Part VI: Farewell Thailand (Koh Samet)

And...it's over: five weeks, eight different towns, four overnight train rides, two countries, two border crossings on foot, one night in a hill tribe village, an elephant ride and bamboo rafting through the jungle, snorkeling on a beautiful coral reef, perfect beaches, oil massages, a few words in Thai, a bamboo tattoo, hanging out, getting a tan, fresh fruit all the time.  That was Thailand.

On my last day, on the island of Koh Samet, I swam in the warm and crystal clear Gulf of Thailand, got some sun on the finest, whitest sand ever, got one last oil massage on my way to the ferry and while chatting with the ladies there in my rudimentary Thai, finagled myself a 100 Baht discount :)

As I sit here in Suvarnabhumi Airport outside of Bangkok, I am tanned, healthy, happy and tired. Five weeks is a short time really, but here, it was long enough to get used to this peaceful, slow and friendly way of life.  My mother commented when she returned from Thailand: " I thought Thailand a country of wonderful people and many surprises."  I agree.

Jordan