I haven’t written in awhile mostly because I don’t know what to say.  A lot is going on spiritually, but I don’t know how to put any of it into words.  So, that will have to come later after it’s done processing through my system.

On a more superficial level, I’ve just been working out and eating.  There are a bunch of workout classes available every day, but I’ve been attending around three high intensity fitness classes a day.  I’ve been having trouble getting out of bed in the morning so I’ve been sleeping more too.

It’s been an interesting meeting the people here.  The staff is all nice and wonderful.  Some of the guests are kind of snobby which I didn’t expect.  Some of the guests are very nice though.  Most of the unfriendly guests have left so it’s more pleasant now.  Most of the guests are return guests and I can see why.  This place is well run and provides something people need.

One night there was a trip to a night market.  Since I love Thai markets, I went.  I didn’t love this market.  It was really for tourists.  But, I’m on one of the biggest tourist islands so it makes sense.  There was another night market trip the next night to a different market.  I decided to skip it.

Loi Krathong is the lantern festival that I’m coming back for in November.  It’s been canceled in Chiang Mai because of mourning for the king.  The festivities were canceled in Tak, but they are still going to do the actual floating of the candles in the river which is what I wanted to see.  So, I had to change all my hotel plans and pretty soon I need to figure out where I’m going to go after that.  I would have skipped it altogether, but I still have a suitcase of stuff at Noi’s house that I need to get and a plane ticket to Mae Sot which is not refundable.

When I was diving in Samui I touched some coral with my knee and it turned all red.  When I asked the divemaster what he thought it was he said “coral” as if it was no big deal.  It didn’t look like a cut.  It wasn’t until 4 or 5 days later that I noticed tiny scabs where the coral had cut me.  Then about a week later it puffed up and turned even redder.  Someone here suggested I go to the doctor right away because it was infected.  I looked it up on line and it said to seek medical attention right away.  Great.  So I rode my motorbike in the pouring rain to the nearest clinic.  The doctor gave me a cream.  I asked if I needed an antibiotic and she said pointed to the cream.  How is a cream going to get under the skin to the infection?  I went home later and did a little homegirl surgery.  I cut some of the skin away so that the cream could get in.  I also used some tea tree oil and neosporin just in case those might be helpful.  I’m pretty sure neosporin is the answer to most medical problems.  Then I broke my no searching things on the internet after 10pm rule and looked at the coral cuts info closer.  This rule was set in place for a reason and breaking it means no good sleep.  I read that there are all kinds of nasty things in salt water and coral cuts often get infected and then if you see a dark line on your arm or leg you need to go to the emergency room for iv antibiotics.  I woke up every few hours to  check my arms and legs for dark lines. I have antibiotics my doctor gave me before I left Colorado in case of an emergency.  I started taking those.  It’s been a few days now and no dark lines, just an upset stomach from the antibiotics.

Yesterday I rode the motorbike around and went to two overlooks and a beach.  We have been having a lot of stormy weather due to big storms in the Philippines.  The wind was so strong it was blowing salt mist way up past the beach.  The waves were huge.  It was unfriendly for swimming which was good, because I didn’t feel bad that I can’t swim because of my coral cut.  It was nice and relaxing to watch the waves crash and watch the sea move.  I feel like just watching it reset something and I was more relaxed after.  It was also nice to ride around and see some of Phuket.  It’s more mountainous than I expected.  I like it.

Today I took another field trip.  When I was looking for fun things to do near here, I found a rum distillery that gave tours.  I have drank a lot of rum over the years, but didn’t know how it is made.  It was a small distillery and the tour was interesting.  The rum was real good too.

I have two more days of fitness camp and then travel back to Bangkok and then off to China!

(c) All rights reserved Kimberly Fiore