Thailand Trip (Day 29, 30, and 31)

Day 29:
Last night I stayed in Pong Phem guesthouse and had a great sleep. I woke up early at 7 to my alarm since I wanted to get good use out of the 24 hour motorbike rental. After breakfast I headed off to the Bridge over the River Kwai. It was really neat to walk on the bridge (though the original wooden bridge no longer exists). At the site is a iron bridge which was completed at about the same time as the wooden one. Much of it was rebuilt after the Allied forces bombed it during the war. The bridge can still be used for trains (though most of them are for tourists) and surprisingly you can walk out on the track even when the trains are present since they are slow moving. After the stop at the bridge I headed to something on the map called "Don Chedi" and King Naresaun the Great Monument. After a fifteen minute drive on a main road I followed the signs down a bumpy road speckled with potholes. The monument of King Naresuan the Great was of the king (I think the fifth Rama) on a elephant ready for a battle elephant joust. The statue and the pagoda were built to commemorate the victory over the Burmese troops.It was very impressive. Also, on the land was a museum about the kind and different alter areas. There were also hundreds of roster statues. I would find out the next day that this as because thing King really enjoyed cockfighting with other royal families. After leaving the site, I headed into Kanchanaburi where the road led me through a temple's grounds. A few meters after exiting the temple I was stopped by a traffic jam and hear a lot of music. Thinking it was a parade I pulled the motorbike over and got out my camera. I ran to the front of the parade to film the excitement. People were dancing in the street with open containers of beer and behind them a marching band was dancing and playing lively music. Following the band was a pickup truck with several people seated in it also consuming alcohol. I reassessed the scenario and have decided that it was a wedding party, but I'm still not 100% sure. Shortly thereafter I headed to the JEATH war museum. JEATH stands for the five main nationalities that were used to construct the "Death Railway": Japanese, English, Australian, Thai and Holland. Inside the museum photos and drawings depict the harsh conditions that war prisoners and civilians encountered while completing the "Death Railway" and the Bridge over the River Kwai. After leaving the museum, I biked to the Chongkai War Cemetery (a different one than two days ago) and spent some time there. In the early afternoon I lounged around the pool at Pong Phem and later headed back to Bangkok for the evening. I stayed at the Merry V again in a more basic room and got average sleep.

Day 30:
I woke up at the crack of dawn today (6 am) to get ready for a day tour to Ayutaya. At first I was a bit worried that the van would not arrive to the arranged meeting point, so I began asking around. Before long I was whisked away to meet up with the van. After a half of an hour they packed 11 tourists, a guide, and a driver into a van and we were off. It was a excellent and diverse group from Spain, India, Finland, South Korea, Holland, and of course the US. Our tour guide, named "Wurie," turned out to be a character. Shortly after departing he asked where I was from and after he learned the US he told me that he was trying to perfect American style English and pulled out a practice exam that he had been working on. It was really tough! Parts of it remained me of the ACT. I helped him out with parts of it on the ride to Ayutaya, but it seemed like he had most of ti right (I'd hope so since he said he had worked on it for three days). Near Ayutaya we stopped at the Bang-Po-In Summer Place. It was really interesting since it had not only Thai and southeastern Asian influence, but also European. The close relationships of many of the Thai monarchs with their European counterparts are thought to be one of the factors that protected Thailand from colonization. The grounds were kept extremely tidy and included precisely carved bushes shaped like herds of elephants, deer, and other creatures. Two of the items that I found interesting were a statue of the King (made in France, since the French have the best sculptures) and a Chinese style palace which was presented as a gift to the King from the Chinese. It was also great to get a chance to see the King's Royal Army on patrol around the grounds. After leaving Bang-Po-In we headed to Ayutaya city, which is completely surrounded by a moat like water feature (canals and rivers). Inside and outside the city arte a number of ruins from the once mighty capital of Thailand (Ayutaya). Most of the ancient city was smashed to pieces when the Burmese troops invaded several hundred years ago. The pagodas, wats and chedis lie in ruins and thousands of Buddhas stand upright but without their heads. Looking at the old capital it was amazing to me that the Thai culture and civilization lived on past this period. The grounds reminded me of the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan only larger. One impressive place is a particular Banyan tree that has engulfed a severed Buddha head in its trunk and roots. After a lunch in the city we headed to more ruins and a massive Wat that was built by the Burmese and Thais only sixty years ago. According to Wurrie, sixty years ago the Burmese (Myanmat) paid Thailand a sum of money for the damage done to the city and looting of the past. At this site there is another statue of King Naresuan, since he was the one to finally repel the Burmese forces. Overall, Ayutaya was a place rich in history and I wish that I could have spent a bit longer there. So, sadly tonight is my last one in Thailand, but I hope to return one day!

Day 31:
Today I will make the the trek back to the US of A. Bangkok- Tokyo- Los Angeles- Denver- Laramie (via car). It will take just under two days.

Thailand Trip (Day 28)

Day 28:
Lat night (Thursday- Day 27) I ended up stopping at a Ex-Pat bar and met a guy from San Fransisco, one from Australia, and two girls from Australia. We had several drinks and some great conversations. At the end of the night I made the long walk back to Bamboo House and woke up what seemed to be 100 dogs. In the morning I woke up when the floating house started rocking from the boat cruises going by. After a night out it was a bit rough, so I headed off to the shower which was open air and had a nice river view! I decided to move to a different hostel the second night in Kanchanaburi, and headed off there after a big breakfast. Mid-morning I checked in a t Pong Phem Guesthouse. Pong Phem is nice and has a great view and pool. The best part is that the pool was probably built for the clients in the expensive rooms, but I was able to get a basic room for just 150 Baht (cheapest yet!). I think I will hit the pool early tomorrow morning. After checking in I decided to rent a motor bike (and helmet). It was a slick blue Honda and ended up driving real well. Jimmy from the bar had told me to check two things... tires and brakes. They looked good. Aboard the motorbike I headed off to Erawin National Park. The traffic was relatively light, but consisted of everything from pickup trucks full of water buffalo to motor carts toting whole families. At first driving was a bit scary with the traffic, but I got a hang of it quickly. Motorbikes stick to the shoulders and the other traffic is usually generous with space when passing. The first hour of driving was relatively flat and I passed through jungle, farmland, and some villages. The last half hour or so became more interesting with hills, dense forests, a massive dam, and a winding mountain pass. After just under two hours I arrived at the National Park and paid the "farang" fee + the motor bike fee. Still it was quite reasonable. Erawin National Park is home to the Erawin Falls a series of seven sections of waterfalls. It took about 15 minutes to walk to what I though was the first waterfall. It was beautiful with crisp clear water, lush forests, and rounded rocks. As I trekked on I realized that it was actually not the first waterfall, but just a smaller one. The first waterfall was even more impressive. At the second waterfall there was a crowd of people swimming and enjoying the water. The third may have actually been the most impressive. A stream of blue-white water was falling an incredible distance to a pool that was so clear that the fish swimming in it were completely visible. Past the third waterfall food and drink is not permitted and the terrain gets a lot more rough. The path became more of a rain forest trek and I had a great time watching birds, lizards, and brightly colored butterflies. The other good thing was that there was no litter past this point. The forth and fifth waterfalls were a bit harder to get to and I had to use the ladders nailed on the rocks. It was also helpful to grab the bordering tree trunks and vines. By the time I arrived at the sixth waterfall I was exhausted and realized that I had to cross the river. At first it was fine, but then after five minutes of moving between the slippery rocks I fell on my butt. Brushing off the dirt, I realized the my shoes were pretty soaked and that it was easier to walk through the streams with my shoes on. The final leg of the walk was exciting since there was no one else on the trail. The trek between six and seven is definitely the longest and took a good 15 minutes. By the time I made it to the seventh fall and pool I was drenched in sweat. At the pool a Thai family was swimming, and I decided to follow their lead. Luckily, I had a swim suit under my cargo pants. The water was cold and felt amazing. It was definitely on of the best swims I have ever had. I stood in the water for a moment, but soon jumped as the fish began biting at my leg. As I took pictures of the waterfall, the older Thai man in the family pointed out Erawin in the trees, rocks, and water fall. "Erawin" is a three headed elephant in Thai mythology. The image was easily visible and quite impressive. After trekking down, I made my way back to the main road for the long drive back. Once back in town, I had some delicious Indian food (recommended at the bar last night) and headed to the net cafe. Tomorrow I have the scooter for a half day and will explore some of the WWII sites in Kanchanaburi. In the early afternoon I return to Bangkok.

