Merry Christmas everyone! Just a quick note to say I am thinking of you, my friends and family, and wish you all a very warm and wonderful holiday. I spent my Christmas Eve with seven Americans. We started the night off with a white elephant gift exchange on the porch of Nina's treehouse bungalow, which she had decorated with Christmas lights and candles. I ended up with donuts and a bookmark. Someone in a nearby field set off fireworks and we ooohed and ahhhed between sips of rum and cokes. Afterwards, Nina and I piled onto the back of John's motorbike and rode out to Pai's most lively watering hole, Be Bop, which had a decent swing band and the biggest congregation of people I'd seen together in one place in weeks. All in all it felt pretty festive.

I slept late today and then John and I had a remarkably picturesque breakfast together at The Curry House... toast, eggs, french toast, fruit, coffee and OJ. Later in the day we met up with more friends and watched the sunset in Pai Canyon over a picnic of takeout pad thai. Aside from the big group of sloppy drunk Australians wearing matching white t-shirts and Santa hats I have seen on and off throughout the day, it doesn't feel like many people are getting into the Christmas spirit, including myself.

I am off to find a phone to give my sister and nieces a call. It will be only my third phone call in three months. Merry Christmas to all!