Malarone
I’m off the anti-malarial tablets. Still no adverse reactions… #bodyofsteel
Salak
That small, spiky fruit that I posted about in Cambodia is a salak and is indigenous to Thailand. So now you know 😉
How to cross the road
Look all ways (remember, traffic direction is only a suggestion – they could be coming at you from any which way), start when there’s a gap in the first line of traffic and proceed slowly, steadily, confidently and predictably. Traffic will accommodate you. Resist the urge to run. Yes, I know it’s your instinct but suppress it – else you’ll get run over.
Diva cup
When used correctly, the diva cup (google it, ladies) is mildly life-changing. When not used correctly, it’s very, very messy. Even used incorrectly, tampons and towels provide some protection. Not the diva cup. Wrongly inserted, it’s like wearing nothing. So it got messy. I think I’ve now sussed not only how to put it in correctly but also, and more importantly, how to work out whether I’ve done it right. And then my period ended so I didn’t get chance to consolidate my learning. Diva cup success means an end to taking supplies everywhere. Period pains were less too (not sure why this would be, though), just as some others had reported, but the evidence is not yet conclusive as bleeding has been very light. Two light cycles in a row isn’t particularly unusual, but I’ve also noticed that my breasts are smaller. I think I’ve lost weight (it’s too hot to eat, the portions are smaller and the food has less sugar), but I’ve noticed it up top. And that got me wondering whether biology was at work; whilst I’ve known many, and been good friends with quite a few, Asian males, I’ve never been at all sexually attracted to them. And they’re pretty much all I’ve seen for the last seven weeks so, with no mateable material around (biologically speaking, I don’t fancy every Caucasian man I meet, honest), I wonder whether my fertility has taken a holiday, too. The human body is amazing, especially the female’s, so it wouldn’t surprise me. Not enough evidence so far, but I await my next period with interest.
Chairs
“The smaller the chair, the better (and cheaper) the food”. There is a lot of truth in this. And the chairs are sometimes tiny, which maybe part of the reason they’re all so mobile – use or, it lose it.
Vodafone
Vodafone’s incompetence deserves special mention. With a few minor glitches, every other company I’ve dealt with had taken my travels in their stride (eg Nationwide whose online system let me tell them about my travels, but only one country at a time; but a quick call unblocked my credit card for the whole of South East Asia), but Vodafone have not only screwed up at every opportunity, but then also failed to deal with the mess they’ve made. Let me explain briefly. Before I left I contacted Vodafone who confirmed that Cambodia (C), Vietnam (V) and Thailand (T) were in their World Traveller (VWT) package which meant I could pay £5 per day (local time) and access my UK allowance (and I’m on an unlimited package). I double-checked this and signed up. When I arrived in Thailand I received a text detailed their roaming charges. Using Live Chat, I confirmed that this was an error, and I was OK to use VWT. So I called home… and called to check I’d been billed correctly. “David” couldn’t tell because the charges hadn’t hit my account, but advised that all my countries were included in VWT, and made a note on my account that I’ve been told this and I’m to be charged £5 per day of usage. A few days later I check my account and I’ve been billed at the roaming rate. Live Chat again. Everything’s fine, don’t worry. Sure? Yes. A few days later, I get cut off (because my bill is racking up). Live Chat yet again. Told it wasn’t done properly, all is now well, I won’t be cut off and that VWT isn’t applied until bill generation, so charges will continue to rack up. They do. I get cut off again. Live Chat again. Again told it wasn’t done correctly, all is well and that all countries are included. My bill gets generated… it’s £1,140. Live Chat again. I’m told that none of my countries are included in VWT and so I have to pay. What about the notes on my account? He can’t see any notes on my account. Problem is, every time I contact Vodafone, I have to go through security and wait for ten minutes (at least) whilst they read all the notes. Electricity and telephone signals in this part of the world aren’t very reliable. But the end, having been cut off when speaking to the accounts department (who were also saying I’d have to pay), I was really, really upset. It was ruining my holiday, and I’d spent at least three whole days (cumulatively) on Live Chats with them. Eventually, in despair, I give someone else authority to speak to them on my behalf, and it gets sorted (thanks, MC :)). The countries aren’t included, they’ll credit the charges so far. But they still haven’t, so I’ve had to fund over a grand from my trip funds to prevent me going overdrawn. Not impressed, Vodafone. Seriously not impressed. Apart from agreeing to waive the charges (eventually), absolutely everything you’ve done is wrong.
Cable lock
I can put the lock through my backpack’s ring pulls. It gives me piece of mind.
Hello Kitty
“Hello Kitty” is really popular out here… but with the twenty-somethings. It’s a bit strange to see hordes of young ladies in coats and masks with the familiar cartoon cat on them, when I associate it with girls of 7 or 8.
Chinese rudeness
It continues to astonish me. On Marble Mountain, I was man-handled by a man and then a woman. Confusedly, I tried to figure out what was going on – was I in danger? I realised that I was the way of their photo, so instead of asking me to move (this is quite possible even if you don’t speak the same language), they grabbed my arm and shoved me out of the way. I was astonished. And made it clear that I wasn’t happy.
And they never say “thank you” or “sorry”. Giving them right of way, or getting poked in the face with an umbrella results in absolutely no response whatsoever – they act like it never happened. And they’ll push past you without so much as an acknowledgement that you exist. I’m trying not to let it, but it’s starting to irk me.
Black hair
Whilst the sun has been notably absent this past week, since my trip started, my hair has been bleached by the sun. None of the Asians’ has – all have jet black hair. Odd. I assumed that most things, when exposed to the sun, would bleach.