Back to Base Camp

After three days of intense relaxation, I was still not ready to go to work. But alas, putting in some time with OEG was going to help fund our month-long vacation. It turned out to be fun to meet two new groups of teachers, scare them shitless with spider and snake stories, and assure them they’d probably suck at teaching because we all do at first.

The most amazing part was going to Siam Niramit, which we did not attend when I was in orientation. It seriously blew my mind with a little bit of Thai history, theatrical depictions of heaven and hell, and a sampling of Thai festivals. Before the show, you can wander around a faux Thai countryside complete with crafting stations and musical entertainment.

Kanchanaburi (Part 2): Elephants!

This morning was amazing! We went to Taweechai Elephant Camp to meet some pachyderms. Shot this on the way (I think I’m going to like this place!):

Kanchanaburi! (Part 1)

We finished orientation and now it’s time for some fun! Three hours on a bus and we are in Kanchanaburi, west of Bangkok and home of the River Khwae. The orientation crew made a stop at the famous bridge over the River Khwae, as seen in the 1957 film “The Bridge over the River Kwai.” (It is called the River Khwae here as kwai means water buffalo and is also an insult.) The film is about the Japanese forcing  prisoners of war to construct this bridge as part of the Burma Railway during WWII. I haven’t seen it yet, but I will now!