Change of Plans and the Best Street Food Ever

So turns out we missed the boat on the cheap Kuala Lumpur tickets and I was going to have three days of travel in a row if we went anyways so looks like we'll be doing something else this weekend. Oh well, always keep your options open is what I say.

So yesterday I was sitting downstairs using the internet when an Australian named Rich asked if I wanted to come with him to an FC Phuket football match. My answer was along the lines of hell yes. Rich also speaks Thai and has been here for a year and a half so he made for great conversation too. After a 5 minute motor bike ride to the stadium we discovered that if Rich had learned how to read and write the language we would have been clearly informed that FC Phuket was playing an away game this Wednesday. It was alright though as I got to check out the stadium (awesome) and even saw some alternates practicing with what looked and sounded like a big hacky sack. I got a couple nice action shots but yall are going to have to wait for me to put those on here, I can't be bothered in paradise. After our initial disappointment we did what any two strangers who have just met each other in a strange place do--searched out the closest bar we could find. Now we were in the definitely Thai-local section of Phuket Town and as such we were apparently a sight to see. No problems though because just as we were about to give up hope we discovered a great locals only beer garden with Singha on draught and a great view of the busy intersection next to us. In fact, it almost felt as if our conversation got swept up along with the honking motorists of all shapes and sizes. Once strangers, now friends. We spoke of the power of perceptions and especially misperceptions. We spoke of friends in countries we knew and we spoke of places we have yet to explore. We agreed on one thing, however. The most important thing I have ever learned.

There are good people and there are bad people wherever you go. The adventure lies in painting your own picture of a people and a place. We are all citizens of this world, whether you like it or not.

Last little end note...I have found the perfect Pad Thai. This lady must be in her sixties or seventies and has probably been at the Wok for at least fifty of those years. Believe me, it translates into the taste. I walked and walked...and walked. I asked Thai people who couldn't understand a word I said excepting the words "best" and "Pad Thai." People just kept smiling and pointing. Keep going. Not there yet. Keep going. And right when I was about to give up I asked a young Thai guy at his own street stall, thinking I'd settle for his own version of the famous fare. To my surprise he motioned me closer and pointed to a tiny, barely lit street stall across the road and said, "You're looking for the famous Pad Thai. It is her that you want." With a huge grin I crossed over and peeked my head in to see an old woman and what I can only imagine was a granddaughter. I then stood there with the biggest smile I could muster while she did what she did best. Three minutes later and two dollars poorer I had two individually wrapped huge portions of Pad Thai in my hands with all of the condiments and sprouts and green onions and...I'm getting hungry again. I think I might go find the Pad Thai Lady. I wonder if she even sleeps.