Night Train
(by Colin Ward and Jeff Emmett and their Group)
A prelude to this blog is most definitely necessary as you will notice while you read through this accumulated blog. On the night train to Bangkok coming back from the Islands to end our group’s May 40 day Thailand trip we were making the most of one of our last nights together. On this night everyone was in good spirits, so it turned out to be an epic party, night train style!
About an hour into our ride on the train - and after several beers and Thai whiskeys later - I remembered that I had planned on writing a short blog about the night train, so i pulled out my laptop and started brainstorming of how to start. My good friend Jeff - and also the other leader of the trip - came in to help, starting with the paragraph below. At this point the laptop caught the attention of a few people partying a few seats down and before we knew it people were jumping in and writing a paragraph about whatever came to mind. It’s too bad the batteries died before everyone could get something down, but it was a fun night and great to commemorate our amazing group experience together with this blog.
Some minor editing was necessary to make some of these paragraphs make sense but a bumpy train after a couple of beers can cause some necessary editing.
So this is what came out!
Photo: Hangin out on the train
Jeff’s Paragraph
Here we are on the night train…now let us test the limits of the Free&Easy blog. I almost fell over just now, partly because of the centrifugal motion of the train and partly because a group member just came by and humped me violently. Both of the times that I tried to type the word ‘partly’, it actually came out ‘party’, which I think is wholly more appropriate. I have never travelled in such a fashion that is fun, and covers distance at such a speed at the same time. The miles pass as the hours wane, deep into the night we enjoy each others company. Drinks are poured and snacks are consumed, they weren’t even mine but they were delicious anyway, whatever who cares I ate them yum yum. When I was a boy I dreamed of times…..
Jason’s Paragraph
Well, it’s hard to do an F&E paragraph as an almost virgin to the company, but this last 37 days have been an experience that I don’t think can be replicated. I have always known that it’s not the place but the people….but this train ride (and the party bus!), have also shown that it’s not the destination, but the journey. You always hear that the people on F&E trips become like family but I don’t think it’s something you can understand until you do a trip. The greatest moments in your life you remember are the moments you shared, and this is a time shared with new, amazing people.
Photo: Jason writing his paragraph and Bryn being camera shy.
Kimber’s Paragraph
And now an interruption…
THIS IS KIIMBO SLICe I LOVE YOU ALL AND LETS PARTY, Hahaha jk. These last 40 days have been the best days of my life, this is my first legit travel experience and I couldn’t have imagined it to be any better than it was. When i signed up a girl told my dad that she went on this trip and it was the best time she has ever had in her life and now i understand what she means, I understand my friend’s stories about the Full Moon Party and Gang at Eden Bar in Koh Phangan. I now understand how you can truly find yourself and love the people you meet and accept the people as who they are. Sometimes I think I used to be a #@&*?^#! at home, I know that this trip with Free and Easy changed my life and made me a better person 1000000 times closer to who i really am.
I went through the best and the hardest time in my life on this trip, at the lake house i hurt my back, but i was still happy because i was in paradise, and got TLC by the best people I have ever met. Between Jeff’s amazing stories, Chancee’s amazing massages, and Yaya’s help, it was awesome. Even thinking about our aroubix cube on the beach with Kirby and Colin, makes me smile. Anyways… hands down the best 40 days of my life. PEACE, LOVE AND …………….
Wendy Girl’s Paragraph
Hello to all, allow me to introduce myself. The name is Wendy (clearly stated as above)…. mhm blondie. Yes these roots run deep. I’d like to think of everybody in this group as contributing to a whole rather than separate individuals. We have the smart ones, the realists, the funny one liners, and then the deeply disturbed (*scans around suspiciously*….). There have been good moments, not many sad, and many interesting conversations. Many friendships and bonds have been formed within the group, and also with people outside. It feels as if we have known each other for many years, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the Chang beer and Sang Som have helped pave the way on that one. I will leave you with a final thought, in dedication to my fellow Free and Easy’ians; the past is nothing more than the trail left behind the wake of your boat, and the Future doesn’t exist yet. If you miss the moment, you miss your life. Love life; we will never be in this moment again. Peace, love, and ecstasy. xo
Photo: Jeff, Bryn and Gill reminiscing over old photos
Bryn’s Paragraph
I’ve been traveling for two years, seen ten other countries, and Free and Easy is by far the best experience I’ve ever had. This group of people I’ve been put with feels like my family and best friends, every day here is like paradise, and I am definitely living the dream. I never want to leave, everyone I’ve met out here has been awesome, the activities we do every day are f*@king cool. I don’t even know how to explain what happens on Free and Easy trips cause it is impossible to convey to people in Canada who haven’t experienced it. I’m too drunk right now to think of anything else to say, but let me sum it up with a very familiar phrase to all of us here…. epic travel alters perspective. It’s true.
Megan’s Paragraph
This is Megan’s blog paragraph about the drinking comp between her and Jason…
Word to the wise: Do not challenge the Alcoholic of the Trip to a drinking challenge. After 37 days it gets easier, but Sang Som will sill get’cha… err’time. I’m in no way a writer but I’ve been asked to recall my experiences. Hopefully you understand my circumstance and won’t judge. In one month at home I could’ve done soooo much homework, done a few midterms, and made a few moneys at work. Instead, I went scuba diving, rock climbing, rafting, swimming, tanning. We ate like kings, we sang like Queen (but better), we skinny dipped, and we got first class service from all of Thailand. I’m not allowed to edit.
Photo: Megan and Jason showing off there drink count for there drinking comp
Kyle’s and Melissa’s Paragraph
As sober bloggers we will filter out all belligerences. Over all, this trip has had it all, great people, great food, fun times (again alot) and definitely some partying. We will never forget the times we have had on this trip (maybe not true… but Sang Som can do that to you :) ) But we will definitely not forget the people.
The train moves slow but the drunkenness provides endless entertainment as i recover from my encounter with the terminator bucket (it may have one this round but it is not the last!). Being a boisterous group the noise levels must be kept in check as arguments with no real issue break out frequently (all in good fun) I will leave you and return to the party now though.
GET SOME + CHARLIE BROWN DANCE = GREAT NIGHT (Just FYI)
Chris Sherry’s paragraph
Here we stand on the night train again and this has been one of the best parties on a train I have been too. Coolin is running around getting everyone to have an amazing time and just enjoy themselves and Jeff is drinking Hong Thong like he always does on the night train. Jason and Megan are having a drinking contest and Megan is holding her own and it is epic with what we have taught her over the last 40 days she has just exploded out of her shell….which is what Free and Easy is all about is taking people out of there comfort zones and experience new things. This has been one of the best night trains I have been on and can’t wait to continue all of the FNE experience.
Closing
The night train has always been one of my favorite modes of transportation as it gives you so much freedom to move around use the washroom, mix drinks, order food, play cards, and finally get rocked to sleep with the sounds of the train on its tracks.
Special thanks to Melissa for letting me snap a few photos for this with her camera, and to the everyone who got the chance to write a paragraph. good luck to all! and see you at the reunion parties!
Photo: Our group at Koh Lipe during the Free and Easy Olympics
