We had no idea what to expect…we were just told that it would be an enjoyable experience that we would never forget and that it was!

We (34 Youth Exchange Students, 2 Rotex Students and 6 Rotarians as Chaperones) were supposed to leave at 6:30am, but instead we left at 8:45am…I guess ‘Bahamian Time’ exists in Thailand as well. Anyway, we were off and our first stop was at Prachuabkirikhan Province, where we had lunch and bought souveniers. We left at 2:15pm and departed to Chumporn province. When we arrived, which was at 5:00pm, we visited His Royal Highness Krornluang Chumporn Shrine and also Hin Krud Beach! When we arrived to this beach it felt almost like home, of course it wasn’t as beautiful…but it would do! After about 30 min. we left to check-in to Chumporn Grand Palace Hotel. There were two people to each room, and my roommate turned out to be my close friend from Seattle (we lucked out because in some cases Y.E’s were put with people they didn’t like). After we got settled we went downstairs and had the most amazing dinner. There was a huge variety such as Japanese, American, European and of course Thai food…There was one missing but I knew it was impossible for it to be there, ‘Bahamian Food’. Some days I get this huge craving for it, but then I remind myself time isn’t as long as it has been and I’ll soon be home. Anyway enough about food cravings, after dinner everyone was exhausted so everyone went to bed and we decided that we would get into trouble the next night, just kidding (smile).

The next morning we departed to Surathani Province at 7:00am. When we arrived at 9:30am we went to Chielon Dam where we took a boat to see huge mountains made of limestone (it was very beautiful in the beginning, but after 2hrs. of looking at the same thing you tend to get a little bored). Finally after that long boat ride we had lunch and it was ‘aroi, aroi, aroi’ (delicious, delicious, delicious)! After lunch we departed to Phuket province, the province we were all waiting to see and explore. So we left Surathani at 1:30pm and arrived at 5:00pm. Our first tour was of Phromthep peninsular and Wat Chalong, Cashew Nut Factory. What can I say about this experience hmmm…it was different. We got to see where cashews came from, how they were cleaned and packaged…we thought it would be more interesting but now we all know how cashews are processed. After the Cashew Nut Factory we checked-in at S.T. Plaza Hotel Phuket where we got all dressed up for a night that we wouldn’t forget…we were going to the famous ‘Phuket Fantasia’ show. This place was beautiful; all of the lights and activities made us feel like we were at an amusement park. There were rides, shops and oh did I mention elephants walking around without trainers posing for pictures…they are so big but yet so gentle. Anyway after walking around 15min. it was time for the main event, the ‘Fantasia show’. Everyone was prepared with camcorders and cameras but when we got our tickets, we were told we had to leave them at the door. So we all went in with sad faces which soon turned into smiles and eyes filled with tears from laughter. The show was awesome. First there was a musical show, Ram Thai (Thai dancing), a magical show (it was more of a comedy show than magical show) and then to finish the show people in neon suites were in the ceiling performing acrobatic movements (this was really cool). After the show we stopped for pizza and headed back to the hotel. The chaperons were exhausted so they went straight to bed, but the Y.E.’s were far from being tired. So we did what we liked to do best have fun (smile).

Morning came and we all wished it would go away because we were really tired, but we had to get up. After we ate breakfast we were off to Phi Phi Island at 8:00am. When we arrived we took a tour of Maya Bay (the bay where the 20^th Century Fox Film “The Beach” was shot and also Viking Cave with swallows’ nest). Hen at 12:00 we had lunch…. There was only seafood at this restaurant and the dish of the day was broiled crab and Thai vegetables. The Japanese Y.E.’s and I were the only ones who knew how to eat it so I showed some of my friends how to do it ‘Bahamian Style’. Anyway after lunch we were supposed to go snorkeling around Ton Sai Beach but it was cancelled because it seemed like the weather wouldn’t permit us to go. So we returned to the hotel for the rest of the day.

Wednesday December 12, 2001 - This was the best day on our bus trip. We departed to Krabi Province; we visited Wat Pra Thong where the famous miracle half Buddha emerged from the ground many years ago….Supposedly (we all found this a bit hard to believe but it might’ve happened, who knows). After that interesting visit we checked in at, Tab Kaek Sunset Beach Resort, Krabi. This resort reminded me so much of home…you know, the sea breeze, sunset and long walks on the beach. Enough reminiscing, after we got settled in our rooms we took a long-tail boat to Hong Island, Tab Island and Phek Bea Island with beautiful coral and fish. When we stopped at each island we got to snorkel and some of us even got to scuba dive. We spent the whole day swimming and eating (the Y.E.’s favorite exercise)! At about 5:30pm we returned to Tab Kaek where we had dinner and played games. WHAT A DAY!

The following day we did basically the same thing but dinner was different…we had a Bar-B-Q! We started eating at 7:00pm and at about midnight we were still going at it…the way we eat over here is not right. I eat five solid meals some days (it’s sad to say), but I can’t help myself sometimes the food is so good. Anyway, we ate, got to know each other better and danced the night away!

Friday came and it was time to leave that beautiful island and depart to Au-Luk District where we took a boat to Au-Luk Cavern and Phee Hua Toa Cave. The boat ride took about one hour. Phee Hua Toa cave is where Thai people lived about 2,000 years ago. After that historical tour we left and checked in at the Diamond Plaza Hotel in Surathani Province. After we checked-in the Y.E’s got free time so a few of my friends and I went to a mall across the street and ate dinner. The mall was opened until 11:30pm, so we stayed until it closed and then we went back to the hotel where we stayed up talking until 3:30am.

It seemed as if the trip was getting better and better when it was almost time to leave, but that’s how it always happens. Anyway we departed to our final destination for the bus trip which was Patoh District. When we arrived we took two-towed (old-fashioned) car to Nai Yang village and then we took a PVC raft along Pa Toh stream through a famous bamboo national forest reservation. We had on life jackets but we didn’t expect to actually fall in the stream (laugh). Although it wasn’t clean we had fun. After that little adventure we had lunch at ‘Villagers Orchard’. Our lunch was different from what we usually ate; we had rice in a bamboo canteen and a vegetable omelet inn a banana’s leaf (kind of strange but it actually was delicious). After lunch we took our PVC rafts back to Nai Yang village and of course we all fell in the stream again…it’s so hard to balance on those little rafts, especially when there were some over weight Y.E.’s on them (smile). We then took our two-towed coaches to Ranong Province and then our bus to Chan Som Tara Hotel. This hotel is very famous in Thailand because their drinking water, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna is mineral water. There’s a big mineral water spring that flows directly to the hotel…pretty cool huh? My thoughts exactly. So as soon as we got settled in our rooms we all went to the Jacuzzi, pool and sauna. What a wonderful way to end our bus trip.

The following day we went back to Bangkok but we all wished the bus trip were for another week. It took us eight hours to return to Bangkok. Most of us slept while others watched movies. When we arrived in Bangkok we didn’t want to say good-bye but we had to. Some went to Lop Buri; Petchabon (Lomsak), Auttahya and yours truly went back to Angthong! The Bus Trip was great and I’m looking forward to the next one in April…we will be going to the North of Thailand this time, Chaing Mai!

Until next time……….