The Land of Little People

I always carry a notebook/pen in my pocket…doesn’t matter where or when…I ALWAYS do.  When I think of something I’d like to write about, I jot a note in my book.  I’m going from my book now.  The note may be a word or a couple of words…just to refresh the memory of the moment.

As I was writing before, I made travel arrangements for me and my friend Meike in China.  She is a German girl…actually, I think she is a ‘lass’ since she’s German.  I met her about two years ago in Australia.  Jules and I met her while we were on a tour of the Blue Mountains near Sydney.  After Jules left, Meike and I backpacked together for a couple of weeks.  She wrote to me about two months ago and asked if I wanted to meet up with her in Beijing.  Her sis and bro-in-law are working/living in Singapore, and Meike is visiting them during the holidays.  She is staying for three days.  After I taked to Ruth and Les, I thought it best to spend more time there and arrive earlier…SOOO much history!!! 

Prior to going on holiday the previous time, I went to our 18 Delta (Special Forces Medic…these dudes are one step shy of being a doctor…).  I asked him for certain items for my backpacking first aid kit, which looks like a first aid kit on steroids.    While I’m a lowly EMT-B and Combat LIfe Saver, I pack according to what I’ve experienced in the past…snakes, spider bites, drunken incidents on motorscooters, crazy monkeys, kids, coral cuts, and old people; I’m always trying to be prepared.  As I left the Medic room and stopped by Josh’s room, I heard another medic ask the 18 Delta, "Does he really need all of that?"  I heard Greg laugh and his reply when he said, "Have you ever seen Randy when he returns from vacation?!  He knows what he needs!" 

I returned to the travel agent to pick up my air  tickets.  My ticket agent was in the first desk location, which is located next to the front door.  There were a total of four tourists sitting at different locations further down the table.  As I sat, I reminded I was in the Land of the LIttle People when my left knee totally CRACKED into the low desk.  I stuck it so hard that it jolted the entire desk; all of the other tourists looked at me, as did the workers and two old people sitting on a couch behing the tourists.  I know I have a high pain tollerance, but this really hurt.  I smiled, sat, and  asked, "Do you have my tickets?"  I was in so much pain.  I noted that all of the heads to my left re turned to their business; then I felt something dripping down my leg.  I looked down and saw blood dripping from a gnash on my left knee. 

I asked the lady helping me for a  tissue; she asked, "A what?"  I said, "A tissue…toilet paper…"  She said, "Ahhh…for what?"  I threw my left leg on the counter, and she exclaimed, "whjoeirj l; nfao;sihgoiwuer!"  (Thai for – HOLY SHIT DUDE!  THAT IS SOME F_CKING CUT!" 

The cut extends across my entire patella.  I noted a chemist next door prior to entering the  travel agent store.  I told her to ask him for butterfly bandages; she asked, "Butterfly what?"  I wrote it down for her.  When she returned, I fixed it up and told her, "I also need an Singha."  She asked, "For what?"  I just smiled…

I wanted to write more, but I’m too tired…long day…I’ll finish this tomorrow…

Peace