Arriving in Li

So after our 3 hour bus ride from Kanchanburi to Bangkok we arrive to our 1st hotel where all our coordinators are waiting for us. This is a surprise to all involved as we thought that we would have some time to freshen up. Most people had to grab luggage and got bundled into vans headed to their respective destinations. I was one of the slightly luckier ones i guess as i went with two other girls (Vanessa and Nancy) to a hotel in Bangkok with their coordinator and 6 other teachers from their school. On the way we stopped at a restaurant for dinner and had a traditional Northern Thai meal. We got to know each other a little better as all the teachers were brimming with questions for the farangs. After this we went to the hotel they had picked out and did a little shopping on the streets of Bangkok. I needed to get some clothes for work as i hadnt enough with me. Now i mentioned earlier that Bangkok is an assault on the senses but this night it took its toll. A combination of spicy food, exhaustion, dehydration and the smell of Bangkok led to me throwing my dinner back up. Luckily i had most of my shopping done by this point so we headed back to the hotel where i had a shower and jumped into bed after gulping down as much water as i could. Cue a night of no sleep, lots of vomiting in the toilet and general discomfort.

The next day we rise at 6am to leave around 8 for Bang Saen beach. I attempted to eat some breakfast but couldnt stomach thai food just yet. Bread and water kept it simple. Then we hop in to the van after a lot of "poor Alan" and head for the beach. Im comple

tely exhausted of course as i didnt sleep a wink and manage to pass out in the van for a bit. We arrive at a big deserted beach which doesnt fit the white sand and clear seas image of beaches in thailand. This is where everyone from Bangkok goes at the weekend so when we were there during the week and at 9 in the morning there was nobody around. We hop back in the van and begin our long journey north to Li and Bang Hong. Now ive taken a few long journeys in my time but never have i had so many pit stops along the way. We began stopping about every hour or so for bathroom breaks which basically meant i couldnt get any sleep which is what i needed. We stopped for food at one point where i managed to eat some fried chicken and ric

e and i also got some motilium. Also on the way the teachers were buying bags of stuff and trying to get me to sample it which i tried my best to politely decline. The girls however were not so lucky as to have an excuse like mine. They had to sample everything which was hard for Vanessa as they couldnt get their head around the idea of a vegetarian. "Only sometime?"

All of this meant i arrived in Li at about 8pm. Now i was exhausted getting up at 6 so you can

imagine what i was like by this stage. I had dinner with the teachers from Bang Hong which i also kept down (progress!) before they dropped me at my accommodation on the school grounds. So i

meet some of my fellow teachers at Vianchedi

Wattaya school. They showed me my place which consists of my bedroom/main room, bathroom and 'kitchen'. I also got to use their internet for a short time before i faded. Early to bed and in the morning i was to meet my coordinator for the

first time along with more staff and some of the kids.....

The work starts here!

P.S. These are pics of my accommodation in Li. Bedroom, Kitchen and Bathroom. I have an electric shower in the bathroom but the whole room is my cubicle, its not separate like we would have in Ireland. Also note the toilet, anything missing from this picture?