Kata Beach

Today, Sunday, was our day off from training. Most of the crew rented motorbikes. My money is kind of tied up right now and I cannot reach my bank until tomorrow, so I had to pass....but enough offered for me to hitch a ride with them that I got to go anyways.

And what a fiasco! Trying to keep 7 people or so together, well fed, organized when nobody knows how to get anywhere is a freakin nightmare! The scooters are GREAT fun, and at least getting as lost as we did (outside of the flat tires, running out of gas, and other issues that cropped up) I got to see a TON of the island. It's SO beautiful and just plain awesome over here. As the group split up or ran into issues, I went from riding with Coolio to Troy then to "Jazz", my roommate. What an adventure!

I got to see elephants as we headed into Kata, and passed plenty of shopping to be had. When we finally got to the beach, I just couldn't get into the water fast enough. It is by far the cleanest, purest water I've ever swam in. The waves are gorgeous, there is nothing -- not even seaweed -- floating around, and the floor is ALL sand. I was in love! (Usually I'm hesitant due to the crap you step on, the stuff you bump into or get caught in but cannot see, etc.)

Bob, Jamie, Casper and I tried to body surf. Bob is some kind of "expert", and it was a phenomenal time. I felt so lucky to be where I am and found myself wishing John was there because he's such a water lover. I swam, rode waves, and of COURSE had to lose an earring. I was stupid to not take them out, though. . . .All in all, I felt like a kid again. I laughed my ass off all day because the guys I'm with are HILARIOUS.

For example, Troy and I needed gas on our moped, so we all pulled up to the mini station. We of course see some old scary white guy with a crooked smile pulling up to the restaurant next door with some young Thai chick. Nasty! His smile was so wierd, and 30 year old Troy from Canada announces -- and in a British accent to boot -- that "He must be British because they all have terrible teeth", then points his finger at Jamie first, then Casper, and then Coolio. Bob and I started DYING, and Troy was literally bent over. I couldn't stop, it was sooooo mean. Of course Casper, Jamie and Coolio are all nice-looking guys with perfectly fine teeth and all, it's just the joke that counts. All day, everybody is just hilarious. I love it!

In other news, for the first time in my life, I'm having a tough time not falling asleep, but staying asleep. This concerns me as muscle recovery is done largely while sleeping, and if I'm waking up every couple hours, I'm not getting deep sleep. I stopped by the pharmacy to ask for something.

Here pharmacies are totally different. You can walk in and just get prescriptions in a heartbeat - the pharmacist just gives you what they think you need, or you can literally just tell them what you want. For sleeping, they usually go with xanax, versus valium -- but you can pretty much walk in and get either, or other stuff, for it. It just depends on your preference. It is WILD! Obviously, foreigners can abuse this, but all of us are here to get healthy. Still, I bought a single xanax to see how it works for this issue.....I'm going to take it very shortly.

I had a blast today, and feel pretty comfortable getting around. I cannot wait to get a scooter soon. You can rent them by the day, for as little as $4.50 a day. And yes, we all wear helmets.......

Everybody went to the Freedom Bar tonight, but I am too tired from the ocean. I had a lovely conversation at the local restaurant, The Cashew Nut, after having a young Thai coconut, a bottled water, veggies and noodles with peanut/satay sauce, and all for about $3.30 (although it is very easy to spend almost twice that at meals).

Even though I finally found the good, cheap pad thai places and figured out how to order some other stuff that I like (even though it almost always comes with meat after I'm assured they understand that I don't want any meat), I'm committing to at least 2 weeks of straight fruitarianism / smoothies. I just want to jump start my fitness, honestly. I'll have the most energy that way, too. It's all about keeping my focus, which isn't hard when you live right at the gym. . . .

I am really excited about my first full week of training twice a day, starting tomorrow. I will have worked out at LEAST 24 hours in the next six days! Also, I'm eager to hit the beach again, and soon! I'm hitting the market tomorrow to stock up on greens and more fruit. So awesome! After this full week, I'll start jogging and lifting weights on top of my "regular" workouts.

I have not figured out my computer yet, nor have I taken out my camera. It is only day four, truly, although that is hard to believe, geeze. Soon I'll post my own pictures versus these generic shots, but these are better than nothing, I reckon!

Signing off . . . .