So I'm getting pictures up, sorry they aren't totally in perfect order on the page. I am working on it as best I can.
Will write a blog tomorrow: We are now on our second night in Cambodia and have booked our flight(s) to Bali!
Love and Miss you all SO much!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Leaving Laos
Becca and I left Vang Vieng yesterday by mini-bus to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos.
Vang Vieng is a pretty cool place, but there isn't much to do there other than go tubing (which consists of getting drunk and floating in intertubes) and watching Friends. The morning I wrote my last blog Becca came home not feeling too well and not up for much. Good thing because we had a thunder storm all day and night pretty much. So we just watched Friends, then took a break and watched Family Guy at another place. :) Then got dinner with some travelers from our slowboat. Dominic from England, Jordan showed up and apparently got a bit of a tummy bug, and Andrea: a girl from Germany who has been sick since we left Pak Bang.
The next morning we decided to head here. Jordan is still over there, he wanted to get better and go tubing. My wound is scabbing over finally!! Still a bit red and hurts sometimes but LOADS better! Whew! :)
We arrived here yesterday, checked into a guest house and walked around. Really there is not much to do at all here so we booked a train this morning to take us to Bangkok. We'll be leaving in a few hours for the border, the hopping on a sleeper train which will take us to Bangkok by tomorrow at 6:30am. Then we'll chill there for a day; Becca might get a camera since her's was taken. And at 4;30 we will fly out to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to check out the killing fields and the such.
We'll spend about a day there. Then take a bus to Siem Reap and spend about 3 days at Angkor Wat. From there we are probably going to take a bus for about 10 hours to Bangkok.
Then I have about a week left and we are deciding between going to the Thai islands, Bali, or to the Phillippine Islands. Looks like we are leaning towards the Phillippine islands because we have heard such amazing things from a fellow traveler and there is LOADS to do there! Trekking, Kayaking, Rafting, Snorkeling, Diving (Becca wants to get her paddy certification), horse back riding, and of course laying out on a pristine beach and tanning :) Mmmm. haha
So all we have booked now is our train to Bangkok. We're having some issues with our flight to Phenom Phen at the moment; but it will work out-opps no we just booked it as I typed! Taxes and stuff made it go up from like $50 dollars to $90. So what we are going to do is fly to Phenom Phen, bus to Siep Reap, and take a long bus to Bangkok because that will be much cheaper than going BACK to Phenom Phen to fly back to Bangkok. We are going to weigh our options until we get to Cambodia with regards to time and money before deciding which beautiful destination I end my travels at once we arrive BACK in Bangkok from Cambodia. Bangkok is like the hub of everything. It depends on money, on how she can meet up with Jordan easiest, and how I can get back to Bangkok for my already booked return flight home on the 14th of June.
Sooooo I might post a blog at the airport in Bangkok with more information on our decision OR I might wait until we arrive in Phenom Phen. :) I'm stoked to check out Cambodia and to end my travels at a beach, no matter where!! :)
Miss home and love you all loads and loads and loads!!!
XOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOOXOXOXXOXOOXOXOX
Vang Vieng is a pretty cool place, but there isn't much to do there other than go tubing (which consists of getting drunk and floating in intertubes) and watching Friends. The morning I wrote my last blog Becca came home not feeling too well and not up for much. Good thing because we had a thunder storm all day and night pretty much. So we just watched Friends, then took a break and watched Family Guy at another place. :) Then got dinner with some travelers from our slowboat. Dominic from England, Jordan showed up and apparently got a bit of a tummy bug, and Andrea: a girl from Germany who has been sick since we left Pak Bang.
The next morning we decided to head here. Jordan is still over there, he wanted to get better and go tubing. My wound is scabbing over finally!! Still a bit red and hurts sometimes but LOADS better! Whew! :)
We arrived here yesterday, checked into a guest house and walked around. Really there is not much to do at all here so we booked a train this morning to take us to Bangkok. We'll be leaving in a few hours for the border, the hopping on a sleeper train which will take us to Bangkok by tomorrow at 6:30am. Then we'll chill there for a day; Becca might get a camera since her's was taken. And at 4;30 we will fly out to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to check out the killing fields and the such.
We'll spend about a day there. Then take a bus to Siem Reap and spend about 3 days at Angkor Wat. From there we are probably going to take a bus for about 10 hours to Bangkok.
