NEAR THE TEANG RIVER - We trekked more than 15 kilometers on the second day. Most of it was through thick jungles and leech-filled streams.

Week 4
November 22, 2001 - Thailand
"Sounds"

Dear Thor:

Cheers m’duck!

I pleased to say that I survived my four-day trek into jungles of northern Thailand. And it was the dog’s bollocks! I had such a bloody good time that I’ve returned to the jungles for another two-day trek. This time, I’m near the border of Burma just west of Kanchanaburi – made famous by the cinema film "Bridge over the River Kwai."

You know what I like best about being out here? Listen…(Silence)

Hear it?

(More silence)

There’s no noise out here. It’s rather lovely, isn’t it? Thailand’s cities gave me such a bloody headache from the constant assault on my ears, that I was as tight as a "wigwam in a teepee!" Then I discovered the jungles. They’re bazzin!

Up until this week, I didn’t understand why people were so fascinated by this country. Thailand’s cities have cultural highlights like Wats (temples) and restaurants, but the noise and pollution make them most unpleasant. I was such a "crate of eggs" to spend so much time there!

In the jungles, the only sound I hear is the wind whistling in the bamboo forest overhead. And if I listen carefully, I can hear the subtle hush of the river a few hundred metres away. By this evening, the frogs will start their chorus of mating calls followed by a smattering of birds singing.

There’s also this amazing floral fragrance that fills the air! It’s kind of like cherry blossoms, but sweeter. I’ve been buzzing around like a bumblebee smelling every flower I find, but I still can’t track the source of this amazing scent. I even asked two of the jungle guides, but they just shrugged and smiled.

The best part has been the people that I’ve met. I spent the first part of the week trekking the northern jungles with this amazing group of Brits! We explored caves, played cards by candlelight, sang Frankie Vallie songs, had water fights on bamboo rafts, rode on elephants, bathed in rivers, celebrated a 50th birthday, met the native Karen tribes people, braved three-inch spiders and blood-sucking Mozzies and leeches, and laughed the whole time.

We also played this silly trekking game that teamed the Gents versus the Ladies. The goal was to stay on your feet because if you slipped on the steep terrain, your team got penalized with a point. The team with the fewest points at the end of the trek won. On the first day, my mates Steve and Mark both fell, putting us behind 2-0. We got really worried when the girls penalized us for David’s tiny stumble. (His bum didn’t touch the ground, but they aid both hands did.) Thankfully we recovered, and by end of the trek, Andie, Tracey, and Sarah "The Great" all had dirt-marks on their bums, leaving both teams tied 3-3.

By the time we got back to "civilization," we were sore, smelly, and itchy from the insect bites (I got "leeched" twice!), but we were also happy and content. I was also quite pleased that got to practice my British accent and pick up some slang! (Have you noticed?)

I’m now exploring the western side of Thailand with another amazing group of people: Jill Hale and Steve Slade are from the U-S; and Petra Pokorna, Mirek Vaverka, and Petra Zborilova are from the Czech Republik. In the short time we’ve known each other, we’ve climbed a waterfall, relaxed in a natural hot spring, slept on a river barge, danced native Thai dances, and shared stories in the back of a dusty pickup truck. It’s funny…I just met them yesterday, but I’m having so much fun.

And I think that’s one of the things that I like best about traveling – I never know who I’m going to bump into. During this week I’ve met physical therapists, lawyers, retired geologists, grad students, Internet programmers and secretaries. All of them are unique people with a whole world of different experiences to share. Without them, my jungle adventures would have been peaceful, but terribly lonely. However by some amazing stroke of luck, all these amazing people have crossed my path. Who would have thought that I would find all these "riches" in the jungles of Thailand?

Speaking of new friends, I travel to Nepal in two days with ten people from America. I’ve never met them, but for the next four weeks, they will be my "new family" on this Search. Together we will build a house for Habitat for Humanity in Surkhet, Nepal (near the Indian border), celebrate Thanksgiving with our Nepalese friends, and then trek the Anapurna trail in the Himalayan Mountains.

If this week is any indicator, I know I’m in for an amazing time. I’ll give you an update next week. Until then, please be well, be present. And Namaste!

(Or as the Brits say…Ta-Rah!)

Scotty