Advertisement
Published: August 5th 2008
Edit Blog Post
I think the transition from volunteer into backpacker only took about 24 hours! As much as I hated leaving Bali, the nomad life of Thailand has been a nice change of pace. After finishing some last minute shopping in Bangkok the next step was an overnight train to Khao Sok National Park. It is the oldest evergreen rain forest in the world. Just driving to our accommodation was breathtaking. You could tell you entered the jungle when the rain started. I knew it was going to be rainy season but I had no idea that by rain they meant torrential sheets of water that came at a moments notice soaking your clothes within seconds! We didn't let the rain stop us though, as soon as we settled into out bungalows we all put on our swimsuits and decided to embrace the wetness of the jungle. We went to a nearby river, rented tubes and went on a white water tubing adventure! There is something about sitting on a inner tube floating down a river in the middle of the jungle that really puts things into perspective. Life doesn't seem so complicated when all you have to worry about is getting smacked
with a stray tree branch or the occasional water snake! After drying off we put on our hiking shoes and went to go get muddy trekking through the jungle. It was so lush and green that it really made enduring the rain worth while. I just wished that someone would have warned me about the leeches. When I came back I found a few blood thirsty friends that decided to come along for the ride! After de-leeching myself and a long hot shower I went to go to bed early. The next day I decided to splurge and go on an elephant ride through the national park. I figured it was a once in a lifetime experience and I would regret it if I didn't take advantage of such an amazing opportunity. It was well worth every penny spent. I made friends with my guide who let me ride the elephant bareback and swim in the waterfall! After thanking my elephant with some well deserved bananas I went back to my room to pack for our next destination of Koh Samui. With all the rain everyone was really looking forward to some sun and sand! Well... We got the sand
but the sun didn't want to cooperate. Since laying on the beach wasn't an option we had to be creative with other activities, like getting a Thai massage! Being a massage therapist I am pretty picky (which isn't always a good thing) but this was one of the best massages I have ever received. I am really going to have to take advantage of it while I am here, especially since it is so cheap. A one hour massage is only $7! In the evening we went to a night market and ate some delicious food from the street vendors. Some of the other group members didn't feel so delicious later that evening but I think I was lucky by playing it safe by ordering the vegetarian pad thai. Our second night we went to a Muay Thai boxing match. The incorporation between religion and and precise techniques made for an exciting evening. We found out later that the best matches are in Bangkok, so there is talk that we will see another when we get back. After two nights we were off to the next island of Koh Tao. When we arrived the sun was shining and there wasn't
Monks and monkeys
We made a stop at the monkey temple and this is what we found even a cloud in the sky. Not even five minutes after checking in we were all laying on the white sand beaches trying to get a tan to prove that we did indeed go to southern Thailand. During the next three days I rarely moved from the stretch of beach in front of our bungalows. We did however find a beach bar a few minutes from where we stayed that set up pillows on the beach where you could sit and have a drink while watching local fire dancers. It turned out to be our nightly entertainment for the trip! One of the mornings I did venture from land a try a beginners scuba dive. It was so beautiful, I wish I had an underwater camera with me! A little tanner and more relaxed we all packed our bags and boarded the overnight train back to Bangkok. At six in the morning we arrived, said our goodbyes and after a few hugs went back to the hotel to prepare for my next adventure to northern Thailand. I have one day before I join my next group and encounter a whole other side of Thailand. I can't wait!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.117s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 7; qc: 44; dbt: 0.0839s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 2;
; mem: 1.1mb
Emin
non-member comment
Observation
Elephants, dirt, leaches, cockroaches, rats, ants, lizards, and, of course shovels! Enjoy your nature training because once you come back, I'm sending you to a special rescue operation in the Amazon!