After an annoying hassle and anight in our hotel, Kate, Jeannie and I finally made it to the BEACH in ourvery own tuk tuk! Our hotel was just ashort walk down a street packed with persistent vendors. But it made it worth it when we made it tothe HOT, SUNNY beach. Drinking out of coconuts, fabulous massages, and just laying on the beach was sorefreshing. Nostalgia hit me hard when Ithought of Anna Maria Islandwith my family…
Wewent on an elephant ‘safari’ one day, which was one of the only pre-plannedrequirements of the trip. We had toclimb up steps of a platform to get onto the elephants, which had thick carpetson their backs with a ferris wheel-type seat for two. However, the ride wasn’t nearly as smooth asa ferris wheel; the elephant swayed back and forth and when going downhill, wehad to hold on. All the while I couldn’thelp humming the Jungle Book elephant song. It only set us back about 25 US, but I’d hate to think of the rough lifethey went through for our money. Myguilty conscience tries to tell me that they are treated well.
Acouple of nights we had the… experience of strolling down Bangler road. It was reminiscent of a scene from MoulinRouge or what my imagination creates pre-Katrina Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I probably could’ve done without encounteringthis road in my life, except for the two laid-back Italian men that we met (seepic). Glad to know that I’ve got someoneto stay with when I go to Italy.
Itseemed to go way too fast, as most vacations do. Hanging out with Kate and Jeannie is always ablast, and I’m glad that we had some time to just chill by the beach and notthink about school. By the end of it, Ifell in love with Thailand’snaturally beautiful scenery, but decided that when I come back, I’d rather stayin a more remote area that isn’t as touristy.
