Phuket pt. 2

Friday of our trip in Phuket was spent at Koh Phi Phi (Phi Phi Island). It takes a couple of hours by ferry to get to Phi Phi but it is totally worth it! I really wish I had a waterproof camera that I could have used to take pictures when we went snorkeling, but alas, I am without. I found a pouch thing that I can put my camera in, but a friend of mine knows where I can get one for cheaper, so I decided to wait.

Roberto and I on the way to Koh Phi Phi

I'm jealous, this girl can sleep ANYWHERE!!

Finland and Brazil <3
Isn't this what exchange is about?

The Canadian writing on the Brazilian flag in incorrect Spanish...

We passed this on our way to the main island...

America and South Africa. Sasha and I. I love that exchange students collect bracelets :)

I love Thai spelling, most of the time it is wrong 

BEACH!!! Haha I love these people. 

So sad!! --no farting sign

Shopping, snorkeling, spending more time with exchange students, it's so much fun to be with everyone!!!

Saturday was another great day, but much more emotionally taxing. We started the morning by going to the Vegetarian Festival parade. On Wednesday night, we went to a mini lecture thing about the festival in general, and we got kind of a back story. I say kind of because the woman presenting jumped topics alot and it was really hard for me to follow her, and to focus. Sitting still for two hours on a good day is hard, when I'm with the 14 other exchange students it's near impossible. But we did it. So anyway, Saturday... I'm really glad that I was behind a camera. At least I was until the fireworks started. After about 15 minutes I had to go inside. I now know that I can't handle sharp noises like that though. My left ear hurt SO bad, but hey, now I know.

I actually go to see these people twice,
once early in the morning on my way to the temple,
and again as they walked past the hotel

the Chinese temple where the parade started

I really don't know how to explain these photos... I know that the belief is that they cannot feel any pain. Well, that if they are a good person or whatever that they can't feel the pain. If they aren't good enough, then they can feel pain, and they bleed. I still haven't had time to research the why part of all of this. It is believed that during the festival, nine gods come (or are coming). During the festival people don't eat any meat (the soy-based whatever is super convincing, so I got to spend my weekend breaking out). But anyway, supposedly they can't feel any pain...

Of course, meanwhile on our way to the meeting point.... Roberto, our pyromaniac

Gah I don't know how to turn the photo!!!

sure, lets kick the firework out of the street -- probably better than picking it up though...

This kid was awesome! He followed Roberto when he was gonna light the firework,
and as soon as he so what Roberto was doing, he ran away! 

And back to the more gruesome photos... I still find it hard to process this. I wish I knew the reason behind why they do this. I'll look into it and post a link or something. Eventually. Maybe...

The rhythm was really cool, and it was so nice to see something different

These kids waved at us as we took photos! 

Kids are exposed to this at such a young age... I dunno, it bothers me a bit...

Awesome dragon with a ton of people inside!

And all of this before lunch time... After lunch on Saturday was much more chill. We went to a temple (a Thai temple, not the Chinese one) and we went shopping before going to Phuket FantaSea. I bought a stuffed pink elephant. Her name is Nelly, I love her, she is mine, don't judge me.

Temple!! I was wearing a tank top, so I wasn't allowed inside.
Instead I had a conversation with an elderly Thai woman,
and I bought bracelets and a bag 

Ex-Exchange Student, Rotarian, Chaperon, and father of two ADORABLE kids who went to the temple with us

Group photo at the same lookout Bela and I went to on Wednesday!
I wish there hadn't been clouds on Saturday....

Class: eating pizza with a knife and fork with a napkin in the collar. At Pizza Hut.

"Pick up the goods"

shhhhhh

Dinner here!!!

the stuffed elephant store!!!

Gorgeous white tiger, but I think he's lonely, and I'm not a fan of the cage thing

We had to take a bus to somewhere... I don't remember where exactly, but I do know that several people were very tired...

Roberto

Alica

As well as Hunter, Sally, Chelsie, Sam, and Dorian, however they are not seen here (obviously). I remember talking quite a bit before having a nap myself. Buses are not particularly comfortable, especially when the air conditioner doesn't work particularly well (ok, at all) and the fumes from the "restroom" are filling up the entire seating area. I never want to have to smell that ever again. That's right, we were going to Nakhon Si Thamarat! Oooooh, we went kayaking that day... We camped one night at this little place... not a resort, but not like a campground either... They set up tents for us, but most of us ended up sleeping in hammocks. I missed the opportunity to buy one while on the trip, but P'Boy is going to let me buy one from him (pay him back, I believe). And I'm glad, because the hammocks are so incredibly comfortable!!!

It was too cloudy to see the sunrise...

but we got to see the fog clear out!

contemplating the view, and trying to get a good shot

The awesome view right before we left

My braiding skills remain intact!

I wish I had photos of the day that I braided Bela's hair, but I don't because I really didn't want my camera to get wet. We went caving, and saw bats (hundreds!!!) and climbed a mini waterfall, and "swam" in a underground pool thing that had fish!! I continue to be afraid of the dark, and I dislike heights in the dark especially.

After caving we hiked to a waterfall. Uphill most of the way there, through a jungle. I saw the biggest spider I have ever seen ever, and it's legs were tucked in at its sides. Just it's body was bigger than a doughnut hole. And the ANTS!!! There were the normal tiny red ants, medium red ants (I'd seen before). big red ants (not seen before), and HUGE black and red ants. The red ants bite, but if you leave then alone, you're pretty much good. The black and red ants... not so much. Those buggers attack. They're also fairly solitary, I never saw more than just one at a time. Luckily nobody got attacked, but I saw one as it was preparing to attack P'Boy's foot. Oh, the huge ants are an inch long at the smallest.

The waterfall was absolutely beautiful, even though getting there was kind of traumatizing. I'm not a huge fan of heights, and it had just rained, so the rocks on the path were super slick... On the way down (and on the way back) I had to keep stopping to remind myself to breathe. It was totally worth it though. We swam out to the waterfall. The water was so cold! It was nice.

And that was the Phuket trip. We missed the train, so we had to drive an extra hour to the next stop. I love traveling in the vans with everyone, especially when someone has an ukulele. It's great fun to play with harmonies on long road trips and on the train. I've been back for a week, and I have more to blog about, but I'll do that tomorrow. I love everyone I've met here, and the people back home who are supporting me on my adventure. Quite the adventure it has been! It saddens me that it is already November. The time has gone by way too fast! Is there any way to make it so I have more time, but also speed up time to the next trip when I get to see everyone again? Gah!! Mixed feelings about everything! All I know for sure is that I'll be coming back to Thailand in the future, and that I see myself traveling to Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Finland, and wherever this year's inbounds end up. :)