THAILAND 11 - Monkeys In A Trust Tree

"If you have good friends, no matter how much life is sucking, they can make you laugh."
                                                                                                                                         - P.C. Cast

School had been postponed once again because the flooding was so much worse than anyone could have predicted, and it wasn’t scheduled to start until the 1^st of December.  War was breaking out between one side of the canal and the other.  A large apartment complex, resembling a small city, called Muang Thong Thani had taken the liberty of building a substantial barrier on their side of the canal.  In return they raised the rent in their apartment complex in anticipation of the other side of the canal having to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere.  All of the apartments and condos on our side of the river were full of people who had become displaced from the flood.  An ingenious business plan on their part, but an outright outraged on behalf of the east side of the canal.

Because the east side didn’t have the means to build their side more than half of the height that Muang Thong had built, their side was flooding while they watched the west side continue on with life only partially affected by the flood.  The east side with the less than sufficient wall would sneak over to our side to tear large holes in the wall thus hoping to even out the flooding.  The Thai Royal Army was working hard day and night to build up the wall, repair the holes, prevent future damage, and maintain the peace.  Hundreds of thousands of sandbags had been filled, and stacked along the river and the canals.  Other parts of the wall were constructed from digging up dirt from the canal, or other surrounding areas.  The dirt walls smelled of sewage, and yet I was grateful that we didn’t have to take a boat to the store.  It didn’t make for a joyful ride to the store on our motorcycle, however.  When the mud walls dried they would cover the nearby road with dust and would blow up in our eyes, hair, and nose.  By the end of our trip to the store we would be covered in poo dust from head to toe.  Going home after a day about and taking a cold shower never left us feeling very clean or sanitized.

The flood had already damaged homes, business, government buildings, and schools.  Billions of Thai Baht ($100 Million +) in damage.  Food and water was still sparse and expensive, and our neighbor, another student from our TEFL school and new found friend Aurelius had had enough, “I’m heading out to Pattaya to go scuba diving, and get out of here.  I’m going to go crazy.”  His New York accent was well concealed but still made him seem a bit rough around the edges. 

“We’re going to head to Kanchanuburi, and see our friend in Ratchaburi.”

“Well, f*#! you guys! F*#! you!” At first I was taken aback by his strong language, but soon I learned to read Aurelius’s replies differently as I got to know him better.  What he was really saying was, 

“You lucky dogs! That’s awesome!”

So we packed our bags, and headed off to our respective adventures. . .



Fueling up for our trip.  An 8 year old boy pumps our gas for us. 
I guess you're never too young to start working in Thailand.

Our ride to Ratchaburi showed our true age, and the way not to roadtrip.  Justin has broken an impressive number of bones, 15 in total, including everything from a finger to his hip.  That’s right folks you read it correctly, a hip! He has arthritis in his knee, both hips, and his back aches after standing too long and he must take a rest.  I married an old man often in need of a wheel chair! With a regular routine of yoga and eating healthy he is able to maintain his pain level, but that first leg of our journey would test not only his arthritic old body, but my body as well.

The first stop on our way to Kanchanuburi was at our partner in crime Mr. E’s house.  The first leg of the journey was only suppose to take two hours, but after driving through the heart of Bangkok traffic, and being redirected by not only the flood but by the newly discovered law that motorcycles are not allowed on the freeways, the traffic going out of Bangkok was stopped, and our lane, although it was between the cars, was reduced to a mere crawl.  We didn’t find ourselves at Mr. E’s house until dark, 

about 6 hours later. 

We felt as though we had aged 60 years on that trip.  Getting off the bike sent searing pain through our hip and knee joints, and our back and shoulders ached fiercely.  Upon seeing Mr. E’s face all of the pain and stress to get there vanished as quickly as he smiled at us!  During our walk to the nearby night market by the river, Justin and I were astonished by how clean everything was.  Ratchaburi hadn’t been affected by the flood, and we couldn’t help but point out all of the amazing attributes of his city.  He even had hot water and a large wooden bench in his living room!  Moments of not having the smallest conveniences of life makes you that much more grateful for when you do have them.  Mr. E lived in a palace as far as we could see, and we were so happy to be with him once more.  After the night market, delicious pad Thai at a local restaurant, and a hot shower we settled in for the evening.

“So . . .” Mr. E began his statement with a huge smile, “There’s this girl . . .” his voice trailed off. 

End of story! He didn’t need to say any more because his smile said it all.  Although we had only spent three short weeks with Mr. E we felt like we had been friends for centuries; we leaned forward in anticipation, our smiles mirroring his own, “Yes . .  .” go on! Go on! Our voices seemed to beckon.

“Well, it’s her birthday and I was thinking about writing her a song.  Do you think that’s a good idea?” he looked at us with anticipation as his fingertips brushed gently against the strings of his guitar.

“That’s a great idea!” came our unanimous reply.

We were more than happy to help in any way that we could, and since Justin had been so properly named the Rhyme-noceros by Mr. E himself it just seemed appropriate that we would be a part of this moment.

We all tossed out words that came to mind, and analyzed everyone of them, “That’s too forward. . . You guys aren’t that serious yet. . . That’s a bit bold. . .  Oh! That word is perfect. . .  You can’t say a piece of art, it sounds crude. . . You have to say a 'work' of art – it makes you think of Picasso or something!”  Finally a song formed and our work of genius was finished.  Monkeys in a Trust Tree was written and now it was time to sing!

At first we debated the style it should be sung in.  Nothing to mushy and serious, Mr. E isn’t the serious type anyway.  Fun.  Stylish.  Cool.  But still sweet.  That was Mr. E.  He began to play, and suddenly a young Dylan sat before us complete with “shades” and hippy, flower-power print bedding behind him.

The music flowed.  The acoustics reverberated through the room, and we knew a masterpiece had been born.  A few laughter-filled bloopers later, and we had the youtube sensation of the year.  

Although we are still waiting for it to be discovered we know it will be a huge success. 

Even though her birthday was still a day or two away we immediately emailed it to her, and waited with baited breath.  I don’t think that anyone is capable of digesting that much awesomeness is one sitting, and I’m sure that is why her response wasn’t as ecstatic as we expected.  It won’t be the moment that they’ll look back on and remember as the first time she knew she loved him, but it would make for a great song if their story was ever to continue on and become something more.  I guess we’ll just have to see where that story leads.

Our time with our friend Mr. E was short lived, but legendary, and I still find myself humming along to the words of our epic song Monkeys in a Trust Tree.

Brooke you’re a crook, you stole my heart.

You’re beautiful like the finest work of art.

I found you like a deer stumbles on a stream,

Ever since you’ve been flowin’ through my dreams.

[chorus]

Brook you amaze me.

Doll you’ve changed me.

Girl you made me . . .

Write this song.

I want you to be a monkey in my trust tree,

Swinging from branch to branch happy as can be.

I met you through a friend, of a friend, of friend of friend of a friend,

And now we’re pals until the very end.

[chorus]

Brook you amaze me.

Doll you’ve changed me.

Girl you made me . . .

Write this song.

Wish I could be there to be with you

Gonna see the baby zebra at the zoo.

Can’t wait for the day ‘til we laugh and play.

Hopefully you and me New Zealand in May.

[chorus x2]

Brook you amaze me.

Doll you’ve changed me.

Girl you made me . . .

Write this song.