Happy New Year!

Well, compared to Christmas, New Year's Eve was incredibly tame...thank God. Just a bunch of friends and a few beers, it's nice to remember a holiday for a change. It's been 2005 here in Thailand for almost 16 hours now but it certainly doesn't feel like it, I guess I need snow for it to feel like winter. Tons of tourists have arrived in the past two weeks and the island has become quite congested, there's actually traffic now (and by that I mean four or five motorbikes and a few trucks), and it's sometimes difficult to get a table at the popular spots. I'm glad I arrived here when I did; I don't know that I would have liked Koh Tao as much if I had first seen it overrun with tourists. I have plenty to say with regard to the new tourists, but I'll save it for when I can get back on the cheap internet connection.

For now, I just want to wish everyone a safe and happy 2005.