Author: Daniel Jun

So here I am again at a crossroads. There’s a lot of paths that are being offered to me and it’s difficult to choose which ones I want to walk. I’ve found that often times in life we are bottle-necked into only seeing 2 or 3 choices that can be made, when in reality there are so many more. Granted, some of those choices are just awful life decisions, but the others? They open up even more doors that reveal entire corridors to get lost in. Life is not a straight road, or even a divergence of many roads. It’s a maze with hidden places, elaborate candelabras, and a chute filled with snakes that takes you right back to the beginning…or the wine cellar. Every good maze should have a wine cellar. The true challenge is seeing the bookcase swing open when you pulled on that candlestick.

 Except…every now and then our paths look a bit like this:

There’s just so many ways to go that there is NO definate path to take. You need to forge your own. But having the courage to handle that, which is a daunting task, is perhaps the most difficult thing any person faces. When we make a decision, our roads narrow. But until that decision is made I hope you enjoy vast plains of opportunity.

Kurt Vonnegut said the following, “It’s an author’s right to change the words of their story. They can either re-write what is written or erase those words and start fresh.”

        So here’s the stories I can write and the paths I can take:

    A well-worn super highway in which 70% of my peers are traveling. Go back home to America, live with my parents and struggle to find a teaching job. Upon failing that, I’ll accept a minimum wage position despite a triple certification in education and multi-faceted experiences that grant me a very well rounded expertise. This is America’s roundabout that so many other teachers are driving in similar cars. We all have advanced degrees, multiple certifications and diverse work experience, that doesn’t set us apart anymore. So the great circle continues.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing to have hope on this highway. When I travelled it I was often disappointed about jobs that I didn’t receive, perceived opportunities that I missed and ultimately no schools recognizing the experience that I held. But, like I mentioned, every other teacher (or other profession) has the exact same problem. There’s nothing that truly sets each applicant apart and the sheer amount of resumes that employers get is staggering, thus it’s more about who you know before you’re resume is even reviewed and those differences are seen. To me? This road is luck of the draw and often the winning hand goes to family friends or acquaintances of the hirer. No, thank you.

     A back-country rural road that holds about 25% of the other teachers in the great roundabout. Go back home to America, refuse to live with my parents and struggle to find a teaching job or any job. Compound this by now adding the normal living expenses associated with having rent or a mortgage and moving to an area that I want to live in. Get right back on the roundabout and join that other 70% going in circles. There’s is an alternative path to this one though. Seasonal jobs. I personally consider seasonal positions to be the BEST way to see the country and meet people that have similar world views. The pay is never that great, but it’s more about the experience. Unfortunately, good things come to an end and that season is no different. Once it has ended, you are right back in Death Valley up there.  But hey, I’m different. I’m an independent, motivated person who is forging his own path. Do I live my parents? No. What’s that? You want to hire me? Fantastic! Oh…ah yes, I can make coffee. Yeah, $7.25/hr sounds great. I can totally do that.

Don’t get me wrong, I have meet AMAZING people and have had truly life changing experiences with this road. But every job that I’ve had on it has only been seasonal. I’ve lived in quite a few different places in America, bolstered by the experiences I was having and the people I interacted with. I lived this life for about 5 years. Within those years I have broaden my views, studied different forms of education, worked with people from all over the world and generally improved my soul. I like this road, and the people that walk it are just awesome. But in terms of finical stability, it’s simply not a viable option unless you are extremely talented and even more lucky that someone notices your skills. Would I walk this again? Hell yes. But it doesn’t solve anything in the long run.

     The known of, but challenging, hiking trail that many ‘sub-culture’ teachers walk. Stay abroad, continue teaching in a foreign country make a wage that is less then the American minimum, but quite generous in regards to that country (disclaimer: I make approximately $3.00/hr in Thailand). Experience a different culture, see the world and beautiful scenery. Damage my chances of getting a job in America because most schools don’t enjoy Skype interviews and are very suspicious of an international teacher as well as generally look for consecutive years in a single district. A point of fact that I just do not comprehend. But it’s true, so this trails leads to continuing applying for jobs in America in hopes that a school recognizes my experiences and qualifications.

