Will Someone Take My Money?!

All I want is some sexy French and Italian carbon toys!  Is that too much to ask!?  Can't get the red shoes I want because they are out of stock in my size in Australia and my boss is being a tight ass about parting with wheels he has had in stock for 12 months.  Kinda defeets :) my point of working in a bike store at this point in time!

I told my self the store would be good because I could buy some sexy toys, but no matter how hard I try to find expensive gear, I just can't seem make my bike garage grow.

Anywho, no shoes, no wheels, road rash and a sore wrist.  Too many hours of work and an unappreciative boss.  It's a been an awesome week!  Time to see if I have any connections left in the industry that can pull through for a foreign brotha!

Got a bottle of Shiraz to help me see through these tough and stressful times.

FYI - still looking for an accountant to help me with my Canadian Tax dilemma!

Mmm... Australian Roads

Well we all knew it had to come sooner or later.  I got lucky in 2008 considering the miles I was consistently banging out.

I got a flat tire just prior to turning corner at the back of the group just after turning around at 80kms.    The most awkward unanticipated fall!  Luckily I wasn't going very fast but equally as painful as a ton of road rash.  I paid the price for not wearing gloves, but the worst of the is in the wrist.  I had good mobility yesturday, but the hand seized up pretty good after the nights sleep.  AWESOME!! 

I was technically working on the ride as I was riding with the 'lifestyle' group.  Took nearly 3.5 hours to ride those 80kms!  Although the ride was slow it was nice for my out of shape legs.  A nice change from saturday, where I had an intermediate group to my self over 80kms of hilly roads.  Trying to look tough and as if these hills and distance were not hurting my holiday form!  I was screaming and kicking and crying from the get go!

I need to find some form quick!  I'm hoping the wrist heals up quick.  In the mean time, I might do the un-thinkable and ride the trainer!

Plastic Surgery on the bike starts tomorrow.  Just need to replace the LH Carbon lever on the shifter.

2 Months Off Mi Bicicletta

Went for my first ride today. Just shy of 40km and I really wish I had applied some shammy cream. My ass is raw. The ride felt good. It was nice to finally get the legs turning again. Tomorrow 50-60 km and then 140 for Sunday. 250km in a weekend after being in a foreign country drinking my face off and doing other things not recommended by the surgeon general. Not Smart. But hey! It did take me 5 yrs to get a 4 yr undergrad!

These are the last pictures from Laos. I promise! Just goes to show how much of a blast I had with the Crew as seen in the picture. I dunno who the guy is at the front. Random. But all the others are 'The Crew'! Most of travelling on russian bikes through Vietnam. Others are travelling through Cambodian islands. Eli, the only girl capable of dealing with a dozen guys talking trash for weeks on end, is in Nepal doing some awesome hikes up some big hills and checking out everest base camp. I'm kinda jealous! I can't stay off expedition websites. I am currently eyeing up a 7000m peak which is considered an easy first Himalayan ascent. US$11,000. Probably absolutely stupid thing to do, but go big or go home! Anyone want to buy a house in lovely London Ontario, for lets say 300K? Bargain! Or am sure many companies would be willing to get some cool pictures of some kid on top of the world. Afterall, I am sure this financial year will be amazing! Let me know! I'll shower and look good for the meeting!

I've started to think about my return to Canada. The plan at the moment is to spend an outrageous amount of money on new bicycle wheels (mavic ultimates) and new shoes (sidi Ergo2 Red Vernice). I've been speaking with a few people about heading to the US to do some racing around mid July. It would be nice to head down with 3-4 other guys and ripping it up around the US racing circuit. Having been there before and having had my ass handed to me will definitely help in the preparation. Australian weather will also be of some help in being able to train and not have to worry about that thing called snow.

Well the rugby is on and the bottle is half empty/full (Linds isn't here either). I've got work to do before 10 speeding manana.

I hope Spring is beginning to show its legs and miniskirt.

'Winter' is beginning to show it self here. About 25-30C most days...

IMPORTANT

Are you an accountant? Do you have experience on getting your clients HEAPS of money back? If so E-Mail me! I am a poor hippie who needs to screw the Canadian revenue agency!

Rock Bottom

Been back at work lifting things and doing odd jobs for a friend of mine.  My body is broken.  My hammies feel as though they could snap at any time and my hands are raw to the bone from 120 grit sand paper.

Oh Yeah, its only been 2 days and I've felt this way since the end of the first!

I purchased a 'tall boy' with what was left with my Australian money after work this evening.  Even had to scam the BWS (liquor store) lady with a 1 baht coin as a 5cent coin!  MUAHAHA!  Stickin'it to the man!  I am now craving a huge class of milk and some chewy chocolate cookies but I have nothing but 4US$ 11Brunei$ and 400 odd Thai Bahts.  I think I also have 2Fiji$ somewhere.  I fell useless!  I would repeat my Pai minivan fiasco for those treats right now!

