It's 1:30am here on the 17th...can't sleep so I thought I'd head over here to a net cafe to make some preparations for the next couple stops. I'm still staying at the same hotel that I arrived at since I spend so little time in my room. It's as cheap as it gets here in Taipei (short of a youth hostel), it surprisingly has a ton of good movie channels and CNN on the tiny TV in the room, and it's clean enough to sleep and bathe. I'm comfortable, and I'm saving a bunch of money. I've got my pics and movies on to my laptop and I'll be uploading them as soon as possible. I really think the images of Ayutthaya are spectacular, I will be taking many more when I return there. I still haven't visited half of the temples and ruins...I did rent a golf cart to explore Bang Pa-In palace which was used primarily by King Rama V and King Rama VI and is still used occasionally by the current King of Thailand, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX).

I'm going to try to catch a helicopter to Jinmen/Kinmen (or formally Quemoy) which is fortified and occupied by Taiwan but is just a few miles off the coast of mainland China. I'll be making my way Matsu as well. It is an island similarly situated in the Taiwan Straits though has a somewhat developed tourist industry. I will take a boat ride back to the lively port city of Kaohsiung on Taiwan island. I have long wanted to see the Taiwan Straits for myself.

Well...back to the net surfing then I'll be off to a noodle stand for a midnight snack.

E-mails are appreciated, I'm eager to know how everyone is doing back in the States. I don't have my e-mail list available at the net cafes, so if you haven't heard from me it is probably because I don't have your e-mail address.  ¶ 3/16/2003 09:58:00 AM