Europe in Asia

I haven't updated in a while. That is probably because I have been enjoying Thailand so much. I was in Bangkok for six nights. I have been in Phuket, the beach area of Thailand where the Tsunami hit a couple years back, for two nights and will probably stay four more.

Phuket is overrun with Europeans. This is their Florida during the cold months. The main difference is that Phuket is cheap. You can get an hour massage on the beach for about $1.25. Although, you would definitely want to close your eyes and hope you don't catch anything because the masseuse is definitely a little rough looking.

The large number of Europeans has an impact on many things. The most visible and shocking is what people wear or don't wear on the beach. Many women are topless. I say women and not girls because there appears to be no shame once someone arrives in Thailand. These women range in age from 20 up to 75. I have some great National Geographic looking pictures. Speedos are also insanely popular here. I think half of the guys on the beach wear speedos. One old couple looked like they were wearing the same bathing suit. That bathing suit was a thong. It is very different from Florida.

I was here for Mardi Gras day. I told someone it was Mardi Gras and he had no idea what I was talking about. However, here everyday is a little like Mardi Gras. There is one main street lined with bars. One of the bars even had girls dressed in school girl outfits dancing on a balcony. It felt very much like Bourbon Street except that all of the flashing happens inside and that prostitutes were much more blatant.