Last day in Thailand
Today I am in the town of Songkhla which is around 80k from the Malaysian border. The riding has been very hot as the day approaches noon so I am usually out the door before 5am to avoid the heat. Today I am printing off roadmaps, doing some laundry, email, and yes... more bicycle repair. Next time I do this I am definately investing in a bike that exceeds the Vietnamese standard of "quality".

I also changed my plan on the advice from several locals who report that the revolution in the far south of Thailand is still violently churning its way along. They don't target farangs, and in all likelyhood I would make it through the area unscathed, but what's the point in risking it when I can make it just as easily to Singapore on the West coast of Malaysia? My new route will also shave 1 day off the ride, so I might get an extra day of diving in around Kuala Lumpur.

I have also been looking for apartments, generating contacts, and polishing the old resume so that I am ready to hit the ground running when I arrive in my potential new SE Asian home. It's strange to think that my life of travel is about to come to an end, but I am excited to move on to the next thing. The biggest sore spot to all of this is the thought of being so far away from my dear family and friends. Since campus has started buzzing again at my alma matter in the scow I have been getting a lot of warm emails from some very good friends. I won't be in any position to make demands on the prospective firm I may join, but I hope I can swing a few weeks to fly home for a visit before I drop anchor here.

Highlights from the last leg (3 days):
- Took night boat off of Koh Tao and slept in hammock through the night on a rolling sea
- Started for Nakhon Si Thammarat on Thursday at 4:45am
- Found deserted beach resort operated by a half-crazed German ex-machinist
- Entered the thickly Muslim area of Thailand
- Took ferry boat across lake to Songkhla and learned about the Thai mafia from a drunken Dutch sailor.