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267--Thailand: Canoe Uprising, Don't You Rock My Boat @ CherieSpotting     Jan 03 2005 - 15:21 PST cherie writes: The morning started out so peaceful. Leighton (South Africa), Kirsty (Scotland) and I boarded a canoe for sunrise. We paddled our canoe into the middle of Southern Thailand’s striking karst scenery. “This is the stuff movies are made of,” I thought. As we shoved off from our death-trap dock into the early morning mist, the locals started frantically waving at us to return. What were they trying to warn us about? Poisonous water-snakes? Blood-sucking leeches? A rampant patch of Dengue Fever infested mosquitoes? When we arrived back at the dock, the Thais gave us a basket filled with a pot of coffee and three cute little cups. Were we heathens? How could we forget the coffee for our sunrise canoe ride—and they even remembered the cream and sugar! If Hilda was awake she would have fanned herself and joked: “What are the poor people doing?” King Ciao (Leighton), Vodka (Kirsty) and I paddled our canoe over to the twins floating hut and offered them a cup of morning coffee. Hilda peered through her window/hole and just shook her head in disbelief. (Is it still called a window if there is no glass? Or is it just a square hole?) Nevertheless we rustled the twins and Hannah awake and they joined us for an early morning paddle. We had races, played bumper-canoe and then I said: “Let’s paddle around the corner, I’ve ordered some Gibbons to arrive in about 10 minutes.” Fortunately the cute Gibbons didn’t make me look bad, and arrive as scheduled. After sunrise, we took a 3-hour spiky hike to a dramatic overview. We had a few Thais guiding us along the trek. We came to a fork in the road and we weren’t sure which “trail” to take we turned to Diane, the most practical of the Ciao Tribe. “I think we should do what the guy with the machete says,” said Diane. After a view that took our breath away (or was it the hike?) we stopped for all the necessary photos on the way down. I posed Hannah (the fairest of them all) attacking a native with his own serrated knife. For lunch we had fried noodles, which according to the Thais is the same as fried rice. Cherie: “I thought we were having fried rice for lunch?” Thai guy: “Same, same, but different.” Sort of like the twins: same, same, but different. We wanted to cool off after the hike, but Hannah (who has a man in every tribe) didn’t want to get into the water. “Let’s not swim in this bay, the engine oil from the boat isn’t good for my hair.” Thus we loaded 2 canoes with supplies (rum & coke) and valuables (such as my camera), which was nice because a few hours later we would flip both canoes in a drunken mishap. We paddled into a calm bay and jumped into the pure refreshing water. Then we floated around on inner tubes and life-jackets absorbing the intensity of the moment. Soon we ran out of rum & Coke and Lee and Amanda paddled back to our hut-camp to re-supply the drunks. Of course, when the sun began to set, we realized we had to get back to reality—our floating-hut raft houses. This leads me to: THE CANOE UPRISING STORY: I’m not going to blame Diane, especially since she is a good friend of mine and I don’t like to point fingers. I’m just going to state the facts: the canoe tipped over when Diane was getting in. All of us were happily reloaded in the canoes, when Diane decided to launch herself into the canoe with her own “thrusting-style.” Diane was on the lip of the canoe, when the weight shifted and suddenly the canoe capsized, spilling its occupants back into the water. Luckily, one of the Ciao Tribe members was smart enough to tie the canoes together. Not wanting to be left out, the other canoe joined in returning its own drunken guests to the bay. (Note: My camera survived the swim, safe in its water-proof pouch.) We pushed the canoes to shore, bailed them out under the leadership of former cub-scout Leighton, and then paddled back to camp. We arrived looking like drowned rats just in time for dinner, which was the same as lunch. Same, same, but different. Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 4812    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   Cherie on the hike back down the valley. After no sleep, we wake up for the sunrise canoe ride. Would you like some coffee? Kirsty and Leighton. Would anyone like cream with their sunrise? The ladies paddle out to join us. The twins in the morning. Swedish and Dutch friends. This isn't a bathroom Hilda! Diane, you go take a flying leap! After 2 weeks in Thailand, Hannah still has no sign of a tan. Life in a canoe. Kirsty. Take that, Lynn! Diane scratches Leighton...or was it the inner-tube? Hannah proves that a real lady can live on a floating hut with the right products. Diane's ready for the next adventure. Leighton, Cherie and Hannah. Kirsty and Hilda. Lynn flashes a smile. Hannah tries to blend in, but it just doesn't work. Glazed in sweat, we hike on. Leighton thinks we should go that way. Finally at the top, we are treated with a spectacular view. Amanda! Smiles from the sweaty Ciao Tribe. Leighton cools off. Another grin from Lynn. On top of the world. It's a long way down. One of our Thai guides rests between the rocks. Not a bad view. Hannah scares a local with his own knife. Ready to go "home" to the raft-houses by boat. The ladies. Smoking and driving. Diane wants a fuzzy snack. Hannah in the wilderness. Cherie back at her raft-house home. Leighton goes for a dip. What a ham Leighton is! Hilda's turn to jump. Leighton and Hilda. Hannah and Hilda. Cherie and a bottle of SangSom Rum. Ready to catch some fish? Kirsty...does the life-jacket ever come off? Hilda. Cherie and Hilda. Kirsty! Floating fun. Leighton. This is how you tip 2 canoes at once. Back at the raft-houses. The guys ready to say good-bye. The boat-ride back to reality. How do they ever find there way out of here? This is the view from his office. It's the journey. Long-boats. Is that land I see ahead? Gorgeous. The driver stops for a phone-call. He gets reception out here? Koh Sok National Park. Matching shoes...that's so cute! That sign says: Koh Sok National Park. (Isn't Diane's hair voluminous?) Our Thai guide.