Thailand Trip (Day 27)

Day 27:
Today I left Kao San Road, Bangkok for Kanchanaburi. The trip took a little over two hours since I took a direct shuttle from Kao San. The van arrived in Kanchanaburi outside a place called Bamboo House (the probably have a deal to drop tourists off their). It turned out that a room was only 200 Baht, so I checked it out. The room was a bamboo hut floating one on a square raft made of wood and barrels. Surprisingly, it did have electricity, but the bathroom was in a central location on the land. I decided to take the room, but only for one night. It will be good for the experience and perhaps I will try another guesthouse tomorrow. After having at brisk lunch at the Bamboo House restaurant I decided to join a minivan heading to the Tiger Temple. The Temple is one a large wildlife refuge that is home to wild boars, deer, elk looking creatures, peacocks, buffalo, horses, and of course tigers. The tigers are very strange and quite docile. According to the temple, it is because they are raised by humans since they are cubs and are used to the human contact. Still they need to be led around on leashes with handlers (most of which are monks). It was great having the opportunity to visit the temple and get a picture taken next to a sleeping tiger. Later I was taking a picture of a monk walking a tiger on a leash and he stopped to let me walk the tiger around. It was quite the experience! Later I met a Doctor who was a vet at the refuge. He told me about the tigers, Buddhism, and also doing socially responsible business in the area. It was a top notch learning opportunity. After returning from the Temple, I headed to the Donrak War Cemetery. The Cemetery is home to thousands of graves of the soldiers and civilians that died building the Death Railway (Bridge over the River Kwai). It was a sad place to see, but a good historical site. Going their gives one a very eerie feeling. After leaving the cemetery I headed off to dinner and then the net cafe **at the cafe now!**.

Thailand Trip (Day 26)

Day 26:
Mike and I woke up early today to see some of the major sites in Bangkok (it was a lot more restful at the new hostel). After a nice breakfast of muesli, yogurt, and fruit, we headed off to the Grand National Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. On the way we were approached be several tuk-tuk drivers who tried to tell us that the sites were closed for a plethora of reasons (monks praying, King's B-day, etc.) and tried to sell us side excursions. Since none of the stories matched up we avoided them and cleverly followed a large German tour group to cross the busy Bangkok intersections. As we headed to the palace we met a man in the Thai military who was on his day off. He told us that the Palace and Buddha were open and that if anyone told us otherwise they we bluffing. After thanking him we proceeded happy to know that it was open. Thinking that we had avoided all the scamers we headed towards what looked like a group of people feeding birds. As we crossed into the birds a man put a bag of corn in my hand. I asked, "how much" and he said "good luck, good luck!" After throwing a few bags he started demanding some outrageous amount of money. It ended up costing around five bucks, but I was pretty pissed since that is quite a bit in Thailand. I paid it to avoid a disturbance. Mike was scammed as well for about the same amount. Soon after that birds we arrived at the Royal Palace. It was impressive and massive. Masses of tourists, militarily personnel, monks, and school children moved around the grounds. All of the building we brightly covered and covered with sparkling gold ranging from 50-100% of a building's exterior. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha was my personal favorite. We had to take off our shoes and sit on the floor once were were inside. The room was filled with hundreds of people making the trip to see the Buddha. The room was extremely decorated, but the Buddha itself was relatively small. It had a long history was was over 1,000 years old. It had spent time in Laos and had been moved all over Thailand. After visiting the temple we headed to the throne room which is stilled used today by Rama IX. From there, were headed to the collection of regalia and coins at the same time that a massive army unit was visiting it. It was a bit crowded, but impressive. Nearly everything was made from gems and gold. Leaving the palace a bit "golded out" we headed to downtown Bangkok to meet up with Chong and Jerlyn. We spent the afternoon with Chong as our unofficial tour guide for downtown Bangkok. He showed us stores with delicious food, impressive malls, and incredibly cheap jeans and shorts. At the end of the day Chong gave us directions on how to return to Kao San by public transit. We headed onto the BTS Skytrain (a glorified version of Chicago's EL that rides up to what seemed like 8 stories in the air). From the Skyttrain we transferred to a River Express-boat for a journey of 13 river stops. The boats move up and down the main river in Bangkok using whistles to control all boarding, docking, and control procedures. After the impressive trek across the city we headed back to Kao San for Mike's last night. The main highlight of the night was seeing a Japanese man playing Smash Mouth almost perfectly. I recorded him and he stopped mid-song to say "Konichiwa!," and wave. Tomorrow Mike leaves early at 4:30 am and I head to Kamchamenburi a bit later.

