Rolling with the punches

Let the punches begin!

Dec 20: I go to withdraw money at an ATM in Phuket and can't find my debit card in my wallet!  My wallet sometimes pops open and things fall out, but its not in my bag.  I don't think it was stolen because I still have cash and my 2 credit cards.  The last I remembered using it was at the airport in Phuket.  I opened my wallet that day in Phi Phi Island and on a taxi ride from my first hostel to my second hostel.

I called the first hostel to see if I left it in the car.  I can't communicate in English with the worker so my hostel's receptionists asks for me.  He went to his car to check but didn't see it.

I called the airport to see if there is a lost and found.  Again, I don't think they understand me so the receptionist speaks to them.  "They say they are busy now because there is trouble on the runway" is what she says they told her.

I call Bank of America.  After getting bad and wrong advice to cancel my card, and new card will be overnighted to me, I place a hold on my card (in case it turns up later), and am advised to withdraw money using my credit card.  I don't know my credit card's pin number.  BOA can mail it to my sister though, only it would take 7 days with the holiday.  I'm told to go to the nearest bank with my passport to withdraw money.

Dec 21: I got money from my credit card at the bank.  Thank you God!  I was so happy they got suspicious and rescanned my credit card, and examined my signature with extra caution.

I try to book a tour to Phang Nga bay.  I see one online at the site Nita told me about for 1100 baht.  I ask the receptionist to use her phone but she says "Why not book with us?".  I said, "I only have 1100 baht to spend".  She convinces me though by showing me a brochure of a tour for 2800 baht that she'll book for me for 1400.  I was satisfied I wasn't being ripped off.  After time passes, I check my voucher and brochure and its a different brochure than the one she showed me!  This brochure's tour is 1400, so I am getting ripped off!  I told her to cancel it and book the first one I wanted.  By this time, its too late.  I didn't go to Phang Nga Bay.

Dec 22: I check at the airport losts and found.  There are stacks of credit cards but mine isn't there. I also by booked a flight from Siem Ream to Hanoi for 420 thinking it wasn't in USD currency.  I hope the airlines give me a refund!  But now I don't know how I'm getting to Hanoi.  I may have to fly from Siem Ream to Bangkok, then Bangkok to Hanoi.   Or take the train and deal with board patrol officers with reputations for dishonesty.  I also tried without success to cancel a tour I mistakenly booked to Ayutthaya for tomorrow.  It is a nice tour, just too expensive and I intended to book a floating market tour instead.

But even with these "punches" I'm marching on.  Nothing will ever stop me from traveling!