Advertisement
Published: February 19th 2008
Edit Blog Post
sawat dii ka!! (Hello in Thai!)
We arrived at the eco house on sunday afternoon to be pleasantly suprised by the standard of the accomodation...bunk beds (as expected) thick mattresses (not as expected). Bathroom and cold shower (as expected) being en-suite for a room of 6 (not expected)!! Also although we were allocated rooms, I was meant to be in with a girl called Amelia and another who didn't show and I had been getting on really well with Hannah and Marianne so we asked Amelia if she would swap with Hannah, and Marianne replaced the girl who had never shown up....at this point we didn't realise the rooms were all 6 dorm in bunks so we ended up the 3 of us in one room and we have tons of space (using the top bunk as a wardrobe due to lack of hangers) How bad we feel that there are some girls in 6 to a room!
So anyway we arrived and were told to head to the canteen area for 5pm, a bell promptly rang at 5pm (door bell-like sound) and that was our call for dinner...feels like being in school and the dinner bell ringing! There
are lots of other people staying here (th group that arrived on the 1st Feb) and some others too. At this point we didn't realise you have to be quick if you want the best pick of the dinner. All the 'oldies' (been there longer) confidently swaggered in while we were still trying to work out what to do! Nevermind you soon watch what everyone else is doing and follow suit!! Dinner of course was rice and a mixture of different vegetables and sauces, fruit for dessert (so far so good) We also realise we all had to wash up our own plates etc...better get used to it I guess, it isn't a hotel!!
That evening we all headed to the makeshift bar accross the road, which actually was lovely, and they light candles at the tables and mosquito coils under the tables to try and prevent being bitten!! There are also fairy lights, music and a cocktail list!! so not make-shift at all really.
Yesterday (second day at the eco house) we repeat the bell-ringing meal time drill for breakfast (egg fried rice) and had a quick talk from Oliver (our guide) about our programme, although he
was extremely difficult to understand and also said 'nah' after every sentance (very annoying) but he is so lovely and funny and we are gradually getting used to understanding him!! We then headed to Singburi town on a cattle market type truck (which is now to be our mode of transport for the next few weeks having been treated to the luxury mini bus on the journey here) and all wondered off to check the internet etc...Then we headed out of the town to Orchid gardens for lunch which was really nice and they laid on a big buffet for us, they had calamari and sweet chilli sauce so I was in my element!! oh and of course rice and vegetables and fruit for dessert!! ha ha...
Then back to the eco house for our first Thai language lesson...quite difficult but Oliver made it really funny and we learnt a song which was basically (in Thai) singing about apples, oranges and banana's and doing some gyrating moves!! After the lesson, we were then told that a group of local school children would be visiting us to perform a traditional dance for us...the penny dropped that perhaps learning the song
about fruit was for us to perform a song/dance (if you can call it that) in return!!
The children arrived and were sooo sweet, they were dressed beautifully and performed their dance for us, at the end bringing round beautiful flower garlands to put round our necks. We then performed our dance/song...hilarious!!! Even better, was when we joined in dancing with them at the end in a huge circle!! definately a highlight! You guessed it, back at the bar last night!! We got given free whisky shots by the staff there but I only had one and then was on the sprite (honestly)
Today we got up and had cooking lessons which again was just a laugh from start to finish, we ended up just making some of it up as we went along...it tasted okay though!! then we had another language lesson, and another song, this time about an elephant!! not had to perform it just yet.....watch this space.
this arvo we had a little time to sunbathe before being herded off in a cattle market truck to Sing buri town again where I am writing this....we are about to head out somewhere for a BBQ -
We'll see what the food entails...am already starting to get sick of rice which I have so far had for every meal here!!
la kawn (good bye in Thai)
Advertisement
Tot: 0.092s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 11; qc: 57; dbt: 0.051s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
adele
non-member comment
jealous!!
i am so jealous mate ur pics look amazing!! keep us posted xx