Thailand Trip (Day 25)

Day 25:
It turns out that even though we thought that we were a bit off of the main road, the loud music still was a bit loud... also being near the staircase did not help when the drunk masses began rolling in late at night. Overall, we did get a decent night's sleep since we were so tired. Given the proximity to the noise, we decided to change locations. We had heard about a street near Kao San that curved around a temple. It was still a lively backpacker's street, but only one side of the road was filled with bars and guesthouse (the other was the temple compound). The new place that we found is called Merry V and has a lot of character. The rooms are basic, but are clean, cheap, and have nice AC systems. It is also conveniently located near some great street vendors. Our friend Wenzeng Chong was in town (Bangkok) for a few days on vacation from Singapore, so we decide to meet up with him and his girlfriend. We met Chong, a Singaporean, at MSU in supply chain classes. He has since graduated and is doing his required military service in Singapore now. In the afternoon we visited several religious sites of Bangkok, including a giant standing Buddha and a reclining Buddha that is over 850 years old. At the standing Buddha there was a ceremony for the changing of the dress (Buddha wears a rainy, summer, and cool
season garment) and admission was free. We also bought two cages of birds to release in the temple for good luck (though a loose cat caught and ate one of the birds). It was neat visiting the temples and watching the monks. Especially the ones on cell phones and such. In the afternoon we headed to the guesthouse to meet Chong and Jerlyn (his girlfriend). We headed out to dinner and had some delicious Thai food and beer. It was great to catch up as we have not seen each other for half a year. In the evening we explored Bangkok's nightlife with Chong and Jerlyn and had a wild tuk-tuk ride back to Kao San. The driver asked Jerlyn if she was scared (since she was holding on pretty tight to the ceiling bars and they don't have tuk-tuks in Singapore). She said no, he laughed and said "50% the time you ride with me you die!" Odd sense of humor, he also told us that the railway station was Kao San road, but we knew better. Other highlights included two slight wheelies as we took off from the stoplights (which he commented "one wheelie- ten Bhat"), and passing a cab on the other side of the road. We arrived safely though and enjoyed a great nights sleep at Merry V.

Thailand Trip (Day 24)

Day 24:
After a long night out we woke up to freshen up for the day ahead. Since the cost of a flight to Bangkok was reasonable (and only a bit more than a train or bus), we decided to splurge and fly back. After a brisk lunch we found a tuk-tuk/ songtaew driver that would take us to the airport for a good price. The reason I said "tuk-tuk/ songtaew" is that "tuk-tuks" in the Phukett area are actually miniature pickup trucks (similar to songtaews). It's all really confusing... ohh Thailand. :) As we headed up over the mountain by Patong in route to the airport a huge rain storm started. Luckily the tuk-tuk was covered, but we had to put down the plastic windows. Still, we got a bit wet. The ride became more entertaining when the tuk-tuk began to sputter and belch smoke, but it soon stopped. At one point we got a bit freaked out because a passing dump-truck backfired and it sounded a bit like gunshots. Soon the rain ended and the driver pulled over on the side of the highway to literally "roll up the windows" (which is actually how you open them). At the airport we had some Burger King, which I think made me sick later. The flight was a bit bumpy, but only lasted a an hour and twenty minutes. At the airport we caught a metered cab for Kao San Road (a backpacker haven in the heart of Bangkok). The ride should have taken 50 minutes, but due to a heavy rainstorm which put traffic to a near standstill it lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes. At that time we were so close that we asked the driver if we could walk the rest, he was more than happy as I think he might have been missing dinner. Kao San Road is pretty difficult to describe. It's a frantic strip of neon signs, blaring techno, hip-hop, and bass, mixed with street vendors selling literally everything. We decided to stay the night in a guesthouse slightly off the strip and enjoyed some of the best Indian food I have ever had for dinner. Despite our guesthouse facing away from the road, we fell asleep at 12 to the sound of the crowds and intense music.

Thailand Trip (Day 23)

Day 23:
We left Phukett town this morning for Patong Beach. Interestingly enough, our friend Christie Hwang from MSU is traveling Asia with her friend Crystal and her boyfriend Eric. They happened to be in Patong for a few days, so we wanted to meet up. We arrived at Som Guesthouse at 9 in the morning and they let us check in, which was great. Som is on a crazy backpacker street in Patong and run by a friendly Korean family. The room was awesome and well worth the 500 Bhat we paid. After meeting up with Christie and meeting Eric and Crystal we headed to the beach. The beach was amazing, but nothing like Railay. Like the other Thai beaches it had pure sand and bright blue water which was a lot more rough then the others we had been to. There were also a lot more vendors and tourists, which is not that bad and makes for great people watching. The para sailing also was quite entertaining to watch, since it was so sketchy.

After a light lunch we headed of to a trek that Christie had booked for the whole group. It included several activities, but the one that caused the most anticipation was "buffalo cart." It turned out to be just what it sounded like. A big cart attached to a giant sweaty water buffalo. We all boarded the cart and realized that one of us could not fit in the cart. "No problem, you ride buffalo," said the man tending to the buffalo. Soon Christie was atop the giant beast. It was a hilarious and bumpy ride and afterwards Christie's leg was covered in gross buffalo sweat. After the ride, we headed to a rubber plantation to learn about rubber tapping. According to the tour guide, Thailand is the world's largest rubber exporter. Then came the best part. Elephant trekking! To board the elephant you have to climb a large one story tall platform and then make a big step onto the back of the huge animal. Mike and I rode in a seat on the back of the elephant while the "driver" sat on the head. It was a bit bumpy, but amazing! We headed down a steep hill and felt that we would almost fall out. Luckily we had been tied in with a big piece of rope. At the bottom on the hill the elephant lumbered into a river with we began walking down. It was quite deep and my shoes almost touched the water level. After at least 5 minutes in the river the elephant headed and up an even steeper hill. It seemed to be at least a 70 degree angle! Soon we were back on level ground and headed back into the jungle and plantation. The driver noticed us taking pictures and said, "ahhh, picture, picture!" I gave him my camera and he jumped off the elephants head onto the ground! He headed up the trail and began hollering at the elephant. Along we rolled and he snapped picture after picture. Then he told us to move down to the neck and head area. We "unbuckled" and moved down. The best part was that the driver did not return to the elephant, but instead walked up front while we rode. It was a great time, but Christie did have a story that trumped our ride. Apparently her driver decided to dismount to kill a lizard that he saw in the bushes midway in the trek.

We then headed to a nice water fall and the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. Gibbons are monkey like critters that are often taken from the wild into bars and houses as pets. The primates live in captivity often eating only human food and stay awake at night for tourists only through the night only because they are drugged. Luckily, keeping gibbons is illegal, but the captive gibbons cannot reenter the jungle because they have lost many of their natural skills. The project aims to help the animals return to a normal life and then releases them into the wild with a mate. It was an amazing place. Our final stop was for a short time kayaking and a dinner at a seafood restaurant. The food was amazing and a tad spicy. After dinner we returned to Patong to enjoy the amazing club and bar scene.

Thailand Trip (Day 22)

Day 22:
It was pretty tough waking up today at 7 after the party the night before. We had a quick breakfast and then began to clean up that base. It as a massive project (given the party and the fact that the base is pretty big). The clean up was mostly finished by 9:15 and given the sweltering heat I had the best cold shower of my life. It was sad to leave GVI and all of the good friends that we had made. Goodbyes were exchanged and everyone began to head off to more traveling or their home country. At 11 the local songtaew driver Noi picked Mike and I up and we headed to the junction. We had great luck and as we pulled up a bus to Phukett also arrived and we hopped on! During the entire 2-3 hour ride Thai music/ game shows blared over the television sets, but it was actually so bad that it was funny. I met the lady sitting across from us named "Ae" and chatted with her for a while. She was eager to practice her English and was in the middle of a month long vacation (Ohhh the joys of Thailand).

