Gilligan’s Island

We are glamping on a river at a five star floating eco lodge in the middle of the friggin Cambodian jungle, in the middle of NOWHERE. That’s what Marc and I keep telling ourselves. There is no wifi. Barely cell service. You can hear the gentle hum of a generator. You can hear music streaming from our tent. Fireflies are starting to come out. I can hear Sakai laughing from his tent next door as he is watching Absolutely Fabulous with Ari. It’s an Australian comedy. Ari probably doesn’t understand it. But it is very funny. Tonight is Sakai’s last night with us for a week. His family is coming to Thailand for a holiday. We planned it this way. So we can have some family time. I’m sad he’s leaving in the morning. He has never been to Four Rivers, and it’s a shame he only gets to enjoy it for one night. Oh well, his loss. We will meet back up after we are here and then back in Thailand out at Koh Kood, our ridiculously expensive beach part of this amazing adventure. It is then, that we will bring Marc and Ari to the other places I traveled to with Sakai. 

It’s been 31 hours that we have been alone as a family. Just the three of us. We had an amazing day yesterday. Went to the Tatai waterfalls. Definitely a do not miss kind of place. Met an amazing British woman. At first I was annoyed that there would be one other person going with us to the falls. I thought it was a “private” booking. During the 45 minute boat ride, we made small talk. There was something about this woman though. Something real. As we were climbing around the rocks at the falls, we were talking more and more. She is traveling with her friend throughout SEA. We compared trips. She wished she was on ours. Lol. She was leaving her friend in a few days and meeting up with her daughter to travel to Myanmar and Nepal. Their first time traveling together. Ouch. That kinda stung. Even though I think I would have killed my mother or myself if we traveled together. That just wouldn’t have worked out well. Nonetheless, there was a connection with Fiona. We ended up having an amazing time. If the falls weren’t enough, we had a sunset cruise that afternoon as well. Just the three of us. Leaving at 4:30, for a “3 hour tour”. We all know how that one once ended….As we set out on that, we were seriously in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but river and jungle. Maybe a fisherman’s house or a small boat with someone fishing every once in a while. Other than that, just the three of us, and two guides from the resort. And lots of beer of course. Once we got to the place where we would sit 45 minutes and watch the sun go down, you cannot even imagine the views. I tried to capture it with my camera, but even untouched, the photos just do not do the magnificent sunset any justice. The colors. It seriously looked like a movie set. It just couldn’t be real. Better than any sunset I’ve ever seen in Hawaii and in the Hamptons. And I’ve seen the most beautiful ones there. This was in another category. How fucking lucky am I that I am able to be doing what I am doing. Don’t think I haven’t thought about that. I know I am. I worked hard for this. And I don’t want it to end. Ever. I wish my family felt the same….Maybe there is a way I can convince them to travel the world for a year. Before Ari enters high school. I’m doing it. With or without them. Somehow I will figure it out and they will come. 
Back at the resort, Ari had his major meltdown. He is done. He wants to go home. Fuck that shit. Not putting up with that. Suck it up buttercup. We’ve got more to do. I get he misses his friends. I get this hasn’t been easy for an 11 year old. But that was the point. Get him out of the bubble we live in. See how the real world lives. No 3DS. No Xbox. None of the entitled shit he has. Didn’t we see all the shacks with no electricity or running water? Didn’t we see the kids outside barefoot playing? And SMILING? Get over it Ari. I know. I’m a bitch. But how can I win Worst Mother of the Year if I’m not??? 
Later after dinner, I spent time with Fiona and Lynda. Fiona let me in on a little secret. There is wifi here! 

(Can’t tell Ari)Marc joined us once ari fell asleep. OMG. The laughs. So much fun. Sad that they are leaving in the morning. But i have a feeling this isn’t the last time I will see Fiona. Something just tells me…..
That’s one of the best parts of traveling. The people you meet!!!