The best day of my life...

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I don't even know where to start. How could words do justice? I'll try, but whatever I write, imagine it times ten. Okay, here goes...

Kanchanacuri is a river town surrounded by lush rolling mountains. It is situated on the river Kwai, as is my charming little bungalow. I woke up this morning in euphoria. After 2 1/2 months on a floor in India, I awoke upon a nice soft bed (with 2 pillows, mind you). The day started with breakfast then a bike ride. We rode through sugar cane, banana, lemongrass, lime, and rice fields. We were off the beaten trail on some dusty local road with greenery and mountains all around. I was riding a baby pink bike with a basket on the front. We stopped at one of the lemongrass fields, and a village woman gave us stalks of lemongrass to take. Then we stopped at a limegrove and picked the leaves. With long strings of lemongrass and lime leaves bouncing around in my basket in the HOT Thailand sun, I rode onward, with the strong scents of the herbs wafting up to my nose.

We finally stopped at a monkey school where they train the lil' guys to pick coconuts of the trees. I bought a basket of bananas to feed the buggers. It was a trip! I was taking a video of one when the bastard tried to steal my camera. Should make for some good footage.

Next we trekked up a mountain through some narrow rock walls, up to a buddhist monastary temple thing. We climbed down some steep stairs into a cave full of deities, bats, and stalagmites. It was incredible. Then back onto our bikes for a ride home, stopping along the way for delicous street food. Including some sort of rice, banana, red-bean thing that was wrapped in a leaf.

After the bike ride it was time for a delicous Thai lunch, followed by a trip to a water fall. It was SO amazing. The stone under the waterfall gripped my feet so I could climb it with ease. Water pounded on my head, kids were splashing, sliding, and laughing all around me. I thought "This has to be one of the best days of my life."

After that we migrated to the elephants for a safari of sorts. It was a bumpy jumpy ride. I thought I was going to fall off on several occasions, but alas I held tight. Then I got to drive, her ears flapped against my legs. Next was what the Thai guys called "bathing with the elephants." It was what I call "Rodeo ala Thailand." I don't know if the elephants were playing, or if they just wanted us off, but as soon as we go into the water the elephant would dip his head under and start shaking like mad! They were bucking broncos on the sea. I swam around, then I would climb back on for about 2 minutes until he shook me off. It was SO fun! At one point the elephant bowed her head into the water, I swam up over it, then she lifted me onto her back. It was such an adrenaline high!!

After that we rode back, exhausted, to the riverside bungalows. Then the Danishes asked me if I would teach them a Yoga lesson in the grass. As we went through the postures the sun set over the river and the mountains. We finished relaxation then went onto the floating bamboo-raft  restaurant to have dinner. I thought "Okay this is THE best day of my life." Soak it up... every drop.

The day before that:

It all started with me joining a 3 day 2 night tour, all inclusive, like 40 dollars U.S.. We went to the floating market and ate some amazing food from the boats. Then we zipped up a canal on a boat.

Later that day we arrived at our bungalows. I saw that they rented out Kayaks and I decided to give it a go. I've never Kayaked before, I've always wanted to but I could never afford a course. So here I am, a virgin to the kayaking world, they loaded me into the boat and set me free. It was so easy!! Paddle, paddle, enjoy the view... simple. I rowed past buddhist temples, mountains, and lots of these floating karaoke/club barges that the Thai's rent out for parties, everyone waved as they danced to awful lounge music. Kayaking rules! I love this!! I got really far down the stream when I realized the sun was going down so I better head back. I turned around and realized a lesson that is true in Kayaking, and with all of life: Going downstream is much easier than up. Crap. I was fighting the river Kwai... my arms burned as I rowed against the strong current. I zigged and zagged from side to side, party barges were getting harder to avoid, the sun was disappearing. Crap! I rowed over to a dock and tried to climb up and out. One foot was reaching for the dock while the other was in the kayak to keep it from floating away. I was in a full split by the time I could pull myself and the Kayak up, and speaking of pulling the kayak up... this was no modern plastic boat, no, this was cast iron or steel or something. It was heavy to say the least and my arms were aching. I asked an old Thai man for help, he was holding a bucket full of plastic bags, he just shook his head and procceeded to the river where he started washing his bags. Now imagine this; a white, blonde girl pushing a kayak through the middle of a playground on the main street in some weird town in Thailand. I must have looked like such a fool. It was so heavy. Tears welled up, I hate crying in public. Crap. Enter two Russians.

"Please for the love of God tell me you speak English."

They did. Hooray! It always works out.

They helped me find a Thai fisherman who loaded the kayak onto the back of his boat and zipped me up the river. I had gone quite far I must say. That night I melted into my soft, soft bed. Melted.

I don't know what I did to become so lucky. Words can't explain my gratitude. My heart could explode with gratitude to whatever it is that gave me life, and to every last atom in it.

So that was the best day of my life, and the day before. The brief version anyway.