In Phukett town we arrived without a hotel (popular style here) and began walking the streets. With backpacks (huge) we can't get but a few feet without being approached by someone with a tuk-tuk or room "cheap, cheap." We took the card for a hostel and headed that way. As we walked I noticed a sign at a fairly nice looking hotel that said Phukett Montree Resortel. The word "resortel" (I guess resort and hotel) intrigued us and we went in. We were surprised to hear that the room would be only 650 Bhat and included two breakfasts, AC, and TV! After checking out a room we were sold. We spent the afternoon and evening walking the town and shopping. I am also finding that Thailand is making me very cheap. At lunch I remember thinking "darn this is pricey", since my dish was 100 B and Mike's was 60 B, but then I stopped to remember that 100 Bhat is less than 3 dollars. Thailand! After dinner we headed to a main shopping area and saw a McDonald's. We were intrigued and headed in. They actually have double Big Macs here (I have never seen them anywhere else). SO gross, 4 patties of beef! Along with American favorites they had local McD's flavor, such as spinach pie. We did buy some McFlurries, and Mike a fries. He said they tasted exactly the same. On the way back to the hotel I was thrilled to see a Watson's (Hong Kong based pharmacy) since I have a slight cold. Oddly, it made me feel at home the way McDonald's did! Haha!

Thailand Trip (Day 21)

Day 21:
Today was our last day of class at Ao Luk elementary school :(. We agreed to have a special class for all of the third grade classes which consisted of 100+ students. It was quite the event. Pi Rai helped us assemble the 100 students outside of the school and they were all excited and cheerful to see us. Pi Rai translated one of the student's question which was "Why are your eyes blue?" I said, "because my fathers eyes are blue." Pi Rai translated this to Thai and all the students clapped. We started class with a game of "Simon says" which went really well. The kids actually got the hang of it easily and began enjoying calling out each other as they made mistakes. I gave the student who won the game a box of markers that I had brought from the States and she was thrilled. After the game we proceeded to teach the kids the "hokey poky." Then the students told us that they wanted to sing "head, shoulders, knees, and toes." The funny thing about this is that we didn't actually know it. Instead, we had several of the students come to the front and lead the class. At the end of 50 minutes (originally scheduled for 15) we ended class and were barraged by students who gave us gum, hugs, handshakes, and even tried to climb us. Exhausted we headed to the base for lunch. In the afternoon we had our last class, forth grade, and practiced higher numbers through games that we had taught last week. The students were grateful once again and it was sad to leave at the end of the day. In the evening GIV had a huge party with music, Thai food, and a giant tent. All of the teachers and all of the students from the evening classes were invited. It was awesome to see so many people from the community there. I had a great time taking to Kitti, a plantation owner about business and the world. I also talked to Nong and he gave me a Thai name "Mak" which sounds a bit like Matt. He told me that it means cloud, which symbolizes freedom. He also told my favorite quote so far in Thailand: "the crazy people, they make the beautiful world." It was an amazing party.

Thailand Trip (Select photos)

Thailand Photos:

Here are some select photos from my trip so far. Look for more on Facebook when I return!



One of the third grade sections at Ao Luk Primary with the Spartan flag.

Teaching in Ao Luk.

Railay Beach, Krabi.

Kayaking in Bor Thor.

The view from the top of the mountain by Wat Tham Sua (1200+ steps).

A small Wat in Bangkok.

Thailand Trip (Day 20)

Day 20:
After a hearty breakfast at GVI we headed to the school for the assembly. As we neared the grounds we could hear the sound of drums, which grew steadily louder. Soon we could see that the sixth grade students were parading around in some sort of marching band as the other students watched. We were greeted by Pi Rai at the school and she took us to a classroom where the teachers were eating a breakfast. There was coffee and Ovaltine to drink and assorted breakfast sweets from the market. Most where sticky rice with a random item (fruit, egg, vegetable) wrapped in a banana leaf. Others were types of pastries. They were all very good, but we became very full since we had had a breakfast beforehand. From chatting with the teachers we found out that the assembly was a Teacher's Appreciation ceremony where the student would pledge to be well behaved and learn throughout the year. These type of assemblies would take place all over Thailand during June. Also we found out that Thursday is teachers day. This means that parents often want the first day of class to be a Thursday for their children. After the breakfast we headed to the auditorium where all 600 were sitting tightly packed in and all wearing their bright blue and pink school uniforms. The teachers sat at a high table at the front of the auditorium. Once we were all seated a band began to play and march in. Everyone stood at attention at what I believe was the national anthem. Then a stationary band played a more traditional sounding song. Following this one student took the microphone and began to recite the behavioural pledge while the 600 others followed closely. It was a real uproar. After the pledge the students began a procession of flowers and incense arrangements which they brought to all of the teachers. Soon the table was covered with arrangements. A man in a suit was sitting next to Steve and we believe that he is the director of the school. He gave a short speech in which he mentioned the teachers by name and we heard him mention GVI. The ceremony closed with more music and a long session of class photos. It was one of the most memorable events that I have experienced in my life and I am thrilled to have been teaching during it. After the ceremony the teachers invited us to lunch. We headed to the National Park for lunch in the teacher's cars and were treated to a delicious spread of dishes ranging from spicy seafood to fruit. After a lunch that ran a bit into class time we headed back to the school to teach a particularly excited third grade. They were a bit behind because class had been canceled last Thursday, but the student's energy made up for it. After that class we headed to the municipality school for the first grade class there. The students at that school have had less English lessons, so we had to prepare a more basic lesson. Overall, they were excited that we were there, but not that attentive. After a long day we returned to the base to enjoy Thai omelets and relax.

Thailand Trip (Day 19)

Day 19:
Today breakfast was awesome! Crepes, eggs, watermelon, and coffee. I headed to school at 8:45 for another solo class. This time a second grade. Although I'm not sure how it happened we never had taught this class and the students were very excited to have a "Farang" teacher for the day (I may as well explain "farang" now. The first visitors to Thailand were overwhelmingly French and the word for French sounds a bit similar according to one theory. Today "farang" has become a term for all foreigners.). The class was pretty well behaved for just one teachers and learned a good amount of numbers. They particularly like the game where I let them hit numbers on the board with fly swatter as I called them out. Following this class I met up with Steve since he would be assisting me in the First grade3 class. It was a full sized class, so teaching letters was once again a challenge. Some of the students were content writing letters, drawing pictures, and writing the associated words. Others preferred drawing on the boards or chasing each other with chalk. Steve commented to me later that he was glad that he mainly taught 5th and 6th grade and was amazed that we were able to teach the young kids everyday! At the end of class we brought out stickers and a as Steve described it later "the children came at us like a swarm of locusts." Since the class was such a handful we were almost glad to hear that the afternoon classes were canceled since the school was planning on an assembly the next day. After being invited to the assembly in the morning, we headed back to base for a lunch of Veggie burgers (mainly potato based) and fruit. In the afternoon I took advantage of the day off and took a nap before heading to the pool in the late afternoon with Karen and Morag. For dinner we had a delicious pad Thai dish and afterwards headed to Nong's for beers with Steve, Shaun, and Morag.

