Of course, I was wearing the same dress I wear everywhere anyways because I only have about three wearable outfits. And my canvas shoes were falling apart but the only nice ones I had got wet and wouldn’t dry and grew mold and so I had to throw them out.

But it’s the thought.

I don’t go to nice places often anymore. But sometimes it’s nice to say fuck it and splurge.

To have some good conversation with some other bloggers, Raymond and Sebastian, who both also happened to also be in Bangkok.

To splurge on actual cocktails that didn’t contain m1-50 or come in a bucket.

To have waiters who were attentive enough to notice that you were only polishing off the pumpkin chips and so they brought you a tray with extra.

To have an amazing view of Bangkok.

Of course, then we went to a 7-11 and got some Changs and hung out on Sebastian’s rooftop until they were nearly gone.

Of course, then we went back to Khoa San Road, sang to the music, drank from a tower.

Hey, some things just work.

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It’s not the best ever.

But for the equivalent of $5, you can’t complain.

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In reality, it was mostly just restaurants and stores that all seemed to close down around 3:30am.

I arrived on the street for the first time after taking a tuktuk back from the Grand Palace, where we took a quick walk through on the way back to our hostel.

Later that night we returned to the street, ate some bugs from a cart, got dinner, drank some beers, drank some more.

And the next night, I returned with others from my hostel, watched street performers, drank, and drank some more.

And, the next night, I returned with others from my hostel, had some hookah, bought roses from children, drank, and drank some more.

And then we went back to the hostel, and some went to bed and some passed out and some of us decided we were hungry. So we went back and got some dinner at a place that was guaranteed to be open.

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Of course, I was so exhausted that I immediately passed out when I got there…

The next morning though I met a Canadian named Jack who had plans to go to the Grand Palace and invited me along and we spend the morning viewing the shiny structures.

After the palace we went to a temple, dodging tuktuk drivers who tried to convince us that it was closed, to see the gigantic reclining buddha.

The next morning we woke up bright and early to go to the floating market. I was a little disappointed in the experience. It was nice to take a little boat through the canals to see the shops built alongside them, but it was too touristy. Everything was just the same old crap you can buy at any market anywhere in Thailand. I would have much preferred a trip out when there were fruits and vegetables and locals.

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It was late, and we couldn’t find anything open. A cab driver, of course, offered to take us somewhere, which I pretty much knew was a mistake. But we were hungry. And desperate. (I mean, I for one did not eat 200 wontons.)

The place was expensive and I ordered the cheapest thing, but then others ended up ordering multiple dishes or really expensive dishes, and we all shared and split the bill. So I ended up spending way more money than anyone should on a meal.

But whatevs.

And then we braved a couple of tuktuks back, who went fast, who raced each other, who at least got us back in one piece…

The next day I got up early and met with the boys. We hit up a giant market, and shopped for a while. And I ended up buying way too much.

At night Erik and I went to get massages. As his masseuse was finishing up in the curtained off room next door I swear I heard her say “you want happy?” He swears she didn’t. (In any case, I heard him say no to it.)

And then Matt and I went out for dinner, walking all around to find him some curry. He made a good dinner partner, since he, like me, obsessively took photos of everything he ate.

Matt left that night and the next day, after the Super Bowl, Crazy Legs, Sam, Erik, and I took a boat down the river, stopping at the end to walk through a food market.

On the way back Erik attempted eating some peppers he bought, expecting them to be hot, but they really were just sweet…

So he pulled out the hot ones…

And then, alas, it was time to say goodbye, as Erik was leaving, and I wouldn’t be seeing Crazy Legs the next day. So I left them, and changed up my hostel to the other side of town, and anxiously awaited the arrival of a new batch of eaters…

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And I watch the Super Bowl every year…if only for the commercials and taco dip.

And thus I decided that I couldn’t miss out even if I was halfway across the world. And thus on Monday, at 6:15 in the morning, I was standing outside the one American bar in Bangkok, with Crazy Legs and Erik and Sam and probably about every other American in Bangkok, to watch the game.

In grand Val tradition I didn’t really pay all that much attention. And, unless this year the Super Bowl was sponsored by the Indonesian travel board, we didn’t get the original commercials. But I got to see Madonna sing my favorite song ever (for the record: Like a Prayer is my favorite song ever) and I met way more Chicagoans than I’ve ever met before on this trip. And I had a great, though early, Super Bowl Monday.

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I leave on March 5, flying from Bangkok to New Delhi.

I applied for my Indian visa here in Bangkok and it took six working days (so over seven days total) to get back my passport. It was a nerve-wracking week because I had heard stories that it was hard for Americans to get it done here. I was nervous I’d get it back with a big red rejection letter. Though, in the end, the whole process ended up being pretty simple and half the people at the embassy looked to be foreigners.

India wasn’t in the plan when I left. It seemed too daunting and exhausting of a place. But a few months ago Jaime was talking about going and trying to convince me that I should come too. At first I rejected him, laughed off the idea.

