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AWOL.COM/Alice Edwards’ Travel Blog: Living My Dream and Feeling Very #Blessed
24 May – 5.40 p.m.
Good evening, dream chasers,
After a few intriguing days in Bangkok, I am now heading to the infamous Phuket with two surprise visitors from home – my brother Mark and hisBF, Joe.
Leaving the city so soon was sad, but my few days there were a truly transcendentalexperience. We immersed ourselves in the local life, taking scooter taxis from temple to restaurant to the stunning Grand Palace. We met many interesting people and I hope to stay in touch with every single one of them.
The three of us are now planning to fully embrace the joys of the famous islands and the locals, while also connecting with one another on a deep spiritual level.
Sendinggood thoughts,
Alice xx
1 Comments · 4AWOLs · 19 Super Likes
COMMENTS:
Joe Downe
|Come out of the loo already, I’ve got shots ready andNe-Yo on the stereo.
Right, I know that I said I wasn’t going to have any sex in Thailand while I focused on myself – but kissing is tewtally allowed, right? And maybe a bit of dry humping?
Because, too late.
Very too late, actually. I have kissed three men in the last hour and I’m thrilled about it. I got no names and ten minutes later, I could not identify them in aline-up. Except maybe in a tongueline-up.WINK. I am drunk, but nicely so, and basking in the feelings of being here and y’know beingALIVE. It is just so exhilarating. I am a million miles away from anything, feeling the sand beneathmy feet and the atmosphere fizzing around me. My mind is nicely blank and empty. I really don’t know why everyone is so obsessed with mindfulness – mindlessness is much more satisfying.
Mark, Joe and I landed last night – buzzing and bouncing – on the Phi Phi Islands. I was permitted to enjoy Bangkok for just a few days before Mark insisted we head off to Phuket. The three of us spentour days walking around the city, staring at the architecture andsight-seeing. The local people are so nice and friendly, but there’s also such a vastex-pat, international community, we couldn’t go many steps without waving at fellow Westerners. We all stick out like a sore thumb, and therefore tend to gravitate together. We bumped into a group of Irish Americans on our last night, who insistedon taking us with them on their group dinner to this incredible rooftop restaurant. We’ve all exchanged numbers, and there’s talk of meeting up on one of the islands in a couple of weeks. I have a feeling there’s going to be a lot of that kind of thing on this trip and lots of then never speaking again.
But to be honest, great as it was, I wasOKwith leaving. The city was a real culture shockafter the carefree lifestyle ofLA, I can tell you. And if you thought the driving over there was dangerous, you should see the small children driving scooter taxis all over Bangkok. They are everywhere.
It was kind of fabulous though. There’s something freeing about everyone’s languid attitude to all the danger. And, look, we all made it out alive, so it’s fine.
Either way, we’re herenow, and first stop: Full Moon Party, because obvs.
We got drunk at our hostel, dancing around the room like we were fifteen years old again, getting ready for the local disco at the Rec Centre. And now we’re here at the beach, surrounded by fellow clichéd Western tourists, and I’ve continued on that sameteen-type theme; flirting shamelessly and gradually hiking my skirt up higher and higheras the hours pass. Honestly, this could only be more Friday night teen disco if someone released some foam from the sky and a tit fell out of a Jane Norman or Bay Trading dress.
Oh, actually there are a few tits out over there.
Despite the youth club atmosphere, the setting couldn’t feel more worldly and grown up. It is ridiculously beautiful here on the beach. The water is a colour Ihave only seen in films, and assumed was touched up inpost-production anyway. The sand is so clean and white and soft. It’s like no beach I’ve ever been on. And I never want to leave this spot, feet slightly buried, shoulders warm, face buzzing from kisses from strangers. It’s glorious.
Ooh, I should save that kind of cheese for the blog.
Mark suddenly grabs me round the middlefrom behind. ‘Hello amazing sister,’ he says, kissing me on the cheek. He is drunk. ‘You smell like boys.’
‘You don’t,’ I say, giggling. ‘Met anyone nice tonight?’
He shakes his head, giving me a mysterious half smile. ‘Nah, I’m having too much fun dancing and drinking.’
‘Don’t you want to meet anyone?’ I sound a bit exasperated and he rolls his eyes. ‘Don’t start with me, you’re asbad as Mum.’ I wince at the mention but we both let it go.
‘Where’s Joe, anyway?’ I say, dropping the romance topic and looking around. Mark shrugs. ‘Probably getting off with someone here, like everyone else,’ he says without emotion. He grabs my hand, pulling me into a group of dancing men nearby, faces adorned with intricateanimal-face paints. They are all high as kites, pupils solid black,and I wonder which one I should snog next. It’s like a sex buffet here, it’s such a delight.
We sway along to the distant music and Mark leans over to shout in my ear. ‘Speaking of boys, any word fromTDlately?’