But that’s the negative. The positive? The individuals you meet wandering about the forest that this trail goes through are going to become life long friends. Not might. Will. These are the people that not only understand what is important in life and how little money matters, they are not afraid to be real with you and more so…themselves. It doesn’t matter what they do, the sparkling factor here is that they know who they are. Read that again. They are people who have struggled, risen, fallen and then got right back up with a smile. They aren’t people who are simply going through the motions. These are the ones who dance to their own songs, absorb the world and return that happiness tenfold. They will give you a hug when you least expect it and need it most; because they’ve been there and know what your far off gaze really is. Cherish them. They are rare in this world and often times are forced onto that super highway riding a single speed bicycle with a basket on the front. Give them a ride and you’ll make a friend who will support you no matter what you do.

     A trail that is no trail and is only walked by those willing to go with the wind. I am a teacher. This thing I know. This is the life I have chosen regardless of the path that I take. I made a significant life decision by coming overseas and it’s going to shape the rest of my life. Not only because of the aforementioned other ways that I could have taken, but also the experience. Both the heavily positive and the crushingly negative have, in essence, changed me for the better. I have a broader view of the world, I speak another language (poorly) I never thought I’d learn and I now have close friends from every continent of the world and quite a few in-between. In a nutshell, that’s awesome. I like this path. I love it. Culture shock and miscommunications abound, but the good outweighs the bad and the personal growth tips the scales. I’m going to continue skipping down it and pretending the ground is lava because my head is in the clouds.

From here I go to there. From the balmy jungles of Thailand to the ancient mountains of Ashikaga, Japan…how can I be so sure of myself? I’m not. I have no idea what I’m doing. But I have support from all those people up there. That’s all I need.

Walk your own road.

Rugged beauty. It’s a rare trait to give to a location that is so frequently destroyed by the machinations of man. Primordial, pristine, “pieces of it will stay with you”, I heard every one of those phrases used to describe the beauty that is Koh Mook. It’s been a while since I went to this island and I have been intending to write this blog for a some time, but as always life intervened. So here it is, Koh Mook.

Mook is an island that is heavily affected by the tides. Massive stone cliffs line the waters island where it meets the Adaman sea and at certain points during the low tide, it leaves every boat stranded upon the coastal sands. It’s a pretty amazing sight and really brings to mind being stranded. Because of this dramatic effect around the island, the coral here is especially spectacular and you can find the ocean life that prefers deeper waters as the tides recede to the point of being able to dive down deep enough. This exposes awesome critters like this jellyfish, which I believe is a box jelly, but I didn’t want to get close enough to properly identify it.

 These guys were everywhere in the water. Actually, I shouldn’t say that. Their babies were everywhere, the big ones were luckily few and far between. Although the littlest ones were almost impossible to see. This itty harbinger of pain reminded me that the ocean was not kind to the unwary. Attempting to get back to my kayak  and not stung proved to be an uphill battle.

It was not all for nothing though. The little guys looked like galaxies from underneath, and if I didn’t say, “This is a jellyfish.” Many people have assumed they are some kind of nebula. But not so! Just a helpful reminder to your nerve endings to let you know when you’re somewhere you should not be.

I learned my lesson pretty quickly after this encounter though. A few stings made me change my plan of snorkeling to a quick recon before diving in. Just look at that tan line. AMAZING! I make all the other severely burned white people jealous. 

Another really fantastic aspects of the dynamic coast here is that the cliffs are subjected to some serious erosions. More so then many of the other rock walls in the area.

Just look at how stunning that is. Seeing that, I agree with primordial and rugged. Koh Mook did indeed leave a lasting impression. These beautifully eroded cliffs have left underwater caves that can be accessed at low tide and one even leads to a hidden beach. Unfortunately, that beach is not so hidden and it’s flocked by very very eager tourists every day. The vast majority of them have no idea that all around them are potentially deadly jellyfish. I do not enjoy tour groups, they strike me as a way to see something instead of experience it. So, I spent my time diving in and around Emerald Cave attempting to not get kicked, drowned or stung by the multitude of legs there. There is great delight to be found in breaking the surface of the water right next to someone and seeing their face. Emerald cave was highly worth the potential visit to Davey Jones. Being in an underwater cave in total darkness and seeing the light at the entrance? Awesome.

