#awkwardstories

One time not too long ago I went to a family reunion for a part of the family I wasn't all that familiar with. More and more people started to leave, and I started acting out of my box as I usually do around close friends and family. My dad and I were making cow mooing sounds back and forth at each other as we left the building (quite loudly) and I was the first person out the door and into the sun but just as I finished a particularly loud moo, I realized I had just stepped out the door and into a small crowd of relatives chatting, who stopped chatting and stared at me when I mooed. My family followed me out the door, and I struggled to keep it cool, so I mooed again and waited for my dad to reply but he didn't (dammit dad lol) and that's how I accidentally offended some random relatives

Traveling isn’t always fun. Sometimes it’s awkward, frustrating, or even makes you fear for your safety.

This post is dedicated to all those unpleasant times.

“ Can You Help Me Remove a Drunk Tongan?”

It’s Sunday on a small island in Tonga. According to Tongan law, it is illegal to work on Sundays. The island does not contain any villages, just resorts.

Taking a break from my hard life of swimming and sunbathing, I found myself at my resort’s bar, along with a Kiwi chef, who worked at a resort on the island, and Victor, a Tongan whale watch and swim guide, who worked at another resort.

I order a beer, and Victor tells me the drink, apparently one of many he’s bought for himself and others, is on him. I accept it and thank him. He proceeds to tell me in a slurred speech about his job and how much he loves it. Victor offers to buy me and the Kiwi another round of drinks, but we decline, thank him, and tell him to save his money. After he tells me the same story several times, I leave to swim. Before I leave, the bartender tells Victor that they will not sell him anymore alcohol, so he leaves and heads over to talk to a couple laying on the beach.

After my swim I head back to my area to shower. Each guest at the resort has their own secluded area with a tent or cabin and a personal bathroom. Standing in my tent, still in my swimsuit, I see Victor stumble into my area. He stares at my bathroom, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. Victor doesn’t seem to notice me, so I ask him if he needs to use the bathroom. He continues to stare and manages to nod. Awkwardly, he maneuvers his way there. 

 At first, I thought he just needed to pee, but then I start to hear him throw up. I quickly cover myself with a towel and go outside. I ask Victor if he’s alright. He says “Yes,” and asks if I need to use the bathroom. I don't answer. A few minutes pass. Every now and then I hear the sound of gagging and spitting. I’m unsure of what to do. I ask him again, loudly, if he needs help. Victor then crashes to the floor, busting the bathroom door open. I walk over, but he gets up before I could help him. Then he just stands there. That’s the moment I’m unsure of how this could go. Victor seems harmless.

I ask him if he wants water and motion for him to follow me back to the bar. He walks towards the beach, then turns around, enters the guest area next to mine and quickly returns back to my area. This time Victor sits on a log, next to my hammock, and doesn’t move.

Annoyed (I really want to take a shower), I walk over to the bar and find Kim, one of the resort’s employees. It’s an odd request but I ask her if she could help me remove a drunk Tongan from my area. Kim follows me back to my site, but Victor is gone. She walks onto the beach and tells me he is walking back to the resort he works at. Before she leaves, Kim asks if I need my bathroom cleaned. I examine the toilet and luckily the mess is minimal: a few spit puddles. I tell her I’m fine.

I finally take my shower. Every few minutes or so I nervously peer through the bathroom door to see if Victor would return, listening intently for footsteps at the same time. As I try to wash my face, I discover that my face wash is missing. That Fucker! He took my good face wash! I check to see if Victor stole anything else, and found he also took one of the resort’s towels.

At dinner, word had spread amongst the employees about my Tongan mishap. Becky and Mahe, the resort managers, speak to me in private and apologize profusely. They tell me that from now on they will no longer serve alcohol to Tongans at the bar. I know it’s the right decision, but I still feel bad. They proceed to tell me that they are sorry that I had to be the example to make that decision.

Traveling isn’t always fun.  Sometimes it’s awkward, frustrating, or even makes you fear for your safety. This post is dedicated to all those unpleasant times. 

 Getting Scammed in Thailand

I planned on visiting The Grand Palace, the former home of the Thai monarchy.  I left my hotel in the business district of Bangkok and searched for my favorite mode of transportation in Thailand: the tuk-tuk. I found a tuk-tuk driver not too far away.  He was reading a newspaper when I approached him and said “Grand Palace, please.” He replies with “It’s not open.” I tell him that he’s mistaken and that I had already confirmed the palace’s hours with my hotel.  I ask him, “How much?”, as there is no meter on these things, and he tells me 500 baht (about 14 usd.)  It’s not much, but this guy is definitely overcharging me.  He tries to convince me of the validity of his offer because the “palace is too far.” Again…not true.  After more discussion, the driver agrees to 150 baht and that he’s going to show me other attractions in Bangkok.  I think that this guy could possibly show me things I didn’t read about in my guide book, so I go with it.  

The first stop: The Temple of the Lucky Buddha.  Huh?  Never heard of it. I get out of the tuk-tuk and plan to make a quick visit.  Inside the small and unimpressive temple I am approached by a middle-aged Thai man in a suit.  He begins asking me where I’m from and how long I’ve been here blah blah blah.  He even compliments me when I answer him in Thai.  Thinking the man was going to inform me about the temple, he asks where I’m going and suggests I visit a gem store not too far from here.  I tell him I’m not interested in shopping and that I’ve done quite enough of it already.  Unable to hide his frustration, he says goodbye and tells me to close the doors behind me when I leave.  I leave and search for my tuk-tuk driver, noticing a couple, non-Thai and obviously tourists, being led to the temple by their tuk-tuk driver.

I get in my tuk-tuk and the driver tells me he’s going to take me to a store.  “Mi! (No),” I protest.  At this point I’m getting really irritated and realize that I’m experiencing one of the scams I remember reading about in my guide book.  Soon, we arrive at a jewelry store. My driver assures me that I can look around and that I don’t have to buy anything.  Rigggghhhhhtt.  I get out and being way too accommodating, browse through the store–even pretending to be interested in the products.  Seeing me return empty handed, a disappointed look appears on my driver’s face.  We drive a few minutes before stopping in the middle of who knows where in Bangkok.  He tells me there is too much traffic and that he’ll have to drop me off here to catch the ferry to The Grand Palace.  He adds that it would take “5 hours” by tuk-tuk to get there.  

So, yesterday I was out with my friends at the mall where my celebrity crush was going and I was absolutely freaking out! He’s in a comedy movie it’s not popular though and he was so fucking funny there. 

I had no idea he would look that fine in person! I was absolutely freaking out and was confused I don’t know if I’m crying or what. He was just like inches away he could totally see me! 

I desperately want to take a picture with him, I was too shy and awkward! He approached us and smiled and my friend told him I want to take a picture with him I was literally nervous as fuck. As I was getting near him my hands were shaking and cold, it was so bad! He was a bit awkward around me though, maybe because he saw me turning red as fuck and a bit shaking like I’m having a health issue lol.  

When I was like so close to him I can’t even hold him or hug him because he might think I’m an obsessive fangirl, I was controlling my emotions and feels! I was trying to act all cool and chill around him but I was shaking so fucking much and was also cold. So, I was there beside him he was so awkward too it’s so cute!