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Swervin on the 4th of July

You're probably not going to believe this, but Thailand doesn't celebrate the 4th of July. I know! I couldn't believe it either. But you know me, I'm a soldier, and I wasn't about to travel halfway around the world to not celebrate America's birthday. So if Thailand wasn't gonna bring some noise, then I was gonna bring some noise to Thailand.

It just happens that the closest island to Koh Toa where I was diving is Koh Phangan, famous mostly for it's full moon parties. I figured if there was going to be a 4th of July celebration then that was the spot. Boy was I right. I arrived just before noon, which gave me enough time to find a place to stay, do a little island exporing and spend the better half of the afternoon preparing myself for the big night by soakin it up in the surf.

The night began like this. I had a nice dinner right on the beach. Still not sure what was in store I took to the streets to scope the scene and before long bumped in to a couple Swedish girls that I had met previously on Koh Toa. We had already watched a big World Cup game on the other island and they talked me into staying up (2 am) to watch Italy play Germany. Since I didn't have to work the next day, I had all kinds of time. Got juiced up on coffee at 10:30 pm and by 11:30 pm the Swedes pansed out and went to bed.

That's cool for them, but not for me. If Paul Revere could stay awake the night the British invaded then I sure as heck could stay awake on the 4th of July on Koh Phangan! I was pleased to find the beach was lined with flame twirlers (no not lady boys, the guys that twirl sticks of fire), bumpin music and big projection screens getting ready to show the game. Each bar, club or restaurant had outdoor seating on the beach for watching flamers or football. Inside dance floors. I had a couple hours to kill so naturally I went inside.

So how was it? Well, good, but I think the more appropriate question was how was I? And I, my friends, was GREAT! I know, I know, everyone always thinks they have the best moves on the floor, and I'm no different. However, at the end of the night that concluded just as the sky was turning, one person commented "You did some good work out there tonight." And he said it right, work, because it wasn't easy bringing my A-game for something like 5 hours.

You can always tell a good performance by the morning after (or maybe in this case early afternoon-after), and I can safely say last night was a success. Even as I walked the streets every once in a while I would see a familiar face from the eve before, and on that face a big Thai smile. A smile that says "Man, that guys got some crazy moves" or when translated to Thai "Hey that's the idiot from last night!".

You know, as you travel you realize that America is not the "city on the hill" it once was to the rest of the world. But after last night...America is shining a little brighter.

posted by Travelin' D @ 10:41 PM