Alas, after being given such a beautiful traverse in the cave, I ran headlong into where all the tour groups were going. Which…well..a photo will tell you exactly why I didn’t find this as beautiful as it should be. There was easily over 200 hundred people crammed into a very small beach that just ruined the moment. Tourism is a good thing. It shares the world with people that don’t know what is there. However…a beach, only accessible though an underwater cave filled with jellyfish, that is only above water during a small window of time which is compounded by the required low tide mark…

that should not be a tourist hotspot. Instead, it should be a well guarded secret only revealed to those who respect the  uniqueness of that wonder. This…this is simply unacceptable. 

Like I said, tourism is an important part of Thailand’s finical situation. But, they do not have an awareness yet of how the exploitation of their environment is dramatically affecting the health of beautiful places like this. Granted, this is an old problem that exists in almost every country. This minor gripe doesn’t detract too much from Koh Mook’s natural scene and in the end…this is an island that I will very gladly revisit.

Check out the gallery for more images of Koh Mook’s awesome scenery and  and a look at some of the dishes offered especially on the island!

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Last post was one from the heart. Many of you have expressed your caring and support and it is very much appreciated. Worry not, as always, I am quite peachy and it takes more then a decision to choose a country to travel to actually get me depressed. It is just a very interesting choice and thought that it had a larger question looming behind all the personal relevance.

In between the sudden life choices, there has been quite a bit of travel involved in the area of Thailand that I reside in. As of this past weekend almost all options in the mainland province of Satun have been throughly explored and documented for propriety. Since I want you to really get a feel for the areas, I’m going to create a small gallery for each location.

The first up is Thale Ban National Park, a massive sprawling jungle that connects Thailand and Malaysia from border to border. There is a small pocket in between the mountains and jungle that serves as a extremely welcoming break from walking about the dense flora quietly having heart spasms because every vine is a King Cobra; a snake which is roughly 18ft, poisonous and has extremely effective jungle camouflage.

Along this walkway are some really beautiful lizards. They are hidden under leaves, clutching posts and generally being delightful to watch. The variance in their colors is spectacular. Often I found myself quietly mesmerized by their antics and took great joy in sneaking up and photographing them.

Not everything in the jungle was delightful though. For instance, the path was not so much a path as it was a minutely less dense section of vines and ferns. In truth, a lovely sight. One I would have enjoyed more if it was not accompanied by the sounds of thousands of ants marching under my feet. Normally, an ant is an ant. I don’t bother them and they don’t bother me. But when the ant is question is no longer a tiny creature and more along the line of the thickness of my finger…well, you quickly see me turn from a intrepid outdoorsman into a very freaked out coward. Just look at them! That is NOT something that you want crawling up your pants and into your boots. Look at it! That is not a macro photo, I am standing a very healthy distance away.

All in all, the positives of jungle trekking far outweigh the negatives. Although having experienced it, I much prefer a deciduous forests and mountains over a tropical jungle. I’m a trailblazer. Going off trail in sub-tropical or temperate areas is much less hazardous to my health.

Check out the following gallery for more photos of the critters of Thaleban National Park

Next on the list of fantastical places is the lovely little island of Koh Bulone Leh. After being overloaded by the sheer development and westernization of Koh Lipe, we looked for a more quiet, less popular option for our next island.

Koh Bulone is a tranquil little spot about 22km off the coast of Thailand and is home to a lovely population of squid-fishing sea gypsies (Chow Laeir). The island itself is simply pristine. Even the areas that have heavy development are really nothing more then a concrete sidewalk. When you compare this to the other islands in this section of Thailand, it’s rather refreshing. There is only one store for tourists to get their shopping fix which, after Lipe, I was delighted to see. Besides these isolated walkways the island is either dense jungle or small groups of thatched huts and tiny shore side eateries.

