Blogs from Phang-Nga, South-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 3

We got curious about the jungle next door and who might live there. We had a "day off" today, so we walked south along the beach a few minutes and met Bob, a retired time share salesman who was building a "5 star campground". So far, Bob has spent 3 days hauling a driftwood log onto the beach and has succeeded in making a nice bench. He has also outlined a campsite in driftwood. When we met him, he was pounding a hook into a tree to hold a hammock, but seemed so happy for some company. I think I knew it was NOT wise to get directions from "Bob" on how to "cut through the jungle to the main road", but we really had no other plans and were up for some adventure. We did ... read more

Deciding to book everything myself instead of with a pricey travel agent, I got to Krabi (and saved about 300 baht), and this time I was at a different pier. I had realized that the first time I had been in krabi I was at a travel agency pier so I looked around for the bus station to take me to Phang nga. I took a taxi to the bus station where I immeadiately caught a bus to Phang nga. Then on the bus ride the rain started. It continued until we got to Phang nga 2 hours later. I got off the bus and immeadiately was flagged down by a man said he could help me get a hotel. I later found out this man is Mr. Kean recommended in Lonely Planet. He told me ... read more

Hey everyone....so now i'm in the south of thailand ready for some r and r..i know you may think that travelling and sohpping are exhausting...but it is! anyways my last day in kanchanaburi we went to hellfire pass and to erawan falls...hellfire pass is a part of the burmese-thai railway the japanese constructed during the war using prisoners of war...very sad...very edeucational...really glad i got to see it...erawan falls is a beauitful 8 teired waterfall which is absolutely breathtakeing but when you swim in it the fish come and suck on you and its really gross and freaky and i dont like it! after that we took a sleeper train to surat thani which is in the south of thailand...we stayed over night in these jungle huts in khao sok national park...we went on a canoe ... read more

The Unbearable Heaviness of Leaving… Despite the picture, I am really just okay with how much time must pass until I can return....maybe its the proverbial change in me that has occured this trip...the grounding of my flighty self for the past few months.....dunno. I am counting the days until I head back to my village "home" again....soon, so soon.... For now, I am writing this from Bangkok... The Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok’s Pratunam area is pretty freaking fancy compared to my humble digs in the village. The kids and I spent Christmas day here en route back home… Well, it’s a looong way from the orphanage. Di-chan kitoo mahk. I miss it very much. This is kinda a sign off for the time being I suppose…I have much to do and will update periodically ... read more

I learn so much more about Thai culture on the intercity bus than any one other place in the country. With so many snippets of Thai conversation flowing through my ears, the life happening on the side of the road, the incessant playing of either Thai pop music videos or Thai dance entertainment shows, and the time to process things as I bump along, I should really take the local bus more often. With the exception of times I am very loaded down with goods or have traveled with Orphanage staff, this is my preferred means of travel here…unless I need to get to Bangkok. :-) I love the life outside my windows…the dogs in this country all know how to sit in the basket of a motocyc for the ride, cats perch behind their owners ... read more