Today I spent 32,000 baht, that’s a lot. A lot of baht. I also read Green Eggs and Ham to my students, which is why I think I just repeated my little rhyme there. Anyway, I spent a bunch of dough today and I’m feeling pretty great about it. Before I came to Thailand I worked my butt off freelancing, catering, babysitting and dog walking so that when I came here I didn’t have to say no. Today marked the beginning of saying yes, why not and what the hell.
All the lines on the map above indicate somewhere I’ve been, but mostly places I’m about to go. So far I’ve visited Bangkok, the islands of Ko Sichang and Ko Samed also known as Ko Samet and Khao Yai National Park. Those are the four tiny black lines, but my lines are about to get a lot longer. We have next Monday off because of the King’s birthday so it allows us to travel pretty far away. On Friday I’m taking an overnight bus to Chiang Rai, a city in the north. It’s the line to the east. The bus ticket cost about 1,500 baht roundtrip for gold status, which means I’ll be able to lie down. A bed on a bus, I’m not sure what’s better than that. I can catch up on some sleep and tunes and see the countryside. I’m meeting some friends from orientation in Chiang Rai and on Sunday a big group of us is going to take an early morning trek up an enormous mountain and watch the sunrise. We’ll be so high we’ll be above the clouds. Chiang Rai should be another great nature escape filled with hiking and beautiful views. I also hear the north is really ‘chilled out’ so maybe I’ll get to experience some Thai culture other than what I’m familiar with. On Monday night we’re going to catch another overnight bus and arrive back in Chonburi at about 5 a.m. just enough time for a shower and some breakfast before school.
The next weekend I’m taking an overnight train to Surat Thani and then catching a bus to Krabi and other nearby islands. The train was about the same price as the bus, but I didn’t buy the ticket with air conditioning. It’s always too cold anyway and I plan on catching up on sleep again. I don’t have definite plans for where I’ll go once I get down south, but I’m excited to meet up with Alice, a friend I met at orientation. She is living and working in Trang, which is a jungle province in the south that’s surrounded by islands. That weekend we also have Monday off so again we’ll arrive in Bangkok around 4 a.m. and then catch a bus back to Chonburi just in time for school.
The third weekend in December is my friend Danielle’s birthday so we’re going to Bangkok to shop, dance and celebrate. I cannot wait to roam around the weekend market all day. I’m already envisioning the cute outfits and Christmas presents I’m going to buy. I need to brush up on my Thai shopping words before than though. Maybe that’s what I’ll do during all those hours on the buses and trains.
Although I’m excited for all those adventures, I’m really counting down the days to the fourth weekend in December. Twenty-five if you were asking… I pick up Dave from the airport on the 22nd and on the 23rd our adventures begin. We’ll be taking a flight to Chiang Mai a big city in the north. Chiang Mai is a destination for everyone that comes to Thailand because there are so many things to see and do. Although I want to do everything, I’ve narrowed it down to a dozen activities. At the top of the list is rock climbing, elephant trekking, rafting, a meditation course, hiking, mountain biking, zip lining and shopping on Saturday walking street. It’s a lot to squeeze in during a weekend, which is why I’m taking off of work on Monday and Tuesday. It’s a little Christmas present to myself.
The next weekend is New Years and Dave will still be around so we’re flying south to spend the eve on the island of Ko Phi Phi Don. Flight prices went up $80 in just four days. We could have taken an overnight train for one-fifth of the price, but it also would have added 22 hours of travel time. I don’t want to waste time in a train when I could be enjoying Ko Phi Phi’s breathtaking views, clear snorkeling and some of Thailand’s best rock climbing routes. On Sunday, we’ll pack our bags and head to a nearby island called Ko Lanta. Ko Lanta isn’t as touristy as Ko Phi Phi so we’ll spend the day exploring on motorbikes and lounging on the beach outside of our bungalow. On Monday morning we’ll be on the move again to Railay. Railay is known for rock climbing and it’s one of my top destinations in Thailand. The hotels were ridiculously expensive because of the time of year and that’s where a lot of my baht went. A lot of resorts require a four-night minimum during the holiday, but I found some nice villas that weren’t as strict and they’re only a two-minute walk from the cliffs. I can’t wait to put on my harness and climb real rock. I’ve only messed around outside, I’ve never used ropes or accomplished any major elevation, so I’m sure I’ll remember my climbs at Railay for the rest of my life.
Today has to be a record for the most money I’ve spent in one day. The only other time I remember spending this much was when I bought my camera. Even though I didn’t purchase anything tangible, I have a great feeling in my heart and I can’t stop smiling. I know, cheesy, but I really feel like I’m about to make some of the best memories and experiences of my life and it’s all happening so soon. I’ll fill you in as it all plays out.
