Sunday, May 27, 2007
11:34:20 PM

Today was a crazy day! This mornig my host dad drove me to our facility again after a breakfast of eggs and honey. We all loaded into vans (9 total) and drove up into the mountains for about an hour. First, we got to go river rafting. Now, when I say rafting, I mean rafting in the true sense of the word, not some inflatable dingy, while we were getting ready, they were lashing together long bamboo poles with cut up bicycle tires in order to make our rafts. I got to stand (or at least try to) at the back of our raft with a long bamboo pole to help our guide navigate down the river. The hardest part was keeping balanced because the poles were only lashed together, I eventually got the hang of it and it was quite fun. At the end, I even got to go over a small water falls with just me and the guide an I didn’t even fall off.
Next, we all loaded back into the vans and drove out to where there were elephants. Yes, I rode an elephant today!, those animal are huge! The one I was on with Jorge and Simi quite liked to eat bananas and bamboo. They are actually quite versatile animals, the ultimate all terrain vehicle. Afterwards, we drove to a village for lunch, lots of rice and fruit. Continuing on, we headed out further into nowhere in search of some waterfalls. All around the landscape was what I had really expected it to be, with lots and lots of hillsides covered with terraced rice patties. After some more driving and about a half hour walk we arrive at the waterfalls, lots of people went swimming. All the way back pretty much everyone in my van slept as the guides and driver on the front watched Karaoke on a screen they had. My host brother was waiting for me when we arrived back. He, myself and Ryan and his host sister went to the mall for supper where I got to try some more traditional Thai food. It was quite a nice mall, there were many shops including Dairy Queen, food is so cheap so I had a blizzard, it was quite the same as in Canada, except here they add whipped cream on top. It was all good.

Unfortunately, the internet seems to not be working anymore so we’ll update as we can.


Gabby, ready for his Safari
Doi Satem Mountain
Khan, our guide
Literally building our rafts






Jorge and I ride the elephants!







They really like bananas!