Thailand Sunshine

Up and down and all round, I have been in Thailand for a month now and I feel like I have been all over the country and yet have seen and done less than 1% of what I would like to. It's funny how that happens, you just can't seem to get enough and yet I can't be to bummed because everything has been so amazing and the people have been truly wonderful.



To start out the trip I had a few crazy long flights to get to Bangkok but it was well worth it when I was met at the airport by my boyfriend Russell who I had not seen for almost 4 months. My first few days in Bangkok where really laid back, just hanging out and relaxing. It's amazing how calm a city of over 7 1/2 million people can be from the 26th floor of a five star hotel and then you go out into the streets and the sounds and smells wash over you like a tilde wave. All I can say is that I am so very happy that I was not alone in that massive urban jungle. by far the most insane city I have ever been to. (pictured right one of the guardians of the city at Wat Pho)

During my 5 short days in Bangkok I was lucky enough to not only have Russ and his traveling companion Mike there to show me around but also Fang (the most wonderful person) who had grown up in Bangkok and was nice enough to drive me around showing me the sights and taking us all out for great food and to some very fun clubs.


On the 26th of Feb after 5 days in Bangkok I was dieing to get some Climbing in so Russ, Mike and myself headed down south to Krabi and Railay beach where we had heard was some one of a kind rock climbing. With Fang's help we made it to Krabi in one day (by bus) and crashed out there for a night before catching a 45min long boat ride to Railay beach. As we slowly made our way around the shore and came into this beach with soaring cliffs all around and palm trees I finally started to feel like I was a long long way from home, in every sense.

We slowly made our way around the point to Ton Sai beach where we would set up base camp for the next few days, it was not the nicest of beaches but I knew that the climbing would more then make up for that. We finally got settled and headed out to do a bit of bouldering before the day was done. As we walked along the cliffs and looked at these walls all I could think was that I am way out of my league here, I mean the routes these people were climbing were insane.

By the time we started bouldering I was feeling so incapable of doing anything and yet so excited that I could hardly stand it. As soon as we touched the rock we realized that while it looked amazing it was also jagged razer sharp holds of every kind and after about half an hour the guys had blood on their hands and all our hands were shot for the night. But it being my 21st birthday that night we soothed our sore hands around cold drinks and sat beneath the beautifully lit limestone cliff.

Over the next couple days we had a great time messing around on the rocks and doing nothing at the Bungalow. I mean really sunshine and climbing what more could you ask for. Here is a picture of one of my favorite climbs where we got to climb up through and around the stalactites. As you would place your hands or feet against the formations they would echo and ring with a hollow sounds when you placed all your weight on them,which I have to say was really cool and a bit unnerving. We also got to view one of the locals having lunch (pictured right), when Russ and I ventured out to play on this long slack/high line suspended about 15 feet above the water. Granted we did not have the skills to walk the line but we could climb out and jump into the water. All in all it was unlike anything that I have done before and was a lot of fun.

After our four days on Ton Sai beach we headed out again to the island of Ko Pha-Ngan where we were meeting up with Fang for the full moon party. We arrived at our wonderful out of the way bungalow well after dark after a day long bus drive, sickening ferry ride (it seems I get a bit sea sick) and a harrowing 4wheel drive adventure in the back of an open pick up truck on top of these huge barrels. Lets just say that the most common words during that drive were "I hope the tailgate holds" and "I wonder how far we will roll before we stop". The ride was well worth it seeing as our beach was beautiful and very much off the beaten track, it was great to yet again just hang out under palm trees and we even did a bit of snorkeling, which I definitely want to do more of. After the full moon party and another day of beach time we headed back to Bangkok so the guys could get their visas to China.


The few days in Bangkok were fairly unremarkable other than the amazing food and hanging out with friends. Russell did take me to Wat Pho which was quite beautiful and the home of the reclining Buddha. It is also where Thai massage was first documented and there are little yogi-massage statues on the grounds. Sadly everything else we tried to go to that day was closed and we could not get in, hopefully next time we are in Bangkok.

On Sunday the 11th I saw Russell off at the airport as he moved on to the next leg of his adventure in China (unexpectedly by himself after Mike decided to go back to Bozeman for two months, then meet us back in Bangkok in May with his girlfriend Amy). I have to say that I am not looking forward to being apart for another month and a half, but its also nice to be on your own for a while.After saying farewell to Russell and Bangkok I hopped on a train up to Chiang Mai were I am having an amazing week of sight seeing, rock climbing and haunting the local markets. On Monday I start Thai Massage School and I am very much looking forward to that. I hope to have many more stories to tell you soon and please keep in touch, it gets lonely without the news from across the big water.

Oh and one last thing to tell you all, during all the free time on the many beaches here I read "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and I recommend it to you all. It was a really wonderfully written book and gave me a great deal of perspective on a different way of life and how everyone does make a difference in this world. So thank you Leif for the great birthday present and I hope some of you will pick it up.

Until next time stay bright and have fun everybody.

Peace and smiles, Kala