The beach of my dreams

I decided to wrap up my Indochina journey at Thailand's world-renowned beaches, and I can confirm these are the beaches people dream about: beaches with soft white sands and shades of green and blue that could convince even the most pessimistic skeptic that world peace is attainable. 

Ton Sai beach, near Railey and known for world-class climbing, is where I spent the better part of a week climbing, deep water soloing, slack-lining over the softest sands, and meeting some great people.   If they sold an "I left my heart in Ton Sai" t-shirt, I would own it, for in just 5 days I fell in love.  Ton Sai is surely where backpacker-climbers go when they die.

How to pick a bungalow in southeast Asia

Ah, the bungalow: rudimentary, nature-y, bamboo, scarcely secure...Backpackers in Southeast Asia will encounter this accommodation at some point, and, as not all bungalows are created equal, it helps to know what to look for when choosing your humble digs!

Let's go over the basics.  First and foremost, it's important to note that no bungalow in Southeast Asia was ever built to "code", so if you think your potential abode might fall over in a gust of wind, you might be right!  Second, bungalows are anything but soundproof, so confirm if generators are located nearby, whether your neighbors are multi-orgasm honeymooners, etc etc.  Third, bungalows are the opposite of fire resistant, so if you notice some aspiring fire dancers near your bungalow, you might want to choose a different town altogether.

Now to some finer points.   Bungalows will likely have a bed, windows, door (confirm it closes, as humidity warps wood...), and perhaps a bathroom.  Make sure you have a nice net and a fan in the bungalow, and ask what hours the power is on: When the generator goes off at 3am, your fan stops, and it's still 35C, you'll wish you'd inquired!

Bungalow security is a top concern.  When inspecting bungalows, be sure you can secure yourself inside at night and your stuff inside during the day.  Of course, staying at a place which offers a safe box is ideal, as I never saw a bungalow you couldn't break into with a screwdriver (door lock), a knife (bamboo walls), or a monkey (hole in the floor).  

A few other notes you might not consider:  If a bungalow is under trees, and especially if those trees bear fruit in monkey country, make sure the roof can take a beating, as monkeys have throwing arms and apparently hate bungalow roofs!  Also, you can see the sun through a bungalow's walls.  Thus, don't be surprised when you find the largest cockroach you've ever seen and decide it's best to treat it like a chihuahua you are begrudgingly pet-sitting rather than attempt to eliminate said creature.  

Once all things are considered and you've chosen your bungalow, take a cold shower, hang up your damp swimsuit, and marvel that for less than $10 you have your very own bungalow mere feet from ocean/river, and life ain't so bad.