My O Chiang Mai

... So there we were in the middle of the jungle when the batteries ran out on the flashlight (torch.) That's when I knew we were really in trouble. We had lost the trail hours ago and once the sun had set it was dark almost immediately. Luckily we had found a place to make camp. But without the torch and all the wet weather making fire impossible we knew we were in for a long night. It was then that I heard the soft patter of paws and rustling in the forest. But nothing could have prepaired me for for the adrenline rush when I looked out into the night and saw two glassy, enormous eyes looking back at me. From my position on my knees those eyes were over my head by about half a foot. And it wasn't thirty seconds before the tiger opened its huge mouth and let out a ferocious roar right in my face. Much of what happened after that I can't remember. But I do remember when it claw dug into my hand as I went to protect Justin's innocent sleeping body...

Or maybe...

I was swimming through the reef marveling at how warm and crystal clear the water was. And thinking as I breathed slowly through my scuba regulator that life might be perfect. Mariska my diving buddy was ahead of me by about 2 meters when suddenly the sunlight overhead was blocked out by something huge above me. I hoped it was a passing boat but still my breath caught in my throat. I didn't want to look up but there it was above me the huge shark circling over head. It was then that i noticed the blood on my leg. I must have bumped into some coral, I thought. I covered my leg with my hand and tried to steady my breathing. I looked around but found that I was suddenly alone. Just then the shark became incensed and I knew it had the scent. It began circling wider and swimming deeper until it was level with me. I deflated my BCD so I would have all possible power for the inevitable charge. We squared off and I tried to grab my weight belt from around my waist to wrap around my hand, but the shark was too fast and suddenly it was upon me. I pulled back my hand and gave it one solid punch in the nose. The shark began to thrash wildly and clamped down on my palm, before turning quickly and swimming away. And just like that it was over. I started to pass out when I saw several figures swimming towards me, and that was the last thing I remembered, until I woke up in the Koh Tao hospital...

Or ...

Everything seemed quite on Soi Rambuttri, in the heart of Bangkok's Bamglamphu neighborhood. After we finished our dinner we thought it seemed safe, sure there were less people out but it appeared to be business as usual. So we decided to go for a walk and burn off some of the dinner calories. But as we neared the end of Rambuttri the energy shifted. It was as if the winds propelling a huge fire suddenly changed and the blaze was coming right for us. Before we knew it we were face to face with the Red Shirts clashing with the police and the army. Riot geared men ran past and pushed us aside and the crowd encircled us. Justin and I lost contact and I was pushed forward by the momentum of the armed men. I tried desperately to work my was to the side, but then suddenly a can of tear gas that had been thrown from behind me into the crowd of Red Shirts ahead of me blew back in my face. I doubled over trying to avoid the stinging gas. But stumbled and began to panic. I wanted desperately to stay on my feet. It was then I heard the soft whimpering of a child nearby. I blinked through the tears until I could see the young girl within arms reach. I quickly grabbed her and swept her into my arms. When suddenly i heard shouts and the riot men all around me looked menacing and crazed. The pushing became more intense and I realized we were at the front of the line, right up against the fray. Suddenly a grenade came flying through the air. It was as if everything went into slow motion. I watched it sail like a baseball overheard into the crowd of police behind me and the young girl. All around I could see the crowds faces becoming grotesque and panic stricken. People pushed in all directions. But the police could only move backwards I saw this as my chance to escape into the crowd of Red Shirts. In less than a second I had pushed my way into the RS mob before me and threw my body on top of the young girls, shielding her from the immenent blast. When it came it shock the earth and sent debris flying in all directions. My hand flew up to protect my face. And I became unconcious of the next several moments. I watched the violence around me but the sound was muted by the deafening blast. I looked down to see the girl shaking but unharmed, and then I saw the huge piece of glass lodged in my palm. The Red Shirted men above me saw it too and they lifted us up and carried us like crowd surfers at a concert to the back of the mob...

OK fine I was at the pool after day two of Thai massage class. I had my empty Leo bottle in my hand and was heading towards the room when I stepped off the carpeted mat onto the slick tile and fell. I guess I thought it would be better to keep the bottle from breaking all over and making a mess. When I hit the ground with a thud I realized the glass bottle had broken my fall and I could feel the thick glass penatrating the skin of my palm. I dropped the neck, ( bottle still broke by the way,) in an instant and looked down at my hand. I don't want to disturb you with what I saw, but the inside of your hand is not sexy. Lots of layers of skin, tendons all over the place, bones etc. I was in shock so I was actually quite calm. I just held my hand up towards Justin and said, "that's gonna need stitiches." Thankfully Justin pretty much took over after that. He ran and got me a towel to apply compression and stop the bleeding and got me clothes so I didn't have to go to the hospital in my bathing suit. What a guy!

The Chiang Mai Ram Hospital is highly recommended. It was spotlessly clean, duh. But also there was nobody there. In fact I haven't waited once in the three times I have been. (I have had to go back for several follow ups. No new injuries to report.) Anyway, five nurses doted on me while I waited for Dr. Seree (Doc) to stitch me up. He was great, had studied medicine in Chicago so we talked about hockey, basketball and baseball while he made me good as new. I had 26 visable stitches and at least as many inside my hand. I didn't know but apparently for deep cuts you have to stictch the inside as well. Huh, learn something new everyday right! It did run me 10,000 bt. though (approx $335) which was a bit of an ouch in and of itself, but I guess it is better than having your hand hanging open right? Anyway I was very good, very brave and of course insisted that Justin document the whole thing. He has excellent pictures. So that is really the crux of Chiang Mai as far as I am concerned.

Actually not. We have been here two weeks and have really enjoyed it. The Thai massage course has been absolutely amazing, even with the injury. And the second week our friend Philip came up to meet us. It was nice having another traveler along for the ride for a while. And also made Justin and I appreciate traveling together when he left. We also rented bicycles, (pre-stitches.) I never even contemplated returning the bike, since I figured I can ride without hands at home. One-handed here should be no problem. I know, I am so bad ass to ride a bicycle with stictches in my hand. Tell me about it. I did rock a super sexy helmet though, so don't be too alarmed. Anyway that made getting around town easy and we got to see lots of areas of the city we wouldn't have seen on foot. Of course we missed out on lots of sights too because we were in class most of the day but can't win em all right? Anyway next up is Laos. We leave tomorrow after our final exam and then we have about three days of travel before we arrive in Luang Prabang. It is going to be amazing!

I will give you the Thailand highlights and lowlights in the next post, after we have offically departed! Also just a heads up that i know there are probably a ton of spelling errors in this post but I can't spell check it because I don't know how to reset the language on the internet browser of this computer. It is in German, or possibly Dutch. So forgive me.