Lolo's Travels

Hi!
     ~ I almost don't know where to start.  I've been
here about 3 days now, and its very different from
Bangkok.  I took that overnight bus, 11hours, and it
dropped me right at the door of the guesthouse.  After
checking in, I wandered around a bit, as it was early
it seemed initially like the town was just waking
up...until  I turned the corner and happened upon a
huge market in full swing.  Food, any kind you could
think of.  Places you could order to eat right away,
or huge mass quantities of veg, noodle, fish, meat,
etc to take home to prepare.  Crazy busy and wierd to
wander around.  I bought a copy of the Bangkok Post
and went back to the guesthouse to have breakfast and
read....I think I've learned to stay away from
"western" style food here now.  Its been pretty gross
both times I've ordered eggs and toast.  I'm sticking
to thai curries from here on in.  Lately I've been
addicted to pineapple shakes ~ just pineapple and ice,
about 15baht.  Awesome.
       I moved out of that place the next day and into
a place called Julies GH ~ super cheap, 140baht/night.
  The room is small, with a fan, and private bath ~
although the shower IS the bathroom.  You just shut
the door and away you go.  Theres a hot water heater
though, so I'm not complaining. They are currently
arranging my visa for Laos for me, and I'm thinking of
heading out that way in about 2 weeks.  Until then,
I'll probably book a trek up into the hilltribe area
(most tribes originate in Tibet, S. China, or Myanmar
(Burma).   I think most of them include elephant rides
and bamboo river rafting; I think I'm mostly concerned
about slugs...ew.  Apparently they're everywhere; I
guess this IS the jungle after all...
     I actually find the guesthouse pretty
intimidating.  There are TONS of hippy dippy type
people who seem to have been there forever.  Very
nice, and friendly, but completely NOT my type of
people.  I met a girl from Australia, Christina, who
is really nice.  We get along well and have been
hanging out quite a bit.  I'm meant to have dinner
tonight with some French guy named Lionel as well,
although he says his middle name is Tom and I can call
him whichever I like.  I met him on the street last
night when I was out in search of chocolate.  I found
a Snickers at the 7-11! 
       The huge night market here is, well, huge.
Stalls of vendors everywhere, clothes, silver jewelry,
foot massage booths, food, carvings, textiles, bags,
whatever you want.  Knockoff tevas, billabong
everything, diesel, etc etc.   Thats actually where I
met Christina.
        I'm off for my daily massage, haha.  And some
food, I'm starving.  If it getst too hot I'll pop back
in here later.  So if you get the chance to write back
and let me know news from home, no matter how mundane,
that would be great.
xo Laura