I'm not sure where to start this one, considering there have been many days in between now and my last entry.
i suppose i could skip by the long boring 18 hour+ ordeal that was getting here from bangkok, and get right down to the arrival. Landon and I were dropped off right in front of Blue Planet Divers in Ban Sala Dan, which is the main town section of this tiny island. Laura was there to greet me with baby Thale and we went straight to lunch across the street. the deck hung over a beach and the water that connected where we ferried from. My nose was stuck in a boook during the ferry so i missed most of the view. It was prettty awesome when i got around to soaking it in. I met Laurent's half brother Damien and his girlfriend Fred when we got back to the house we are currently staying at and was informed there was to be party to commemorate our arrival amongst other things. I had a really good time, but the damned jet lag konked me and landon out around 9pm. The ensuing days saw us booting around town on the family tuk tuk and visiting a variety of beaches. I feel like i've been here so long that i can't even remember some of the first ones i've been to...
Anyways, i'm feeling very relaxed finally... i can get around to kicking back after what seemed to be just hopping from plane to plane to car to bus to car to truck to etc etc.
At the house, there are supposedly cockroaches and tookays(giant salamanders the size of large water bottles) that frequent the bathroom. I've been lucky enough to not crap my pants as i have not seen any as of yet, but i know it's inevitable. =(
One day we got a ride to the elephant sanctuary and took a ride on one through the jungle! It was really hot but a great overall experience. I can't wait until we get to Pai so we can ride them without the bench they tie to the elephant. There, apparently you even ride one through a river and they dunk you in it! after riding the elephant they had an adorable baby elephant show where he slam dunked a basket ball and did hoola hoop tricks and stuff like that. Pictures to come!
When Damien and Fred left, we inherited their motorbike and now our freedom is truly complete, as Landon and I can go wherever we want, whenever we want. Alex RObinson has now arrived and he got a hut on a beach real close to our temporary home and we hope to go snorkelling or scuba diving real soon. Although i still act like a wimp when i see a lousy little crab on the beach, i hope to be a bit braver when i am face to face with sharks and manta rays. Oh man.... there's a slim chance to even see a whale shark. creeeepy!!!
I guess that's it for now. to sum it all up: awesome beaches, beautiful ocean, riding elephants, cheap and tasty food and drinks... good family times, reading a book(!), attempting to learn a bit of thai and re-learn french etc.
peace for now!
