Even paradise has its price, as it turns out. Have scorched self despite repeated application of 30 spf water resistant sunblock. Mostly happened while snorkeling off the coast of Koh Tao (Turtle Island) in the Gulf of Thailand. I guess Thailand is a bit closer to the equator than other beaches. Also my extreme whiteness from Mongolia probably didn't help. Anyway...had a lovely couple of days on Koh Tao before returning overnight to Bangkok by train. On the island I snorkeled, walked around, swam and drank many, many fruit shakes. Will always have memories of a place called Sunshine resort and the Eazy Bar where you could lounge on small mats on a platform overlooking the ocean. Above all I will remember smiling faces. I have never seen a people more willing to laugh and smile as these Thai folk. The lady smiled as she gave me a Thai massage...and told me she was so happy that day she was going to give me free oil. Mostly I think that was on account of my sunburn though. The taxi drivers smiled as they loaded our stuff into trucks to transport us to and from the pier. Our longtail boat driver smiled as he tooled us around the island to snorkel...and caught little fish in his bare hands. The beachside cooks smiled as they smoked grass and grilled fresh fish for us. As my ferry floated into port at Chumphon on the mainland we passed dozens of fishing boats full of fishermen who all waved and hooted and laughed and smiled at the "farang" (gringos) on the boat. They must do it 20 times a day. It was a wonderful experience. Today I plan to see some more of Bangkok's finest sites and to fit in a few more mango and pineapple shakes. Catch you on the flipside, when I return to the Mongolian spring!