But then I thought, why not?

I am intimidated by India. But, then again, I was intimidated when I went to Poland. And again when I went to Turkey. And again when I went to Asia.

And I’m still here, still going, still trekking on.

And it was the perfect opportunity, I could go to India but not have to tackle the country on my own. I could have a good friend who I know I travel well with. And, though love solo travel, it would be nice to be with someone for a while.

And so, I said “yes.”

Me and Jaime at dinner in Valencia, Spain. I am so excited to see him again!

After India, though, I’m not sure where I will end up.

My original plan was to return to the U.S. at the end of May and then spend the summer road tripping. I still want to do that, as road tripping has been my favorite way to travel for a long time. But it’s expensive, and I haven’t put in nearly the effort into planning or boosting my road trip website that I would have liked. I have such big plans for it that I don’t want to go in half-heartedly. I think I need more time to plan and prepare. And more money.

Of course, if I don’t go, there will be things I’ll miss out on. I had plans to go to TBEX, to compete in a hot dog eating contest, to run a 5k obstacle course. I’ll miss doing them all. But all of those can be done next summer. I suppose.

I’ve had so many ideas of where I want to go next floating around inside of my head.

I want to learn Spanish and have been thinking of going to maybe Argentina or someplace else in South America for a bit to study. Or maybe back to Spain.

I want to go back to Turkey with Jaime after India. Because I loved Istanbul and want to see the beaches and the amazing friends I had there.

I want to come back to Southeast Asia. Go to some of the places I skipped. Return to some of the places I loved.

I want to go to Australia. To see a guy. Who I only met for one night. Over a month ago. But who I liked and want to see if anything is there with. To take a chance even though I’m terribly afraid of getting hurt. And because Australia has always been a place I’ve wanted to explore. But it is ridiculously cost prohibitive. A flight home from there is almost $2,000.

And then there is the issue of money. That is dwindling down way faster than it should. Because I spent too much in the first months when I didn’t think I would make it. And because I’m not too careful with it now because I just want to enjoy life. For once.

I’m not sure where I’ll end up. But I still have some time to decide. I suppose. In the mean time I am looking forward to this next phase of this trip. The “pray” in this unintentional “eat, drink, pray” of a trip. To the culture and atmosphere. To pushing my limits. And to not being alone for a little while.

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Way back in September I was checking the day’s competitive eating news from my apartment in Barcelona when I saw this on Eatfeats: there was going to be an eating contest. In Bangkok. In February. And that fell right dab in the middle of when I was planning on being in Southeast Asia. I knew that I had to be there. After all, seeing competitive eating in another country was #26 on my life list. And, pretty much, attending a contest in Bangkok would cement my place as the world’s biggest fan. And, hello, I love eating contests!

I arrived at the contest site for the CP Biggest Eater finals around 2pm, when the website said it would be starting. But it was raining like crazy and there wasn’t much shade and they still appeared to be setting up.

While I was waiting though I saw the three big eaters who would be competing: Matt “Megatoad” Stonie, Crazy Legs Conti, and Erik “The Red” Denmark. I kind of ran up screaming and hugging them which I think freaked out Sam (the MC) and some of the event coordinators who had no idea who I was. I also confused the heck out of Crazy Legs because while I knew Matt knew I would be there, he apparently didn’t.

They lent me an umbrella and told me things would be getting underway closer to 4pm.

When I returned two hours later it began pouring again. But at least the umbrella was huge so I could take photos from under it until the water subsided.

Honestly…I have no idea what was really going on for most of the contests. Because it was all in Thai. So I can’t tell you who won or how much they ate or why in the first heat everyone was blindfolded. But I can tell you that it was amazing to watch as all these locals ate wonton after wonton at furious paces.

After the local finals were over it came time for the main event, where Matt, Crazy Legs, and Erik would go head to head eating as many wontons as possible in eight minutes.

After some introductions to the crowd, the eaters took their places, and the eating began…

After the clock hit zero and the final numbers were double checked the official numbers were announced: Crazy Legs Conti in third with 140, Erik Denmark in second with 202, and, the winner, Matt Stonie with 255.

The entire day was thrilling. It was amazing to get to witness my favorite sport within another culture. It was amazing to see people I actually knew before I left for the first time in a very long time. It was amazing to witness such a wonderful, well executed contest.

It was amazing getting to cross off yet another life list item that when I first wrote it down I never thought I’d ever actually cross off.

View all photos from the CP Biggest Eater contest in Bangkok, Thailand.

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I had some work in the area to get done anyways. I got my camera fixed. I applied for a visa.

And I explored the Arts and Cultural Center. That had a powerful display of photographs from the recent flooding. And a photo exhibit of places from around the world. The first thing I saw when I entered was a giant photo of the Bean. Something I used to pass by at least once a week. And I stared for a very long time.

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Tuesday, January 31.

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