Then I have about a week left and we are deciding between going to the Thai islands, Bali, or to the Phillippine Islands. Looks like we are leaning towards the Phillippine islands because we have heard such amazing things from a fellow traveler and there is LOADS to do there! Trekking, Kayaking, Rafting, Snorkeling, Diving (Becca wants to get her paddy certification), horse back riding, and of course laying out on a pristine beach and tanning :) Mmmm. haha
So all we have booked now is our train to Bangkok. We're having some issues with our flight to Phenom Phen at the moment; but it will work out-opps no we just booked it as I typed! Taxes and stuff made it go up from like $50 dollars to $90. So what we are going to do is fly to Phenom Phen, bus to Siep Reap, and take a long bus to Bangkok because that will be much cheaper than going BACK to Phenom Phen to fly back to Bangkok. We are going to weigh our options until we get to Cambodia with regards to time and money before deciding which beautiful destination I end my travels at once we arrive BACK in Bangkok from Cambodia. Bangkok is like the hub of everything. It depends on money, on how she can meet up with Jordan easiest, and how I can get back to Bangkok for my already booked return flight home on the 14th of June.
Sooooo I might post a blog at the airport in Bangkok with more information on our decision OR I might wait until we arrive in Phenom Phen. :) I'm stoked to check out Cambodia and to end my travels at a beach, no matter where!! :)
Miss home and love you all loads and loads and loads!!!
XOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOOXOXOXXOXOOXOXOX
Monday, May 26, 2008
Moving Through Laos
Two days ago Becca and I hopped on an uncomfortable mini-bus ride for about 5 hours to arrive in Vien Tieng, Laos.
The tuk tuk driver dropped us off on the airstrip in front of this guest house and we were greeted by a sweet Lao man asking us all to stay in his guest house, and that he'd pay the tuk tuk driver. While I had wanted Becca and I to stay in a nicer place, now that it was just the two of us, we just decided on this place because it was closest (we weren't sure how far the "center" of town was, and w/ our backpacks and the heat we didn't want to journey far) and because he was so nice...he explained his parents gave him the place as a wedding gift.
So we dropped our stuff and mosied into town. At first I was bummed out because it was NOTHING like Luang Prabang; not beautiful, not charming, it seemed deserted. But as we walked towards the main strip and more people arrived it started bustling and winning me over. It's not as nice as Luang Prabang; but it's still cool. The main strip is lined with restaurants and guest houses and they are filled with tables and benches that you lay back in, and with TVs playing episodes of FRIENDS, or Family Guy. :) It's very relaxed. Everything here is slow.
So once we got in, we sat down, had some dinner and decided to go out that night.
We wandered down to "the island." It is an area of bars that are along the water that you cross a little bridge to. All our friends from the slowboat were there plus tons of other people. I danced my heart out all night because they played music from like last summer back home. And Becca took off on a walk. While everything here closes at curfew, they don't kick you out: so I remained at one of the bars, with everyone else, until about 3am and then I decided to head home and get sleep for the next day.
Becca and I signed up to check out some caves and go kayaking in the river and had to be there by 9am. At 8am Becca finally shows up and tells me that she was mugged last night walking! She was walking with a guy friend and two Lao boys on a motor bike drove by and cut her purse off of her and took off with it. Her purse w/ her cc, and camera! With all the pictures of me getting my hand held at the trek by Bond and loads of others! :( Along with money and her license. We came down to the internet so she could tell her parents: apparently they arleady made a $525.00 charge to her CC.
Then because we couldn't do anything else, we went on our trip we already paid for. It was fun! We went to some caves and then got in intertubes with nothing more than a huge battery and head torch (like the miners wear) and floated into this cave. It was unreal! I felt like I was in The Goonies!!! You could only see where your flashlight was and the cave if you looked up just went so high, and there were so many formatoins and it was so slimy looking and just the coolest thing!!! We explored the cave by tube for a bit, all of us in the group (4 of us) had to link our feet to the others tube and paddle together. This is the cave we went in:
Then we had some lunch and hopped in kayaks that took us down the river. It was beautiful. There were some rapids, but not crazy ones.
Then we looked ahead and saw why most people come to this town: tubers. People get in intertubes and ride down the river, and there are make shift bars all along the river. So people ride their tubes down and get roped into these bars and drink and then continue on down the river to the other bars. The one we stopped at had a HUGE swing, about 20 feet in the air you climb up, then you hold on to a bar with your hands and swing all the way out and drop into the river. Becca went and loved it and these older couples that were partying and jumping in got me to climb up, and after a few minutes of being terrified I did it too!
