We have decided not to go to Burma/Myanmar. We would have to go to the embassy to ask about bringing in the computer - modems are not allowed in Myanmar - which they would "hold" at the border, but by asking we make ourselves suspicious - journalists and consultants are not allowed in either. Asking virtually guarentees that our visas will be denied, or we'd be followed throughout the country all the time, endangering anyone we might speak to, so we decided to forget it - this time.

Plan as it stands now: Head south to the Thai-islands for a couple of weeks, then return to Bangkok to meet up with Geoff and go to Cambodia - Angkor Wat, then straight to India... Calcutta. I am not yet mentally prepared for India, but there is still time.

Uploaded the last rushed pages before checkout time, Squeezed in a bit of sightseeing - The Golden Mount. In the inner sanctum of the golden stupa is another stupa which houses a very holy relic. Alfred said, "This is the center of the world. Imagine that. It has to be somewhere." So I sat down and imagined that this golden, amorphous thing before me is the center of the world and greeted it as such. I walked around it clockwise - the "correct" direction. A thai woman in there with me praying gave me a sheet of gold leaf to put on the idol. I did it. Somehow, I "succeeded" - at what? Making that the center of the world for a few moments. And inspiring some unknown, friendly emotion in a local woman again for no apparent reason.

I cast sticks and got my fortune once again. This time number 25:

Good lucks graduslly approaching. Just like building a bridge, difficelt first but happy later. Your lover is a rich widow and a good match. Health is excellent.

Typos from the original... And onto the night bus to Koh Tao.

yesterday