To the jungle and beyond

Even though you're not worrying about me, I'm still alive and well in northern Thailand. My adventures in Bangkok were generally enjoyable, but I kept feeling a lot of anxiety about getting hustled and about being sans-wallet and being uncertain of the travels ahead. There could be a million different reasons why, but I've found my comfort zone now in the north.

Bangkok is a gong show. Hustlers all around the Khao San Road area are attempting to swindle you out of your money in a million different ways. I'm fully aware of Khao San was dubbed the "backpacker ghetto", but nothing really prepared me for that dirty little strip in central bangkok that swarmed with sweaty farang (the Thai word for foreigners). Whether I looked like I needed a new suit or maybe I was interested in an elicit, uhhh, let's say "performance", I (along with the rest of the sweat soaked population) was constantly the target of people wanting the money in my pockets.

I met up with some awesome people in Bangkok (some fantastic friends-of-friends, along with a teacher or two from China), but for some reason I was really glad to escape it after 4 days. Immediately after leaving the city, my anxiety began to subside, and a calm state of mind found me. While I was there, though, I got the chance to check out Avatar with Mr. McRann, saw the King of Thailand's Grand Palace, met a police officer who told us all about the royal family, and was nearly attacked by a rabid dog. I guess it wasn't too boring, anyway!

I headed north to Ayuthaya and Sukhothai (two of Thailand's ancient, historical cities) where I ended up meeting/befriending both a Buddhist nun and a Buddhist monk. Very cool, intimate experiences with both. I met the nun (I think her name is spelled Nong) where she told me a bit about Ayuthaya and gave me a bag of bananas as I got off the train, and I met the monk at one of the more secluded monasteries in the Historical Park in Sukhothai. Very cool way to really experience this strange and beautiful country.

I've spent the last few days splitting my time between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai this past week. So far I've done some rock climbing, tonnes of exploring and spent the past two days trekking through the hill tribe villages and jungle around Chiang Rai. I'm just on my way back to Chiang Mai to spend a few days before heading to Malaysia. I've got some yoga planned for the morning and maybe an overnight at a Buddhist monastery Sunday night. I've been meeting tonnes of great people from all over the world and feel like I'm back on my trip to Europe from 8 years ago, as I just keep finding great people to hang with and experiencing some fascinating things. I think I've met half of Europe in Thailand... five or six people from Germany, three or four Dutch kids, a couple of funny Austrians, a couple from Albertville, France and a few Brits and Canucks as well. Always fun meeting the world while exploring it.

And the food. Sheesh. SOOOOOO good. I've developed a 6 meal-a-day diet right now because there's so much food and they pretty much give it away because it's so cheap. But I've eaten more curry and pad thai and other delightful things in the past week than I can even describe. Which is part of the reason for the activity... no need to get fat while vacationing!

For now, the bus is calling. As is more coffee. I'll be in Chiang Mai for two more days before flying down to meet the Seaths in Kuala Lumpur for some more hiking adventures. Hope you're all well back home and wherever else life finds you right now. From the land of the biggest smiles in the world and the place where everything is "yes" and always, "same same"...

T