Thailand, also known as land of the enduring heat, amazing tea, welcoming inhabitants, and squatting toilets. The world really is much larger and stranger than I have been led to believe. I apologize for the slow updates. Internet is hard to come across in our journeys in the SouthEast Asian jungles.
After an unending plane ride with free wine, food, and touch-screen cable, we arrived in Bangkok at the Shanti Lodge (the cutest, most quaint hostel around). The intense heat and humidity causes the group to be in a paralytic state of shock. The smells of the market and street vendors fill the air with an insatiable appetite for curiosity and therefore even in the blazing heat, we venture throughout the beautiful bustling city. The exotic mangosteens, jackfruits, and fresh pineapples are so deliciously intoxicating. There is so much to do. We spent the first two days exploring, going on boat taxis, and visiting temples. This independent research project is really looking more like a vacation. The last night of the trip, we spent drumming with some locals and hanging out with othe wandering travelers. That's when I met her: Keisha from my hometown. A teacher recruit stationed in Vietnam, the rest of our night fills with the aroma of cigarettes, lagers, and philosophical discussions of Derrida, Foucault, and other amazing theorists of our time. That place was difficult to leave.
The next day, Charlie and the staff told us that we had to find a remote village where the Shanti Farm was up north past Kanchanaburi. This village wasn't even on the map which made it a bit more difficult than imagined. We quickly broke up into groups of 5 with a leader (ours was Claire). I immediately hailed a cab for 150 Baht (that's aprx $2.50) to the bus station 40 minutes away. It was one of the greatest car rides of my life with five people in the back and two giant packs. I curled up into the feet area behind the passenger seat. When we got to the bus station, we bought a ticket for the bus. However, as we were leaving, the bus driver and stewardess of the bus started yelling at us in Thai. I have never felt so incredibly idiotic in my entire life. Here we are, in a country and we can barely speak the language of the people. Everyone on the bus kept thinking these stupid faarlongs can't understand shit. AFter kicking us out of the bus, we realized that the ticket we had was for teh minivan. After a 3 hour minivan ride to Kanchanaburi, Morgan realized he forgot his moneybelt with passport and everything on the bus. This created a long delay in the only air-conditioned place in Kanchanburi, a restaurant. After much patience, we hopped onto a Songtao (a truck with seats in the truckbed) to a two-hour drive to a remote village, Phrat Tat. It emanated the Sinclair Island of my past complete with bungalows, hammocks, and mosquito nets.
We ended up spending the past 3 days there going to the Erawan National Park waterfalls, Phrat Tat caves, hanging out, drinking, and talking to teh locals. One of the most enlightening moments was when we ventured to the village temple and spoke to a monk who answered much sought after questions with blessings afterwards. Living in bungalows really makes you understand the significance of running toilets and water. I have forever taken that for granted and surely will not upon return.
Yesterday was a sad day. Leaving was incredibly heart-breaking. WanPen, Mr Hey, and Bang will forever be in my memories as the most hospitable family. Yesterday was spent transfering from truckbeds to hot city bus to hot city bus to minivan. We were pulled over when we were in the back of the truckbeds becuse the locals were confused as to why there were so many faarlongs on trucks rather than nice cars. LOL. Anyways, the trip to MaeSot was an enduring transfer of vehicles, amazing connections, and a beautiful sunset. We didn't arrive at our final destination until midnight last night and I knocked out immediately. This place has running toilets and a shower. The Green HOstel in MaeSot is the name of our new home. This is a beautiful border town with much more diversity in the people than our prior residences.
It is time to explore.
J.
After an unending plane ride with free wine, food, and touch-screen cable, we arrived in Bangkok at the Shanti Lodge (the cutest, most quaint hostel around). The intense heat and humidity causes the group to be in a paralytic state of shock. The smells of the market and street vendors fill the air with an insatiable appetite for curiosity and therefore even in the blazing heat, we venture throughout the beautiful bustling city. The exotic mangosteens, jackfruits, and fresh pineapples are so deliciously intoxicating. There is so much to do. We spent the first two days exploring, going on boat taxis, and visiting temples. This independent research project is really looking more like a vacation. The last night of the trip, we spent drumming with some locals and hanging out with othe wandering travelers. That's when I met her: Keisha from my hometown. A teacher recruit stationed in Vietnam, the rest of our night fills with the aroma of cigarettes, lagers, and philosophical discussions of Derrida, Foucault, and other amazing theorists of our time. That place was difficult to leave.
The next day, Charlie and the staff told us that we had to find a remote village where the Shanti Farm was up north past Kanchanaburi. This village wasn't even on the map which made it a bit more difficult than imagined. We quickly broke up into groups of 5 with a leader (ours was Claire). I immediately hailed a cab for 150 Baht (that's aprx $2.50) to the bus station 40 minutes away. It was one of the greatest car rides of my life with five people in the back and two giant packs. I curled up into the feet area behind the passenger seat. When we got to the bus station, we bought a ticket for the bus. However, as we were leaving, the bus driver and stewardess of the bus started yelling at us in Thai. I have never felt so incredibly idiotic in my entire life. Here we are, in a country and we can barely speak the language of the people. Everyone on the bus kept thinking these stupid faarlongs can't understand shit. AFter kicking us out of the bus, we realized that the ticket we had was for teh minivan. After a 3 hour minivan ride to Kanchanaburi, Morgan realized he forgot his moneybelt with passport and everything on the bus. This created a long delay in the only air-conditioned place in Kanchanburi, a restaurant. After much patience, we hopped onto a Songtao (a truck with seats in the truckbed) to a two-hour drive to a remote village, Phrat Tat. It emanated the Sinclair Island of my past complete with bungalows, hammocks, and mosquito nets.
We ended up spending the past 3 days there going to the Erawan National Park waterfalls, Phrat Tat caves, hanging out, drinking, and talking to teh locals. One of the most enlightening moments was when we ventured to the village temple and spoke to a monk who answered much sought after questions with blessings afterwards. Living in bungalows really makes you understand the significance of running toilets and water. I have forever taken that for granted and surely will not upon return.
Yesterday was a sad day. Leaving was incredibly heart-breaking. WanPen, Mr Hey, and Bang will forever be in my memories as the most hospitable family. Yesterday was spent transfering from truckbeds to hot city bus to hot city bus to minivan. We were pulled over when we were in the back of the truckbeds becuse the locals were confused as to why there were so many faarlongs on trucks rather than nice cars. LOL. Anyways, the trip to MaeSot was an enduring transfer of vehicles, amazing connections, and a beautiful sunset. We didn't arrive at our final destination until midnight last night and I knocked out immediately. This place has running toilets and a shower. The Green HOstel in MaeSot is the name of our new home. This is a beautiful border town with much more diversity in the people than our prior residences.
Mallorie.
Erawan National Park Waterfalls
Bang.
It is time to explore.
J.
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