Return to Thailand

I know this is somewhat anachronistic of me, but this entry will mostly be about my last few days in Malaysia as opposed to my first few in Thailand. Sure, I could have entitled this post Last Couple Days in Malaysia, but it doesn't have the same ring to it. This way it sounds like an India Jones movie. 

Simon and I met a couple of Canucks in the Cameron Highlands named Andrew and Angel. As it turned out, they had both been participants in the now defunct leadership/language/coming of age traveling government bursary program called Katimavik, of which I had been a participant, many moons ago. Their Katimavik experience was only six months (three shorter than mine), because they were participants during the very last year of the program.


I thought it was a wonderful coincidence to run into fellow Canadians, and "Katimavictims" to boot. They were good spirited and kept us laughing all day long. We hung out for a couple of days, hiking around the highlands, and it turned out we were going to the same place so we agreed to meet up in Penang.

I set out with Simon once again, taking a highway bus. The Canadians decided to try their luck hitch hiking, and we didn't see them until our third day there. We took dorm beds in a cheap hostel on Love Lane recommended to us by the proprietor of Jungle Bar in Tanah Rata. The next day we rented motorcycles, checked out a couple of temples, and cruised around the islands. It was great fun. The day after that, we doubled up on bikes with the Canadians and did a hike in a national park to Turtle Beach. 

 

Most people go to Monkey Beach, but not us! I guess we're hard core. It was a pretty grueling trek, and it took about an hour to get there. Turtle Beach is super nice, and quiet too, since you either have to trek through jungle for an hour or else hire a boat to sail you there. We didn't see any turtles, but I did kill my phone by wading into salt water with it in my pocket. Also, on the way back, we saw some Monkeys.  

Penang was great for a couple of days, but I felt an urge to get a little bit more remote, and find someplace where I could enjoy solitude for a while, and get down to the serious business of finding my spirit animal. So, I parted ways with Simon and the Canucks. I woke up at four thirty yesterday morning and fourteen hours later found myself on Koh Phangan. I can already say that my Thailand experience this time around is much different than the one I had four years ago.      

I've only been here just over twenty four hours, but already I have a lot to say about Koh Phangnan. But alas, it's getting late, and if I'm to go out on the town and have a drink I better do it now.  In keeping with tradition, I leave you with this monkey: