jan, 06 2

Hello Tom and Betty,

It's so nice to hear from you! I've been wandering in the North of Thailand for the long weekend so I just got this. Yeah, the spider on Ganga Jan mountain was pretty scary. I was walking with this little boy and every few feet on the path there was a spider web with these small black spiders with orange patterns. He would clear these away for me very quickly so we kept walking. And that's when we met their daddy! He had an orange warning pattern on his black body and large, obvious fangs.

The actual camp has no spiders and is kind of charming, despite the atrocious pop music they play so loud that it drowns out the night-time frog choir. It's right on a small lake and there are free row boats. There are two choices of walking trails: one that leads up the green desert mountain where the eco-system consists of rabbits, drifting butterflies, and the spiders.

The other trail grows through farm land where squash and sun-flowers grow. If it's the last thing I do, I plan on walking this trail again.

Anyway, I have a small problem. This weekend, I spent the night with a hill tribe girl. I'd had too many beers, there was a fat full moon in the sky, and it seemed like "sanook." (fun) Well, she picked the lock box and disappeared with my wallet in the middle of the night. It had about $200 in it. My pass-port was safely at home, where I am.

My rent is paid and I still have enough money for rice and vegetables, but not much more. I realize that I made a mistake. Can you spare say $50? Please don't tell my parents.

It puts a smile on my face to hear that Tom and you are doing well. It's beautiful that you found each other. Feel free to forward my updates to anyone who might be interested.

your grandson across the globe,

Sean