Thailand Trip (Day 18)

Day 18:
Today we headed to class to teach preschool at 8:45. All of the children were gathered outside drinking bags of milk. It was very cute! After a few minutes the teachers gathered the kids inside and began counting 1-10 in English! We were surprised since we didn't know that they spoke any English other than hello. In class we did the 10 Little Monkeys song again and duck, duck, goose which the kids love. We also tried out the Hokey Poky, which was a big hit as well. Since is was our last class with the Pre-school we took a group photo which was nice, except that my entire shirt was covered in sweat. After class we waited at the picnic tables and Pi Rai showed up with some strange red prickly fruit. Once we peeled it, it was delicious, but a little fleshy. The next class was the "troublesome first grade class." When we arrived we found that one half the students were there (the little terror was away) and that the other students were at a dental exam of some sort. The small class was great. We practiced writing letters and words/ pictures associated with those letters. The students completed 3-8 letters which was several times the productivity of a large class. One student was on J by the end of class. It was a good example of how class size affects learning.

This week the municipality school is in session as well as Ao Luk Primary. They teach several first grades (expanding population?) and we send teachers there as well. Since the school is now in session, Mike and I had our first experience teaching solo. I taught the third grade at Ao Luk Elementary and Mike at the municipality school. Teaching solo was a good experience, though it was quite a bit harder. The students had more chances to mess around while you were facing away from the class. Overall, the class went really well though. In the late afternoon Kirsti and I went to the pool to escape the ridiculous heat. It has now been almost 2 weeks since a major rain which is really strange for Thailand in the rainy seas ion. Most people (local and travelers) suspect global climate change is the culprit. Anyways, the pool was great and we returned to eat a surprisingly excellent mushroom vegetarian curry. In the evening Shaun, Tim, Karen and I went next door to a restaurant known as Nong's to enjoy a few beers. It is owned by Nong a 26 year old Thai man that recently graduated from the GVI adult English program. It's a nice family place where his mother and her friend do most of the cooking. They also have two kittens which frolic around the restaurant. Nong told us about his plan / dilemma of moving to the North of Thailand to become a travel guide and learn more about his country for a few years. The dilemma was that he would have to leave his family sand small business.

Thailand Trip (Day 17)

Day 17:
I was quite tired today from the weekend. We headed to class to teach at 8:45 and then d- again in the afternoon. Mid- day we decided to get our chores done and raked the large yard. While we were raking the milkshake man arrived on his cart, so we bought a few of those. At 2 or so we returned to the school. The funny thing about teaching the forth grade class was that we planned a lesson about classroom objects, but when we arrived the teacher decided that we should teach time. We had to be quick on our feet and create a game and drill. It actually worked really well. Dinner at the base was fantastic chicken massalam curry. The Thai food here is amazing, but I will really enjoy cheese and some ground beef when I return :). In the evening I talked to Steve about religion (as he used to be Orthodox Jewish for years). It was an interesting and unique conversation.

Thailand Trip (Day 16)

Day 16:
I woke up hot after a night in the bungalow.The mosquito netting that covered the bed protected us from that insects, but also seemed to block the air from the fan a bit. At 11 we gathered for breakfast/ lunch and ate at a restaurant high in the jungle covered cliffs. The view towards the sea was amazing. Following lunch we headed to the rock climbing area to inquire about lessons. Since the cliffs are so daunting it would have taken a few hours for lessons, so we just chatted with the rock climbing instructor instead. He was a Thai man entirely covered in tattoos and dreadlocks. Oddly enough, the Thais at Railay act and talk a bit like Jamaicans. He was the first person that I met so far in Thailand that had been in the Tsunami. He described fleeing the waters and jumping to a balcony "like Jacky Chan, ya know?". After the flood all he had was his tattered cloths and 17 Baht. The international community sent aid, but he did not get that much. I have felt that most Thais are quite welcoming to people from the USA (compared to other countries) because of the help that followed the tsunami. He asked if we had been to Railay Beach West and we told him yes. I said "it was the most beautiful beach I have ever seen." He replied "you think that is beautiful, walk to the beach at the end of the rocks, that is f*cking beautiful man." We took his advice and headed to the beach. It was indeed "f*cking beautiful." The beach was similar to the other but with caves and less people. There were only a few tourists and some vendors selling food next to no selling food signs. In the late afternoon we took a long tail boat to Krabi in a very rough sea. The German family on the boat even began putting on life jackets at one point. After a hour minivan ride we were back in Ao Luk at the GVI base. In the evening we had a group meeting and watched a movie.

Thailand Trip (Day 15)

Day 15:
After a great night sleep in the cool AC room, I woke up naturally and got ready for the short journey to Railay Beach. Mike and I took breakfast in the local eatery that we had discovered a week earlier and headed off to Ao Nang Beach in a songtaew. In Ao Nang we met with Morag, Shaun, and Kirsti who had left earlier on Friday. We headed down the the pier to purchase tickets and were soon whisked away in a minivan to the long tail boat station. Long tail boats are traditional Thai boats that look somewhat like a canoe. They comprise long front with colored cloth tied to it for good luck, a seating area for 10 people, and a back section where the captain guides the motor (which looks like a long weed whip). We boarded the boat and were soon cutting through the large waves with a roar on our way to Railay. Railay is a remarkable place. Though it's not an island, it's entirely cut off from the mainland by a huge barrier of jungle covered cliffs and mountains. Entering Railay by beach one can take in a breathtaking view of the cliffs, stunning blue skies, and pure powdery beaches. As we neared this paradise the engine cut off and we floated toward the shore. There are no docks on the beach, so we waded in to the beach in the warm tropical waters. Once on shore, we began our search for a cheap place amongst the posh resorts. Eventually, we found a nice complex of bungalows off the beach and nestled near the cliffs. We were able to land two bungalows for about 500 Baht each. Though they had running water they did not have a fan, but it was still quite a find in such a destination. After settling in, we headed to the beach. After a half an hour in the sun we were ready for a refreshing swim. The water was great and the view was even better. We all enjoyed the swim until various sea critters began to strike. My leg began to tingle all of the sudden and I was informed that I had been hit by a jelly fish. It was non lethal, but quite annoying and enough to end the swim. The pain soon went away and a local women even stopped to make us a remedy from some leaves to cool the jelly fish rashes a few of us had landed. Later we headed to lunch and then to a massage. It was remarkable and they used the local herbal cream "tiger balm," which feels a bit like Vick's Vapor rub. In the evening we watched a stunning sunset over the Railay cliffs and enjoyed a few drinks on the beach. Later we were fascinated by a Thai fire twirler show at a local bar.

