Thank you :)

Surat Thani

Surat Thani

We spent the last full day of my trip in Surat Thani at a huge school competition. Kids from all over the region came to compete in spelling and geography bees, concerts, and plays. It was great getting to know some of Joe's fellow farang teachers and catch a glimpse of life few tourists get to see. I also definitely developed a better understanding of "Thai Time," and decided I would go nuts if I never knew what time anything was supposed to happen!

Night Market

It was low season while I was in Krabi and the night market was unusually quiet.

And for Dinner...

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention, a year ago today I ate (L-R) raw shrimp, raw pig intestines, red ants and red ant eggs, with a side of clams. Eating ants is more of a mental challenge than anything, after the first bite it's easy to dig in again. Aside from the wings, which get caught in your teeth, they are just crunchy indistinct, ants covered in butter.

Krabi Town Wandering

By the end of my trip the photographer in me was aching with the dread of missed opportunity. One day, while Joe was teaching, I wandered around his neighborhood with my film camera in hopes of capturing some credible images.

I was only able to say, hello, thank you, I'm sorry, and picture? but some how managed to have a wonderful morning with perfect strangers. This family in particular was incredibly welcoming and let me hang out for awhile.

As the bell tower beckoned the predominately muslim neighborhood to prayer, I found my way past the buffalo, the hairdresser, and the clothes line drying, hoping with every ounce of me that the above moment turned out the way I had seen it from behind the viewfinder.

Noodle Soup

My yearning for noodle soup didn't end for weeks.

Papaya Salad

I miss the food so much. I really developed a tolerance to spicy things in Thailand, to the point where I really craved the heat. On my way home I ordered a falafel sandwich in ATL and promptly dumped hot sauce all over it.

This Time Last Year...

I had been in Thailand for two days after 36 hours of travel from DC. Yesterday, was a beach full of monkeys, today a year ago was a five island boat tour via long boat. I'm missing the land of smiles this week.