So long Krabi, very long haul.

I went out to the camp to say my farewells to the children yesterday. Oh it didn't take much, let me tell you, to get me choked up. Saine ran over and plopped herself in my lap as usual, and it was enough to make me cry right off the bat. She looked up at me and I tried to explain in broken Thai that I would miss her very much and was going back home to America. Her face just dropped and asked me when I would be coming back. I tried to tell her that I want to come back, but probably in a year. We took lots of pictures, gave lots of hugs, I teared up several more times, then got in the cab and headed to Krabi airport. Sandy, Alisa, Fan, Punji, Pun, Saine, Jan... I miss them all so much already. What an honor it was to spend time with them.

After arriving in Bangkok yesterday evening, I discovered that they are still at full speed with their Songkran festivities. Oh lucky me.

My cab driver got to the edge of where the biggest cluster of celebrations are, then refused to take me any further. She hopped out, pulled my suitcase out of the back seat, pointed and told me my hotel was 1 kilometer "that way", then pointed at what looked like the French Quarter in the height of Mardi Gras.

I made it about a block and nearly started crying. Then I realized that this is both the suckiest thing and the funniest thing that's happened to me since being in Thailand. Hey! I can't read the street signs, I have no idea where I am, there are thousands of people all around me spraying me with water and smearing paint on my face and luggage and there's no really clear cut way to get out of it.

And then...Thank God for motorcyclists.

This thing resembling a pushcart with a motorcycle on the back (not a tuk-tuk) came up beside me, loaded down with boys in their early 20's/late teens. I pulled out the address of my hotel, they pointed to where it was, then proceeded to load my luggage up onto the cart and drove me there. I asked them how much they wanted for the ride and they insisted that I not pay them. So I gave the oldest 100B and told them to go have fun. Hey- I would have had a very long walk without those guys and I was thankful.

Looked up, saw Jane, we settled in a bit then went out into the craziness for a while to have a drink and catch up. I think we were both exhausted.

Best night's sleep since I arrived, now we're about to head out to Wat Po and the Klongs.