Wat Pho and Chinatown:Bangkok Day 2

On a second bustling day in Bangkok, we managed to find Wat Pho, another impressive temple behind the Grand Palace outside of Banglamphu District in Bangkok. Despite the Thais telling us the Reclining Buddha was on the other side of the compound, we found him in content repose, gleaming in his golden wash in the mosaic bot (scammers tell you an attraction is closed so they can hustle you to another place for commission).

After an exhausting walk in 98 degree heat and 55 percent humidity we made the mistake of taking a cab to the famed flower market in Chinatown. We were literally taken for a ride. After about 30 minutes of driving in the crowded Saturday streets of Bangkok we threatened the cab driver and he managed to find his way to our coveted market (a photographers dream we heard). He tried to charge us 200 baht, we handed him a 50 and jumped out- it's what he gets for trying to scam us. Anyhow, we made it to the market and it so wasn't worth the hour it took us to get there. Walked back to Khao San road for a massage and drinks before heading to the train station to Chiang Mai. The train was about 14 hours overnight but was clean, comfortable and affordable despite the bumpiness. I woke up to a lush rainforest like morning with the mist in the mountains as the landscape. Not too shabby. We're definitely in more rural parts today.

Anyhow, we are heading north to explore nature, tribal villages, a national park and perhaps going cycling and hiking and maybe catch a night safari. I'll post photos when we return in a few days to the connected world and explore the markets and nightlife later in Phuket.

Love, or something like it...

What Phra Kao (Bangkok)

I overheard this as I was strolling through Banglamphu (the backpackers ghetto) at 5 a.m. this morning. Picture this, young Thai woman in short skirt and heels, arms crossed looking pissed. Young British gentleman says, "What is it that you think I'm saying? Do you think I'll never see you again?". Wow. I kept walking toward my favorite 24-hour internet cafe. At 5:05 a.m., I couldn't sleep, this jetlag is a bitch.

The streets at 5 a.m. are in interesting mix. Khao San is closed off to cars in the evenings and into the wee mornings is home to partiers, backpackers on E and a combination of whiskey and beer, and women looking to score foreign sugar daddies. Around the corner, you see hardworking Thais unloading trucks with the days wares to sell which range from backpacker tourist favorites like funky tees and tie dye (lots of white people with dreadlocks around here-beware) and tasty goodies to be cooked up on the street. There are street vendors at all hours of the day, but at night is when the streets really come alive with a mixture of diesel exhaust, fried noodles and fritters and durian (jackfruit) which while tasting resembles the stench of a rotting carcass, yummy!

Anyhow, here are a few photos of our first day at the Grand Palace and one of the temples in Bangkok. We are headed North to Chiang Mai tonight and will be trekking tomorrow to one of the villages and spending the night there before returning to our backpackers paradise in Chiang Mai.

I'll post pics soon as I get Internet. Enjoy!

Jetlagged...

After 24 hours of travel (it took us about 12 hours just to cross the Pacific into Korea), we've finally arrived at our destination in the Banglahmpu district of Bangkok, Thailand. It's about 3 a.m. and the Internet cafe is packed with young Thais, sipping beer and chatting with Euros. The smells aren't the best (think sewage and diesel fuel) but the street vendors are selling hot, fresh pad thai noodles for about 1 U.S. dollar and other offerings to go with the nightclubs and ice cold beer on the strip.

Tomorrow, we head to the temples just north of here and the Grand Palace and then to a rooftop bar on a skyscraper downtown...will post pictures as I can.

Girls Around the World

We are outta' here! First stop is Korea. I'll post pics along the way and keep ya'll posted on the trip as I find e-mail access.

Latinas a Morir

So this pic is from the last LAM party at the Supper Club, I missed the one last week, but was there in spirit. This group is tons of fun, founded by a fellow Guatemalteco, Latinos A Morir is a fun international party that rotates venues every month. Check out this one at the Supper Club.

Countdown to Beachfront Living

Here's some of my Hawaii photos...I need some beach dreams to get me through the next week...enjoy.

Kona, Hawaii




























Green Sand Beach, Big Island on the Hilo side. The beach is about a 2.5 mile hike from the last road to the southernmost tip of the island, well-worth the hike if you like sea turtles, a desolate beach and watching waves crash against lava rocks.
















Southernmost tip of the U.S., kick ass sunset.

Last weekend...

One of the best views of my
favorite city (behind the red thing).

Point Reyes, sipping a Corona.

Seriously...

Puppy Love

So I've been really hush hush about the dating scene lately, haven't you noticed? Been a little busy just living life, but along the way I met someone, well- special. You know that feeling you get when you've met someone who's just easy to be with? Friend, girlfriend, guyfriend, co-worker- whomever; it's just simple, things come naturally and don't take a whole lot of work. This is kind of what it feels like to be with this dude.

My good friend tells me that women are bred to believe that they are special, and we are! But it's rare that a guy gets this about us. Despite the ease with which you can feel comfortable with someone, it takes work on both ends to "sustain the ease", but I think I'm ready to walk down this road with this guy and see where it leads. In the meantime, check back in for updates on this SF Meztiza. I'll be traveling to Thailand in a couple of weeks and will post photos as I can from the East. I'm also planning a trip in the fall back to the East Coast and if all goes well and am hoping some of my LA sisters will come visit before the holidays. What's up bitches? Get out of LA for a bit and come breathe the fresh air by the bay...um, err- when the fires are out that is.

Bitchy Mean Girls (BMG's)

As Secretary of the Bitchy Mean Girls (BMG) I approve the following message:

These meztizas wish you a happy independence day!

Fireworks night at and the San Francisco Giants...what could be better? Happy 4th of July folks...

Everything I needed to learn, I learned in the 'hood

This post is dedicated to my hood fabulous prima...

Ghetto Philosophy #1:
Don't hate the player, hate the game.
'Nuff said.

GP #2:
Keep it real
The ghetto interpretation is to never forget where you came from. I think the ghetto-nerd interpretation is that others forget where you came from until they try to cross you. But proceed with caution! (for more information, see Dave Chappelle's 'when keeping it real goes wrong')

GP #3:
Bro's before ho's.
This applies to both men and women, don't ever choose your flavor of the month over your friends, chances are- that bitch will move on when they figure out you have no more friends and you start to become clingy and too available.

Ghetto Fabulous Philosophy #4:
You gotta pay to play.
So this one comes from an acquaintance, but what I think she's getting at is that you have to put in a little work to get any attention, love, time from a woman. Now for some women, this might be a bucket of KFC and a bottle of Strawberry Boon's, for others it may be a Gucci bag. Still for other ladies, it might be bringing me a potted orchid and massaging my feet after a long day. Amen sista'.

Ghetto-Nerd Philosophy #5:
Don't hate, congratulate.
There's nothing cute about being a hater, just smile and say "go girl"! Even though deep down inside you know her long-ass hair extensions look faker than her tits. Or that her bf has a small di*k and a big wallet...oops! Talk about messed up priorities...LMAO.