After a while of hanging at this bar, since we weren't drinking and wanted to kayak our group got back in our kayaks and headed down the river some more. Oh but before that! One woman asked me to go with her to the swing and jump again, because it was fun. :) haha I didn'dt want to but went up anyway and after like 10 minutes and countless people going before me and telling me just to do it, I climbed down the stairs. :) As while it wasn't scary once I did it, and I did do it already, I was too scared. Once was brave enough for me!
Here I am kayaking down the river:
So then we continued on until reaching the end and got out and wandered into town. On our way we found a police station so Becca made a report of the theft and they told her to come back today at 9am.
We found a guest house for the two of us that I had liked when we got here (where we ate and watched Friends the first night) as Jordan hadn't written us back saying for sure he was coming or not, and we showered and then found Jordan.
The three of us met up with two other travelers we met on the van, and coincidentally Jordan worked with in Taho, Kylie and Nathan. Sage, who was on our slow boat, joined us and we went to dinner.
And apparently every place here has a regular menu, and then they hand you an extra one called the "Happy Menu" which consists of shakes and pizza and bread you can order that is either made with marijuana or mushrooms! Nuts, right?
So we ate our, non happy, food and I was EXHAUSTED as I had gone to bed at 3 and woken up early for kayking so I walked with them down to the bars, and then after about 15 minutes-I waited because we met two guys in Luang Prabang: one that was a bartender for a bar and one that owned it-so we wanted to say hi to them, then I came home and went to sleep.
Woke up this morning and Becca said that the police said she had to have a witness and they didn't believe her. :(
Today she doesn't feel like tubing, so we're just gonna hang out and watch a bit of TV outside then head to the bars because they have hammoks on the river so we're just gonna lay out in the heat and relax. Maybe finally get a tan! :)
I'm relieved because I didn't really want to go tubing...I'm not a big drinker and I have this infected wound on my leg thta won't heal because it's so hott here and moist out that my body is never really dry and in order for it to heal, it needs to be dry so I'd rather stay out of the water today.
I know Jordan is gonna love this place and it is really awesome and relaxed so I think I will now be missing out on Bali because of time. Cambodia I will still get to go to, though!
Miss all of you at home! Miss home! :)
XOXOXOXOXOOOXOXOXO LOVE YOU!
The tuk tuk driver dropped us off on the airstrip in front of this guest house and we were greeted by a sweet Lao man asking us all to stay in his guest house, and that he'd pay the tuk tuk driver. While I had wanted Becca and I to stay in a nicer place, now that it was just the two of us, we just decided on this place because it was closest (we weren't sure how far the "center" of town was, and w/ our backpacks and the heat we didn't want to journey far) and because he was so nice...he explained his parents gave him the place as a wedding gift.
So we dropped our stuff and mosied into town. At first I was bummed out because it was NOTHING like Luang Prabang; not beautiful, not charming, it seemed deserted. But as we walked towards the main strip and more people arrived it started bustling and winning me over. It's not as nice as Luang Prabang; but it's still cool. The main strip is lined with restaurants and guest houses and they are filled with tables and benches that you lay back in, and with TVs playing episodes of FRIENDS, or Family Guy. :) It's very relaxed. Everything here is slow.
So once we got in, we sat down, had some dinner and decided to go out that night.
We wandered down to "the island." It is an area of bars that are along the water that you cross a little bridge to. All our friends from the slowboat were there plus tons of other people. I danced my heart out all night because they played music from like last summer back home. And Becca took off on a walk. While everything here closes at curfew, they don't kick you out: so I remained at one of the bars, with everyone else, until about 3am and then I decided to head home and get sleep for the next day.
Becca and I signed up to check out some caves and go kayaking in the river and had to be there by 9am. At 8am Becca finally shows up and tells me that she was mugged last night walking! She was walking with a guy friend and two Lao boys on a motor bike drove by and cut her purse off of her and took off with it. Her purse w/ her cc, and camera! With all the pictures of me getting my hand held at the trek by Bond and loads of others! :( Along with money and her license. We came down to the internet so she could tell her parents: apparently they arleady made a $525.00 charge to her CC.
