Thailand Part 2: Koh Phangan

(Disclaimer: I went to Koh Phangan twice on this trip, so I apologize for the confusing timeline...)

After 5 days in Bangkok, I finally made my way south. My mom had told me that there was a woman she knew (well, her sister's husband is our plumber, so close enough) who owns a resort on the island and we both thought it was be a great way to get me some ocean air and relax for a couple days before I continued on my adventure.

I spent the night on the sleeper train, which was super cool since I had never been on a train before! Other than the fact that I nearly froze to death because Thai people love their A/C, it was really comfortable and I managed to get some sleep on this 12 hour train ride. In the morning, I arrived at the train station, where a bus picked me up and brought me to the pier, then on to a ferry, which brought me to Koh Phangan.

It was exactly what I needed. Some time to relax by the ocean, the air was much cooler compared to Bangkok and a nice big bed to myself, rather then the rock hard hospital bed. Pretty much every hostel I went to, there was a book exchange shelf, where other travellers leaves books and take others. It's a great concept! It ended up being really useful: I found a Lonely Planet guide for Thailand and planned the rest of my trip.

The sunsets, by the way, were absolutely amazing.

I stayed 2 nights there, then made my way to my next destination.

My bungalow at Sea Flower Bungalows

About 2 weeks later, I returned to Koh Phangan with my ThaIntro group. We were at a different resort, on a different part of the island. Not only was I was with a group, which made the resort like a small village of some sorts, but we also had some pretty cool activities! I got to hold a monkey, and we did an elephant trekking, though the latter was really, really not that great.

Let me explain. Also, keep in mind this is about a week after I went to an elephant sanctuary, which I will blog about soon. We were sitting on these metal seat on the elephant's back, and we were 3 on there. The seat is only really made for two people, so it was really squished and the elephant just did not want to go. The mahout (elephant trainer) kept kicking his ears, and even yanked on his ear with a bullhook to get it to keep moving, and it was completely disheartening. Yes, it was nice to feed them and be around them, but riding them like that wasn't.

Anyway, I spent a lot of time in the hammock outside my bungalow, reading, relaxing, and despite the whole elephant thing, it was an amazing way to end this trip. Koh Phangan is definitely one of the places in Thailand you need to go to if you want a nice beach getaway. There are also huge beach parties (full moon party), which I didn't go to, but I heard they are absolutely amazing. After that relaxing few days, I made my way back to Bangkok so I could fly home!

Thailand posts:
Part 1: Bangkok // Part 2: Koh Phangan // Part 3: Kho Phi Phi // Part 4: Chiang Mai // Part 5: Khao Sok

Thailand Part 1: Bangkok and the hospital fiasco

How to start...
About a week before I was supposed to leave, I started feeling really sick, and it kept happening... The day after the half-marathon, I made my way to the airport with my stomach completely upside down. I felt so incredibly sick in the airport, that I ended up deciding that I couldn't get on the plane. I spent a good two hours in the bathroom, waiting to throw up, trying and panicking. As I was about to board the plane, I nearly fainted and that was the last straw.
Later that day, I went to the doctor's office and they told me I had a bacterial infection called H. Pylori, which causes ulcers. Double whammy. So, I started taking medication, which made me even sicker. But a few days later, I started feeling better, so I rebooked my flight and a week later, I landed in Bangkok!

My first souvenir from Thailand...

Except that not even 24 hours after being there, I started feeling ever sicker than before. Fever, stomach pains, nausea, cold and hot flashes, trembling... So I made my way to the hospital, and they told me I had gastritis, on top of the ulcer and the infection, and you know, dehydration and lack of energy from not being able to eat... So I was hospitalized for 3 nights.
Before I go on, I should explain; the hospital was NOT scary at all! In 15 minutes, I got to see a doctor who spoke good english, was diagnosed and got an IV. Then my room was HUGE! I had a kitchen and a bathroom all to myself!

The view from my hospital room

Anyway, finally, I made my way out of Bangkok, but that's coming up in Part 2.
About two weeks later, I made my way back to Bangkok to start a tour called ThaIntro. If you ever go to Thailand, seriously, do this. (Originally, I was going to do it my first week, but because I was sick I had to push it to the end.)
Pictures are worth a thousand words, so here they are, with captions, of course!

We all dressed as hippies and went to an amazing Indian restaurant

Thai cooking class!

