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Published: February 10th 2009
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Leaving Phi Phi with my new posse I felt comfortable and at ease. I was loving my vacation and ready to experience the new destination, Railay Beach. We climbed off the ferry onto a longtail with a plan to find cheap yet comfy accommodation...well, all of us climbed off but one. We suddenly all realized at once that Ben was no where to be found. We look back at the big ferry to see Ben waving as the boat pulled away. Ha. Poor guy. We half laughed half worried and just hoped that once he got to the next destination he would catch a longtail boat and find us. Hamish and I went to look for a place to stay while the rest waited to see if Ben would make it to our beach. Long story short..we found a beautiful resort complete with pool, tv, a/c, big comfy beds for only 15 dollars a night and Ben wandered the beaches for an hour before he finally found us. It was a long, slightly amusing day for all of us. We were all in the mood to detox post Phi Phi craziness so a big dinner and a movie in one
of our rooms was in order.
The next day I climbed a mountain. Railay is known for its rock climbing, a beautiful beach and a lagoon in the middle of a mountain. You have to climb up a pretty steep slope to get to the lagoon, thats the easy part, descending back down in the middle of the mountain is the hard part. Its four vertical descents to make it to the lagoon. Its actual rock climbing with only a shabby rope, your two hands and feet to protect you. I'm not going to lie, I was absolutely petrified to start, but then the sense of adventure and the puzzle of where to place body parts to prevent death kicks in. I loved it. The guys were so helpful with me. Hamish especially made a great coach and encourager for all of us. The lagoon was pretty anticlimatic but oh so worth it because of the climbing and near death experiences.
The rest of my time in Railay was spent on the beach and searching for a bar to play the Superbowl...this is when the trouble started. Railay, Thailand isn't exactly American Football center so I started to
get nervous that this would be the first year I would miss the Superbowl. The slow descent into depression happened. I thought about everyone back home getting ready for the big game, I thought about the food, the clam dip, my dog, my friends, my mommy, daddy, brothers ..oh I became a crying, snivelling mess. I eventually at the final hour of the night found a bar owner willing to wake up at six am and turn on the game...even this made me cry, tears of happiness this time. I happily woke up and headed to the game. Cheered for Arizona because everyone loves an underdog. Was joined by Canadians and some fellow Americans. I only teared up a little during the national anthem but made it thru the game satisfied that I succeeded in watching another Superbowl in a foreign country.
I thought I was over the homesickness but then as soon as it had ended with the start of the Superbowl, it started again with the end of the Superbowl. ..if that makes sense. Ha. We all boarded a longtail to Krabi and got into our new rooms. The boys sat down with me to discuss where
we would go next. They had decided to go their separate ways so they could experience traveling alone for a bit. Guess what I did....I cried....AGAIN. We all had a good last day together. We climbed 1,250 miserable steps to a temple at the top of a mountain. The view was spectacular, breathtaking, and so worth it. Seeing a monk pray to Buddha while the sun set over the mountains 1,250 steps up into the sky was exactly what a night in Thailand should be like. I got back with a new sense of determination to make myself happy. I called my mom and dad and thru them decided a trip up north to Chiang Mai was in order. Chiang Mai is a city in the northern part of Thailand known for its adventure treks thru the jungle. I initially had no desire to go but because of the raving reviews I had gotten from other backpackers I decided to give it a go. I booked a ticket for the next day, called a hostel and my change of plans occurred.
I arrived into Chiang Mai bright eyed and bushy tailed. Its a fresh smelling, clean city.. no sleazy
feel like I got in some places of the south. My hostel is in a home in a nice suburban neighborhood. Its more like a giant sleepover then a backpackers. I love it here so stinking much. I did Flight of the Gibbons one day. Its ziplining thru the canopy of the jungle, being lowered a hundred feet or so with just one rope and one man holding onto that rope, its walked on a bridge between trees high above the ground. Its perfect. The ex Girlscout in me was having the best time of my life. A couple nights ago I went on a trek with four Austrians, my new friend Justin (an English/Canadian) and a Canadian named Nick. The owner of the hostel ran it. We rode elephants followed by white water rafting and swimming in the river. We got to where we would be sleeping. A local run spa complete with 10 hot spring pools and big tents set up with loads of blankets. My dream come true. We soaked for a bit, split a bottle of vodka then headed to a local festival. White people are not a normal site where we were. We felt like
celebrities. Everyone gawking wanting us to take pictures with their babies. I played a few games of bingo and I have never been helped by so many guys pointing out numbers that had been called. It was SOOOOO much fun. After we were all sufficiently tipsy we headed back to the hot pools got naked, drank whisky, rum, beer, talked, laughed and had another night that I will remember forever.
The next day was my own personal hell...hiking for four straight hours uphill. I love a good hike. I do not, however, like a hike walking straight up hills with shoes that have zero traction where everyone else is in amazing shape and zipping up while I huff and puff behind wishing I could just sit down and read a book. It was hard and I complained a little but bygod I made it. We went to a village of Burmese refugees and donated some shoes and socks. I personally donated a few oreos to the kids. They were awesome. A couple girls giggled uncontrollably at my tongue stud. They were mystified. In all we saw three distinct villages and ways of living in northern Thailand that day. I
would have walked hours and hours more just to be able to meet the people I did. Laugh with the embarrassed boy getting a haircut.. Play with the little baby girl with the prettiest eyes. ..make fun of Noom for making a little boy cry and meeting an old lady whose whole life was spent making pots. I met people that live a simple, happy life yet work so hard for only a few dollars a day. It was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. We all arrived home exhausted and muddy but ready to go watch a bit of Muay Thai Boxing at a Temple Festival twenty minutes from the hostel. 10 or so of us loaded up and watched Thai men and women kick each other in 5 rounds each fight. We placed bets amongst ourselves. Both bets I made I won...Go Me.
Today, after my exciting two days of trekking, boxing, bingo, elephants, rafting, laughing, eating, getting naked, and drinking I laid around. Tomorrow I leave for Bangkok and after a few days there I head to Australia. Thailand has been a country that I was a little scared of to start but I have
found its a country of smiling people. A people that go above and beyond to help backpackers and travelers. A people that made me laugh even with our lack of understanding each other. Fantastic beaches, beautiful jungle, and awe inspiring vistas. This country gave me so many memories to add to my list of things I will never forget. So I say “Thank You Thailand!..You Rock!”
Now...back to Australia!!!!!!!!!
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Mom
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Love you Jennie
Your pictures are wonderful. I wish I was there with you. Love, Mom