Going on a stroll through the Thai jungle with a buddy.

As part of a day taking care of the Elephant Nature Reserve's elephants, you bathe the elephants with a pail in the river.

Seconds before this elephant clobbered me in the face with his trunk.  (Joking.)

The Elephant Nature Reserve looks straight out of a Jurassic Park movie.

Taking a ferry ride for less than $1 along the main river in Bangkok.  Not pictured: all the trash floating in the river.

A self-sustaining mountain village to the northwest of Chiang Mai, which I visited during a moped ride.

The best coffee concoction I've ever had: a 6-oz cup of espresso and cream, complete with a personal tray and a glass of warm water.

Sunset over the Thailand Sea.  (I think that's what it's called.)  En route to the tiny island of Koh Phangan.

Just me, this private beach, and a random kayak that wasn't mine.  These hidden beaches dotted the islands, and were easily accessible with a moped.

Sunset at The Fisherman, one of the best restaurants in Koh Phangan.  Highly recommended!

Looking at the southeast side of Koh Phangan.  Around the bend on the near-right side is where the Full Moon parties occur.

My $13-a-night bungalow in Koh Phangan.  Just one tiny room with a bed, and an attached bathroom / shower.  "Bathroom," because it had a toilet in the ground (no running water), "shower" because it had a hose in the room.

My bungalow at Koh Phangan.  You can see my shower (the hose) in the background!

My bungalow was perched on the hillside next to this beach on the northwest side of the island.

This is "Fleabag," a rowdy little puppy who lived at the Koh Phangan bungalows.