Krabi, Thailand

10/1/14 at 1852 (Krabi time)

It is now officially October . . . craziness. My flight was diverted to Phuket, where we waited for two hours in the plane and were still asked to pay for water and snacks. Then we were told that we were ok to make the 20 minute plane ride back to Krabi as the weather had improved. After the trip and a 40 minute busride, I made it to my fantastic room at Dawn of Happiness. It's a small individual bungalow directly on the beach! There, I met Lerrin, my awesome host and the owner, as well as some of the assistive staff who speak hardly any English but greet you with genuine smiles.

I also met a retired Australian couple (Alban and Roma) who are working there through a Work Away program. You pay 24€ for a two year membership or 29€ for a couple or group of friends, then you are open to contacting hosts around the world offering room and board for a 20 hour workweek doing (literally) whatever it is they need, whether that's helping take care of an elderly family member, conversing with their children in English, or helping them to build a brewery and milk the cows. The couple told me they've already been contacted by people in Russia and the Himalayas about other opportunities!

I relaxed for a bit after a quick meal and some FaceTime with the parentals, enjoying my bungalow's ocean view and close proximity to the water. Then I went swimming for a bit, then made the trek down to the Anaman Pier for the ferryboat to Railay Beach. Little did I know that ferryboat meant long wooden boat in which you wade out to waist high water, then jump in the wobbly thing. And you have to wait for 8 people minimum before you take off. I would have dressed differently if I had known the specifics. =P

I walked around Railay for a bit, impressed with the clarity of the water but somewhat less than impressed with the care of the sand. I got a Green Tea ice cream cone before later giving in to a strawberry and banana Thai pancake, which was light and crispy.

Now I'm finishing up dinner at a Thai-Dutch restaurant adorned with dark wood and shell lights. I'll be grabbing a tuk tuk back to my place where I'll hopefully get my Turkish update on-line! Even with the delay, it's been a good day. =)

10/2/14 at 1711 (Krabi time)

Slept in this morning, jumped at sparks in the shower last night, gobbled down my "American" breakfast at the restaurant and then joined Roma, Alban, and Junker for a trip to a waterfall, swam around with Roma and Junker in the refreshingly chilly water, had lunch at a friend's restaurant with Coca-Cola in ice that was promised to be clean.

Afterwards, we hung out at a friend's house (Welsh ex-pat) where some partook of the happy environment. We drank a few Thai beers and enjoyed squid-flavored fish strips, sweetened crisps of unknown origin, and watermelon chocolate as we played with cats and enjoyed the rain from the covered backyard seating area. Now back to the Dawn of Happiness for some rest time. Once again on this trip I feel like an accepted family member and it is difficult realizing that I will be leaving so soon.

10/3/14 at 1034 (Krabi time)

Sitting in the Krabi airport with another unspecified flight delay. Grateful to have WiFi from a little coffee and snack stand, although the signal is poor. I see the staff repeatedly turning the router on and off again in an attempt to give better signal but I don't think that's going to do the trick. Munching on seaweed strips with a can of Pepsi to wash away the saltiness. I became quite fond of Alban and Roma, and appreciated their good-natured demeanor (as well as their insistence on improvements at the Dawn of Happiness in an attempt to better the business). We shall see if any changes take place.

I return to Bangkok before heading out yet again . . . next up . . . New Zealand. =)