Then because we couldn't do anything else, we went on our trip we already paid for. It was fun! We went to some caves and then got in intertubes with nothing more than a huge battery and head torch (like the miners wear) and floated into this cave. It was unreal! I felt like I was in The Goonies!!! You could only see where your flashlight was and the cave if you looked up just went so high, and there were so many formatoins and it was so slimy looking and just the coolest thing!!! We explored the cave by tube for a bit, all of us in the group (4 of us) had to link our feet to the others tube and paddle together. This is the cave we went in:
Then we had some lunch and hopped in kayaks that took us down the river. It was beautiful. There were some rapids, but not crazy ones.
Then we looked ahead and saw why most people come to this town: tubers. People get in intertubes and ride down the river, and there are make shift bars all along the river. So people ride their tubes down and get roped into these bars and drink and then continue on down the river to the other bars. The one we stopped at had a HUGE swing, about 20 feet in the air you climb up, then you hold on to a bar with your hands and swing all the way out and drop into the river. Becca went and loved it and these older couples that were partying and jumping in got me to climb up, and after a few minutes of being terrified I did it too!
After a while of hanging at this bar, since we weren't drinking and wanted to kayak our group got back in our kayaks and headed down the river some more. Oh but before that! One woman asked me to go with her to the swing and jump again, because it was fun. :) haha I didn'dt want to but went up anyway and after like 10 minutes and countless people going before me and telling me just to do it, I climbed down the stairs. :) As while it wasn't scary once I did it, and I did do it already, I was too scared. Once was brave enough for me!
Here I am kayaking down the river:
So then we continued on until reaching the end and got out and wandered into town. On our way we found a police station so Becca made a report of the theft and they told her to come back today at 9am.
We found a guest house for the two of us that I had liked when we got here (where we ate and watched Friends the first night) as Jordan hadn't written us back saying for sure he was coming or not, and we showered and then found Jordan.
The three of us met up with two other travelers we met on the van, and coincidentally Jordan worked with in Taho, Kylie and Nathan. Sage, who was on our slow boat, joined us and we went to dinner.
And apparently every place here has a regular menu, and then they hand you an extra one called the "Happy Menu" which consists of shakes and pizza and bread you can order that is either made with marijuana or mushrooms! Nuts, right?
So we ate our, non happy, food and I was EXHAUSTED as I had gone to bed at 3 and woken up early for kayking so I walked with them down to the bars, and then after about 15 minutes-I waited because we met two guys in Luang Prabang: one that was a bartender for a bar and one that owned it-so we wanted to say hi to them, then I came home and went to sleep.
Woke up this morning and Becca said that the police said she had to have a witness and they didn't believe her. :(
Today she doesn't feel like tubing, so we're just gonna hang out and watch a bit of TV outside then head to the bars because they have hammoks on the river so we're just gonna lay out in the heat and relax. Maybe finally get a tan! :)
I'm relieved because I didn't really want to go tubing...I'm not a big drinker and I have this infected wound on my leg thta won't heal because it's so hott here and moist out that my body is never really dry and in order for it to heal, it needs to be dry so I'd rather stay out of the water today.
I know Jordan is gonna love this place and it is really awesome and relaxed so I think I will now be missing out on Bali because of time. Cambodia I will still get to go to, though!
Miss all of you at home! Miss home! :)
XOXOXOXOXOOOXOXOXO LOVE YOU!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Enchanted with Laos
This is it. This is what I left for. To feel this. How I am feeling right this minute.
Where to begin?
We started our journey on a mini-bus ride up to the border town between Chang Mai and Laos. It was a longish drive; but the scenery was beautiful. The places people DON'T visit in Thailand. So green. And not dirty. I mean, they weren't pristine and kept up like I am used to ; but it felt cleaner than Bangkok. I enjoyed Thailand lots: Lop Buri was tons fo fun, and the trek a true adventure, and I had a good time. But I was ready to elave. ANd here I come to find myself in a ort of paradise. A sort of place I never knew existed and am so happy does.
The atmosphere, completely chill. ANd while it is familair (American pop songs play at restaurants occassionally...usually really shitty pop we would never listen to back home), it is still exotic. I am still in a foreign country.
This is a perfect change of pace for me, and a nice treat. As I hear Cambodia is very simialir to Thailand.
