HUGE in Asia

Over the past eight months, I’ve spent three full nights in the Bangkok airport, twice on layovers and once because I got confused. Given this record, you’d think another stay in Suvarnabhumi International would be a breeze for me, that I’d invite the challenge. Well, I’m two hours in right now and I’ve already misplaced my watch (thus losing track of time and causing me to worry about my flight), eaten three bags of seaweed potato chips (thus making me feeling horrible), and gotten kicked out of the Muslim prayer room for bringing in an open beer container. It’s gonna be a long night, I’ve already resigned myself to that, but at this point I don’t really care because, finally, I’m on my way home.

To give you a quick update on the state of Huge In, Kai and I parted ways two weeks ago with minimal fanfare and a few Brokeback jokes (”I can’t quit you, Hasson”). I’ve spent each of the last 237 days with the man, and I’m not gonna lie to you and say that I won’t experience pangs of post-partum, but we gotta move on. Kai had decided he wanted to stay in Mongolia and travel alone for another month or so, while I had already planned a trip to the Thai islands for a few weeks to party like it was 199college with my old roommates.

And now, suddenly, I’m waiting for the plane to take me back to the land of Trader Joe’s and Maury Povich and I couldn’t be happier about it. Granted, the last two weeks have ranked among on the best on the whole trip. Highlights of the island-hopping adventure included beach soccer, cliff jumping, and seeing the new Die Hard movie at a bar with 100 British people (I cried a single tear of pride when Bruce Willis sniped that helicopter out of the sky with his own car). But, as I sit in the corner of the layover lounge, popping Mentos like they were keeping me alive, home feels just about right.

As far as updating the site over the next few weeks, we’re really gonna try to put up some new stuff. The fact that we haven’t finished Peking Blood Sins is a real black mark upon my sub-consciousness, and I apologize for our negligence. I do hope you check back every now and then, though, because I think you’re going to like the ending, even if it comes out in September. I’ll also try to write a few updates from home and Kai will chime in when he re-emerges from the Gobi desert. Other than that, holler at me if you want to kick it back in the bay. I’ll be at home, doctoring my resume and taking part in the Burrito Challenge (three a day). Stay up!