nude highway driving

… is when I started trying to think of a reason why I shouldn’t quit my job, sell all my shit that I don’t need and come back for good.

I had spent the morning on the beach, relaxing as I stared at islands in the distance and bought amazing food from souvenir vendors who come every day from Krabi to make some cash. I then climbed up steep-ass, red-clay-covered rock to reach this viewpoint, which shows the east and west sides of Railay and a little bit of Ton Sai beach. I ran into two Brits and a Kiwi, and we helped each other down the even-steeper-ass rock to a hidden salt-water lagoon, completely surrounded by the mountain with beautiful sky sneaking in from the top.

We eventually climbed back out and I headed to West Railay beach filthy, a little banged up and radically peaceful. I jumped into the warm water in time to watch the sunset throw warm light on the evening volleyball games. I caught myself actually begin to let go.

Operating this cart is a little middle-aged Thail lady. It was too much and I had to take a shot and buy a beer. Khao San Road is full of interesting sights, sounds and smells, including delicious street dinners for $1.25 and T-shirts featuring Mr. T that say “I ain’t gettin’ on no plane.” I really wanted to buy one, but I never returned to Bangkok (beyond the airport) because I fell so hard for Railay.

No worries — I’ll be back real soon.

Sorry yet again for the site neglect. I was very busy with important activities, such as the power lunch pictured above. For some reason the Internet cafe just didn’t hold much appeal over white-sand beaches, rock-climbing classes, $1 beers, sunset-watching and fresh-seafood dinners.

I never made it to an island - Railay, which feels like an island anyway, was too wonderful to leave. Now I’m trying to figure out exactly what good reason I have to not drop everything and spend a bigger part of my life in Thailand (and traveling Southeast Asia).

First, I want to share my new favorite rap song, “George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People.” It’s why I love the Internet sometimes — Kanye West remixed in only a few days, and done extremely well by The Legendary K.O. It’s got a funky beat and I can bug out to it. Please distribute as widely as possible.

Also, everyone following the New Orleans disaster who hasn’t seen it should read this firsthand account from paramedics who got stuck in New Orleans.

But don’t worry — Congress approved $51.8 billion in additional funding for Katrina relief, which will certainly help. Of course, almost all of it is going to FEMA for distribution. You know, because they’ve handled everything so well up to this point. (Disaster recovery, after all, is just like probing horse ass.) I’m sure they will be fair and efficient about who they give the money to, and the federal contractors who get the work will be completely fair when they pay the locals they hire, despite the fact that they don’t legally have to pay the prevailing wage anymore.

On a positive note: This is some funny shit.