Return to KYNP

Khao Yai National Park (KYNP) after being away for 6 months. No Pom. It feels different – sad and lonely in a quiet run-down way. The door to our old room at Baan Glang Pai is locked and barricaded. Students are sleeping in the massage room. Old cooking supplies are heaped in the corner of the kitchen with the nice beautiful, long heavy slab of wood table going unused – it all collecting dust. Pom’s Buddha statue is gone, stolen. I’m sleeping for the week in my and Kanda’s old room – Kanda and Pim elected to sleep elsewhere in tents—the room has no working toilet and is covered in cobwebs and dirt. It is obvious Kanda hasn’t stayed for months here. I’m sitting out in the front on the steps enjoying the cool clean weather and forest sounds. Amazing how amplified and beautiful and obvious the bird sounds are after being in the city. AND THE AIR! When I used to stay here more long-term all of that would blend into the background. I want to blend into the background. I feel a gaping, gnawing sadness to seeing this place again so dejected. I wonder if we will ever try to return and make it home again.