who saw the Queen Mary 2 in SF???

thanks Jason Unbound for blogging about the QM2 in SF otherwise I would have missed it completely.

Cliff and I went down to Pier 27 after dinner last night to see the ship. I was really blown away...not prepared at all for how massive it is.

Did anyone else see it? Where did you see it from? It would have been incredible to watch it pass under the GG Bridge!!!

give me Sanctuary

thank you thank you Mara for recommending that, while on the island of Koh Pha Ngan, that I stay at The Sanctuary

has certain elements of Harbin Hot Springs
drum circles
massage and steam (wellness)
belly dance classes
incredible people
breathtaking beach
bungalows in the trees
fire dancers
fantastic community amidt the seclusion

check out the pictures:
www.flickr.com/photos/soo...4497855691/

staying for only a few days is a feat in and of itself
make sure if you go to leave plenty of time for sanctuary...

island time! arrived in Koh Samui...

i've arrived on Koh Samui - sleeper car for the train ride down here, then bus/ferry to the island.

spent the last day before leaving on a tour to Ayuthaya - it was the former capitol of Thailand. it was invaded by the Burmese more than once (because they were jealous of Thai wealth, the tour guide told us). In 1763 the king moved the capitol down river to Bangkok.

Scott and Heather, a lovely couple from Canada, got me hooked up on the tour through their hotel. I met them in the Tokyo airport and we kept in touch via email. I even ran into them one night on the street, if you can believe it (the city is only 8 million people or so).

here are a couple more learnings for ya:
1 - i like tuk-tuk rides (motorized rickshaw sort of thing) more than I should. In a future lifetime i might have the nerve to drive on ein Bangkok.
2 - Thai people are so thin for loving food so much!
3 - Humidity is *great* for my hair!
4 - If it is raining really hard, go get a massage.

thanks everybody for the last set of blog responses. By the way, Cliff is great travel support - he set his alarm to wake up at 1:30am PST to IM with me. What a doll!!!

Per Sandi and others that have commented - I am *definitely* being careful with my posessions. Good thing I'm hyperaware with my personal space. it's very hard to sneak up on me, unless you are a very crafty monkey indeed!

will post more soon!
lotsa luv
Susie

quick blog - Bangkok Day 2 pics

well, time is short - gotta hop a train down south and go island hopping. just gotta!!! (no arm twisting required here).

here's some things i've learned while in Bangkok:
1 - everything tastes better with fish sause
2 - as soon as you get off the plane, get a foot massage
3 - you can set up an outdoor kitchen just about anywhere
4 - travel by water whenver you can

check out dem pics:
www.flickr.com/photos/soo...4484801755/

more to come, drop me a line when you git time!

first day in Bangkok

21 hours in flight
got a good night's sleep and then hit the streets
took the water taxi down river to see the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew - huge complexes, incredibly ornate
then a yummy lunch at Rub Aroon - the first Tom Yum of the trip (definitely worth writing home about)
Then to Wat Pho - the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok with the longest reclining Buddha and largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand.

the pics:
www.flickr.com/photos/soo...4482556927/

now I'm tired - dip in the swimming pool back at the hotel and then fall down!

SAHARA NYE party on Nitevibe top NYE party list

thanks to the Nitevibe crew for including the SAHARA: NYE EXTRAVAGANZA party in it's list of top New Years events in San Francisco....

if you haven't made your plans yet, come down to South Of Market and join us. Not only is the lineup spectacular and the atmosphere divine, but we are also raising money for the beautiful children living in Darfur, Sudan. They need your help!!!

link to the event details and ticketing information:
sfsahara.com/

hook me up at Full Moon Party, Thailand

can you help me out???

I may be going to the Full Moon party in Koh Samui Thailand this December.

I got it in my head last night that I should try to hook up a gig for myself there. Bring my darbuka over and lay down some beats!!!

Does anyone know a promoter of the event, or a dj in the lineup for this December's party, who I can get in touch with? I would love love love to perform in Thailand!!

have drum and a microphone - will travel!!!
danke!
Susie

CLARIFICATION: the lineup for Amira 9/30...last supper

Hi everybody...
after talking to a couple of folks it's clear that my listing about my last night at Amira was easily misunderstood.

***there is no special lineup***
The dancers will be Nanna and Krista.
The musicians will be Mary Ellen, Saed and myself.

The many incredibly talented dancers and musicians included in my listing
are people i've played with over the years
and i wanted to remember/thank for the great times!!

I'd like to add Terry Holgate to that list,
and apologize to anyone I forgot...

lots of love
Susie

who is coming to Amira 9/30 for our "last supper"?

give a holler if you think you are going to make it to Amira for the final night of live music and dance...

here is more info:
sanfrancisco.tribe.net/event/...fdd2acf