I tried to sleep in as late as I could, but I just feel yucky.  I try to cry or scream or figure out how to release this, but I can’t so I just get up.  Maybe leaving Mae Sot will help and that’s on the schedule for today anyway.

I had another meh breakfast and then my taxi arrived early to take me to the bus station.  So, I was way too early, but that’s ok.  I didn’t have any issue with my ticket bought on line so that was good.  It was a different bus station than the one I came into and the bus was sold out so I’m real glad I got the ticket ahead of time on line.

The bus has a stewardess of sorts who takes our tickets, finds where we are getting off, gives us water and a very random snack.  When I tell her Ba tan cuen, she doesn’t understand me although I know she does.  I tell her about 3 or 4 times and she keeps saying Chaing Mai (the final stop)?  She repeats Ba tan cuen with a distrusting look several times and then walks off shaking her head.  Several times during the trip she asks me again.  I try to explain I live and teach there, but she thinks I’m nuts.

I was told or read somewhere that this stretch of road is dangerous on a bus.  I rode in on a van and was wondering what it would be like on a bus.  It’s not scary so much as it’s just intense.  There are a lot of trucks and buses on the road.  It’s steep and full of switch backs.  There’s not much you can do as you are getting tossed side to side a lot.  I try to read, but writing or typing on the computer is out of the question.  There are no run away truck lanes like there would be in Colorado, but I don’t smell burning brakes either.  Some of the hills, the bus struggles to even get up.  I’m sitting on the wrong side again to get any pictures of the mountain views.  I tried to get pictures, but they don’t do it justice, of course.  I’m dropped off at the correct stop even though she still looks skeptical and then I have to take the motorbike taxi back home.

Now I’m guessing the police stops on the way into and out of Mae Sot may have something to do with refugees.  I’m not sure, but that makes the most sense.  I did some research on line about the Burmese refugees.  It was quite eye opening, but that is all I will say about it.

I wanted to go out to the temple tonight to see what the holiday celebration might be like, but by the time I heard the monks on the loud speaker, I was tired and just wanted to shower and eat so I didn’t go out after all.  Now, I’m kinda bummed I didn’t go.

I’m using my new phone as a wifi hot spot as I write this so that’s a huge hooray!

My house is just full of bugs and I’m over it.  My bedroom floor was covered in wings when I got home.  There were some bugs.  I don’t know what they were – termites, flying ants?  I swept it all up and didn’t do much looking at the bugs because I just don’t want to know.  My head has been itching for days so I wonder if I got bugs in my hair now.  I feel like I’m 8 years old again.  I washed my hair twice today although, I doubt that will do any good.  I looked at my sheets and they were covered in tiny dead gnats that I’ve been battling every night when I try to read on my nook.  Still, the amount of bug on the outside top of the bug net lets me know it’s not a complete failure.  Guess I’m sleeping on my sleeping bag tonight and washing sheets tomorrow.  I did get an electronic bug thing that Laura recommended.  It’s for mosquitoes, but maybe it’ll deter other bugs too.  Fingers crossed.  Alright, I’m going to leave it on that note so all of you reading this can share in my creepy crawly feeling.

(c) all rights reserved Kimberly Fiore