I knew it would happen eventually

Something that seemed bad would turn great. It always does.

So I take the bus to the ferry port, but the bus takes me to the driver's friends "travel agency". Its a common thing here. They don't take you where you ask, they take you somewhere else, then make money becuase the only place to eat is their friends' restaurant, the only way to buy tickets is from their friends, and the only way to get back to where you originally wanted is to pay a motorbike or bus triple what you origanally paid! So I'm sitting there with these Thai swindlers, and have to wait an hour for the bus. It was dirty and nasty there, so I was a little upset I couldn't wait at the nice pier. So I grab my book and say to myself "worst case I just lost $10 and stay here one more night. Really not that bad." So I read until the bus shows up and when I get on the bus I begin talking to a lady named Ange from London. She's been traveling for about 13 months with these other two guys (I later found out they were here sons Alan and Glen, 24 and 25).

So at the pier they offer to watch my stuff, and I was a bit nervous. But I thought it was more important to show some trust in a fellow traveler than to worry about a bag full of shoes and t-shirts. Anywho, I came back with some beers and ended up having a fantastic two hour ferry ride with my three new friends.

Pulling into Phi-Phi island you could see the Tsunami devastation, but it was still possibly the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I looked at the beach, saw the ocean on the other side and said "now this is the type of place I was hoping to see on my trip."

I can't describe the last 48 hours without 8 more pages, but its been awesome. My new friends ran into their old friends and then my buddy Josh showed up yesterday. Went on a day trip snorkeling and hanging out on an island with monkeys, etc. I assume this island is 50% Thais, 40% backpackers and about 10% westerners that are over 30. So naturally, its a fun environment. On top of that, I think I've met a hundred people or so in the last two days, and NOT ONE has been American. I love it.

So tomorrow Josh and I are off to Phuket, then Bangkok on Saturday, then I go to Hong Kong Sunday, so I should be getting busy! Josh knows how to upload photos so maybe he can show me tomorrow. I now have about 300 photos and 4-5 videos, plus his 50 or so he took the last 24 hours. Should be a fun last night on the island tonight! Hope the USA is fun right now...I'll see some of you in a week, some in two weeks, so have a great week to two weeks without me!