It's our last night in Thailand and I have to admit, I am ready to head to Singapore!
After spending time in Northern Thailand and then down at some of the islands, we've been here for about 3 weeks too long. Even though for the most part we lucked out with good weather and yes, the sea is just as beautiful in the blue/turquoise/green colors that you'd imagine, I am probably the only person to say that I just didn't love Thailand. Well, I just didn't love the Islands as much as I thought I would.
Since we didn't adventure out that much due to sea sickness, crappy weather, etc. I feel like I missed a lot opportunities to see the "quintessential Thailand." I'm sure it also didn't help that it's currently their low season which is more like, no season at all. It felt very much like a ghost town with several restaurants closed. I can't even imagine what it would be like in peak season (I definitely would not like all the people), so I guess it was nice at times to have what felt like our own private island. We were also told that during peak season, prices are 3-4 times the amount they are now, so I guess we got a deal?!
After Ao Nang, we took a shuttle to Ko Lanta and spent four nights at a resort where, when we opened the back door to our room, our feet were literally in the pool! We spent one night at little jungle resort that was 650 meters away and got ripped off by the tuk tuk driver who charged us $3 USD to get there. The only reason we didn't walk ourselves was because it was pouring rain.
On one of the days we went on a four islands tour and I survived the speedboat ride thanks to the weather and sea being in our favor. However, I came out of the water with a bloody leg from swimming into a huge coral rock (of course).
We rented a motor bike and took a one hour tour of the Lanta Animal Welfare shelter, a non-profit dedicated to ending the animal homeless crisis. We learned that there is a large Muslim population in Thailand and because traditionally, dogs are seen as impure in the Islamic faith, people cannot/will not touch them, and unfortunately many Muslims have used this to justify the abuse and neglect of dogs. LAW cares for sick, injured and abandoned cats and dogs and hopes to raise awareness about the benefits of adopting and promote kindness towards animals. We spent some time with two of the dogs (Mooky & Dumbo!), took them for walks, and then sadly had to say goodbye.
We didn't meet any other Americans and most of the people we did come in contact with spoke very little English. The locals (tour guides, shuttle vans, hotel staff) kind of just shuffled us around by mumbling or not saying anything at all about what was happening, and locals and tourists alike all smoke cigarettes (a big pet peeve of mine especially when dining). It was also quite depressing to learn about the animal abuse that takes place all over Thailand for the sake of tourism (remember our elephant friends), and to see all of the garbage on the streets and beaches. I realized that tourists/humans can be pretty awful and we need to respect this planet...
Earlier in the week Kiel and I walked up and down the beach at our resort only to find tons of garbage and plastic scattered on the shore. I watched as some tour guide flicked his cigarette butt into the ocean. I picked up some beautiful shells (that I put back!) while avoiding the cigarette butts strewn amongst the sand. We swam in the beautiful turquoise sea only to bump into random plastic car accessories and lighters floating in the water. Some tourist decided to take a leak next to a palm tree by the beach instead of using the restroom. I ran out and fetched some persons empty water bottle as they just stood there and let it drift off to sea. And I was especially infuriated when a young girl (old enough to know better) took a live crab from the ocean and brought it with her on the boat...
She carried it around for awhile, mishandling it and then dunked it in a cooler of ice water, before literally making a crab sandwich by squashing the poor thing between her two palms. That's when I lost it and told her she should really put it back in the ocean, but of course, she didn't understand English. She eventually tossed it back into the water, but it was probably too late at that point. Where were her parents? Why didn't the crew member who walked by and saw her with it say anything? Why doesn't anyone care?!
I know I probably sound like a preachy and crotchety old woman, but I've been trying to understand why it is so hard for some people to be at least, semi-decent human beings.
It almost seems impossible to clean up the messes we've made and it's not changing/only getting worse.
What you can do to help:
- Try not to consume so much stuff.
- Recycle; Reduce plastic usage and find more biodegradable options
- Limit your carbon footprint.
- Be Kind to animals
- Mind your space and mind your manners. If you don't know what manners are, then learn them.
- Start volunteering for conservation/environment groups
- Participate in beach cleanups
- Work with animals in some way
- Be more consumer conscious
- Educate others the best I can
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| Still don't have a butt 😭 |
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| Our romantic beachfront dinner HA |
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| Our backyard! |
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| Our front yard |
Perhaps your example may influence another who in turn can influence another. “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”
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