AHHH THAI TRANSPORTATION!! When we went to Samet a few weeks ago the transportation getting there was a nightmare. Well, unfortunately, getting to Kalasin was a similar experience. I had prepared myself for the 7-8 hr overnight bus rides that I would have to be taking to and from the north of Thailand but I did not prepare myself for the horrific 5 hr bus ride to Bangkok from Chonburi, when it usually only takes 1-2 hrs at most. It all started when the security guard at my school insisted that I get a bus that went directly to Mo Chit, the northern bus station in Bangkok, instead of Eckamai (southern bus station where I usually get dropped off because Chonburi is south of Bangkok). So i had to wait about 1/2 hour before such a bus drove by, got on, everyone was crammed in like sardines... there were more people standing in the aisles than there were people in seats. It was insane. Finally it's 6:30... we are in Bangkok somewhere but I have no idea where since we had gotten off Sucumvit 2 hrs prior and I obviously cannot read Thai. BIG problem. I manage to ask the bus driver how long it is until Mo Chit and he informs me it will be another 2 hours! AH! Barr is at the bus station and has already bought me a ticket for the bus at 7:15. I'm not going to make it. I jump off the bus and get into a cab, meanwhile freaking out that this cab may very well cost me my entire month's salary if I have to take it 2 hrs to get to the bus station... especially with Bangkok Friday night rush hour traffic.
Despite my freaking out I make it to Mo Chit at 7:20. 5 Minutes after Barr's bus left for Kalasin. FML. Although the bright side is that the cab driver only charged me 1/2 of what I owed him because he knew i was poor and upset... so nice! Still a wreck of emotions as a gather myself and come to terms with having to take an 8 hr bus ride by myself to a place I have never been... in the dark. Great news. The trip was made a little better and faster by my Thai friend who happened to be sitting next to me. Good times in Thailand on buses. Yikes. Arrived in Kalasin at 3:30am and went to bed to prepare for a fun-filled Saturday!
Inner tubes and chicken. Amazing combination. About 10 of us took a song taew to a dam in Kalasin... basically a big lake... and munched on chicken, beer, spring rolls, and generally played around in the water and on land. Lots of fun. We got back later that afternoon, showered, and dressed for dinner/karaoke with Dena and Reuven's Kalasin Thai teachers! We brought the beer and booze and the Thai teachers handled the food. So amazing. We had whole snakehead fish in a stew, pad thai, papaya salad, mixed stir-fried veggies, and some kind of dried meat and sausage dish. Aroi! Once the booze started flowing we all took turns belting out our favorite pop hits from the 80s, 90s, and even a little Lady Gaga. Afterwards we were chauffeured to the only club in Kalasin, MV, and had a great time despite the annoying DJ and weird drugged out girls on stage that could not dance.
The next day was our nation's most patriotic holiday... the 4th of July! Being in Thailand has made me more patriotic than I ever imagined I would be otherwise so a chance to celebrate America and the fact that the Thai teachers were equally as excited by our attitudes and glee was so cute. This 4th of July was special, obviously we were in Thailand, and Thailand does not have all of the amenities of home so we made to make some improvisations. Instead of Coors Lights, big beefy cheeseburgers, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, fireworks and beach fun we had pork burgers with strange spices, chicken sausage hot dogs, taziki with veggies and lots of fruit! Sort of the same thing! Haha. It was yummy though and so nice of the Thai teacher who let 20 Americans and a few Brits crash her house and use her kitchen for the afternoon.
After an exhausting but very very fun weekend we head back to Bangkok on the overnight bus again, arrive at Mo Chit at 4:15am, get a van to Chonburi at 5, back by 6, motorbike to the apt, shower, and walk to school to start the week! Looking forward to a less travel-filed weekend in Bangkok coming up but Kalasin was totally worth the stress and I will hopefully be back soon!
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