This past weekend we made a trip to Mok Fah in Doi Suthep National Park.  Lots of good old fashioned team building and leadership skill learning. We took a hike with a pair of park rangers who taught us about some of the plants.  Learned some wild edibles, but mostly herbal medicines. I half expected hiking through the jungle to be a lot like hiking through the Pictured Rocks. and for one moment in the hike, when the terrain leveled out and the trees were widespread on both sides, i could have agreed. But mostly, it was quite the different environment. Swaths of banana trees where it gets low and swamp like and up higher -- clumps of bamboo trees all growing in the same spot.  My absolute favorite part of the hike is the trees whose vines and branches are curly and wrap around each other in the most peculiar and beautiful way.

Another part of our adventures this weekend was a wilderness first aid scenario. I will cut to the chase and say that the scenario involved a group of eight other students carrying me in a litter across a river. Good thing it was only a simulation!
Also, I saw the moon for the first time since i've been here in Thailand this weekend at Mok Fah. It made me feel so good. When I saw it I started jumping up and down and hugged Hannah and it was wonderful to finally see the real Jan Jao.