I have discovered that I love Sundays here in Phetchaburi. There is virtually no one on the road, although there are still students roaming around the school grounds. It's common for kids to hang out at school after school hours or on vacations here in Thailand. There also have been events held at my school during the vacation. Every weekend there has been transport vans parked around the grounds, tents set up, and laundered clothes hanging up to dry. I think there was some sort of camp event going on. This caught me off guard at the beginning of vacation and I expected it to be safe enough to wear my mid thigh shorts around campus. Sadly, it was not and a school worker stopped to remind me that it was inappropriate for a teacher to be dressed they way I was. Sighhh.
Anyhow, I love Sundays in Phetchaburi because I can walk around freely roaming the streets, paying no attention to any cars! It's fantastic and its very calming :)
Last Thursday I went to Kenchanaburi province to visit Erawan National Park. It is absolutely beautiful and have many waterfalls. I recommend anyone to go - plus! it's only like 3-4 hours west of Bangkok so it's pretty centrally located. It was my "I-need-to-get-out-of-the-house-I'm-going-crazy" relief trip from studying. Holding myself hostage for a week and a half studying was making me go nuts. And I didn't like that I wasn't enjoying myself being in this beautiful country! So, Kenchanaburi it was. Using an 8 year old lonely planet guide though, I got on the wrong bus twice while I was in Bangkok where someone finally told me I should have just taken a fast mini van from where I started out (Victory Monument) in the first place! Ha! I was hoping to save money though not taking a fast van and that's why I was trying to make my way to the southern bus terminal.Oh, well - it cost me 140 B ($4.66) to get to Kenchanaburi from Bangkok (plus 100 B to get to Bangkok and 20 B getting lost on different buses). When I arrived in Kenchanaburi, it was already late.
I stayed off a foreigner/ touristy street in a place called Sugarcane for 120 B ($4) - private, double bed, cold shower, on the river, restaurant on site. I like finding farang (foreigner) streets because I find people who travel backpack style to be really interesting people. They also sell cool hippy ware on these streets which I happen to love.
Starting out the next day bright and early, for 100 B I took a fast van to Erawan falls - 1 hour or so ride. I thought I'd splurge getting there because I knew I wanted to beat the crowds and have the most prime photo opps. At Erawan National Park, there are 7 waterfalls, although I swear there are more because waterfall 5 and 6 were labelled twice and there were other mini-waterfalls unlabelled. It's a great nature trail with waterfall swimming breaks all along! The trail begins as a distinguished and cleared off route, and then at around the 5/6 waterfall the trail becomes a little like rock climbing and wading through pools/brush. The 7th waterfall is the most epic and beautiful and the most fulfilling one to reach. After the 6th waterfall, you begin to wonder if there is even a 7th waterfall! Climbing shallow and steep stairs while navigating through nature. Then, you emerge from the brush and there is a huge clearing with the tallest waterfall you could imagine! Absolutely amazing. Broke my expensive sandals and made my way back home going a smarter route through Ratchaburi. The regular bus took 2.5 hours back to Kenchanaburi for 50 B. Then, immediately arriving took the 3 hour regular bus to Ratchaburi for another 50 B. Arriving in Ratchaburi, took a fast van for 40 B back to home. I should have went this route through Ratchaburi in the first place! but I didnt give much thought to the route I was taking when I was getting there - silly me.
The next day, Saturday, I was craving some more adventure! so, I decided to take the night bus to Chiang Mai which I found out from a coworker that there was a direct route from my town! But, like I mentioned before Sombat tours was sold out. Last minute decided to take a pricey fast van (140 B = $4.66) to Bangkok Mo Chit station where I took an trip with an average bus company I don't know the name of for 660 B. The trip was around 9 hours from Bangkok.
Chiang Mai is a pretty cool city with an Old City district in the center which is in the shape of a square. The old walls border the district and the old gates are landmarks. Known as the capital of the north, Chiang Mai is a pretty busy city. It has an international airport, a few universities I've heard were good, quite a few foreigners around - at least where I was. From what I read, it was supposed to be an alternative/hippy hang out for many but I didnt get too strong of an impression of this. It's definitely evident but not overruling. There's lots of yoga places, a few meditation centers, and places that cater to ferangs.
In Chiang Mai, I stayed at a hostel called the Rose guesthouse for 130 B ($4.33) a night. Really cool place, located on the corner of a street block with an open air restaurant on the ground floor. Tons of information available and van service information to places surrounding Chiang Mai. There were private rooms available but staying in dorms are defniitely cheaper. 2 showers available and 2 toilets plus a sink area. Rentable towels and locker service. Common area where the rooms were which was nice since my dorm-mates were sleeping whenever I got back. I stayed in an all girls dorm and met a Chinese girl and a Japanese girl when I first arrived. The Chinese girl was just about to fly home after a 2 week travel and the Japanese girl was taking a 6 month journey to travel the world! She was towards the beginning and her next stop would be India.
