14.01.03  Khao Sok

Leaving the jungle park of Khao Sok today.  Didn’t see as many animals as I would have liked, but I did spot 2 cute gibbons high in the trees on a night safari.  No spotted leopard or wild elephants, but I’d imagine that tourism (particularly in high season) has driven them back into what remains of the genuine “jungle” behind the relative brouhaha of the National Park.  It’s amazing that such creatures do still exist in the wild.  But their precarious existence is fading… their numbers are so few.

It’s off to Bangkok tonight on another of those hellish overnight bus rides for the last stretch of our vacation.  The “Rough Guide”, my holiday read, has presented me with details on Patpong, the sex district of Bangkok.  According to the book, and contrary to common belief, the sex industry primarily services Thai men.  Culturally, monogamy is a fairly new (and Western) concept.  Past kings, including Chugalonghorn’s father, Mongalut (British Anna’s love-love) were polygamous.  It is estimated to this day that 2/5 of Thai men employ prostitutes on a regular basis.  Of course farang men are also drawn to Thailand for this reason.  Most of the girls come from the poor provinces of the north and many are very young (some as young as 9), as virginity sells for many baht and is highly prized among pigs, I mean men.

There’s actually an interesting program in place where foreign women teach English to Thai prostitutes.  I would love to do a stint of that.  I should look into it.  I’m definitely seeing more of a use for myself here than in Japan.  Of course the loan has to go first.  Coming to Thailand has opened my eyes to so many opportunities.  Of course none of them financially rewarding, but real chances to do work I’d love.

Back to Japan on Monday.  I have to admit I’m not in love with the job.  The students (vast majority anyway) despise learning English and it’s been terribly difficult to befriend the Japanese people.  Although on a more positive note, things were looking much brighter in the weeks preceeding our departure.  I suppose I just have to stop worrying about my performance as a teacher and on the JET Programme.  When under pressure I often find it difficult to keep the big picture in perspective.  Performance anxiety.

Being here has helped connect the pieces of my life before Japan to my present self.  In good and not so good ways.  In Japan it is easy to feel singled out and special which can serve to boost the ego, but it also leads to isolation and a sense of disconnectedness.  I suppose I need to take advantage of the “distinct citizen” status bestowed on me in Japan, knowing that it’s only temporary and will be lost forever when I take that homeward flight.  Then it’s back to the grind and competition of life in the West.  Where everyone wants to be a star and nobody is hiring.  We’ve begun to make a few expat friends in Japan and even some inroads with the Nihonjin.  Things can only get better.  And of course my literary connection with the "What the Dicken's" crew is just icing on the anko cake.

It’s really windy in Khao Sok today.  We’re lazily sitting on an outdoor patio of the “Jungle Huts” restaurant.  Basically every inn, guesthouse,  hut outfit has an adjoining (usually good, and always cheap) resto.  Great chance to meet other backpackers.  We’ve met mostly European trekkers on this vacation.  Americans probably scared off by the whole terrorism thing.  Many German and Dutch travellers.  We have another 2 hours to kill before we grab the 15 hour bus to Bangkok.  I’ll soon be ordering a spicy but delicious green curry from the kitchen.  35B.  Rod is sketching away.  I’m glad we’re both pursuing creative careers.  It makes it much easier to get through the bumps and hurdles/ups and downs required to “make it”.  Who knows if we ever actually will, but we’re certainly having a lot of fun documenting the great adventure.

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