We crossed the border and got our visas and then stepped into those pointy wood boats you see in pictures, with a wood roof above us and thin wood benches to sit on. Packed at least two to a seat for 1.5. For 6-7 hours?
Okay, I thought...I bought a seat cushion (Becca looked at it and said: "Of course you'd find one that's pink with dolphins" :) ) But then this boat next to us, much bigger, it called to us and we saw some people jumping from our boat to theirs so we grabbed our bags, and WOW! What a great decision! I even managed to sit in the front, one of the four seats that were like car seats instead of wooden benches.
Nice.
The sun shone ALL day for the first time since I got in Thailand, and we rode down the Bang River. I can't explain it; riding on the river. The waves made by the boat made it sound like the ocean and we were surrounded by nothing but beauty. Sandy cliffs and huge trees. Just massive areas of green is all we saw. Occasionally a small hill tribe hut might be seen, maybe a random villager in a boat, once or twice I saw little village kids naked running down to the water. We just rocked on the water. It was exactly what I needed to recenter myself. I was so happy. Happier than I've been this trip: it was just us and the water.
We arrived in a small village about 100 people called Pak Bang (Mountain of the Bang River) there is no point ever to go there unless you are stopping over for the night to sleep before getting back on a 7hour boat ride. It had no electricity: ran on generators, and most of the young guys were offering opium.
But I loved seeing this was how they lived. Walking through their market and seeing pigs ears, still with the hair on them. Seeing all the babies around. Getting offered free homemade whiskey from the restaurant owners trying to get our business.
We set out again the following day for another extraordinary boat ride. Well, it wasn't as comfy as the last one: I had to sit on a bench. But I didn't care. I was on the water. It would occassionally spray on my face, and I was just surrounded by beauty. I went to the back of the boat where there was a sort of window (the whole boat was open...btw. I still haven't been able to upload, but here is a picture I found online:
Anyway, there was a sort of door on the back side of the boat and I just sat in it; with my head hanging out. It was amazing.
Just the boat ride and I could sware that was my favorite part of the trip.
All of us still together from the first trip, randomly bonded otgether and friends fo rth emoments we wer together on that boat an in Pak Bang. A couple from NZ, another couple orginially from England who have decided to travel for 6 months and begin their lives together in Austrailia, a woman who left the US for Austrailia at 19 for school and is at 25 thinking of coming back to the US, adn two 18yearold English boys on their gap year. Sharing small talk of where we've been, where we are going, little things. I know them here and now, but once we we leave, I will probably never see them again. But now, we are friends.
Then...then we arrived here. Luang Prabang, Laos.
This island paradise it seems, though we are not on the ocean. We are on the Mekong. Laos was once occupied by the French; so there is a particular type of romance and exoticness here, and a particular bit of familiarity. Lots of Europeans in the street, Bread and cheese! Wine bars!! I was actually able to look at a menu that was not simply: "Fried this...or rice that" I was able to have a salad for dinner last night!
The things you treasure.
We walked around the night market they have here, and everything started shutting off around 9:30. Apparently there is an 11:30 curfew here. Which I dont' mind. I think it adds to the relaxed nature here. The bars and restaurants are beautiful. At night with teh little lights and the chatter of all these people from all over. Everyone here is at ease. Happy. It's safe to walk alone in the evening: which I did tonight. It has a feel like the towns of Manhattan Beach, Santa Barbara...but more so, so so so much more exotic and beautiful and unreal.
We slept in today and when we woke up, got a driver to take us up 21miles to the Tat Koang Si waterfall.
I can't explain what we did for this day.
We got up there and walked by the most beautiful natural pools: such a color I have never seen, with little waterfalls around them. Jordan and I couldn't help ourselves by the third pool we saw on our way to the waterfall so we went in! It was amazing. Amazing! I couldnt' stop saying how happy I was. I can't use words to describe the color of the water, but we were in it. Swimming.
Now, it is slightly touristy; but I don't care! It is EXTRAORDINARY!!!
Eventually we went to see the waterfall...
When you look up at the Tat Koang Si waterfall you can't feel anything but grateful. To see something so magnificent, so enchanting, so grandious in beauty just there...in nature. Words can't express. I live in a world that has things like this. Something no human could ever create. How can you not be so grateful for this world? For existing in a place that creates such beautiful things?
