Exploring...

I didn't think I'd post so much so soon after arriving, but the atmosphere is very relaxed and it's a nice way to journal the adventure and wind down after a long day. Today was a fantastic introduction to Thailand as we set out on a private day tour that included elephant riding, tiger temple, river rafting, and an orchid and butterfly farm.

I was so excited about the elephants, but found it really challenging to watch them perform on demand in a show for the tourists. Most of the keepers were very gentle, but one kept using a hook implement to hit his elephant on the head, leaving large wounds. I wonder what the poor creatures were thinking as we all clapped and fed them bamboo shoots. They seem to enjoy performing but it's hard to tell.

The elephant riding was less demanding on the elephants and was a wonderful opportunity to explore some Thai forest. I loved the way local people would stand on their balconies along the path and try to sell us food for the elephants which they would have picked from the banana tree right next door. Tara and I had a very friendly guide who sang songs to us, chanted Aussie Aussie Aussie, and took lots of photos. Ricky and Hayley weren't so enthused by their guide who wore his leather jacket accompanied by a rather rock star attitude.

After a lovely buffet lunch we hopped on bamboo river rafts and took a 40 minute journey downstream. It was pretty relaxing and lots of fun to wear traditional bamboo hats for the trip.

Tiger temple was the next stop and I was tossing up whether to go in with the cubs or fully grown, but both had a 1 hr wait and I honestly didn't trust the big ones to refrain from eating me! (Hayley was more brave than I). Ricky and I opted for the juniors who were about 8 months old and fairly playful, though it was early afternoon and aparently siesta time. I felt sorry for them as the keepers kept trying to make them lie down for photos when all they wanted to do was walk around and be left alone - must be a strange life. We basically got our photos and left them to it.

Orchid and butterfly farm was a bit of a non-event and I'm sure our tour operators only took us there under some agreement they have with the local businesses. The butterflies were pretty but there weren't many as apparently it isn't the season.

Before dinner some of us went to the local massage parlour and enjoyed a 1 hr oil massage - so relaxing, though a little more confronting than a western massage (apparently no part of the body is off limits!). When we were walking to the massage we notice lots of people with bags of stuff lined along the footpath and we assumed it was people waiting to be picked up and travel somewhere for new years, but when we came out the street was closed an hundreds of market stalls had sprung up!

I ate from market stalls for the first time tonight - authentic Pad Tahi and I'm sorry Sings, but you've got nothing on the real deal. And at 30 baht it's a bargain (AUD$1).

I had a great time with Joelle and Tara exploring the newly established markets and learning to barter with my few Thai words. I can't believe how cheap everything is over here ($9 for a Mombasa style dress, 75c for fabric earrings, 65c for fresh OJ). I'm also becoming more confident in negotiating song tao rides which means not only saving money, but getting to my destination surprisingly faster.

New Years Eve tomorrow is supposed to be a fireworks extravaganza ith all of the hotels doing their own display, though I've booked myself in for babysitting duties so mightbe watching from the Brewer's apartment balcony.

The adventure begins...

What a HUGE 24 hrs it's been! 11.45 last night I flew Brisbane - Singapore which was a familiar experience. i made friends with a lovely young famiy sitting next to me and had their 14 month old daughter Millie in giggles. But this sleep princess was not impressed by maybe 1 hr of broken sleep in the whole journey - was glad when the lights were back on and breakfast was served - Gluten free meals have their benefits and pitfalls. I got fed first but instead of bacon and eggs, I had a much more asian inspired breakfast of omlette, spinach, and potato.

Changi airport stopover was when exhaustion first hit and I found a comfy bit of floor by my gate and slept as much as I could. I offered to watch a gentleman's bags while he went to the bathroom and we got chatting. His name was Chris and he was soon joined by wife Sue and 11 yr old son Isaac who were off on a holiday to Thailand. It's so fascintaing hearing people's stories and they were really inspired by the work I'm doing. It was also just nice to have chatty people to help pass the time and fill out arrival cards :)

Breakfast served again on the Singapore - Chiang Mai leg, this time poached eggs with peas, mushrooms and some nice salsa. Caught a few more winks of sleep but once we got over Thailand I couldn't pull myself away from the window - the sky was clear and the landscape breathtaking! I can't believe how many amazing mountain ranges there are. Descending into CM I really enjoyed spotting the temples and statues that glisten in the sunlight.
Everything beyond arrival feels like a blur as I was ushered through checkpoints, put into a taxi and sent off to my accommodation. I literally walked in the door, sat on my bed and cried! I felt so alone and underprepared in a totally foreign city. Things got worse before they got better as I realised none of my wall plug converters fitted the plugs, I couldn't reach joelle on her mobile, my laptop was nearly out of power... but as mum advised me to do, I stopped, dropped, and prayed. God is soooo good! I raced to 7eleven down the street (gotta love western comforts) and spoke very broken Thai/ english to the non-english speaking shop assistant who eventually sold me credit for my phone. I used the remaining laptop power to google the phone number of Joelle and Sam's accommodation and praise God got a hold of them! It's amazing how exhaustion can blow simple dilemmas right out of proportion but I'm thankful God guided my thinking.

So this afternoon I took my first Sang Tao (hailed with a little help from the lady at reception who seems to feel sorry for the tall foreign girl) and met up with Joelle, Sam, Owen, Ricky, Hayley, Tara (Sam's sister) and Joelle's parents. It was nice just to be able to follow people who knew where they were going. I soon mastered "khop kun kah" (thankyou) as we engaged with the locals and had some fishy fun as we got or feet nibbled at the fish spa! Quite the experience, especially seeing as the staff moved me from a nice placid tank to one that seemed to be full of piranahs!
Funnily enough my first meal in CM was Lebanese as the rest of the mob has been eating authentic Thai in small towns for the past 3 weeks and were ready for a change. It was strange to order a salad when I was so strictly told not to eat fresh veges due to water contamination risk, but it was completely safe an a real treat. Everyone else headed to the Night Bazaar but I decided to head home for a good nights sleep as we're going elelphant trekking tomorrow. Should be fun!

2 sleeps...

I haven't done very well in keeping the preparations for my trip updated here. It's been such a hectic time but I've enjoyed every moment of contemplation, list-making, panic, and of course prayer. I feel such peace about the journey even though I'm not quite sure what it will entail. I spoke to Doug, my contact in Tahiland on Skype a few days ago and he informed me that the English classes I was supposed to teach aren't going to be happening, so who knows what I might end up doing!

I've enjoyed having a few relaxing days with my family over christmas, but as soon as the celebrations were all over I was bac to packing and more list-making!

I've never travelled with so much luggage - suitcase, laptop, carry-on case, backpack..... it's hard to keep track of what needs to go where.

I was really blessed by my workmates with lots of great travel products including this lovely cushy travel pillow which I'm sure I'll appreciate on my red-eye flights!

With only 9 days to go until I leave for Thailand, I'm starting to feel the reality of my trip sinking in. I am not at all organised in terms of packing and paperwork but trust that it will all begin to come together this week.
I finished up at work on Friday which was a huge emotional challenge as I farewelled my amazing colleagues and the beautiful children who have become like family to me. This new season has officially begun. I'm trusting God for my next paycheque (and the one after that...and after that again...)
I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my family this week and Fi arrives from Melbourne on Monday for a fleeting Christmas visit. This time next week it'll be time to pack the bags and say my goodbyes.

So exciting. So challenging. So good.