Thailand (English)

At the end of april I came back to Thailand. After a 3hr (Cairns to Melbourne) and a 9hr flight I arrived at BKK. I'm hungry so the first thing I ordered is a massaman curry and a coconut. Good to be back! Because my next flight leaves the next morning, I slept on a bench on the airport. Not the best thing for my back but I slept a little. The flight to Chiang Mai was bumby. I managed to get a tuktuk for the price I wanted and off we go. before I left australia I aplied for a volunteering job at a elephant camp. On Saturday I went by the organisation and the week of volunteering could start. Saturday we did some sightseeing of Chiang Mai, lucky for me I didn't see that much over here last time I was here. We are in a group of 7, 3 volunteers for the childrens project and 4 for the elephants. at night time a drink at the Zoe in Yellow bar and the next morning again Thai lesson. We went to the local food market and tried some bugs and thai candy. Good! 
On Monday morning we leave to the elephant camp; it is about 1 hr drive from Chiang Mai. Jin is the one that takes care of us over at the camp and he showed us around on the first day. We packed vitamins for the elephants and as we do so, our own elephant comes by. Mine is Boomy. A elephant that they use to riding the tourists. Even though it was a great experience bathing my elephant, every time when I saw him riding tourists my heart broke a little. They are so happy in the water, and then they have to be back for the tourists. Some of the tourists think it is some kind of trofee, climbing on the elephant and taking pictures. I didn't agree on this at all. But I was the one standing there with a volunteer jacket . When I signed up for it, I didn't know that it would be like this. Otherwise I would have never payed the money to volunteer. So it was a experience with mixed feelings, but with nice people. And it was a good thing that the elephants were treated well, even though they had to do the touristic stuff, I have seen worse on the islands. 
After a week back to Chiang Mai and on Sunday I booked a bus to Pai. I found myself a great bamboo hut to stay and at night I met Mo. The next day we went to the Lod Cave together. A beautiful ride to the cave. The cave it self was also very beautiful. At night time we had a great party night so Tuesday was a relaxing hungover day. On wednesday we did some more sightseeing and we decided to go back to Chiang Mai by scooter the next day. The plan was to leave at 7am, but because we did 'only 1 drink ' the night before, it was a little bit later. So during the hottest time off the day, we were driving through the mountains. Wauw, how beautiful and how much fun was that! If I ever go back, no more minivan for me! 
In Chiang Mai I didn't stay near the old center but close to a shopping center. So there I rented a scooter aswell, to get around. Saturday I went back to the office of FFA, to see how the girls were doing. And we made plans to go to the Grand Canyon the next day.

On Saturday night we were in a jazzbar, with a band that was very good. It was a fun night. Sunday to the canyon. Even though the water wasn't that cold it was cool to lay on a sort of beach. When we returned by taxi, an older man asked me the way back to Chiang Mai. I told him that he could follow the taxi if he wanted on his scooter. So he did. And while he was driving his pants flew up a little it at first, after a little bit more, giving us a view that we'd rather didn't wanted to see. But we had fun haha. 
On Monday I had to return my scooter and I had my flight to Krabi. Next stop Koh Lanta. One night at Krabi and then a minivan to Koh Lanta. The guy from the minivan tried to sell me an hotel that was way too expensive so I told him no, I will find something there. And so I did, Sunny house, with swimming pool and close to the beach. Cheaper than the one the guy wanted to sell me. It is low season over there, so it is easy to get a place to sleep. That afternoon I chilled at the swimming pool, nice. Only the water wasn't that cold that you Could cool down. But still nice. During sunset at the beach I met a guy from Argentina. We went to dinner together and made plans to do some sightseeing on a scooter the next day. It was really fun to drive around, great beaches and jungle. At night time we went to Marleys bar, the one Joyce and I were almost every night. The two restaurants next to it, were closed, so it was really weird to see. It was because of low season. But we had a fun night. Next day I had a relaxing day with a good breakfast, lunch near the beach, drove around on my scooter. And again a really beautiful sunset. I stay one more night and had decided to go to Phuket. I don't know why, because I didn't like the place at all. Stayed there just one night and then I decided that I wanted to go back to Chiang Mai. I liked it there and I could visit the elephant camp again. It was a great decision. The night I arrived, I just wanted to go to the 7/11 to buy some water. But as I was walking to it, I came across a little bar and the people sitting there invited me for a beer. Yeah why not. It ended at 4am! Haha, I only wanted some water! But it was a great night with nice people. Next day I went with an Australian guy to the elephant camp. 1,5 hr drive by scooter. Two days before, a baby elephant was born. So cute and small! That night we went to a temple where you can have a talk with a monk. Very interesting! And a beautiful temple. 
On Tuesday I went to the Temple on the Mountain. But I was wearing my dress, so I didn't think I could enter it. At a viewpoint on the way to the Temple I was talking to an American guy, who was so kind to borough his shirt. The drive to the Temple was really nice, lots of curves and great views. The Temple was very touristic and because my dress was too short, I couldn't enter. Well, too bad, but I will just enjoy the ride down. 
On Wednesday I went to the Catmosphere, a café with 24 cats. Yes people, I like the cats overhear haha. Spent the afternoon with Mo that I had met in Pai. And then the finale day arrives. First some shopping, driving around on my scooter for the last few hours and then it was time to go to the airport. First Chiang Mai to Bangkok Don Muang. So I had to take a taxi to the other airport. One guy asked 800 baht for it so it was a good thing that I took the taxi meter. Was almost 400 baht cheaper! And now I have to wait until my flight leaves to Amsterdam. 
It is funny, I don't have the feeling that I am going home yet. Just another flight on my trip. 
It has been amazing and I will be back!