Thoughts on 22 Dec '11

This is from my notes I wrote down while we were on vacation in Thailand. No, it's not too late to use this.

It seems I can't escape the Middle East; or the Middle East can't escape me. Either way, I must be destined to be inextricably reminded of Islam at every corner I turn. Our hotel is located near one of the few mosques in Southern Thailand. I hear the call to prayer at the proper times each day.

After we visited the Phuket Aquarium, we explored a bit down the boardwalk. Along the way, there are vendors making street food from their scooter stalls. A car pulls up for some chicken satay and greets the vendor with "Salaam aleekum!" and the vendor responds, "Aleekum essalaam." Fabulous, it's like I never left home. Except when we get back to our hotel, I'm laying out swimsuits to dry on a balcony overlooking the northern Andaman sea. And a coconut tree is swaying in the jasmine scented breeze. I'm not kidding; the scent is sometimes so strong, it's unreal. I could never mistake this for Bahrain, or Egypt, that's for sure.

Papaya and banana trees grow amongst rubber trees right off the side of the road. And greenery chokes everything else that stays in one place for too long. It's December and the temperature is in the high 80s with humidity at pretty much perfect.