Cathy and I enjoy a ride on the sundeck of the Lomprayah Catamaran, although sad to say goodbye to the beautiful island of Ko Tao. 

One Last Adventure

Saturday, 26 February 2005

After getting off the train yesterday morning, I suffered from a bit of food poisoning. I think it was a bad pizza Cathy and I took on the train the night before. I only had one slice on the train, but boy, did my body not like that. I was naseous and sick all day yesterday, so I slept (probably exhausted from diving and running around as well) while Cathy toured the school and the English Program classroom on her own, taking pictures and visiting with Christy and the kids to see my little teaching world. We (Tik, Aw, Christy, and I) took her to the Chedi to eat dinner last night so we could catch one last moto ride and get a feel for more street vendor food, desserts, and the famous flying ice cream stand. Cathy got a little sample of my daily life in Nakhon Pathom, even though we didn't get her the banana roti and watermelon fruit shake I promised her we'd get in my town (The whole trip I kept telling her it's cheaper in my town, so to hold off, and then when we got to my town, we were just go-go-go, that we ran out of time to even get those things!).

This morning, I felt much better, and Tess arrived on my doorstep in the morning after flying in from Phuket, so we all decided to hop on another bus (not that we were all that ecstatic about catching Thai transportation again) to head to Kanchanaburi, a province west of Nakhon Pathom. The nearly 2 hour ride was long, and then we found sawngtheaw (sp?) taxi driver that would speed race drive us to Erawan Waterfalls. We hiked up the waterfalls and then he took us to visit the Bridge over the River Kwai.

We got back just in time to catch the bus back to Nakhon Pathom, and got back at 7:30 pm, running a bit late, but in time for Ajarn Ong-Ard and staff to take us out to dinner. Then, P'Charn drove us and our stuff to meet Erin on Khao San Road in Bangkok....where the girls would spend their last evening in Thailand partying the night away...

Cathy drools over the assortment of Thai sweets - gelatins, desserts, mango with sticky rice and condensed milk.....Mmmmm! At Phra Pathom Chedi in my town. 

"ACTION!", he yells. Famous for his flying ice cream booth, the ice cream scooper man prepares his act to throw an ice cream scoop high in the air for Cathy to try and catch. At Phra Pathom Chedi in my town. 

Cathy catches the ice cream thrown twenty feet into the air.....right in the ice cream cup!  

Tess and Cathy hike up a rickety ladder to get to the top of Erawan Falls. 

Cathy and Tess take a dip under the 7th waterfall at Erawan Falls in Kanchanaburi.

The water runs down the limestone rocks at Erawan Falls. 

Sunset above the Bridge over the River Kwai 

Longtail boats on the River Kwai 

The sun glistens over the River Kwai. 

Boys watch in amazement as the train goes by on the Bridge over the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi Province. 

Tess enjoys a yummy Thai iced tea (chaa yen) from a plastic bag!

Saying Goodbye

Sunday, 27 February 2005

After listening to a Thai cover band sing American pop songs in an Irish pub in Thailand (now that's not odd at all), bar hopping, and trying to avoid the weirdos on Khao San Road, by the time 4:15 am hit, Tess and Cathy were about ready just to head to the air-conditioned airport. Soon after, I sent them off in a taxi, a bit stressed as we couldn't locate Erin. Fifteen minutes after they left, I sent Erin off in a taxi, so they could all make their 7 am flight back to Seattle. Then I tried to get some sleep in the guesthouse, amidst the noise, nasty smells, and drunks on Khao San Road. Traveling (and backpacking) can be stressful when you're running around, trying to make times, trying to coordinate travel (and we definitely got a sample of it all this trip), and making the most of your days in the short time you have. But, it was definitely fun, and I enjoyed trying to use my Thai (many Thais at the beaches actually thought I was Thai and complimented me on my Thai accent), and showing friends the beautiful place and culture I've been living in over the past seven months. I think they're all jazzed about coming back to Thailand again one day, and I for sure will miss it when I leave.

Tess and I came up with our own Thailand guidebook title: "Padlocks, Baby Powder, and Cover Bands"........

Don't ask.........

Erin, Tess, and a girl from Israel we met, have fun dancing the night away in the Shamrock Bar on Khao San Road. 

Of course Khao San Road, the popular street of bars and guesthouses for farangs in Bangkok, has a Starbuck's! 

Tanya and Tess tumbling, I mean walking, on Khao San Road, in the wee hours of morning, their last night in Thailand. 

Tess' favorite thing in Thailand......Coca-Cola in a bottle! 

The Danish, American, New Zealander, and Israeli friends we hung out with at a dive bar near Khao San Road for the last few moments in Thailand! 

I don't think the girls want to leave Thailand!