Thailand Trip (Day 14)

Day 14:
Today (Friday) everyone at the base woke early to have breakfast and clean. Every Friday GVI does a full base clean which is quite intense. After the clean, I headed to the net cafe to use Skype to call home. It was good to see Mom, Dad, Michael, and of course the pets. Following the call we headed to the school for Friday class. The morning class we good and the kids were happy to see us. At the end of the period the students decided to get our autographs and also wanted us to draw them pictures in their notebooks. I was given a note that said "I love you" by one kid and we were both given some candy. Mike was also given a cool small wooden turtle. I guess the kids are really enjoying the English lessons! In the afternoon we had another English class and afterwards headed back to the base for a Thai cooking class. The class mainly consisted of chopping lots of different strange vegetables (some that looked like alien plants) and the actual cooking took less than 10 minutes. We made Pad Thai Chicken, Green Curry, and Tom Yamn Soup (Thai spicy soup). They were all delicious. After dinner we headed off for the weekend to meet up with Kirsti, Shaun, and Morag. They were headed to Railay Beach. We took a local bus from the junction in Ao Luk to Krabi and decided to stay there for the night (as we heard about a night market). From the place the bus dropped us off we got local transportation to downtown Krabi and after a slight transportation mishap we arrived at the Thai Hotel in Krabi. The hotel told us the room was 700 Baht for the night, but when we told them we were with GVI the rate was reduced to 500! We ventured out to the night market to find a myriad of food vendors, but nothing else. After eating such an elaborate dinner, we decided to head back to the hotel and enjoy the night of AC and Discovery Channel (the one English channel at the hotel).

Thailand Trip (Day 13)

Day 13:

Today (Thursday) class was canceled since the teachers had something to do in Krabi (not entirely sure what they were doing). Mike and I decided to go kayaking at a National Park called Bor Thur. Our guide Mann picked us up in his truck at 10 and drove us to his village located on a nearby river. The village is the launch spot for several Kayaking adventures on the river and in the nearby caves. Several large operations charge over 1,000 Baht for kayaking, but since we used Mann we paid just 300 and the group was just the three of us. We first ventured downstream through the mangrove forest and chatted with Mann. His English was great and I asked him if he had enrolled in GVI. He told me that he had learned through watching movies! Soon we took a turn to the side of the river and down a small water way though the mangroves. We soon entered a cave at the edge of a mountain. It was an incredible cave covered with stalagmites and stalactites. In the distance through the darkness we could see the other side. After a short 3 minute paddle through the cave we emerged into a small bay surrounded entirely by cliffs and mountains. The vegetation was such that it looked like a scene from Jurassic Park. After we left that cave we headed upstream battling the relatively strong current to arrive at a bigger cave with more impressive rock structures. The final cave that we trekked to was accessible by way of kayak and land. We tethered the kayaks together and headed up a short hill. Inside the cave were paintings from over 3,000 years ago. They were basic, but quite the sight. One odd painting showed a pair of hands one with fingers and one with 6. One of the explanations was of course aliens. After returning to the town we ate a a local sea food restaurant and I had wonderful shrimp cakes with two varieties of dipping sauce. In the afternoon we relaxed and in the evening I once again enjoyed conversations with the other volunteers.

Thailand Trip (Day 12)

Day 12:
Today was another teaching day with three classes. They all went very well (much better than yesterday). Even the first grade class (different section) was great. We had them practice writing letters and graded the papers on the spot. The 30 or 40 student formed a mass around us (definitely not a line) and waited patiently while we graded papers on the floor. One of the kids decided that we needed a back massage and started that. Several of the others joined in and it was a bit odd. The Thai teachers invited us to lunch mid-day. The children eat rice and one dish, but the teachers have a variety of dishes and a separate table (I counted 11 dishes). They were all excellent, but some of the spiciest food I have ever had. Also, there were whole fish sauteed in garlic that you could eat. In the evening Mike and I ran to the junction (over a mile) to get mango sticky rice. Afterwards, I chatted with several of the English volunteers about environmentalism.

Thailand Trip (Day 11)

Day 11:
Today (Tuesday) was another great day spent teaching. We started off early and Steve, Mike, and I headed to the preschool. As the kids were so young we did not plan lessons, but instead songs and a game of duck duck goose. We were quite lucky that we all came to the class since Steve counted that there were at least 64 students in the class. The kids really loved the games and the teachers encouraged the students to dance while we sang. The principal even showed up to take some pictures.

After preschool we headed to first grade where we found a quite rowdy class. The first grade English teacher is actually the nurse so the class is held outside the infirmary in the open air auditorium. Many of the children were running about auditorium, but some were sitting. There seemed to be no teacher in sight, but suddenly a motorbike roared across the concrete auditorium floor, its driver a women wearing a helmet and reflective visor. It was the teacher! She parked the bike, got settled and let us know that we would be covering letters. The class did a good job writing B's and drawing a boat after we motivated them with stickers. The second half of class was disastrous as there was one wild child. He ran about the classroom attempting to punch Mike and I in the groin and whack us with rulers. The other children soon decided to chase him down. It was quite the class. Having take the ruler from the child we finished class tired and ready for the mid-day break. In the afternoon we taught a excited and much better behaved third grade class where the teacher brought us delicious fruit smoothie drinks. Afterwards we headed to the post office and dinner on base.

In the evening Mike and I walked to the junction of Ao Luk to buy three mango sticky rices, but after a 30 minute walk found only one. We brought it back and several of us shared it as we shared life stories.

Thailand Trip (Day 10)

Day 10:
I woke up to the delicious smell of fresh banana pancakes today (Monday). Shaun, Morag, and Kirsti were on breakfast today and did a fabulous job. Banana pancakes with honey and cinnamon = stellar. We headed off the the school at 8:45 and found that it was a short (10 minute walk). Since Thai teachers are extremely respected we wore slacks even in the 90+ F heat. By the time we arrived at the school we were sweating quite heavily, but were greeted with loud courses of hellos. Mike, Steve, and I will be teaching at this particular school for the next 2 weeks. Jill (the country director also accompanied us since it was our first day). The school was a complex of buildings on the side of a river. The main building comprised of outdoor hallways and was three stories high. It was encircled by a variety of outdoor cafeterias, playgrounds, and smaller buildings. One particular building was a clean water drinking station donated by Rotary Club after the infamous Tsunami. As we entered the grounds we met one of the English teachers and also the Assistant Director (Principal). Mike and I had to laugh when the Principal told us we were celebrities and pretended to sing! I was also amazed at how well behaved Thai children were. Kids moved about the yard collecting trash, helping with morning chores, and moving items about.

