Spectator sport

No, not Formula 1 or even AFL.

I visited a friend yesterday at his home. He is quite a handyman, and it appears a craftsman also. He is making his own guitar and it's amazing - a 3/4 size Rickenbacker, if I have the name right, as used by Lennon. I thought he meant Lenin. I'm not a Beatles fan and didn't think he was a communist. There you go.

After a coffee and chat, he wanted to show me a new shelf set he built for his study. It's made from MDF, and is a series of cubes on two levels. It sits on the floor, it's simple, and he painted part of it red, so it also looks stylish. He has his work folders in it, and on top, Artichoke and Frankie magazines.

I know all of this because I stood looking at it for nearly 20 minutes.

Ten minutes in his wife joined us. Between us, we analysed this shelf to within an inch of its life. Not the design and construction - oh no, that's not important. We talked about how he had arranged books, how the shelves were different widths, the use of paint on part but not all the shelf. I rearranged books, his wife wanted to up end some folders for balance, and he was shifting awkwardly. I imagined the neighbours seeing us through the window - "oh there's that clever guy showing off his new shelf. Nice man, lovely wife. Hey, he's still there. There's three of them now. That's 15 minutes, what are they doing, he hasn't moved. Is this for real, 20 minutes? Dear god, lock the door."

Funny stuff.
MITB

New wheels

I've bought myself a motorbike - it's my first and I'm pretty excited. I get it in two weeks.

It's a 1996 Suzuki GSF 250V Bandit. I am doing the learner's test in mid-April and will have this ready to go when I'm 'legal'. I wanted a cruisy bike first up, rather than a sport model like my brother's CBR600. I can't handle that sort of bike yet. It's a naked frame, and when I grow up it might become a Buell. Who knows.

Version 2.0

Mini blog: I've changed my settings so that anyone who reads this blog, if anyone reads this blog, they can leave a comment. No need to be a member - if you enjoy the blog, or want to hear more about a topic, or have an urge to say something, leave a comment.

M.I.T.B.

Back to real life, but not the same

Thailand has changed me. Not in that 'wow isn't the world a special place' or 'gee humanity is beautiful' sort of way - I think I had those moments in Paris and Queenstown, and then when my daughter was born - but in a more practical way.

Twelve days of sun and scooters, too many pad thai, way too many diet cokes, and not a great deal of sleep, and something in me is different. For the better.

I am not stressed about money any more. Thailand is so affordable to us, and the people there really struggle, but they are happy and calm. Since I got back I have barely flinched about spending. Trust me, this is major.

I am relaxed about work - thai people work seven days a week (my rock climbing guide did, the taxi driver did, though the resort staff had one day off, bless them). Compared to that, my work is a breeze. Effort = reward. I went through high school, then undergrad at RMIT, then work, now work full time while I study for a Masters degree. I get a good job, good pay, a full weekend to myself. In Thailand I met people who went to uni in Bangkok to get a job in a restaurant at the hotel. Now don't get me wrong, that is a great job and the staff were very happy. But they lived on site, were paid very little and had one day a week to themselves. I find that hard to take.

These things have crossed my mind a lot lately, and it's nice to reflect on this sort of experience and compare your own life to what you see in another country, particularly one so different.

I've been distracted lately dreaming about motorbikes and NYC. But before I consign my trip to the past, here is a selection of highlights:

The incredible heat - out of the airport and in to the oven. It was breathtaking, literally. I loved it. So hot.
Scooters - $8 a day for unlimited k's on these little beasts. The Road Hog gang dominated Karon Beach and tore up Ao Nang.
Pacific Club Resort - live like a king for a week for $350, accomm and pad thais in the pool included. Unbeatable.
Win, our dear friend at the resort. Such a nice man, so gentle and sincere. He loved us and we loved him.
Coffee Arthit in Ao Nang. Beautiful creamy lattes and porridge. Not exactly thai style, but real good.
KING CLIMBING!!! Legendary company, and the best fun I could imagine. Brilliant day out with new friends.
Hanging out with my brother for 12 days. We are so different and so alike. Very cool.
Patty Cake and Ozi Battler, mytravelling companions. Extremely generous, reliable and fun guys. Huge respect.
The man and woman from England, travelling separately from Heathrow to Melbourne, who nursed me between Singapore and home as I fell swiftly ill. Top folk.

And there you go. I'll end at the start, and say Thailand told me a lot about this world - people are kind, beautiful and generous wherever you go. Do we just need to go away to be reminded of it?