City to Jungle to City Once Again

We last left you deafened by the constant sounds of motorbikes and partying westerners. Since then, as has been the case thus far, the world has continued to unfold before us. A six-hour boat ride through the night took us through welcomed calm seas off of Ko Tao. One long mattress on each side of the thin ocean goer slept nearly one hundred strangers close enough to each other to be intimate partners. I slept like a child.

An early morning bus brought us and our new Italian friend, Milo, to the city of Nakkon Si Thamarat. Off the tourist map, we got a cheap hotel, and pounded out all of the sights in one day. This was the first real Thailand we had been to yet. Street dogs and grilled meat, temples and Thai tourists, school children laughing and practicing the extent of their English training, "Hello, where are you from?!"

A shadow puppet master that lives among the concrete smells and noises. His sanctuary houses family and disciples making the age old puppets from hand out of raw hide. Extremely intricate, they have been shown to kings the world around. He gave us a private screening for 2 dollars a piece. A true master. He wakes from a nap, coughed up some phloem, gave the show, and fell back asleep, his round belly open to the tropic air.

The next morning we hopped a taxi and made it to the small village of Kiriwang, at the base of a national park. Our Thai still limited we had all but given up on trying to find a place to stay in this quiet traditional jungle fruit harvesting village. Just about that time, we noticed some pale skin and a familiar language. An hour later, we found ourselves taking turns on the back of a 225cc motor bike climbing impossibly steep and narrow trails deeper into the jungle to our new residence.

Lek and his father manage their jungle "garden" from 200 years of family knowledge. They do as others from around the world in rainforests do - plant and harvest an edible fruit forest. True hosts with the patience to teach us some Thai and show us their home. We hiked and swam in the crystal river, relaxed and learned some Thai, helped build a bamboo bridge, and shared in their meals. There was another french man with them, Roman, who was staying for a few days as well. He is a professional traveller with a huge heart and a willing hand. Someone we hope to meet again soon. Like everything, even paradise has to come to an end. We left in a flurry of Thai goodbyes and awkward hugs to board a bus to Karabi town.

So here we are, back in a new city again. This one coastal and Western. We are here to climb and see some more jungle. We hope to get some pictures up here to share soon. Take care.