The food is fantastic, the prices at resorts are absurdly low, ~$10 a night, and the locals are friendly. What else  could you ask for in an island?

The true draw here is the lovely quietness of this particular island (something that is not found on the others). Like I mentioned, the development is limited so many of the people, tourist or Thai, enjoy the quiet and are very laid back. We didn’t find anything of much excitement here. Thankfully, that’s exactly what we were looking for. The photos here speak for themselves: Beautiful coral is one reason to come to Bulone, long sandy beaches aren’t so horrible either, but in the end, in final reason is it’s serenity. Also, we got to our boat on the local mail truck..so there’s that too. Check out Bulone’s gallery.

After this island, we really didn’t have anything left! So what did we do? Went river rafting of course. Isn’t this the obvious choice that everyone would make? I won’t say to much about the river, aside from the peaceful flow of the water that was present there, the sweltering heat and the deafening roar of insects (which I took great pleasure in shattering by occasionally jumping out of mangrove trees into the river). The best part about it was that I was on a river..in Thailand.

Oddly enough though, the Thais thought it was unbelievable that a westerner could handle a boat, let alone one going down a river. It really made wonder what westerners have been on this river. A trip like this though could not be complete without waterfalls. I cannot stress enough how many different waterfalls are in Thailand and each one is unique. The waterfall here, Sai Chai, looks like something out of a LOTR or Harry Potter movie. Water flows from a cave on the hillside into perfectly formed, multi-tiered levels that create natural swimming pools. Honestly, I tried very hard to get a photo that can do this justice..but I just couldn’t. Check out the gallery from the river and the waterfall. Next post? Koh Mook, jellyfish, underwater caves and sunburn!

Dirty, stench ridden and falling apart. These things are the status of my 6th pair of Chacos. Sure, they might look pristine, they might exude love and good vibes, they may even create rainbows and sunshine on a cloudy day. But stick your nose a little closer and you’ll experience the rancor of miles. The last week has added a significant amount of wear and tear on my beloved Jesus sandals. Ironically enough, it happened to be on holy ground that I tread this time as well.

Behold. Wat Tham Khao Chin. In English that means Temple Cave of Khao Chin. Many Buddhist monks find caves to meditate at and to seek enlightenment. This temple was once heavily used. However, over time, parts of it have fallen into disuse and become neglected. It’s proximity to a monastery where monks train and learn the inner workings of Buddhism have allowed it to still be in use, but once you’ve left these areas, it is beautifully sad.

 Stone steps leading up to a disregarded statue are overgrown and show little signs of being reclaimed.

The temple itself is built into the side of a mountain, thus, the vast majority of it is inside a network of caverns and passageways. The outside facade is fading though. But the evidence remains of what was once a spectacular place of learning and discovery. The continued use of the temple is obvious. But just image what this place once looked like..

Small homes and figurines that represent spirits, ancestors and beings of nature are littered throughout the grounds. Thai Buddhism features aspects of Animism. Animism encompasses the belief that there is no separation between the spiritual and physical world, and souls or spirits exist, not only in humans, but also in some other animals, plants, rocks, geographic features such as mountains or rivers, or other entities of the natural environment, including thunder, wind, and shadows.

The figures here easily number close to a hundred or more.

There are very few repeated figurines, almost as if each on was carefully chosen and left for a specific type of spirit.

The shrines of once famous monks are also visible, as well as their homes. But ultimately, the most interesting parts of the temple were the areas that are still in use.

An intrepid adventurer needs to crawl through small cave holes and poke about to stumble upon golden Buddha statues that are lovingly preserved from the ravages of time. The example you see above was at the top of a pair of stone steps that are crumbled and dangerous. But getting to this point was highly worth it. To get an appropriate idea of the scale of this Buddha, please look at the buckets at the base of it. This is easily a 20 to 30 foot long reclining Buddha. Beautiful, stunning and highly inspirational. There are other sections of this temple that I’ve documented as well, but I feel like the most interesting part is at the top of the mountain and the way to get there. Steps…hundreds of steps.