Then, of course, Becca and Joran being the adventurers they are...wanted to go to the top of the waterfall. There are sort of paths...but for me and my little heart, it can be a lot more difficult. That and my ability to trip on flat ground made me a bit weary: and with no Bond to hold my hand! But I said that I'd at least try; and just see. If it got to be too much for me: if I spent more time worrying about how to get from one place to another without hurting myself than actually enjoying the waterfall I would stop. I told them not to keep waiting for me. Jordan is good at just going. :) And eventually, on my own, I made it to the top! It was amazing. To stand on top of that massive waterfall was unlike anything. And to know I did it myself, that was really incredible.
Now this is something the tourists do, so there were makeshift paths KINDA; it wasn't like our trek when I was just out climbing things. But still, it was really exciting for me and ureal.
After four hours swimming and exploring we came back, had an incredible meal at a restaurant that just opened by our guesthouse: two Belgians opened it. A couple. They came out here last year and loved it and wanted to see if they could do anything, and when it was feasable, they did. It was wonderful.
After that I checked out a really cool place I want to open in the states and watched a movie that Jordan and Becca weren't too interested in and then came down to the main street to write in my blog and quickly check my emails. Stores shut in about 30minutes.
I miss home; but Laos is my favorite favorite favorite place so far.
Come see this beautiful place.
Love and miss you!
Where to begin?
We started our journey on a mini-bus ride up to the border town between Chang Mai and Laos. It was a longish drive; but the scenery was beautiful. The places people DON'T visit in Thailand. So green. And not dirty. I mean, they weren't pristine and kept up like I am used to ; but it felt cleaner than Bangkok. I enjoyed Thailand lots: Lop Buri was tons fo fun, and the trek a true adventure, and I had a good time. But I was ready to elave. ANd here I come to find myself in a ort of paradise. A sort of place I never knew existed and am so happy does.
The atmosphere, completely chill. ANd while it is familair (American pop songs play at restaurants occassionally...usually really shitty pop we would never listen to back home), it is still exotic. I am still in a foreign country.
This is a perfect change of pace for me, and a nice treat. As I hear Cambodia is very simialir to Thailand.
We crossed the border and got our visas and then stepped into those pointy wood boats you see in pictures, with a wood roof above us and thin wood benches to sit on. Packed at least two to a seat for 1.5. For 6-7 hours?
Okay, I thought...I bought a seat cushion (Becca looked at it and said: "Of course you'd find one that's pink with dolphins" :) ) But then this boat next to us, much bigger, it called to us and we saw some people jumping from our boat to theirs so we grabbed our bags, and WOW! What a great decision! I even managed to sit in the front, one of the four seats that were like car seats instead of wooden benches.
Nice.
The sun shone ALL day for the first time since I got in Thailand, and we rode down the Bang River. I can't explain it; riding on the river. The waves made by the boat made it sound like the ocean and we were surrounded by nothing but beauty. Sandy cliffs and huge trees. Just massive areas of green is all we saw. Occasionally a small hill tribe hut might be seen, maybe a random villager in a boat, once or twice I saw little village kids naked running down to the water. We just rocked on the water. It was exactly what I needed to recenter myself. I was so happy. Happier than I've been this trip: it was just us and the water.
We arrived in a small village about 100 people called Pak Bang (Mountain of the Bang River) there is no point ever to go there unless you are stopping over for the night to sleep before getting back on a 7hour boat ride. It had no electricity: ran on generators, and most of the young guys were offering opium.
But I loved seeing this was how they lived. Walking through their market and seeing pigs ears, still with the hair on them. Seeing all the babies around. Getting offered free homemade whiskey from the restaurant owners trying to get our business.
We set out again the following day for another extraordinary boat ride. Well, it wasn't as comfy as the last one: I had to sit on a bench. But I didn't care. I was on the water. It would occassionally spray on my face, and I was just surrounded by beauty. I went to the back of the boat where there was a sort of window (the whole boat was open...btw. I still haven't been able to upload, but here is a picture I found online:
Anyway, there was a sort of door on the back side of the boat and I just sat in it; with my head hanging out. It was amazing.
Just the boat ride and I could sware that was my favorite part of the trip.
All of us still together from the first trip, randomly bonded otgether and friends fo rth emoments we wer together on that boat an in Pak Bang. A couple from NZ, another couple orginially from England who have decided to travel for 6 months and begin their lives together in Austrailia, a woman who left the US for Austrailia at 19 for school and is at 25 thinking of coming back to the US, adn two 18yearold English boys on their gap year. Sharing small talk of where we've been, where we are going, little things. I know them here and now, but once we we leave, I will probably never see them again. But now, we are friends.
