffic is pretty much the same as every big city, heavily polluted, big parking lots which are called expressways. I hear Canada is having an abnormally warm winter, keep burning those fossil fuels. I hear global warming is all just a big hoax anyways. I have complete faith in the government and scientists to fix everything... right?

We stayed at two Buddhist Temples before arriving in Bangkok. Recently I finished reading the 4 noble truths by the Dalai Lama and it had a profound affect on me. I have really enjoyed the eastern philosophy and their outlook on human nature, compassion and finding inner peace. In highschool I remember learning about Buddhism and I really find the religion is very close to my own views on life. I am really enjoying the immersion into the Buddhist lifestyles. I am looking forward to our journey into two more Buddhist countries Laos and Vietnam. We found out that many Thai will spend a period of time in their life, living as monks in the temples. The beauty of this is that they do this on there own free will, however they do not abandon their old lives and renounce their families like the traditional ways. It is more of a celebration and party nowadays. Some of the old traditions have been lost and the version we see today is a more of a Neo-Buddhism. Like a lot of religions it is always evolving braking off into different sects, changing to the times.

20 countries and counting.

Steve