These are not your ordinary run of the mill steps either. There is potential death on these things. Not only are they not anchored into the mountain side, they are also rusted and in some cases warped. As if mountain itself got angry at the neglect of a holy place and tried to shrug off the iron ring surrounding it.

Once you’ve safely made it past that imploded part, the steps go from being steps to being a ladder disguised as steps. Those roots of doom and dread are just waiting to upheave the person that doesn’t respect them.

Note the broken section…wayyyy down below. These put Stairmaster to shame. Like crawling through spider ridden caves, slipping on bat guano and being attacked by angry wasps has its perks. So too does 600 ft. of vertical stairs. Once we made it to the top, I truly saw where I live now for the first time…it’s a sight worth climbing for that a photo simply cannot do justice.

For those of you who have known me for years and have walked along paths with me, you are aware that I have issues following crowds and taking a well marked path. This attitude towards life is repeatedly shown to me as a double-edge sword. Such a platitude has gifted me with astounding experiences. Equally so, it has bared the other edge and has offered up a huge heaping of ‘oh shit’ moments in my life. As such, I have built up a resistance to life’s…surprises. This is not to say that I cannot be taken aback by something, I can. It means I’ve learned not to expect what I think I should. If that makes any sense…basically, for my ODO people, I’m talking about Iceberg.

Anyway, philosophical discussions aside, last weekend was a demonstration of not following a beaten path and being all the better for it. I mentioned in a previous post that many things in Thailand are hiding. There’s no signs, there’s no indications of what is around the next corner. In short, everything is worthy of exploration. The phrase, “Leave no road untravelled.” most certainly rings a bell in this country. As I was roaming about the countryside I came across some really awesome things that simply aren’t marked. Now obviously the locals in the area know about them, so why mark them? But, as foreigner, these are simply amazing things.

The first is the border market between Thailand and Malaysia. As I mentioned, I can see Malaysia from my backyard. This was not an exaggeration, is it truly ten minutes from my doorstep. This little gem of a market though is set, like many things here, on a back road tucked between mountains and jungles on both sides.

This is the Border Market. A huge collection of tents and vendors selling what you would expect a market in the middle of a jungle to sell: shriveled heads, monkey paws, magic lamps and a fine collection of French-made pots and pans. Just to be practical, of course. Regrettably, I didn’t find those things here. Instead I found friendly people, amazing food, and a cultural experience. Although I did almost buy a Swiss-made teapot. Very nice.

I would have ventured further, however the presence of heavily armed guards and numerous military checkpoints made me think better of it.

 Baskets are most definitely a thing here. They can be found in all shapes and sizes, not to mention material. These lovely examples are made from strips of woven plastic. Recycled/Up-Cycled/Crafter’s Wetdream. This is the refuse that is found on the side of roads, reclaimed and remade. You can also find the woven reed baskets that you’d expect, beaten from thrush and hand-dyed for etc. etc…but I found that this was a good example of peer Thai ingenuity. Also it has a fond place in my heart because my cute old lady neighbor also weaves these on her doorstep in the morning.

That will not be my first and only time at the border. Eventually expect more photos and some of the vendors. It’s awkward taking photos when you don’t speak the language and you are the only person with a super powered DSLR camera within roughly 80km.

Upon leaving the market, a decision was made to find a waterfall. It’s Thailand right? Waterfalls must be everywhere. Actually yes. Yes they are. So are leeches. I will not subject you to how many latched onto my ankles nor how long they were there for (i.e long enough to make me freak out when I saw them). Simply know that when you come across a waterfall in the jungle…look before you leap.No matter how inciting that pool of water is, no matter if there’s a bunch of Thai kids swimming in the water. There’s leeches. Lots and lots of leeches…probably. But despite this little hitch in my plans, it’s worth it.

 Thai people also really enjoy it when a farang (Thai word for Westerner, also guava) jumps into a pool of water and immediately proceeds to play on the roots.