The first day in Chiang Mai I visited a few places and Wats (temples). Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phra Leung, and the culture center. Temples are beautiful and lavishly ordained. So many details and bright colors and at Wat Phra Singh, there were very old paintings on the walls like the decorations I've seen on the cathedrals walls in Italy. Temples are really beautiful but to be completely honest I don't find myself appreciating them as much as the Italian cathedrals and architecture. Maybe its because I dont know much of the history behind the temples, maybe its because I'm not Buddhist? They are nice to visit though and the temples grounds are calming places to sit and relax with ponds and wooded areas.
The cultural center was interesting and was located in a no longer used royal residence. It gave much history on the city of Chiang Mai and how in the early days they believed cities were beings too so naturally Chiang Mai has a birthdate and a horoscope and had good/bad karma. Chiang Mai was said to be a really blessed place because how they chose it's location was based on a nearby food source, water, There were also 12 temples located around Chiang Mai for protection representing different horoscopes. I visited mine (the Ram) which I though was a really cool temple- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Had to take a suengthaew up the mountain and climb 300 stairs to this hill top temple. Had a monk bless me, and did a cool stick shaking thing where you shake a container full of numbered sticks. The stick that falls out designates which shelf you grab your Chinese proverb from. Mine said to always consult your elders. Wait for love to come. At this temple, there was also a fantastic view of the city of Chiang Mai.
That night I had the pleasure of witnessing the huge Sunday market and it was huge. Spent a lot of money here but not disappointed at all. I found so many great deals!
Next day was raining which was a great opportunity for me to do some sort of indoor activity, so Chrissy suggested I do a cooking class. I went with Thai Cooking School and did a full day cooking course, learning how to make: Papaya salad, pad thai, cashew chicken, massaman curry paste, massaman curry, and black rice pudding with coconut milk and mung bean topping. Met some cool people. One guy had been teaching in Thailand and we got to talking about that and his experiences here. His parents were visiting and they were on their way back to New Jersey. Another girl, Belgian, had just arrived and her real destination was Laos. A couple from Alabama had come from Indonesia, Bali, Singapore, etc. and they had some interesting stories of living in National Forests, teaching intercity kids, and taking part in a cross country rickshaw race in India. Quite a few other people but there were 2 whom I went with to Doi Suthep and afterwords a Documentary Arts Asia movie event. They were from Quebec, the girl named Chantel works for an NGO in Bangkok working with refugees and the boy Francois works for an urban planning firm in Quebec and mastered in Urban Design! So exciting to talk to him about his work! Gave me some perspective on what I wanted to do. Work for a private firm and have a widely accredited "Planning" degree - some places don't consider a degree that doesn't say Planning in the title to be capable of planning. He seemed to do some really interesting work.
That night I had planned to take a night bus to Mae Hong Son - a city close to the Burmese border, a beautiful mountainous area - but I hadn't made concrete plans so after the movie event it was too late to leave.
Next morning, left to Pai - a hippy hangout NE of Chiang Mai. 762 curves to get there ( as seen on the many touristy Pai shirts when I arrived haha). I wondered if Chrissy had visited Pai cause she must have been really sick or heavily medicated. Anyhow, Pai is also a beautiful and mountainous area as well. Really nice area to get out and away from busy life. Cute town and plenty to see for a couple of days.
From there on, you can view the details of the rest of my adventures below. What I didn't include was that after my exam I had visited Arawan shopping mall off the Chit Lom BTS (skytrain) stop for a meal. I had an awesome sparerib and overeasy egg with rice meal at a place called "Bangkok Cafe." Decided I wanted to see Khao Sarn road for some market strolling but when I arrived at the water taxi - I realized I couldn't afford that AND get back home to Phetchaburi. Anyhow, what I discovered was that navigating Bangkok's many transportation systems is VERY easy.
Back in Phetchaburi now, getting ready for a week of classes, and VERY glad to be over with the Graduate Record Exam. Did I do as well as I had hoped? No. I probably let my nerves get the best of me where I knew I shouldn't have. It is what it is now.
I'm more excited to take on this next challenge though! Teaching begins Tuesday and I can't wait to get to know my students! Weather is beautiful and lovin everyday!
Much love from Phetchaburi xoxo til next time :)
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