Jill taught the first class while the three of us observed. The Thai children were quick to ask us our name though and were ecstatic to have us in their class. This particular class was interesting since one Thai English teacher is out sick (back injuries). This means that GVI volunteers actually run class. I have been told that if we were not their students simply would go to class and sit (some chatting while others do homework in their workbooks). Accordingly, Jill ran class today and the student loved it! Normally, they do a lot of note taking and drilling, but GVI teaches through games, so foreigners mean "fun, fun!!") We had a bit of time off mid day, so we headed off to the base to grab lunch. After lunch we headed to the school to assist Steve in teaching. The kids were quite a handful, but Steve ran the show well and even sang several songs for them. Then the insisted that Mike and I sing and dance, luckily we had a song prepared.

After this class we headed to the third grade class that we were supposed to assist with, but 'found the students testing or something. It wasn't long before another teacher approached us (fourth grade) and asked if we would help with her class in an hour, we were thrilled. In the time waiting another teacher insisted that we take a refreshment and brought me a Thai coffee and, Mike a water. We arrived to the class at 3 as schedule to find 30+ Thai student sitting in desks, but no teacher in sight (we think she may have gone home early?). As we entered they all chimed in "HELLO, HOW ARE YOU?" and stood up. We hardly knew what to do. It turned out great in the end and we reviewed age, greetings, and taught numbers. The students loved the games and became quite competitive. At the end of class several students came up to say thanks and shake hands. Other students put chairs on desks, shut the windows, and swept the floor. Soon we were walking home after being mobbed by students waving, shouting, shaking hands, and some even taking pictures of us!

We arrived at the base and began our chores which are mostly yard work. We raked leaves, and even dug a trough across the lawn for water. It's quite fun to be part of the base team where everyone is responsible for a small part of a larger community. It's amazing how well it all fits together. Dinner was spicy Thai food prepared by a local women and really hit the spot! Afterwards we went for a run, I picked up my laundry, and headed to the net cafe (**I'm a the cafe next door right now**).

Thailand Trip (Day 8 and 9)

Day 8:

Today we left Ao Nang for Krabi town. We traveled via songtaew (pickup truck with seats) and got off near where we thought the Thai Hotel was (where GVI would pick us up). Luckily, we were very close to the hotel and got directions from some locals. We arrived a half hour early and decided to get a sit down breakfast in a nearby restaurant (Thai service is remarkably fast!). We hurried to the hotel after breakfast and were a bit late, but the folks from GVI were too :). Global Vision International (GVI) is a international volunteering organization that we joined for an expedition. The expedition that we joined was Teachers Assistants in Thailand. Jill, the program direction picked us up in a Honda Jazz and we headed off to Ao Luk. The tourists and shops soon disappeared as we headed into the country side and forest. We arrived in Ao Luk, a sleepy and beautiful southern Thai town that has escaped the hectic modern world we live in. There are two town centers here (road intersections) and around 5,000 residents. The GVI base was just past the local Palm Oil plant which periodically belches out some dark smoke into the otherwise crystal clear air. The surrounding area is amazing with limestone cliffs covered in dense jungle in almost all directions.

We were introduced to Emily at the base who would be training us this weekend. She was a hilarious gal from the US who gave us a colorful tour of the base, warning us of dangers ranging from falling coconuts, to snakes in the grass. The base is pretty basic and consists of two large dorm rooms, three Thai bathrooms (bucket flush toilets and showers or Thai baths which are bucket showers), a kitchen, common room, and a large yard. The base has electricity and water, but no hot water or air conditioning. Everyone at the base is quite friendly and very helpful. After the safety briefing and tour we walked to the local National Park with Emily and Kirsti (a college aged volunteer from Canada). We had a great local lunch (wide variety of spicy food which was hard to identify). My favorite was the spicy soup. After lunch we ventured into the national park where Thais enter for free and foreigners pay 200 Bhat (34 Bhat=1 USD). Interestingly enough, the local like the free English service that GVI provides so much that we are considered locals too.

The park was filled with lush forests and a array of small waterfalls. Normally, they are crystal clear, but the rains have made them a bit clay colored. A short trek into the park led us to a local swimming spot were 20-30 Thai children were swimming. We entered and enjoyed the water. I decided to brave the currents and much to the amusement of the local children went sliding down the slippery rocks through a series of small rapids. You had to be there to enjoy the laughter! After leaving the park we visited a local "country club" type area owned by the palm oil plant owner. The club features a golf course, picturesque swimming pool, club house, and tennis courts all surrounded by the stunning jungle covered cliffs. Its quite out of place in Ao Luk and apparently is rarely used except to entertain business people who come to town. Similarly to the park, it is open to the GVI staff and volunteers because the owner appreciates the GVI village projects and English training.

Back at the base we freshened up and headed off to dinner. Jack (English name though he is Thai) picked us up in Jill's Jazz. Jack and Jill are married (neat name match up). The restaurant that we headed to was great. Jack plays the guitar and sings in Thai with his friend at the restaurant every Saturday. All the seating is in outdoor palapas (Bamboo and leaf huts) and the restaurant is run by a local family (two of which are in GVI night lessons). The children served us different Thai food that we had ordered and Supacha, the owner and their father came out with a complementary salad. It was incredibly spicy and a bit chewy. We all (a GVI staff member included) wondered what the chewy part was and asked Supachai. Though he speaks good English he could not translate it and made a phone call. We soon found that we had tried jellyfish! The meal was great and most dishes were a bit tamer than jellyfish. Throughout the night Supachai offered us different Thai beers and at the end of the evening even drove us home in his minivan.


Day 9:
During the first night at the GVI base, I found it a bit difficult to sleep given the lack of AC, geckos chirping in our room and the squeaky bed, but most off all I was excited! In the morning we woke up to Emily cooking breakfast and enjoyed a delicious spread of food. We trained throughout the morning (today is now Sunday) learning everything from classroom management to teaching methods. At noon we broke for lunch and found that Jack had arrived at the base to make a delicious Thai pork dish and Thai fried eggs. After lunch we continued training learning about vocabulary and the Thai school system (they just got back from summer break). By 3:30 we were done and Mike, Kirsti and I decide to go for a jog to the local meditation center. We were surprised to hear an uproar of cheering and hollering since a local football (soccer) match was going on. After another 5 minute jog we arrived at the pool and went for a much needed swim. When we arrived back, some of the other volunteers had begun to arrive back from the weekend (many travel on weekends). We met Stephen, a volunteer from the UK in his fifties who had just recently quite his job as a partner at a major British accounting firm for a change of pace.

