Today we learned how to be a mahout! This guy named Mr. Big (yes, like the chocolate bar) came to pick us up and another traveller Richard from Holland was also in our group. Mr. Big drove us to an elephant camp in the mountains and the place was amazing. They had elephants grazing in a field, eating corn stalks. Farmers who had picked the corn usually just burned the rest of the plant, but the "mahouts" bought it and fed it to their elephants. They are all Indian elephants so they have different shaped ears than African elephants and they are also a different colour, with tanned patches on their trunks and ears. We went to the sorta 'base camp' and they lent us mahout uniforms. They were lose and comfortable, perfect for riding an elephant. After we changed they took us and and a HUGE pile of bananas to a little hut, where an elephant was waiting. Her name is Pa Toon, and she is pregnant. Elephants stay pregnant for 22 months! To my surprise . . .
After arriving in Bangkok a taxi drove us to a hotel and we settled in for the night. The hotel room was clean, cleaner than I had expected. We did computer stuff and went to bed. The next day we went to JJ Weekend market. It was jam-packed with people. There were so many stalls that they had to move everything into sections, and I think there were about 24 parts! We only went to about six of them, and we were their all day! And they had EVERYTHING. From coconut drinks to buddha ornaments, from dresses and shoes to carvings from bones. Mom and I looked mainly for dresses, because in Uganda we have to wear dresses and the boys have to wear pants. I got two dresses and LOVE them (I guess that sounds really girly). Mom got a new hat, Dad got a watch and Birch got great ear-buds. And not to mention how in-expensive everything was! If you divide the number of bahts (their dollar) by thirty it comes out as how much it is! For example, 450 baht divided by 30 is 15 dollars! It's also good math, although I haven't moved on to the thousands yet. There was a sad part about the market, though. All over Bangkok there are . . .
The last three days were spent snorkeling, getting Thai massages, going to the gym and hanging out by the pool. The days had whipped by and now we were all too sadly leaving. We packed our bags, said good-bye to the cooks and the house, then Khun Arree drove us to the airport.
Allie
The next morning was spent by the pool and after having an early lunch a taxi arrived. We were going on a kayak trip to some hongs. The guy driving had once been a tour guide and he knew everything. He talked about the rubber trees mostly, though. He said it was one of the best buisnesses because while waiting for the rubber trees to grow (they take about three-six years) you can plant pineapples (four months) which grow on the ground and sometimes they even plant peppers. After the pineapples are full-grown and picked they chop off the top and plant it. Then they sell the leaves to people with elephants and the fruit to people to eat. They keep planting and over the years the rubber trees grow until you can collect rubber. After they're all out of rubber, carpenters come and buy the wood. Then it's time to start all over. He also said they have three seasons; Hot, Very Hot and Bloody Hot. In Canada we pretty much have the opposite; Cold, Very Cold and Bloody Cold!
When we arrived at our destination we got out and took a bus across the pier and we got on the boat and started our adventure. The ride to Phang Nga Island (pronounced Pannok Island) was about an hour. A guy explained how . . .
This is the entrance to the Buddhist Temple. Many of these temples are found allover Thailnad
On the third day Khun Arree took us to a Buddhist Temple to learn the rituals. There were Buddhas everywhere, gold ones that looked flaky. There were Buddhas in every room at Jennifer's place and it gave the house a happy atmosphere. You get a little package with incense, a candle and four folded pieces of wax paper. Lighting the candle, light the incense off the candle. Melt the wax on the bottom of the candle and stick it on a metal-thing. Go on your knees and hold the incense between your hands. Say a prayer. I prayed for Grandpa and everyone affected by him. After you're done place the incense in a large ashtray (I'm talking very large - as-big-as-a-dog large) that is already filled with ashes from other incense. Afterward walk over to a Buddha and open your wax paper. Inside is a flake of gold. Stick it on the Buddha (don't touch the gold directly) and say a prayer. Repeat this until . . .
The next morning at breakfast I discovered the coconuts were delicious along with everything else, bacon, sausages, ham, yoghurt, mini pancakes and fresh fruit made a more than satisfying meal. By the end I was ready to burst. After breakfast we quickly got ready for a boat ride to an island far, far away where we could snorkel. (Isn't 'snorkel' a funny word?) We drove to the other side of Phuket (about half an hour drive) to a marina where they kept their boat. Fergus left to go sailing and we started on our way. The speed-boat was complete with a cooler, garbage, a cuddy cabin, toilet (rather not get into detail) and a Captain who took care of the boat when Jennifer and her family were away. We sped along for . . .
We arrived in paradise! Thailand is beautiful and the place we're staying at is luxurious. Khun Arree picked us up at the airport and brought us to Mom's friends place. I had been expecting a little beach house by the water and a cook, which Mom had mentioned before. But this was far past that. The 'house' (or should I say mansion) had three floors. Entering onto the top floor the site amazed me. Three huge couches, a big table, tonnes of books and an ocean-view - that's the living-room. To the right of the living-room is the deck with seats and cushions and a room and to the left the outdoor dining-room. The dining-room does have a cover but you still get the breeze. Beside the dining-room there is yet . . .
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