The past two weeks have been just short of a blur, so i’d like to get to as much possible. I began at a hostel in Ao Nang where it was raining heavily, and shortly after was spending 100 Baht ($3.20) for a van headed an hour north to Phang Nga with the promise of “The Jungle.” White water rafting, elephants, and unlimited coconuts. This promise was made by my friend Lee, who I met last month in the Philippines. He found this adventure camp called ‘Best Rafting 4 U’ five years ago, had stayed for six months, and was welcomed back years later like family just a day before I arrived. I was greeted at the bus station by the very nice owner named Khune, and we were put up in a guest room adjacent to the river complete with a bed, misquito net, and an absolutely wonderful older lady next door who calls herself our Thai Mom and watches out for us like a loving Nana. By day I was white water rafting for the first time (apparently in training to become an instructor soon), zip lining 50 feet above ground, jumping in to waterfalls, and bathing with elephants. By night I was eating dinner with the locals who treat Lee like a rock star. We exchange Thai, English, and laughs. The Thai people are simply incredible. Warm hearted, generous, and carrying a positive spirit that I haven’t found anywhere else in the world. It was a simple few days away from the tourist traps and a once in a lifetime local experience that not everybody following the so called Banana Pancake Trail are able to enjoy. Did I mention the coconuts?