Then...then we arrived here. Luang Prabang, Laos.
This island paradise it seems, though we are not on the ocean. We are on the Mekong. Laos was once occupied by the French; so there is a particular type of romance and exoticness here, and a particular bit of familiarity. Lots of Europeans in the street, Bread and cheese! Wine bars!! I was actually able to look at a menu that was not simply: "Fried this...or rice that" I was able to have a salad for dinner last night!
The things you treasure.
We walked around the night market they have here, and everything started shutting off around 9:30. Apparently there is an 11:30 curfew here. Which I dont' mind. I think it adds to the relaxed nature here. The bars and restaurants are beautiful. At night with teh little lights and the chatter of all these people from all over. Everyone here is at ease. Happy. It's safe to walk alone in the evening: which I did tonight. It has a feel like the towns of Manhattan Beach, Santa Barbara...but more so, so so so much more exotic and beautiful and unreal.
We slept in today and when we woke up, got a driver to take us up 21miles to the Tat Koang Si waterfall.
I can't explain what we did for this day.
We got up there and walked by the most beautiful natural pools: such a color I have never seen, with little waterfalls around them. Jordan and I couldn't help ourselves by the third pool we saw on our way to the waterfall so we went in! It was amazing. Amazing! I couldnt' stop saying how happy I was. I can't use words to describe the color of the water, but we were in it. Swimming.
Now, it is slightly touristy; but I don't care! It is EXTRAORDINARY!!!
Eventually we went to see the waterfall...
When you look up at the Tat Koang Si waterfall you can't feel anything but grateful. To see something so magnificent, so enchanting, so grandious in beauty just there...in nature. Words can't express. I live in a world that has things like this. Something no human could ever create. How can you not be so grateful for this world? For existing in a place that creates such beautiful things?
Then, of course, Becca and Joran being the adventurers they are...wanted to go to the top of the waterfall. There are sort of paths...but for me and my little heart, it can be a lot more difficult. That and my ability to trip on flat ground made me a bit weary: and with no Bond to hold my hand! But I said that I'd at least try; and just see. If it got to be too much for me: if I spent more time worrying about how to get from one place to another without hurting myself than actually enjoying the waterfall I would stop. I told them not to keep waiting for me. Jordan is good at just going. :) And eventually, on my own, I made it to the top! It was amazing. To stand on top of that massive waterfall was unlike anything. And to know I did it myself, that was really incredible.
Now this is something the tourists do, so there were makeshift paths KINDA; it wasn't like our trek when I was just out climbing things. But still, it was really exciting for me and ureal.
After four hours swimming and exploring we came back, had an incredible meal at a restaurant that just opened by our guesthouse: two Belgians opened it. A couple. They came out here last year and loved it and wanted to see if they could do anything, and when it was feasable, they did. It was wonderful.
After that I checked out a really cool place I want to open in the states and watched a movie that Jordan and Becca weren't too interested in and then came down to the main street to write in my blog and quickly check my emails. Stores shut in about 30minutes.
I miss home; but Laos is my favorite favorite favorite place so far.
Come see this beautiful place.
Love and miss you!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Big Flame!
So today Jordan, Becca, and I took a Thai cooking class. :)
It was good fun! I learned how to make:
-Stir fried chicken w/ garlic and pepper
-Rice Noodle Spring Rolls
-Mango with Sticky Rice and Coconut Milk (tasty dessert!)
-Stir Fried Mix of Mushrooms
-Papaya Salad
-Green Curry with Chicken
It was quite tasty! So much eating, though. :) Bit full.
And here is our class:
Afterwards we headed home and then off to the Sunday market which was absolutely GIGANTIC!! And much more enjoyable than the JJ Market. Lots and lots of stuff.
I dunno, sometimes it's just rough a bit...I miss home, I miss mom, I miss eating healthy regular meals and being able to work out and not be sticky all the time from gross bug repellant that doesn't even seem to work! :P
I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed and anxious while at the market. I think it'll be nice to get out of Thailand tomorrow. My legs are atrocious. I am contstantly getting bit all over by bugs; and I'm so allergic so it's a bit hard to handle. And it's a daunting thought at times: five weeks. But Laos should be a good change of pace.