Anyways, its back to my regular day job tomorrow.  Working in A/C on a stool will be nice!  Anyone who brings me a piece of junk will regret it.  Campy and Dura Ace only.  No bike cleanings.  Got a problem?  Go elsewhere!

Time to get back into shape and start buying new bike toys!

Same Same but Different

Well this is it. My last full day in Thailand and then it's home time. Well, not until I make an unwanted stop in Brunei and spend the rest of my very well budgeted money in over priced crappy hostels. I would much rather go have a great meal and an awesome bottle of wine in Australia with Lindsay, but my poor travel planning has me blowing it all in one of the richest Sultan in the world's pocket! How's that for a kick in the balls!

I'll plan on writing a few posts about what it is that I've learnt and the experience of traveling and all that. Honestly, this traveling thing is a huge eye opener. Both in positive and negative ways. Negatives being: how some, or probably most, people are really ruining these beautiful destinations for the future.

Capitalism I suppose! So I can't speak too much!

Anyways, here are a few more drunken pics! The guys in the pictures are the awesome english dudes I spent my last week and a bit with. They are buying mortorcycles and riding cross country in Vietnam. Starting tomorrow! Good Luck Fella's! Keep the rubber side down!

See yah back down under!

Which one's the Monkey?!

A day in Veng Viang

My first day tubing was quite a memorable one. The first to crack a beer open, I was ready to party like a rockstar and get the full gist of this place. Within 15 minutes of being at the first bar, Smile Bar, I had smashed my toe open and lost my Tiffany's ring from the swing set. PHUACK. SHHHHHH! DON'T TELL LINDSAY! It sliped off my finger as I landed in the water. Nothing I could do about it, I'll have to go shopping when I get back!

Ended up getting completely drunk. Lost my flip flops along the way between bar 3 and 4 only to find them floating down stream at the last bar just as I was about to get out of the water. Co Incidink or what?! I also managed to lose my Oakleys in a more rapid section, but thankfully these local kids anticipate these kinda things to happen so they hang around with snorkel gear to fish out stuff. Cost me 10,000 kip but I got them back!

Master Card Advert

4 Days in Vieng Vang - 1.5 million kip
Lost Tyffanys ring - 3 million kip
Busted Toe - 200,000 kipp

Recovering a pair of flip flops worth less than 10000 kipp - USELESS!

The following day after only sleeping for a few hours a handfull of us thought it would be cool to check out this cave about 6km away. The plan was for a bicycle excursion, but we opted for the tuk tuk pretty quick. How can I describe this cave experience.

5 idiots, 4 candles, flip flops and a half working light. The cave was PITCH black at the best of times with super slippery rocks. The flip flops were useless, the candles we purchsed were actually insense sticks with a little birth day candle meant to be used to stick infront of the reclining buddha. Spent an hour trying not to get lost or kill our selves but we made it out in the end. The rest of the day was filled wiht more tubing!

Um.... WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the journey South has stopped only 160km from where it began 4 days ago. Pretty pathetic but leaving this place won't be the easiest! They must be spiking my buckets! This little place known has Vieng Vang, but better known to the western world as TUBES! I can't even begin to explain how this place is. Maybe like a Disney world for young adult travelers. Let me try anyways!

The place looks like a quiet little town with 2 main streets. You check into one of the few guesthouses. Nothing out of the ordinary, afterall, this is center of Laos. Miles from any other country. But then you grab a Tuk Tuk and head towards the river. 5 minute drive away and this slow moving river is lined with Bars, swings, zip wires and tree platforms from where you are supposed to throw your self off into the water. Absolutly INSANE! Everyone starts at the top bar and you make your way down in the river to the next one through out the day. Some suckers purchase tubes to float down, but we were clever enough to realize we can save ourselves 60,000kip by simply floating down and mooching off others when the river gets rocky! And some were wondering if I had actually learnt anything after 5 years of undergrad!

So thats pretty much been what I have been doing for the last 72 hours. My body is broken from jumping off the swings. My liver is probably bleeding uncontrolably but this has been the most fun I've probably ever had!

I'm heading home in 5-6 days. I'll have to get a move on sooner or later. 1 more good day 'tubing' tomorrow and then I'm off for sure. Getting back to the bike and work will be good.

BTW, I'm a millionaire here. Withdrew 1.5 million Kip yesturday! This place is good to me!

Just on my way out

Just about to hop onboard a minivan to begin the final trip back south towards bangkok. Yesturday consisted of awesome swim-able waterfalls in these sweet blue turquoise waters!

Tomorrow, floating downstream with buckets of booze for 3-5 hours!

See you soon!