The Long Road

Naturally, I was uber sad to leave the beloved Koh Chang. The road back to Pattaya took significantly longer than expected--about three hours longer than I initially thought. After a few late nights on the island, the road back wore me down a bit. I haven't eaten a solid meal since breakfast, so I'm on the hangry (hungry+angry/irritable) side. The whole ride back, the Thai folks who were simply trying to help me out kept saying that I should stay the night in Pattaya and travel to the airport in the morning. Apparently, my hotel was too far away for them to get to and they had no idea where it was exactly. But, I insisted that I needed to get there since I prepaid the money on my card and wanted to be close to the airport tomorrow. At ten thirty and too much money later, I landed on the scene: rows of brightly colored cottages laid against sparse outdoor lighting and darkness filling the spaces between. My things are placed inside of the room and I get to finally take a look at the joint. Seedy, in a word: found a roach on the wall, mosquitos were already taking residence inside, a foul stench emerged from a leaky, unclean sink in the bathroom, piss was in the toilet. Pretty revolting considering that I just came from a four night stay in a nicer-end bungalow with only ants scurrying around the floor to worry about. Perhaps I'm being a little high maintenance. Perhaps I'm having "first world problems", or another round of culture shock. I met the family who owns the place--two Thai women who are lovely for sure, but it's obvious that even their office quarters are a place where they sleep. This is far from the "resort" picture the hotel booking site claimed to have. 

I am road weary. I am hungry. Two of the worst conditions for me to be in if I'm trying to be positive and compassionate. Indeed, I'm making the most of this. It's only one night, and then I'll be off to Koh Samui tomorrow for some more classy fun, nurtured by the fresh ocean breeze.