The group of us headed to town to visit the night market and pick up some dinner. On the way into town we met Tim also from the UK. He was extremely tanned from a weekend at the beach and had just recently got a Thai bamboo tattoo. We asked his what it said and he told us, "Tim!" He also had one on his back which was some Buddhist saying that he did not "quite know yet," but would find out as to not be a "bloke with tattoos, who doesn't know what they even mean." Tim headed off to the base trundling his bag along with a giant strawberry Slurpee. At the market I bought several chicken legs, some rice, and the most delicious Thai dessert I have tried- mango sticky rice. It was amazing. We followed Tim's lead and headed to 7-11 to look for those Slurpees as well :). We arrived back at the base for the weekly meeting and played a rowdy game to get to know each other. In the late evening everyone was busy making lesson plans and talking. I talked to Tim to get his life story in the restaurant industry. He had recently been made redundant (laid off) and was ecstatic about it. He said when he found out he , had to fake being concerned, but really found it a giant relief. Apparently his former company had been acquired by a behemoth of a company and the culture had changed. After the layoff he book a several month expedition with GVI "without knowing much at all." After a long day I headed to bed excited for the first day of teaching!

**I'm writing this post Monday morning (Day 10), but will post day 10 later). I slept quite well last night!**

Thailand (Day 7)

Day 7:

Today started a bit late... around noon. It was our first night with a full night's rest since LA. (Other nights: plane, half night from airport, and train ride). We slept for about 12 hours straight. I woke up once when a crazy rain storm rolled in. **Hahah! I just noticed a lizard behind the computer. ...and the Thai women at the front desk is listening to US rap. Just to set the picture for you.** Anyways, that storm was out of control. Viciously strong winds and rain. I wondered if the hostel was going to blow down or if it was normal. The room was fine though, and in the morning everyone was going about their business in a normal way. The rain must have been normal.

For lunch we walked along the main beach area looking at restaurants. We ended up going to an Indian one. Haha! I know "why did you do that in Thailand." Well, it was run by Indians. At the restaurant I had a great Mango Lassi, curry dish, and some delicious garlic naan. After lunch we drank a lot of water and went for a run (Mike's idea). Excluding the heat, it was great and we found a new area down the beach with remarkable views. On the way back we passed a bar on the beach and some of the patrons called us over. There was Russ/ Ross (a younger British man from Southwest UK, but NOT Wales he assured us) and "chef" (An Indian man living in Thailand who was, not surprisingly, a chef). They were both pretty hilarious and a bit tipsy. After finding out that we were from the US Russ told us that he really wanted to go to a US college party and did some priceless impressions. He also had a great Metalica ring tone. "Chef" a quite older man had been in the Thai navy, lived in Chungking Mansions, Hong Kong (look it up if you have not yet), run a casino in Macau, loved Dubai, and was now running 3 restaurants called "La Casa" here in Ao Nang. He insisted that we try his delicious Italian, Thai, and (last mentioned) Indian cooking.

After returning to the hostel we changed and got ready for a trip to Wat Tham Sua "Tiger Cave Temple. The temple is site of a large monastery, a cave, and a Buddha statue situated on a jungle covered craggy cliff of a mountain that stretches 1000 feet in the air. A set of 1,250 stairs took us to the peak. You can do that math, each step was roughly a foot. Some of them less, some of them more. At one point the climb was steeper than a ladder used at a construction site. It was insane. A few monks and two sweaty tourists came past us heading down as we trekked up. I drank a massive bottle of water on the climb up and at the top we were greeted by a dog. The mountain top had amazing views of the surrounding area, the cliffs near Ao Nang (where we are staying), Krabi Town, Railay beach, and the now small monastery far below. Our shirts were completely drenched with sweat as we headed down. If you want to simulate the climb at home, simply move a stepper into a steam room and walk on it for 30-40 minutes on the toughest setting! Of course the view was well worth it, and think of the good karma we accumulated! At the bottom, we ventured toward the cave, but as the sun set the jungle became dark and we headed back to the driver that was waiting for us. We did get to what I thought was the famous tiger cave as we began to hear monks praying by the cliffs at the edge of the steamy jungle. For dinner we ventured to one of the La Casa restaurants (owned by the "chef") and found the pizze amazing! Tomorrow we meet up with the GVI staff in Krabi town.

Thailand (Day 5 cont. and Day 6)

Day 5 cont.:
While waiting for the train, we decided to expore Bangkok. After a delicious lunch of Pad Thai Shrimp (Pad Thai is a local noodle dish), we headed toward the spire of a Wat (temple) that I spotted in the distance. After exploring the Wat, we headed towards China town. In route to that part of the city we met a Tuk-tuk (Tuk-tuks are three wheeled vehicles powered by a motorcycle engine. They are named after the noise the make. Google them for a picture :)) driver that was quite friendly. He offered us some green mango. I thought it was alright, but Mike seemed to love it. "Max" the tuk-tuk driver told us that he could take us back to the train station and also show us a Wat for "a dollar" (everything was in dollars after he found out we were from the USA). I asked "do you really want a dollar?, or do you just want one dollar in Bhat?" He said, "do you have a dollar?" "Yep." "Great! I will give it to my wife as a souvenir." We jumped in the tuk -tuk and were off. It was quite the ride! The temple that we visited was pristine white and gold. We were there for a few minutes before leaving. Max wanted to take us to a clothing shop where if he brought tourists he got a "free gas card." I had read that Tuk-tuk drivers would try top take tourists to shops for things like this, but we agreed since he was so honest. He actually said, "I get a free gas card if you stop here, just look and don't buy anything. haha!" He gave Mike the tuk-tuk keys while we went inside. After that he drove us around the city a bit and back to the station. I gave him the dollar and a tip in Bhat, but found out later that he had given us a good deal. I think the giant backpacks help set the tone of "budget," but of course everyone appreciates tipping on top of discounted prices. A little before five we boarded the train for our 16 hour journey to Trang in South Thailand. Mike and I bought a cabin with beds, so we could sleep.

Day 6:
After the train ride we arrived in Trang a little after 8 in the morning. We took a Tuk-tuk across the town to the bus station where we bought tickets to Krabi (Krabi has no rail connection). The bus ride to Krabi was about two hours and was filled with children, monks, locals with goods, but no other tourists. In Krabi we were offered a taxi, but decided to go with a songtaew (pickup truck with bench seats in the bed). Our driver was an old Thai man with hair as white as snow. He was quite the wild driver. After picking up two other locals he headed for Ao Nang (where we are staying for a few days). Along the route he picked up several more tourists and locals and at one point had his truck loaded with 14 people! We arrived at Ao Nang and checked in to the hostel. The room is quite nice with two small beds and an out door bathroom attached. Ao nang is situated on a stunning beach with bright blue waters and vivid tree lined cliffs and islands jutting up out of the sea (Google: Krabi Thailand for a picture). Today we explored the beach, got a massage, and had a nice dinner. After catching up on emails, we will probably go to a local bar for a beer or two.