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Published: December 19th 2007
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The Crash: Inside
Again, how the driver turned out alright, I will never know. So, I'm still in Chiang Mai. I was supposed to be in Pai, but in route (and while I was listening to Regina Spektor's "Bartender" - Nick and Nate, that was for you) the van swerved through the opposite lane, went into the brush and hit a palm tree dead center. There were 6 of us including the driver and this is Thailand: no one wears seat belts. I slammed into the seat in front of me bruising my chest, fattening my lip, scraping below my eye, straining my right elbow and skinning my left shin almost to the bone. The last one hurts the most - it's the type of cut where there isn't a lot a blood, but a lot of bruising, swelling and damn, it hurts to walk. Oren (Like Orange without the "g", Isreali, knew his life story in the first 15 minutes - just graduated in mass media, wants to manage a bar, been to thailand 4 times, not religous really, but likes the ritual of it, thinks that isreal is the best place to live - good weather, beaches, food, beautiful women, ect., family bugs him about getting married but all he has to do
Most Pathetic Self-Portrait EVER.
This was after breaking down in tears, feeling like shit thrown on shit and before the soup. I think it is quite funny...now...at least. I'm considering it for my facebook profile picture. is give them one look and they shut up, family would prefer he was gay cause then his unmarriedness would make sense, but all they have to do is look at how many women he brings home, loves women, but doesn't like the thai look, prefers the japanese/korean look?...etc, etc.). Anywho, Oren's open laptop smashed the inside of his upper lip and was by far the bloodiest. Sidenote: A french couple were just picked up from the hospital on their way back to Pai. Needless to say, they didn't much feel like going back to Chiang Mai.
The most incredible thing of all was the driver: completely unscathed, at least as far as I could tell, and he wasn't wearing a seat belt. He didn't go thru the wind shield, no broken glass cuts. He looked shaken up, but ok. Miracle. And so was everyone else besides Oren and I.
Within a matter of minutes there were several cars stopped with lovely Thais stopping to help. What looked like a 1970's ambulance came a few minutes later and Oren, myself and our baggage were loaded, sirens blazing and on our way. Yeah...the ambulance ride was the scariest part of it all. Again, no seat belts, driving like a bat out of hell, passing on curves and other cars don't exactly get out of the way until the last possible second or not at all. And when we actually got into the city traffic...I was just praying that we didn't get into an accident ourselves. And I was glad that I had the great fortune to not encounter a raving ambulance while I myself was ride a bicycle.
A half an hour later, we were in the emergency room. Thanks for buying me health insurance, Dad. The hospital was good, though, and even if i hadn't had travel insurance, I would have come out okay. After an ambulance ride, emergency room visit and prescriptions, the total cost was about 47 US dollars. However, by the time I was done paying, my head hurt and my shin was so painful that I could barely walk. I looked like shit. Felt like shit with shit thrown on it. (See The Most Pathetic Self-Portrait Ever below). And I was on the verge of breaking down in tears...an hour of holding it in was wearing thin and I think my choked tears made the nurses take pity on me. They tried to offer me a tuk tuk, but that would have been another terrifying and painful ride. They called a hotel for me (cause I was going to a HOTEL, damnit.) and eventually a nice, modern ambulance took me, free of charge to the hotel and carried my bags.
All I wanted was to take my painkillers and sleep. I needed to take the medication on a full stomach, but had no food and the thought of walking another step was enough to push me into mild hysterics, mostly because I was thirsty, traveling alone and so close to going home...actually, i was in mild hysterics at that point - it was enough to push me into full blown crying hysterics. I asked for something to eat, they left me, I burst into tears and 10 minutes later the most delicious thai chicken and rice soup was brought to me. It might have been the best meal of the whole trip. I ate, down painkillers, watched a bit of tv and passed out.
Today, I feel better and was able to walk a couple of blocks to get water, supplies to change the bandages, make the requisite parental calls, and write this, of course.
Lesson: Get travel insurance and in Thailand, take the government run buses, NOT guest house sketchy vans or buses.
Before I left for Pai, I signed up for an overnight trip to the Elephant Nature Park to celebrate my 25th birthday this Monday. It is NOT an Elephant Camp like so many of the treks go to, this one involves no riding, but feeding, washing and walking with them. It's a essentially an sanctuary for rescued elephants from Northern Thailand. Unless I feel well enough to carry my own bags, I think I will be staying in Chiang Mai until the 23rd, the to the Elephant park, back in Chiang Mai on the evening of the 24th, leave for Bangkok on the 25th and fly to San Fransisco EARLY morning on the 26th.
Oh yeah, and for those of you that I haven't told, I am ending my trip early and heading to SF instead. In a nutshell, I realized while in Santorini that no amount of wandering is quenching my restlessness. I'm a bit bored and really do miss working - or having a purpose, I guess. I love traveling and intend to make it a yearly priority, but in 2 month doses will be plenty. Or traveling by means of volunteering or working might help alleviate the boredom as well. And I miss theatre. And I never ever thought I would say this before I left in Sept, but I miss the states. I really do. Not all of it, mind you, but I'm anxious to be in a place where I can legally get a job in a day and don't have to feel guilty for speaking English. Those aren't the only reasons why I miss the states, though....
I feel good about my decision and besides, I will go to the places I intended on going, but just when I am ready and not burnt out or wishing I was somewhere else. "Four Months is STILL a long time" has become a mantra of mine when I find myself in moments of self-doubt.
Oh and I took a fantastic cooking course and am now proficient in Thai green curry, Tom Yum soup, tofu egg rolls, Thai chicken stir fry (not remotely what you would get in the states) and bananas with coconut cream. Cooking is so easy when the ingrediants are already prepared for you. If only it were that way in everyday life. Oh and who knew Pineapples grew in bushes, not in trees. I honestly did not until two days ago. What? I was northwest born and raised.
Okay - enough! of this - it is far too long and I appalaud all of you that have made it to the bitter end.
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Jordan
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oh my god. I'm glad you're ok, I hope Orang is also ok. I guess every good legend needs a trial (or something) right?