After several days, I began to settle into my new country and time zone.  I was now less shocked to see four people on a motorbike or a dozen people in the back of a truck.  All the streets that had seemed so winding and confusing before, now developed a sense of organization and familiarity.

A couple weeks into the trip, I was feeling burnt out.  The end seemed so far away.  The food once so unique and flavorful, now all tasted the same.  And somewhere along the way, I felt I had lost myself in the tsunami of people around me.  One day during this time, I enjoyed KFC like I never have before in my life because it brought me a little morsel of home.

As the weeks went by, I started to feel more and more a part of Thailand as it grew to become a part of me.  When I would see white people or others who looked like me, I would condescendingly think, “farang.”  I was no longer a tourist.

A month into my journey, I was beginning to feel ready to come home, tired of short doors and stiff mattresses, but the siren call of the southern beaches kept me from homesickness.  As we said goodbye to the Rotarians, I did not feel much sorrow.  I had met many nice people and a small few who I hope will always be my friends.  More than specific people, however, I would miss all of the Thai people with their friendly attitudes and warm smiles.

During my last week in Thailand, the beaches followed through on their promise of being some of the most beautiful in the world.  The water was warm and clear, the skies blue, and limestone cliffs rose from the edges of the white sand.  No words can accurately capture the beauty of the area, and I wiled away my days frolicking in the waves and diving into the pools, each time thinking nothing could be more refreshing than where I was at that moment.  I even went snorkeling for the first time, and the first 15 minutes were some of the most interesting I’ve ever spent.  I never knew there were fish that were purple and aqua and never dreamed that I would be swimming among them.

And now I sit in an airport, waiting on the first of many flights that will take me back to Jacksonville.  I am ready.  I miss my family, my friends, my cat, and my bed.  But part of me worries that I have forgotten that life.  I have never been on holiday for so long, and I wonder if I can regain my normal life.  What will it be like to go back to work five days a week with no wats, motorbikes, or Tom Yum Goong (thank God!)?  How will I adjust to being nobody again when everyone here treated me like a beauty queen?  I will survive; I kind of like carrying my own bags and doing my own laundry. 

But I am sure that each time the scent of jasmine wafts through the air, I will remember all the garlands I have worn and know that I left a little part of myself in Thailand and carry a little part of it with me.

Post from: Thai Trek

I was once again caught by the short bathroom door frame as my teeth shuttered against each other and I cursed out loud. I sat there, thinking, “I just want to go home to where the door frames are a normal size (and I don’t have to put the key in a holder to turn on the lights).”

Ever since we noticed the trend of short bathroom doors, we have been asking our hosts to try to figure out why this is the case. Roger hypothesized a good theory that it was to designate to guests which door leads to the bathroom. He suggested this to a host, who completely denied it. There is no reason for the short door, and so I have hit my head on them many times (though none as hard as today).

Post from: Thai Trek

A few towns ago, Jamie and I were staying with the same host, who pretty much did not speak English. Jamie took a shower in the evening and managed to procure a towel by pointing to the one in the bathroom to express her need.

I tried the same trick in the morning. She seemed to scurry about for a bit but with no results. I tried asking again. Eventually, she pointed towards our room and said something including song (two in Thai) while holding up her fingers. As near as I could translate, she had only two towels (the one in the bathroom and Jamie’s), and Jamie and I must share. In fact, she seemed a bit affronted that I would ask for a towel.

When telling this strange story to Wendy, she mentioned that her host explained that most Thais travel with their own towel. This somewhat explains the situation but does not relieve the fact that Jamie and I shared the same towel for two days.

Oh, but it got worse. At our last host, we could not find them in the morning to ask for towels, so Jamie and I air-dried. I employed three methods: 1) shaking like a dog, 2) brushing off the water with my hands, and 3) using my pajamas for excess moisture. For two days, I did this. It was especially hard to get my hair dry.

It is nice to be in a hotel now.

Post from: Thai Trek

This sign was in the public bathroom in the lobby of the less than luxury resort we were staying in a few nights ago. Jamie and Wendy noticed it when they left the karaoke party that featured two women in questionable attire.

Tonight we attended the city fair. They don’t have prizes like this at our carnivals.

Like dogs in the U.S., apparently bunnies get to wear clothes in Thailand.

Umm. Yummy.

Post from: Thai Trek

Using the special bathroom features found in rural Thailand, I feel like I have washed away a level of prissiness from myself.

Things I don’t understand about Thai bathrooms:

* Every bath has a spray hose next to the toilet. This, I have been told, is used similar to a bidet. My questions: How do you dry yourself afterwards? Do you pull up your panties all soaking wet? And if so, doesn’t that make it look like you peed yourself?

* What’s with the opposition to towels? Many bathrooms have no hand towels paper or otherwise. I’m learning to air dry or use my clothes, but I am not entirely liking it.

Oh, and I got to ride an elephant today … through an historic park with ruins of a 700-year-old civilization! It couldn’t have been more exciting. We fed the elephant afterwards, which was also fascinating. (For more information on all the cool things we did today, check out our group’s blog located under the Blog Roll on the right.)

Post from: Thai Trek