yowsers!

didn't realize I've gone two weeks without checking in.  Sorry about that.  Like I said, internet is a bit expensive here, and as my favorite britishism goes, "I just can't be bothered" to go through the trouble of going on line.  Life is pretty laid back here.  I'm paying about a hundred dollars a month for a room 10 minutes from my dive center.  Most people rent bikes (uh, that is a motorcycle), but so far I've been perfectly happy walking around and occasionally hitching a ride when I need to go further.  There's always taxis -- pick up trucks where everybody hops in the bed -- but you can't "split" a ride because the charge per person no many how many you are.  They also don't haggle -- there's a set rate for specific trips (rates which I personally find exorbitant).  Although apparently they won't let you haggle, but occasionally they will rip you off if you don't know any better.  One guy said he spent 200 bhat (one dollar is 35 bhat) to get here from the harbor.  That ride normally only costs 50. 
I eat a lot of thai food which hasn't gotten boring yet.  And yes, that includes thai satay.  Now whether any of this is really authentic stuff that thai people eat, I don't know.  but I eat it. 
My "bungalow" is clean and comfortable and consists of a bedroom and bathroom -- no kitchen.  But it's nice. 
I finally ate durian the other night!  That was something I've only waited the last 7 or so years to try.  It was a bit of a let down.  Supposedly it stinks so bad you don't want to eat it, but it tastes delicious.  I didn't think it smelled particularly bad or tasted particularly special.  It was good, but nothing extraordinary. 
Diving's been nice, but I've taken it easy.  Some days I make 4 dives, some days none.  Usually I'll do a few days of diving followed by a few days off.  The people here are friendly and always changing.  I'm amazed by the number of germans!  I'd say 20 percent of the people here are german and I end up spending a third of the time speaking german rather than english. 
As for my back pack, I'm considering downsizing, but haven't taken any steps in that direction.  I lost my sleeping bag in india.  I have way too many wool sock for this climate.  Every day I pretty much wear the same thing -- one pair of boxers which have become my dive boxers (as in I wear them under my wet suit) and my swimming trunks.  My black long sleeve patagonia shirt (which is so dirty it can probably stand up on it's own now!) During the dive I strip down to the boxers and afterwards put on the shorts but usually go shirtless (which is how the shirt has lasted the last week or so without a wash).  Afterwards I head home, shower and put on my "clean clothes".  A different pair of boxers, a second pair of shorts, one of two shirts, and of course the same flip flops.  So for as much as I have in my back pack, I'm really only using 3 shirts, three pair of boxers, two shorts and flip flops.  I could easily ditch a lot of stuff given this life style.  Even after leaving the beach life, I'd like to down size a bit.  I'm curious if I can fit everything I need in a 10 liter dry bag...
That's about it for now. 
Enjoy the working life =)