Thailand....South...right?

     So, now is the time I explore the south of Thailand. I get a flight to Bangkok, and meet a really nice guy from California, Chris. Chris has been exploring China lately, but has been in Thailand on and off for years. In Bangkok for a few days, until I figure out how to get to Phuket, bus, train, or plane.

    Then it occurs to me...the Elephant festival in Surin, I'm here (Thailand) and that is one of the major festivals, I should go. I catch a bus and make my way to the Guesthouse I had been at he last time here. A room is available, but for the week-end coming up, nothing. I'll worry about that later. I make my way around town, figuring out my plans for the festival, there is a parade and breakfast spread for the elephants to kick start the weekend, so I gotta be ready Saturday morning.

    Thursday I decide to go out into the countryside to check out some of the rice farm activities, as it is the time of the harvest.  I get a bus and a Song-taow (pick-up with benches in back) and head out for the evening.

the roads are covered with these tarps

I see many farmers and their harvests, or some of it, soaking in the hot sun out here. The rice is drying and then it is bagged and sold at the rice markets all over the northern provinces. I meet a guy who sort of walks me through the process in broken english and hand signals...and a lot of laughs. I ask him about catching a song-taow back to town and his eyes widen a bit. He starts to laugh and then tells me there is none tonight. It's the boonies and there aren't any after 6. He tells me not to worry as he has a neighbor who will take me in for the night.  I go with him and the neighbors are excited to have me there. I am served some fried chicken and rice (my favorite meal out here) and then we sort of just look at each other and the man gestures and points and mumbles something. I feel quite comfortable here, other than the communication gap, my hosts are quite pleasant. A few neighborhood kids, and adults come to see the 'farang' but nothing extraordinary happens, only the good will of some strangers to a foreigner, a beautiful people.

I was embarrassed to take photos of
my hosts' home, so I snuck one in 

    The next morning, the man drove me to where the song-taow would come by. He thanked me when I was trying to thank him, was quite an experience. The song-taow came by about ten minutes later, with a few people already in. I sat down and a few stops later we were crowded. I gave up my seat and made my way to the back, so I could stand on a small platform out the back of the truck. I'd like to say I was forward thinking, but it was just dumb-luck as there were so many people on this vehicle, I was thinking sardines, or clowns. Most of us goth off at the end, where we all went our separate ways on buses heading to different towns or  schools, as there were a good deal of students.

Song-taow
Song is two Taow is row
two rows of benches

was squishy inside, lucky I was out back
on a small metal grating...safety first

     Back to Surin and planning for the morning of the parade. I figure out where I will park myself so I can witness the 'breakfast' offered to the elephants and settle in for the night. I tell my landlady of my plans and she informs me that the 'breakfast' is really a dinner, and they had it last night. Nooooo!!!! Oh well,I have more time for my breakfast and to go to the show. 

    The show at the stadium was well worth the trip here, there were wars, soccer matches, a special dedicated portion to the Royal Family and to top it off there was a White elephant, which are quite rare and very holy here. I had mentioned seeing it later and was told it was a fake, but only because the speaker was jealous, he told me so himself.

Opening ceremonies

Royal March

War

Soccer match

The White Elephant in the room

   I spent another few days in Surin, often seeing the elephants walking around town, I suppose they like to kick back and relax as well. Next stop....Phuket!!!