Bangkok and Khao Yai

Following Chiang Mai, I headed back down to BKK . . . by train! Which adds another form of transportation to my ever-growing list : ) It was definitely the right decision; even though it took longer than a night bus it was more enjoyable and relaxing, in addition to being a great way to see the countryside.
I had a little bit of time in Bangkok as a backpacker bum so I headed back to Khao San Road to people watch, catch up on movies, and meet other travelers. Last Sunday I went to a little, unmotorized island called Ko Kret, a 90 minute boat ride north of the city on the Chao Phraya river. My new Thai friend, Vee, (who was also our family's tour guide when we were in BKK in December ) came with me and we had a good time taking a break from the city, watching sweets being made, and checking out some traditional pottery.
Monday I was due to head up to Khao Yai National Park, but first I took myself to may kaidee's vegetarian/vegan cooking school. I had decided it would be a birthday present to myself and planned to go in March, but even with leaving sooner I still wanted to learn! I now know how to make more than 10 Thai dishes and multiple curry pastes. Once I get home it will just be a matter of getting the right ingredients, but may told us of some other substitutes we can use if we can't find the necessary Thai foods.
Monday afternoon was quite the trip getting up to Khao Yai. I took a bus from Mor Chit in Bangkok to a little town called Pak Chong. Then it was songthaew to the gate. . . except the last songthaew of the day is full of school kids and I was literally being held in the back of this truck by numerous small bodies! (and realized if I were to lose my balance I would not only make these kids fall off the back of the truck but also crush them against the pavement.) From the gate we hitchiked (another new form of transport!) to the headquarters, and again to the research house. I went along with Andy, a British professor who is doing research in the park and managing some PhDs who work there. I spent the next few days in the forest helping a really awesome Thai PhD Phet do some arthropod sampling, learning more about birds of Thailand, and entertaining the resident wreathed hornbill, Gookee. I promise to post photos of him- he is really a character! He was confiscated from a poacher and had an injured wing so he was handraised by some hornbill researchers and Andy's crew as well. Like many hand-raised animals, he doesn't know how to behave like his own species does (he spits out figs), but I think he is a great companion for the researchers. I also met a guy named Chris who is trying to see all 32 species of pittas in the next 12 months- check out his website at pittasworld.com.
From Khao Yai there was more solo hitching out to the main road . . . I got picked up by the fuzz! Ha ha ha. No, really, a policeman who was on his way out of the park gave me a ride. I took a minibus (more new transport) down to Bangkok with a whole bunch of Thais getting on and off along the way.

Then the next morning it was off to Cambodia (where I am now) but that story will have to wait until the next post . . .

Happy Valentine's Day, all- I'm off for some French food and a local concert.