Back to Life's Luxuries

I did not sleep amazing last night due to a mixture of the heat and the super thin mat which prevented me from sleeping on my side unless I wanted sore hips, but I still woke feeling refreshed due to going to bed so early to escape the bugs last night. I think we were one of the last over to breakfast this morning although that didn't mean we were rushing as we still had half hour to eat and wash up before our activity for the day.

This morning we would be cutting down coconut tree leaves for the elephants to eat; they need to go harvest either sugar cane plants or leaves each day to have enough food for the elephants. We got in the pick-up truck and drove round to people's houses in a local village asking them if they would like the overgrown branches to be cut off; I believe most of them said yes. The man that worked with the elephants climbed up this rather unsafe looking ladder that was made with bamboo sticks and held together by rope, to the top of the tree where he would chop off the branches using a machete. At one point, he also cut off a coconut and chopped the top off for us all to try some and drink it; the coconut water tasted so lovely and refreshing, although it was difficult to get all of it out from the tiny hole that had been cut open. The coconuts were not brown or slightly hairy as you would expect but pale green and smooth, I don’t think this has anything to do with their ripeness as the water and the actual coconut tasted fine. Our job was just to drag the branches to the truck and place in the back once they had been cut down, the branches were really light, so this was an easy task. Once the pick-up truck was filled with branches, it was difficult to find a place to sit so quite a few of us stood up and held onto the side which felt so nice with the wind blowing in your hair, although equally not so nice when some gravel hit you in the face.

When we got back to the homestay, it was time to pack all our stuff and get ready to leave after lunch back to the hotel in Surin, where we would spend the rest of the day and night. The lunch today was once again divine, with sweet ‘n’ sour chicken, rice and chips; although I am looking forward to using a proper shower, toilet and air-con, I do wish we could bring the cooks with us as they truly are incredible. Once we arrived back in Surin, we all got put into our rooms and somehow, I had been lucky enough to end up with one by myself so means I get to enjoy my own company tonight. I then had the longest shower once I got in the room and washed all my clothes from the past few days in the sink so that they would have time to dry before we depart in the morning; I did not realise quite how dirty it all was, my swimwear was brown on the inside where it should have been white and the water, as I was rinsing the clothes, was a horrible murky colour. I am pleased to say they are looking and smelling a lot better now though. A proper shower felt so good, it is the first time I have felt totally clean in a few days; we are spoilt in the western part of the world.

That has basically been my day, I am going to get an early night.