It just goes to show; even if you don’t speak the language and look completely different, everyone appreciates the crazy person who jumps in first.

To be continued…

Thailand, to be blunt, is beyond the word ‘hot’. Far out past the outer reaches of ‘humid’ and somehow comes back around to the point where 90 degrees Fahrenheit is pleasant. About two hours ago, at 10am in the morning, it was 112 degrees. This is still Thailand’s winter months as well, so the area is shrouded in fog and humitidy. Which leads me to this post.

I am currently living in a little town nestled quite snuggly between jungle covered mountains and the Adamant Sea (more or less the Indian Ocean). It is, without a doubt, a beautiful place. As I stare out the window of the school that I teach at, I see only green rolling hills shrouded in mist as tropical rains flood into lush rainforests.

The town is called Satun. A sleepy little place that is home to a diverse mix of religions, cultures and astounding cusine. While the majority of Thailand is Buddhist, the southern providences are Muslim with a Buddhist mix. This mix of cultures gives rise to a unique feel to Satun. In other providences of south Thailand, there is turmoil and danger on the streets because of this. But in Satun, life is laid-back and things operated on a frustrating concept called “Thai Time”. Meals can easily take an hour or more, as food is brought in dish after dish. Conversations with strangers can last until that awkward silence because all topics have been exhausted. In a nutshell, that means if someone says 5pm, they really mean 6 or 6:30pm. Chances are they’ll be stopped for a quick chat which leads to coffee, which evolves into a full meal that blossoms majestically into being late. It breeds free time. Which thankfully there are some seriously beautiful sights to see in the area to eat up that time.

Monkey Mountain (Kao Sawaa) is a mountain right in the middle of downtown that, much to my surprise, is actually filled with monkeys. Adorable, fluffy, rip-the-mirror-off-your bike monkeys. Once you arrive, they stand on the road and prance about like a horrible reproduction like they’re the Sharks and the Jets. Getting past that first check point is akin to playing dodgeball with disgruntled fifth graders. There’s a place of worship within the mountain if you can actually climb to the top. Steps carved from stone lead the way, but they are not often walked and the pagoda at the top has fallen into disuse. Should you make it to the top, chances are you’ll run into a alpha male that doesn’t appreciate your curiosity. These are not Curious George monkeys. They have fangs, not just sharp teeth. Huge fangs that if they bit you would easily go into vital organs. It’s intimidating and I’ve been driven back at least twice on visits. Should the monkeys scare you off, you can easily get to the beach for a relaxing swim in the ocean.

Sai Loia Beach, if you don’t know where it’s at you will never find it. It is not marked on any map and there is only one sign that points the way, but never tells you where to go after that. It’s a lovely little cove in the Adamant Sea cradled by islands and home to beautiful sands and excellent shore side restaurants. From the shores you can view Thailand’s best islands and a large portion of Malaysia as well. The water is like a tepid bath and so thick and salty that it almost repels your movements. My first encounter I got attacked by a pack of wild minnows that terrified me and sent me floundering to shore because I thought I was being eaten.

Aside from those two, the actual streets of the town are a maze of backroads, alleyways and footpaths. Make a wrong turn and you end up in the jungle or at the base of a impassable mountain.

Theravada Buddhism..words just cannot do such an amazing way of life justice. Last week we visited the Kao Tao Temple (Turtle Mountain), and experienced first hand the supreme impact that Thai buddhism has on their everyday life. It’s interwoven into the very fabric of their culture, and it makes the Thai all the better for it. There  is a fatalist viewpoint that is unspoken here, in that you simply accept the life that is given to you and cherish it for the lessons it presents. Be compassionate, kind and welcoming to those around you. Build the light of your karma and be rewarded in the next life…there’s so much more to that and I can’t quite cover all the wonderful experiences I’ve had with Buddhists in the past week. Check out the gallery on this post and be inspired.

More photos to come at some point of Thai Buddhism.

