Holidays, Motorcycle Taxis, Visas and Rain in Hua Hin

May the 4th be with you, Feliz Cinco de Mayo, Happy Coronation Day (Thailand), and Happy Mother's Day.  Whew!  There's a lot going on this month, so enjoy it all and more!

Happy Cinco de Mayo - I wasn't able to find a Corona or Negro Modelo (my personal fav), but here's my salute to this holiday:

Coronation Day -  This link has information about celebrations for this month, and includes Coronation Day.  http://www.huahintoday.com/local-news/three-important-days-thailand-2/

Motorbike/Motorcycle Taxis - I know...I know...I shouldn't be using these, but they have really come in handy lately, so I've reluctantly added them to my list of transportation options.  It's a tough choice between sitting in terrible traffic, sweating buckets or taking a motorcycle taxi.  I was recently in Bangkok to apply for a Chinese visa.  I thought I knew where the office was but went to the wrong location.  The embassy guards suggested I take a motorcycle taxi.  I thought, "No way I'm going to do that - it's dangerous, and I'm wearing a dress!"  I turned around, looked at the traffic, and went to find a motorbike taxi.  Had to hike that dress up to get on...but never mind!  The driver was able to weave through that terrible Bangkok traffic and get me to the visa office on time.  Yesterday I took another motorbike taxi after swimming at a friend's hotel.  Here's a picture of me and the driver (my first female driver):

Me and motorcycle driver

Motorcycle driver's license

More about motorcycle taxis in Thailand here: http://www.thailandguru.com/motorcycle-taxis.html

Chinese Visa -  I did not do my homework about this!  I have a plane ticket to fly to Beijing next Wednesday to visit my friends Chris & Sheilah.  As I was looking through some things about China, I came across something that said Americans need to apply for a visa to travel there.  I stopped in my tracks.  Uh oh.  I had not applied for a visa!  I assumed (bad...just bad) that China would be like Laos and Cambodia - visa upon arrival.  Oh, the curse words that escaped from my mouth:-)  Luckily, I was encouraged to speak with a neighbor who is sort of a China expert.  He gave me very good advice about how to go about getting the visa in time to travel.  I made a quick trip to Bangkok, applied for the visa, and should receive it next Tuesday.  Close call!  No more assumptions*sigh*

Nam Thuam (Flood) - It rained in Hua Hin this past Sunday.  The wind was strong and the rain was hard.  Since I did not want to miss sundown, I was on the beach when the skies opened up.  We did not see the sun go down that day!  We were able to sit under beach umbrellas for a while, but the rain became so strong, that I eventually I borrowed a regular umbrella and ran home.

Rain clouds over Hua Hin Beach

The Sundown Group trying to stay dry under beach umbrellas (l-r-David, Alan, Rob & Angi)

By the time I got home, I was soaking wet, so I went upstairs to change.  I never got to change, because I heard dripping and found that one of the bedrooms (not mine - thank goodness) was flooded.  The condo where I live had an antenna on the roof.  Not anymore.  The wind blew it off, and we think it might have caused a tiny little power outage:-)  Additionally, it tore a hole in the roof of the aforementioned bedroom.  I called my friend, Aey (who is acting as the condo manager), and together we moved furniture and mopped until the dripping and rain stopped.  Not how I wanted to spend my Sunday evening, but hey - sh*t happens!  Just glad Aey was here to help.  The roof has since been fixed.

Fingers crossed, I'll be in Beijing next, so will not post.  Look for something on May 20th or 21st.  Until then...all the best!