On the bus to Chiang Khong, Thailand [Post #4, Day 13]

I am on the bus to Chiang Khong en route to the border crossing into Laos and feel like it is a chance to catch my breath. I think my travel pace has been pretty quick so far and I have felt quite drained at times. It is a lot of new stuff to take in. The last two nights were my first time sleeping in a hostel dorm, I didn’t get the best sleeps because I’m still getting used to that arrangement but for budget-friendly travel it is very good.

My week on Watchara Farm was incredible. It was physically demanding and challenging but a truly authentic and valuable experience of rural life in the mountains of northern Thailand. I learned how to harvest bamboo from the jungle, and how to form the stalks into flat panels to use for building walls and floors. I learned how to build a toilet, and I learned how to harvest cabbage. The owner of the farm, Watchara, is a former Buddhist monk and led us in walking meditation in the mornings and sitting meditation around the campfire in the evenings. Watchara’s wife Dang cooked the most delicious vegetarian meals, my favorites were the omelets and yellow papaya salad, so fresh and delicious.

So far I have visited two university campuses, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and Chiang Mai University (CMU). I have found that I really enjoy these visits. I feel at home on a university campus. To me they feel like an escape from the busy city to a nice calming atmosphere with beautiful gardens and friendly people. Yesterday I spent a large part of the day in the main library of CMU, it was 20 Thai Baht (THB) to work in the library for the day. There was a big quote from Albert Einstein on one of the walls, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library”. I like that!