Last Day

On our last day in Asia, we had a plan.

1. Eat breakfast
2. Get photos developed
3. Shop some more
4. Get a massage
5. Get a facial
6. Shower thoroughly
7. Sleep

It might seem like that's not very much to do on one's last day, but our grubbiness factor was increased tenfold over the last week, to the point where I just tossed some of my clothes in the garbage can (outside the room) because I couldn't sit in my own stink anymore. To ease the comedown of the end of one of the most wonderful trips of my life, we decided that full-on pampering was the only way to go.

This week we spent on an island in a cabin with no electricity and a very unconventional plumbing system. It rained the entire time, or almost. Back in Bangkok yYesterday, we spent seven hours in the market, tying up loose ends and arranging gifts. Today, we finish the shopping frenzy and get our bodies back to a presentable status, after the beating it took from the island. Tomorrow, we ride planes and sit in airports.

This morning, armed with our plan as we walked out of our guesthouse, I turned to Kara and asked if she had remembered to bring the film because we were going to go get it developed a bit later. Without a word, we turned back to the guesthouse and tredged up the stairs. Kara started feeling around in her bag, and the searching got a bit more frantic, and then it plateaued into a sort of lethargic acceptance that we had lost our film. We went over the lost photos and sat, depressed, amongst the upturned contents of Kara's bag. We had little documentation of our trip.

Our assumption was that the film fell out en route to somewhere. I asked her when she last remembers seeing it, and it was over a week ago. Deseperate, I suggested we call the owner of the guesthouse where we stayed in Cambodia, and that we also check with the guesthouses we stayed at earlier this week in Bangkok.

There were two, next door to one another, because we had switched after a night since one of them was just full of drunk 18-year-olds. Kara went to one, and I to the other.

In all our trip, Thais speak the best English by far. But I don't think they know the word film. I spent at least five minutes explaining, sure that they didn't have it anyway. They asked me for my room number, but I didn't know. Finally, I said, "Small plastic bag with four film."

I swear the moment she pulled it out of the drawer I thought I was hallucinating. I breathed in and exclaimed a breathy "Thank you!" followed by a more squeely version as I realized our long lost film had been recovered. I flew out of there and ran down the street to the other guesthouse, where I saw Kara gesturing to a young boy (she later told me that she had been referred to him when the other people at the guesthouse didn't understand the word film). "Kara!" I waved, triumphantly holding up the plastic bag.

We giggled and thanked God and replayed the morning all the way to the film developing place. I just couldn't believe they kept it, couldn't believe the guesthouse had it after all.

In fact, I'm totally ok with that guesthouse now, even though their mattresses had bedbugs and I am covered in bites.

So we're going home in high spirits. I can't wait to see the miracle photos later on this evening. I'm excited to pack up my stuff and head home. I wrote my final email to The Boy, letting him know I'd see him in about 48 hours. I've got great memories, some jazzy gifts, and PICTURES! It's been quite an adventure, but I'm ready to get back to the land of toilet paper and fresh vegetables.