Have you eaten a grasshopper before ? 

How about throwing in a few crickets, a couple of cicadas, a beetle or two, plus those white wriggly slimy worms that ppl feed their pet birds with ? Oh, of course, plus a pinch of salt and pepper and sprinkle some hot sauce to spice things up a little. And you have an salad-de-insecta. 

Heheh... there was this little stall outside my hotel in Khao San road one night, selling the assortment of insects. Those cute little creatures looked so crunchy and inviting in the amber glow of the oil lamp. And so you guess what I did next. Wasn't too bad, the taste. Some tasted like prawns, crunchy. The hard-shell ones are little tough on my teeth though. 

Am safely back in Malaysia already. Touched down on 11.35 am Thursday. It was nice to be back in my "tanah tumpah darahku". Never felt so sentimental before; coming back to my homecountry, meeting with ppl who speak my own language, places that I am familiar with ... As the plane was flying down into the clouds, a huge rainbow arch appeared on the cotton-white background, as though welcoming me home, and reminding me of the faithful promise of the Creator "for I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". I felt a drop of tear down my eyes. Thankful. 

Too lazy to go to Pattaya, so cancelled the trip and flew home. Lonely Planet didn't have good comments for that place. The weather in Thailand was too warm for comfort. Also, gets a bit lonely travelling alone for too long. <yi2 ge4 ren2 si4 hai3 wei2 jia1, piao1 bo2 tai4 jiu3 le, ye2 dei3 zhao3 ge4 gang2 kou3 luo4 luo4 jiao3>. The sailor needs to come back ashore already. 

Spent the whole Tuesday walking, from day to night. Covered the famous temples of Bangkok :Royal Palace, Wat Phra Koew, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Vimanmek Mansion, Wat Suthat. Also, spent the night walking down Pahurat (little India) and China Town. A really tiring day. The temples were fantastic ! Show you guys the photoes later. Felt guilty for taking so many pics. Anyway, there were busloads of tourists visiting those sites too. So, no problem tumpang listening to their tour guides. Met a man from Bangalore and we took photo for one another. 

Wednesday went with a travel agency for one-day trip to Ayuthia, the capital of Thailand during the 14th to 18th century. Lots of grand and beautiful ruins, a reminiscent of its yester glory. This time had a Korean girl and a Hungarian couple for company. Kept to the plan of watching Thai KickBoxing. Walked to the Ratchadamneon Stadium about 25 minutes away. Just in time for the night's match, which went from 6pm to 10 pm. Got bored and left half an hour early. After watching a couple rounds of fights, the ring became too boring; but the spectators' stand was becoming more interesting, with excited gamblers shouting their stakes, waving numbers with their fingers, cheering as the boxers deliver each kick... and seeing hundreds and thousands of Thai bahts change hands. 

Goods things come to an end. But I believe better things are still ahead. OK, my next plan will be travelling "South East Asia on a Shoestring" next year. Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand on backpack... Anyone keen to come along ? 

Will take some time to learn to be a Malaysian again. Everything back home now seems like luxury, compared to what people have in Nepal. (Quote from a missionary doctor: "the Nepali maid will faint in horror if she finds out that the jam we spread on our bread costs days of her salary. That's why we always make sure we remove the price labels before things reach home" ). It's time to count the blessings and to give thanks appropriately. 

Anyway, the first things that I did was to recollect how to use my handphone, and how to ride my faithful 'ol motorbike, stopping by the roadside for a bowl of Tau Foo Fa and Cendol along the way. 

Catch up with you guys and girls later. Will be back in PJ on Saturday evening or night. 

> Semester is going to start very soon, the new students 
> are having their HALUANSISWA now and we shall start 
> our action next week. Tomorrow we will be having our 
> planning meeting. Still not sure the best method for 
> this year. 

HC : Will join you guys for action tomorrow. Gosh, am very worried of not catching the "passion" lah, coz I am out of touch for so long, while you guys have been preparing all through the holidays. Please rub on some "conviction" and "love" to me tomorrow night. 

Leck Sing, Sibu TaiLo : Your orders came too late. Am already back in Malaysia when I read the email. Can ask Jun to buy when he goes to Bangkok again. Maybe I can give you guys some souvenir from Nepal instead. 

> Teck Seen; Help me to bring one girlfriend from 
> Thailand. Oh ! Sorry i mean a girl wallet for my 
> sister and also a guy wallet for me (Cheap cheap one 
> will do.) 

Teck Seen : If I can find one, I'll keep her for myself. Then I can end the <Gu Dok Yat Sang> life. 

Norm & Mira : takut ler, nak start final year nie. Jumpa lagi nanti. 

Choong Yi : call you back in PJ. 

Doreen : will call you for an appointment, after I meet up with Edwin and arrange the time. Lots of things to tell you. Many thanks for arranging our trip to Nepal. 

Cheers, 

Michael 
Count your blessings !