Today we left AFAPS at 0600 with our new Thai friends and headed off to Erawan National Park on the Western part of Thailand. The trip took about 5 hours. Once we got there we sat down for lunch before heading off to hike. Lunch consisted of papaya salad, pad see you noodles, grilled pork, grilled chicken, and fried rice. It was delicious! We then headed off towards the falls. It was by far the most beautiful site I have ever seen. You knew it would be gorgeous by the number of tourists that were there. The park is known for its 7 layers of stunning waterfalls. We all hiked to the top; it was about 2 km up but with the rocks that we were climbing and the heat, it felt like a lot longer. Once we got to the top we all got in the water and went swimming. The water was so clear and refreshing, however, many of us did not feel comfortable with the fish nibbling at our feet! One of the Thai pre-Cadets said, "I usually love fish, I eat fish everyday, but I don't like the fish today." Haha, spoken so well. Once we got over the fish sticking to our feet though, we were able to swim away from the edges and get to the falls. We all enjoyed sliding down the rocks and immersing ourselves under the falls. It was a really relaxing day spent with great company.
After spending about 5 hours at the park, we got back on the bus and headed to a jewelry market. Many of us got presents for friends and family. The jade jewelry, bangle bracelets, and Buddha and elephant statues were a huge hit.
After spending an hour at the market we headed to the hotel. We all showered then met for dinner behind the hotel. We had pad thai, egg roles, curry chicken, salad, fruit, and even spaghetti! After we finished eating the karaoke began... Karaoke is big in Thailand so we knew it was going to come at some point. The night started off with Cadet Krebs singing "Sweet Caroline" and ended with the whole group singing "Hotel California" and "YMCA". I have to say I think the Thai cadets were a lot more experienced than us ;) It was a ton of fun though; definitely a great way to get people to loosen up.
Tomorrow we head to ride elephants! Stay tuned!
Always,
Kelsey
Kelsey
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| The fish that ate our feet when we swam! |
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| Cadet Kornblut and 3 of the Thai Cadets posing after they got to the top of the waterfall |
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| A definite must-see place |
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| This picture is not enhanced in any way. It was that beautiful. |
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| Gorgeous views all around |
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| The group before the hike |
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| The rocks were slippery so you had to walk with your hands and feet |
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| We could get used to this view ;) |
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| A monkey stole a woman's scarf! |
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| Our lunch before the hike |
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