Final days in Thailand

It’s been a week since I’m back in Switzerland. Today is cold (10°C) and rainy and while I’m dreaming of the warm Thai weather I decided it’s a good time to write about my last days in Thailand.

Farewell parties

These were filled with farewell parties. First a farewell party at the teacher’s house (with karaoke) which was just the beginning of our emotional goodbyes. The next morning we had to say good bye to all the students. They all lined up and we said bye – hugs, hugs and more hugs. Then lots of them came back to get our phone numbers and give us theirs. (Throughout the week I noticed a lot of missed calls and one morning at 7 a.m. – I was still asleep – a girl called me “Hello P’Natalie. I miss you. I love you.” So sweet. I almost started crying! Unfortunately my phone was stolen and that was the end of the students calling me L). They also wanted us to sign their arms and do body art on them. After a morning of being a celebrity I was ready for the “calmer” farewell party with the teachers and principle, though in the end we were all dancing around singing karaoke. The feast they’d prepared for us was delicious and I ate, and ate and ate – especially the durian sticky rice! When it came time to say goodbye we all started crying. The teachers were really like mothers and sisters and during our time here they were so helpful, kind and caring. The next three days we helped at the Giving Project (name of this English teaching project) booth at Bangkok University. On the evening of the last day the AIESECers had a farewell party for us (again with karaoke) and it was a very special evening.

Farewell party at the teacher's house.

Just a few of the kids on the last day of school. We took about 10 of these pictures, each time with a different set of kids.

 

Waterfall and rural Thailand

The next morning I said my first set of goodbyes to An and Dale leaving that day. Judy, Thea, two other EPs Michelle and Elaine and I joined the teachers for an excursion to a waterfall. It was great to see the teachers again so soon, the waterfall was fun to swim in and after a long drive and visits to sisters, aunts and cousins of the teachers we finally made it to the teacher’s friend’s house where we’d spend the night (about 20 people sleeping in one room small room!). It was in a beautiful location in the countryside – somewhere in the middle of nowhere. After a feast, including a whole roasted pig which choked me – a vegetarian – at first sight, we sang karaoke until almost midnight. The next morning we drove back to Bangkok University where Lukjan, an AIESECer took us to her grandfather’s house. It was a good 2 hour drive from Bangkok University in the country as well. After meeting her relatives we ate something and then her uncle took us on a small tour of the area. When we got back it was already dark out and dinner was waiting for us, including some milk tea crème filled buns – a new favorite.

 

Hua Hin

That next week Judy and I took off to Hua Hin (3 hours south of Bangkok). After finding our hotel (Les Bobo’s Backpaper’s Hostel for 6 $/CHF a night) we took a local bus (it looked like a big tuktuk) to Khao Takiab, a hill at the end of the beach with a big Buddha at its foot and a temple on top. The main attraction however, apart from the lovely view, are all the monkeys on top. They were literally ALL over the place and I spent more time taking pictures of them then doing anything else. The next morning we set out on our adventure to the Phraya Nakhon Cave located in the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. Even though the tourist information office and bus drivers had told us that there was no bus that could take us to the cave, our super friendly and helpful hotel owner looked up some information and told us that there was a bus. We first took an ancient looking bus to Pranburi, there we thankfully found somebody who understood a little bit of English and showed us where the bus to the cave would leave from. It turned out that the bus was really like a big tuktuk and bus driver a delivery man, bringing food from the market to rural areas. Next problem: there was no bus coming back to town. Judy and I weren’t about to give up and finally – through somebody’s friend who was able to speak english with us on the phone, we made a deal with the bus driver that he’d pick us up in the afternoon and drive us back for 200 baht (~6 $/CHF) each. The drive was quite long and I “made friends” with boy who reminded me so much of my students. Since counting is one of the only things I can say in Thai, I started counting and soon enough he was counting and counting and counting (he must’ve reached at least 400 by the time we arrived). I’d been expecting a whole crowd of tourists at the foot of the trail leading to the cave, but the place seemed quite deserted. Judy and I started our hike up, stopping along the way to take some pictures of the spectacular scenery. It was quite the hike to the cave, but well worth it. The cave was huge, and reminded me of scenes from the movie “Journey to the center of the Earth”. After the hike down the guy did come to pick us up, and before leaving we enjoyed a fresh coconut. Back in Hua Hin we went to the beach to swim. The next day we took the bus to Phetchaburi, a city north of Hua Hin, to see a summer palace of one of the past kings. I’m quite proud of our 3 day trip, considering we planned it all and I spend only about 45 $/CHF for the whole trip.

Cute monkeys.

Phraya Nakhon cave.

Beautiful beach at Bangpoo Fishing Village where we started our hike.
 

My last three days in Bangkok I went to see the Grand Palace and Wat Pho (particularly impressing: the reclining Buddha) with my dad and went shopping with Judy. Some of the AIESECers came to say good bye at the airport. It was a sad moment – saying goodbye to them and knowing that I was leaving Thailand. Though it’s over now, I have memories of this amazing experience that will last forever. I’m sure I’ll come back to Bangkok again. I’m so thankful for everything the teachers and AIESECers at BU did for me.

The riclining Buddha in the Wat Pho. It's huge!!

 

Just one last thing I have to say: Join AIESEC. Go on exchange. And if you’re too old to do that: travel the world and go to Thailand!