Floating market

Leaning Buddha

Tuk Tuk

Chatuchak Market: One of the biggest markets in Asia. This one has over 15,000 stalls and you can get anything! From knick knacks to furniture to puppies.

Bangkok is an amazing city. It's so fast-paced and full of life! Temples, Khao San Road, street food, the markets, the people... It's so different from anywhere I've ever been, in a really, really good way.

Thailand posts:
Part 1: Bangkok // Part 2: Koh Phangan // Part 3: Kho Phi Phi // Part 4: Chiang Mai // Part 5: Khao Sok

I'm off to Thailand!

As you're reading this, I am most likely on my way to Thailand! So I won't be posting anything until the end of May, and now you know why!

See you in June!

My first half marathon: Success! ...Sort of.

I mean, I finished it...!

1. This guy ran the entire half marathon in a Stormtrooper costume because it's Star Wars Day!
2. Pre-race mom and me
3. Elvis was cheering us on at mile 11!

Last night, I was too excited to sleep (which is understandable, a half marathon is a big deal!), so I only got 3 hours of sleep. Normally, that's not really a big deal, since I can act completely rational and function properly with 0 minutes of sleep, but again, this is a half marathon we're talking about!
So, my mom and I headed to Assiniboine Park, where the start and finish lines were and tried to keep our nerves in check. I didn't feel too nervous; I felt good. My legs didn't hurt, I had been able to keep my breakfast down (I've been having some stomach problems lately), and I was excited to do this!

As soon as we started, things took a turn for the worst. My legs felt weaker than weak, as if I had actually run the half yesterday, and my old injuries came back in a flash. All of a sudden, my calves were on fire, my knees ached and I was started to freak out. I wasn't even one mile down, and my legs were already done.
I managed to run the first mile without really stopping. I had some good music and people everywhere around me. But I started to feel worse and worse, to the point that by mile 4, I thought I was either going to puke or pass out, or both at the same time! I was ready to quit. I could barely walk anymore, much less run, and I just wanted it to be over.
I persisted. I wanted to finish this so bad, that despite it all, I kept going. I told my mom that I couldn't run anymore, and we would have to walk it. She insisted on running as much as possible, so we ran at very small intervals (like, 30 seconds-a minute of running and 3-4 minutes of walking) until about mile 7, when I officially quit. No. More. Running.
I was running on 3 hours of sleep and an empty stomach, and my calves felt like there was a knife stuck in them. We were halfway, and I was wanted to finish this, but it would have to be by walking, and that's what we did!
My mom walked a little faster than me, and even though I kept telling her she could run ahead and I would meet her at the finish line, she stayed with me the whole time. I honestly wouldn't have been able to do it without her. Merci maman. Je n'aurais jamais pu le faire sans toi.

The miles seemed to drag on forever, never ending and I felt like I wouldn't survive, but finally, mile 12 rolled around and before I knew it (actually, a lot after I knew it), we were a few hundred feet from the finish line. I decided to run. I needed to finish this running, so I went off, and almost tripped because my legs were too weak, and cross the finish line!

Waving at dad by the finish line.

That's us crossing the finish line!

I. Got. My. Medal!!!

I took us three and a half hours to complete this half marathon, but we finished it. And even if right now, my body is saying NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WILL I DO THIS EVER AGAIN, my mind is even more determined to run another, and actually run it this time.

Can you tell I was tired?!

I finished the race, I got my medal, and I am so proud of myself for doing this, even if I am a little disappointed that I couldn't do better, there will always be another race, and next time, I will kick ass!

EDIT: The 2014 WPS Half Marathon has raised over 1 million dollars in support of Manitobans fighting cancer!!!

This is it!

After 12 weeks of training and over 160 miles run, I am finally running this half marathon tomorrow!

I went from not doing any exercise whatsoever to running an average of 14 miles a week. I have lost almost 15 pounds, my energy has gone up, I have found a new confidence and I feel great! I can't believe how far I've come these past 12 weeks.
Yesterday I went to pick up my race kit: I got my bib (that's runner-talk for that number-thing that you put on your shirt) and my half-marathon shirt! I'm getting very nervous as I ice my legs, hoping they'll be in top shape for tomorrow!
Here's more info about the half-marathon: WPSHalfMarathon

Wish me luck!