Northbound
Trip Start
Jan 21, 2006
1
3
26
Trip End
Jan 21, 2007
Koh Jum, Thailand
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
We have only just arrived at the large riverine township of Kanchanaburi in central Thailand (not much to talk about yet).
We've been island-hopping for the better part of the last week and a half. From Ko Ngai we boated to Ko Lanta for 4 relaxing days, where the beaches were better and the accommodation cheap but kingly. The highlight was a tour through a very deep and dark cave system, which was still actively dripping with minerals and inhabited by a colony of large insectivorous bats (which we still do not have a name for). Some of the caverns were as large as church halls while others were like rabbit burrows (still managed to squeeze through though).
After receiving a tip-off from another couple of Aussies, we hopped to the smaller Ko Jum. Finally we had found our little oasis, hidden from the tourists and about as natural as we were going to get. The island is inhabited by large fishing families with a couple of settlements you might call villages plotted here and there. Real sense of community here. If you want an in-your-face cultural experience in Thailand, then you must attend a Muay Thai boxing event. This is where the passion of the people really comes to the surface (like bay 13 at the MCG - not really). It is similar to kick boxing, though the punch (considered a lowly blow) takes a brutal back step to the knee and elbow. Intense is an understatement. The entire display is garnished at every opportunity with spiritual rituals and dance, performed by the fighters prior to a bout.
Sadly the beaches are gone, but we are excited about the opportunities that await us as wee look to the north. We have both found our travelling niche comfortably and are working well as a team. I (Damien) am very good at feeling my way around and discovering things using books, maps and a good sense of direction. When this fails us (rarely of course) Lina has a talent for extracting information from people, as is her nature. The CIA would make good use of her.
Hope everyone is healthy and happy. Don't fret too much about the working, the mortgages and the kids, because we surely won't. Keep things interesting.
Lina and Dame
PS. For those who would like to keep in touch via email, my (Lina) account is still running. (linaeferraro@hotmail.com)
