Elephant Island

Hello my beautiful family and friends !

I am writing to you from a busy internet cafe on a street on Koh Chang with screaming babies and loud Falang (other tourists) all around so please excuse any poor writing that may follow.

First things first, Yes, I am alive. I arrived safely into Thailand five days ago but have unfortunately only now realized the severity of only getting in touch with Dad on my first day; After reading all the messages that have accumulated from frantic loved ones worrying themselves sick over my whereabouts, I feel pretty bad. So, my sincere apologies to those who were starting to freak out a little bit, but, here I am! Having suuch a great time on the island of Koh Chang (or Elephant Island - I strongly suggest you Google image it) I am staying at the Apple Resort on White Sand Beach and it is GORGEOUS.


For those of you who asked about my flight- the 26 hours of travel went by in more or less of a daze, feeling suspended in time and maintaining the single emotion of patient anticipation I seemed to have mastered in the last few weeks leading up to my trip. Pretty bland to say the least and highlights really only include movies and meeting a Los Angeles native named Red who goes to Thailand every year to get materials such as crocodile skin for his prosperous L.A based shoe company. We had some good laughs and was good company flying out of Seoul and into Bangkok. Thankfully my overwhelming numb emotion completely dissipated after spotting Benjamin Francis in the crowd of people waiting to greet the Flight 635 Posse and was replaced with complete ecstatic excitement. After chilling out a bit, we caught a taxi into Bangkok that was spent talking and laughing and just trying acclimatize as best as possible. It was so so hot even at the airport but the humidity that hits you when you get off the plane is nothing compared to once you get into the city. We arrived at the insane, world famous khao san road and I walked through the crowded streets with a totally unfazed Ben despite all the insane new things I was taking in. We tried to tracking down some of his friends that were leaving to the island of Koh Chang in the morning but they were nowhere to be found and I was pretty exhausted so we just looked around a bit and then went to sleep. Ben had booked a nice hotel with the luxury of air conditioning which you unfortunately only notice once you leave the room and walk out onto the street into a brand new level of humidity. I was only able to sleep for about 3 hours.


The way I would describe waking up my first morning in Bangkok is a very similar way I would describe waking up in a tent somewhere hot with the early afternoon sun blaring directly down on you. The moment you open your groggy eyes you notice how thick the air is and how uncomfortable the heat. Although you are still completely exhausted, you get up and head out in the hopes of cooling off a bit and sucking in some fresh air but when you do you're shocked to find all you're breathing in now is thick and pungent and suddenly your hotel room isn't looking so bad after all. Also if this was a tent you would also be kicking yourself for your decision to pitch it so close to the rank, overflowing outhouses and garbage piles.. All something to get used to though as I would soon discover :)


Wow, sorry for the quick subject change, but Ben has been sitting next to me in the internet cafe while I type this, fooling around on itunes trying to upload some of his c.ds and just said OH NO.....Jena.. Jena please don't be really angry with me... He doesn't need to say it. My ipod plugged into his computer and the look of complete and utter fear on his face says enough. Yes Dear Reader, Ben Griffiths, the computer whiz kid, has just wiped out the entire contents of my ipod. Carli, I know you can feel my pain right now as you assisted me in filling it with all of that incredible, diverse music of sweet sweet perfection.
Well, so much for the sight of Ben's wonderful face dissipating any numb or negative feelings...
haha... I'm sure i'll be ok.

ANYWAYS.

The next day in Bangkok I ordered the breakfast that has quickly become a favorite of mine here of fruit, yogurt and muesli from a really cute little restaurant down the street from our hotel. It was so fun to just sit right on the street and talk, watching our surroundings slowly wake up after what was I'm sure for most, a crazy all night party in Bangkok. The fresh fruit was so good and we sat laughing at our table as little dogs ran around at our feet and all over the place. A number of people who I talked to before my trip and who had been to Thailand mentioned these wacky dogs that are all over the place but you really need to be here to understand. It's so funny but quite interesting how fast I've become completely accustomed to the quirky differences in culture like that- just a part of the experience of kickin it in Thailand (and even more so Bangkok.) That day we also checked out the big weekend Market which was awesome and I bought some really neat things. It has hundreds of little vendors and stores offering anything you could possibly be looking for- In our case, food and clothes, and we definitely indulged in both.

The incredibly delicious food I've been enjoying here is something completely in need of talking about. I've been eating the most incredibly flavourful dishes on this trip am in HEAVEN over here as anyone reading this who knows of my passion for food will understand. Any true lover of Asian cuisine must come one day (ahem -John Gogo-) Although Bangkok is really cool to experience, I found a couple days to be quite ample especially considering Ben and I couldn't wait to get down to some islands to just totally chill and meet up with his hilarious Norwegian friends and Kfir (who Ben had traveled all throughout Vietnam with and whom I was really looking forward to meeting) We traveled by bus and then ferry to get to Koh Chang where we still are now.

Some links to pictures of where I'm staying: http://www.backpacking.se/grfx/NewsPictures/haad%20sai%20khao%20från%20havet%20sett.jpg
http://www.southwest.com.au/~lockley/Kochang.jpg
http://www.asienforum.net/images/kohchang.jpg
We, of course, have been taking our own photos but I'll be posting those a little later.


I can't begin to describe how euphoric it has been to wake up whenever, spend the day however, pick any restaurant along (or on) the beach to eat dinner and watch the sunset with friends. I have much more to tell about the incredibly beautiful island of Koh Chang including stories of the hilarious friends we've made, a run in with a seemingly cute, 'innocent' little monkey (Jeri you'll love it, thought of you right away), the awesome house band who play every night at our club of choice along the beach, the cutest little Thai todler who lives at our resort, Ben's decision to ingest the sketchiest burger ever from a street vendor in the wee hours of the morning, motorbiking across the island and much much more!! On closing- Mom, yes I am wearing insane amounts of sunscreen and will continue to ensure Ben does too no matter how many hilarious sunscreen application ninja fights I undergo. Also, Mom, considering I actually have no plans whatsoever of attending a full moon party.. would you please enlighten me as to who the hell this 'Glen' character is and how this person could have leaked Ben and my apparent plans to attend a craaazy full moon party where we will undoubtedly be tempted to indulge in the wonders of drugs and alcohol?? Ben got enough Full Moon for the both of us earlier in his travels when he was drugged to the point of a complete black out on the island of Ko Phagnan :( Poor guy. Anyways, I appreciate your concern but you really have nothing to worry about, it's just unfortunate that 'Glen' apparently does.

I love you all and wish you could be here with us in Paradise!!

xo Jena