Chang

This is the experience we have been looking for. We left Bangkok a few days ago, on a night train for Surin, a small town about two hours away from Cambodia. We thought it was going to have beds like the last one, but this was only hope. Instead it was a nine hour ride across the country on a shaky seat. We were the only Westerners on the train as well, but I tell you….it was a killer adventure. We had a few beers before we got on to ease the long haul, especially with no beds. We start moving, and I thought I would go check out the rest of the train. First thing, you have to picture the trains here. It’s something straight out of a movie. There’s no real comfort at all, everyone on the train is a local, the train shakes so much back and forth, and in between the train, the doors are just wide open. You can literally just hang off the side of the train, which I did for a good hour.

I ended at one of the cars, and found a railway police man, who was drunk, and a few military men in their perfect uniforms. Long story short, Adrian and I ended up kickin’ it with them, and they would buy us beers all night long, and the whole time we really had no idea what they were saying. We called him the General, because he looked just like one, and every time the big boss came rolling through, who looked like Adolf, we had to bow and thank him, because we were really out of line on what was going on. It was something that you would NEVER find in any first world country. After words, I went in between the cars and just hung my entire body outside of the train. We’re going about fifty miles per hour, and it’s about two in the morning, and I’m feeling the sweet summer night air blowing on my face, as we zoom by. Not the safest thing to do, especially since I had to dodge bushes, trees, and light poles every minute or so, but an amazing feeling of freedom.

Surin has been a nice, quiet town for the most part. That first day was rough, being we hadn’t slept much. We walked around town, ate some delicious Thai food, and just lounged around. I’ve really started to grow a liking to Thai food, and even went as far as buying my own chop sticks made out of rose wood, and a soup spoon made out of a native tree around here. I hella didn’t understand what tree the guy said it was from. Ooops. We’re staying in some hotel right in the center of town, and this place looks like a building straight out of a Vietnam movie. Our room, with two huge beds, bathroom, fan, and so much space was only 460 Baht, which comes out to be $3.50 each for the four of us. Talk about a killer deal.

Today was something we’ve been hoping for a while. Mike has a monk friend in San Fran, and by some miracle managed to get a hold of him last night via Skype, on the other side of the world on a different time, three way call another Thai woman who lives right in this town, and about an hour later we had a elephant trekking day planned out, which took place today. Chang is what elephant is in Thai. We still can’t believe how smooth things turned out. At nine this morning, we were picked up, took an hour drive in the back of a pick-up, and arrived at this elephant sanctuary in the country-side. This place was seriously in the cuts, and the locals out here were not use to seeing Westerners. I can only describe this place as Jurassic Park, but for elephants. No joke. There were elephants everywhere you turned, and an enormous lake for them to bathe and drink from, right in the center of the property. We ended up spending hours here, riding elephants, chillin’ out, and just admiring these spectacular creatures. It was so cool! The best part too,…this wasn’t something you couldn’t look for. Not where we were. We got the local hook up, and were taking care of like friends.

Our guide ended up inviting us to dinner at her place. Quick pit stop at the farmers market picking up some vegetables and chicken first, and then to the kitchen. This evening was unbelievable, and really it was exactly what we wanted. We were so sick of all the backpackers in Bangkok. Everyone just getting drunk and partying, vendors everywhere, and countless salesmen trying to sell you a suit. We wanted elephants, and we wanted something you couldn’t find in a lonely planet. This was it. Now we’re full from bowls of spicy veggie soup, and relaxing for the rest of the evening. Tomorrow we’re heading to a remote village to help teach children English, and then we’ll spend the rest of the evening at the guides house for dinner again. She’s giving us a ride all the way to the Cambodian border.

Three hours cruisin’ in the back of a pick-up to another country for another three week trek.

How’s sweet does that sound?