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Teacher's Performance from Camp 1

Here is the teachers performance from camp 1. We did a video/live show that the kids really liked. From my past 3 years, this was probably the best performance we've put on. No idea what we'll do this camp... but it should be even better!

Michael Jackson's Thriller!

My Songkran Week

It started on Saturday. We had our closing ceremony for the kids, some performances by them, and then we got in a van and drove to the port city of Laem Gnop where we got on a ferry to Koh Chang. It was Kevin, Ian, Sinead (all teachers from Indonesia) and me. The trip was easy enough, about 4 hours to the ferry, and another 30-40 minutes doing the crossing. From there we hopped in a songtau (taxi) and got dropped off at our beach.

The drive, first off, was straight up and down windy mountain roads, then leveled off for the beach areas, and then up and down again for the mountain parts. While not a huge island, it was pretty big, and impressive roads wind along the edges of it. We checked into our bungalow and spend the remainder of the evening/sunset having some beers oceanside, then walking down the beach a long way, and doing a "pub crawl" back. We were just too lazy to walk all the way home, so stopped for drinks or snacks on the way. We were in bed easily before 11 pm.

On Sunday, we had some breakfast overlooking the ocean, and then rented motorbikes and drove all the way around the island. Since the roads only cover 90% around the island, from the bottom of our side, to the bottom of the other side, you have to drive ALL the way around. So we did. Driving the roads was really fun, I love the windy steep mountain roads. We then went offroading (because the road was complete crap) and ended up on Long Beach, a very secluded place with only a couple bungalows. We swam, but the water was too warm and not refreshing, so we went up for some drinks and snacks at the little restaurant, and then started back. On the way back, we stopped to do some kayaking in mangroove forests, which was alright. Relaxing enough, staying in the shade kept us a little cooler. Then we started the drive back, trying to get to a good viewpoint for sunset. After some photos, we met up and went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant, with suprisingly great food. After a long dinner, we relaxed and walked around looking for a tour for the next day, booked one, and went to bed.

Monday comprised of a boat trip to go snorkeling on islands nearby. About 400 people set off (together) and all went to the same spots. Stupid tour companies. So by the time we docked, there was an even fish to human ratio. The best part of stopping was being able to jump off the 2nd story of the boat. There was some decent snorkeling, but so many people! All in all, it was a good day. Another early night after a great, and cheap dinner off the road.

Tuesday we got up early and took a boat to another, smaller island called Koh Mak. After a couple hours, we got to our huts (fully beachside... about 10 meters from the ocean) and spent the day being lazy and enjoying island life.

Wednesday morning we decided to walk to a "viewpoint" of the island, which took hours, was EXTREMELY hot, and we never really found a viewpoint. We did find some elephants (a camp) and a place with some great banana shakes. In the afternoon, we met our friends (who are all teachers from Indonesia also, but two now live in Bangkok and one just finished her contract and is on her way back to the US). We then did some day drinking until dinner. I was back in bed by about 9 pm, the last guys by about 1130. It was another early night.

Thursday was spend snorkeling parts of the island near our resort in the morning, and kayaking to a nearby island in the bay for the afternoon. None of the snorkeling was particularly impressive, but it was a good fun day outside overall. A early dinner and early evening followed once again.

Friday was the day to go back, so we boarded the "local" slow boat and spend the morning making our way back to port, then the afternoon making our way back to campus.