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As for-told in my last few entries, I've now made the return to Thailand 's smallest province by area: Samut Songkhram.

Leaving the Phuket bus station yesterday 17.30ish was a much anticipated yet dreaded moment that I was reluctant to get through with--waving goodbye to my son, his mom, and her aunt, whom drove them to the bus station along with my bags.

As the norm in cross-provincial Thailand travel, the two-level 36 seater bus's air-con was at a chilled level, which wasn't the ideal condition for the cold that I've been battling the past few days.

As is routine for the Phuket - Bangkok tour bus leg, there were two 20 minute rest-eat stops--the first being at circa 19.30 in Phanga, and the other at 24.00 in Chumporn province.

The Bangkok bound bus arrived at Mae Klong intersection (Rama 2 offramp to Samut Songkhram city aka Mae klong) roughly 04.45. - 05.00. The driver and his crewman helped me to unload my motorbike and other bags as the rest of the passengers were dozing away on the upper level (as the bottom level was for the driver, his crewman, the toilet, and baggage section).

In the dark dawn hour with a big pile of my excessive baggage lying under the off-ramp bridge alongside Rama II highway, there were several transport guys with their motorbikes and sawng taews (modified truck transport with two rows of seating in the roofed truck bed) standing by.

I hired one of them to transport my belongings to Dum-roang-goon apartment on soi Choom-sai, and the driver quoted me 50 baht, which was more than fair for the 3 + kilometer run. I supposed if I hadn't had my motorcycle and was relying on him to transport me as well, he would have asked at least double, but being that it was only my belongings, he didn't dare ask too much. In the end, I gave him 100 baht anyway.

As I coasted down the quiet dawn streets, following the sawng taew, it was like I was just here yesterday, even though it had been so many months. Flashes and faces came back over me, and it was as is if I hadn't left. Arriving to my old apartment, I was anxious to see what room I'd be booked at for the next three months. The security guard must have been drunk the previous night, or just out of tune at the early hour, and sent me in some one night room at a different building, asking me how many days I'd be here.

After re-explaining to him that I'd be here for months and that my agency had already set things up with a regular room--that I was told I would be in the same building as before, just different room, he gradually gathered himself and seemed to recollect everything, sending me to the correct room on the fourth (top) floor of the main building (previously I had bunked on the 2 nd floor.

After a short nap and internet session, took my clothes down to the ironing shop downstairs, which had just opened at 07.30. Took the bike for a cruise around town, filled the tank up, and cruised the inner roads around one of my schools 7 kilometers out of town, Dao Dong temple-school. Saw some of my younger students kicking around the football on the futsal court and joined them. They were surprised to see me and were called out 'Teacher, teacher!' 'What is football called in English?' 'Why football of course.' Kicked the ball around with them for 10 minutes and my stomach started growling.

Coasted a different back road back to town and stopped to have some decent rice with put krapow mhoo sup kai dao (basil stir fried pork with fried egg) for brunch-central Thai food is best made in the central region! After the meal, ended up going to Tesco Lotus and another grocery store to shop for shopping for bed sheets, a pillow, toothbrush, soap, shampoo. Came back, read some, did some computer work and watched a Thai film on my computer, Sai Lor Fai, which was pretty good, in contrary to what I was expecting.

In the evening, after a brief internet session, went for dinner at Isarn Dtai ( Southern Issarn or Northeastern Thai) restaurant as I was sure their TV would be tuned to the Thailand - Iraq Asian Cup opening game. Had a beer, soup, minced pork salad, sticky rice and chicken, watching Thai draw the tough Iraqis. Came back, read some more, watched Sai Lor Fai again, and fell asleep.

Tomorrow, I'll try to do a little content writing, and make sure I'm rested up for my first week back as a teacher.

END OF LOG

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