Imagine this, if you will, a night that never ends. You step aboard an airplane and rise into a sunset sky, majestic reds and yellows light up the Cascade and Olympic mountains of Washington state, signaling a new adventure and another chapter of, what is quickly becoming, an interesting life. Got that image? Awesome. Now plunge it into a night so dark and so ominous that all concept of time is shattered. Stomped out by an angry child who didn’t get their way and, just to be spiteful, took those pieces and threw them into the ocean. Sprinkle in a touch of Mandarin, Cantonese and what I can only assume was Korean. Let that simmer for 13 hours, quickly brush the dish with a bizarre experience in Beijing, allow to rest for 6 more hours and then promptly transfer the whole concoction into Bangkok. Smell that rich aroma? That lovely blend of cultures? Yes, my friend, you have made it into Thailand!

Time changes are a mind boggling thing. I flew from Seattle at 2pm on a Friday, arrived in Bangkok on Sunday at 2am. But only flew for a total of 19 hours, yet when I got there it was roughly 2pm of the previous day back in America. Which roughly translates to “Yep, I’m literally from the future.”. Awesome.

Thailand is not a country that you here about often. Which is strange, because it’s one of the fastest growing economies in the world, particularly in Southeast Asia and the people are truly friendly. Even in Bangkok, a city that puts New York to shame for ridiculous drivers and an ‘in-your-face lifestyle’, people will stop and ask how you are. A smile and a ‘wai’, which is somewhat akin to a handshake and a bow, instantly gets you a welcoming smile back and a warm greeting. The Thais are very polite and place extreme emphasis on courteousness and appearance. For those of you who know me well, appearance is not always a strong point of mine (though I’ve very quickly learned to brush my hair in the morning)!!

The past week has been a bit of a blur of activity. Bangkok was enjoyable, but once you’re out of the city, you see Thailand as it really is.I’ve seen parts of Thailand that aren’t in brochures and aspects of it that are amazing and have made me cry with both joy and sadness. Some of the rural areas look truly difficult to stay in. Homes are little more then four bamboo posts with corrugated tin roofs. But still, the Thai people are wonderfully happy and consistently smile. They are simply glad for life, more on that later, but sometimes it’s the things that can’t help themselves that need help the most. So for the first part of this blog, I’m going to ask for a small donation.

During the course of last week, I visited an elephant reserve through the company I work for. Elephants are AWESOME. We went to a pineapple plantation (also amazing),

and collected 126kg of pineapples, tossed them onto a truck and proceeded to feed the elephants the pineapples. Elephants are surprisingly gentle when they take things from you.

But here’s the rub. There’s 8 elephants currently at the reserve, but only three have homes that can protect their skin from the strong sun in Thailand. Others have ropes stretched across their encampment, but that really does nothing to protect them from the UV rays. It costs approximately $2000 to buy one elephant a home that will protect them properly. These are peaceful creatures that have seen horrible things. One is blind from mistreatment, another was forced to fight in WWII and clear sections of a railroad with prisoners of war during that conflict. Another had its growth stunted and barely reaches above my head.

Yet the handler is trying incredibly hard to provide for them, unfortunately the exposure to the world is limited as the preserve doesn’t have a website and most Thai simply don’t have the money to spare, despite how much the preserve is respected.

So here’s what I’m asking for. $5 or $10 dollars is a lot in Thailand. I have a home here for little over $75 dollars a month, if that is an indication of how far the US dollar goes here. $3 dollars feeds me for a day, $1 dollar can easily buy cat or dog food. If you can spare it, go without a Starbucks double latte frappe with espresso shots for a day and donate instead, it would go a long way towards caring for these elephants.

Don’t like elephants? I can talk even more about the amount of stray dogs and cats here that are in horrible condition. They need just as much help. Xplore Asia also runs a dog and cat shelter that could also use the help. Like I said, $1 can buy a dog or cat food for a week or more. $5 can potentially give them veterinarian attention that they critically need.  It won’t go to a corrupt government, it won’t go to nameless person, it will go directly from my hands to the people running the shelters. It WILL make a difference.Tug your own heartstrings and click this button.