We're leaving Thailand tomorrow at noon and then driving up to the border, staying the night there, and once we cross we hop on a "slow boat" for another day up the Mekong river and end at Luang Prabang. We're looking for flights out of Laos once we've been there for a few days.
Here is a picture I found online (as the place I go to here by the guest house we are at for internet doesn't have anything to allow me to upload my own yet)
Apparently Laos is a very "chill" atmosphere, so I am looking forward to that. Becca, Jordan, and I all bought books today so hopefully we'll all read at the same pace and exchange them throughout our slow boat trip. Mine is called "Half Hours with the Best Thinkers." So I'll get to do lots of thinking and maybe get inspired on the boat!! :)
Alright well then I am off. So much love to you all; today has really got me missing all of you and home lots. I'll write again once we are settled in Laos.
OXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
It was good fun! I learned how to make:
-Stir fried chicken w/ garlic and pepper
-Rice Noodle Spring Rolls
-Mango with Sticky Rice and Coconut Milk (tasty dessert!)
-Stir Fried Mix of Mushrooms
-Papaya Salad
-Green Curry with Chicken
It was quite tasty! So much eating, though. :) Bit full.
And here is our class:
Afterwards we headed home and then off to the Sunday market which was absolutely GIGANTIC!! And much more enjoyable than the JJ Market. Lots and lots of stuff.
I dunno, sometimes it's just rough a bit...I miss home, I miss mom, I miss eating healthy regular meals and being able to work out and not be sticky all the time from gross bug repellant that doesn't even seem to work! :P
I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed and anxious while at the market. I think it'll be nice to get out of Thailand tomorrow. My legs are atrocious. I am contstantly getting bit all over by bugs; and I'm so allergic so it's a bit hard to handle. And it's a daunting thought at times: five weeks. But Laos should be a good change of pace.
We're leaving Thailand tomorrow at noon and then driving up to the border, staying the night there, and once we cross we hop on a "slow boat" for another day up the Mekong river and end at Luang Prabang. We're looking for flights out of Laos once we've been there for a few days.
Here is a picture I found online (as the place I go to here by the guest house we are at for internet doesn't have anything to allow me to upload my own yet)
Apparently Laos is a very "chill" atmosphere, so I am looking forward to that. Becca, Jordan, and I all bought books today so hopefully we'll all read at the same pace and exchange them throughout our slow boat trip. Mine is called "Half Hours with the Best Thinkers." So I'll get to do lots of thinking and maybe get inspired on the boat!! :)
Alright well then I am off. So much love to you all; today has really got me missing all of you and home lots. I'll write again once we are settled in Laos.
OXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Delicate Flower, Deep Jungle
Well I have returned, unbroken, from three days in the deepest parts of the jungles of Thailand.
Quite an adventure, I must say.
I had no clue what I was in for!
We got picked up in the morning and took about three hours to head up to the jungle with a truck of other people: Me, Jordan, Becca, two Oregon newlyweds, a French married couple, and a pair of English police women (one was from Essex, Joe!). We drove up and got to ride elephants for an hour!!!! I took tons of pictures and video. I promise I will get this all sorted out and uploaded soon!!!
We visited the Orchid Farm, Long Neck Tribe and Big Ears before meeting up with the group:
We visited the Orchid Farm, Long Neck Tribe and Big Ears before meeting up with the group:
This is me shooting a bow and arrow!
It was SO fun!
The elphants were amazing. 
After that we walked down part of the mountain (my hand was held by one of the guys, of course) and took a cage across the river on a cable. :) Fun. Then we had lunch and started our treks.
We walked for 2.5 hours up into the jungle-to get to the very top of the hill. My little heart was working quite hard so I stayed in the back so I could go a bit slower and stabilze it from time to time. Got to know one of our guides, Weelow. The sweetest little Thai man. About 40 years old and goes on these treks once a week. I love him. :) Not to worry, Joe...he's already taken and with child. ;)
When we FINALLY reached the top, we stayed in a small village with the Lahu Tribe. They originated in Tibet. The children were to die for! So precious! I am finding myself ooing and aaing over Thai kids a lot out here! That and all the puppies and kitties and other animals!
Immediately Becca and I ran to the cold showers and rinsed off. Then they cooked for us later that night. We spent time talking with the couple from Oregon and the poice officers. We sang songs while our guide played guitar (our guides knew Hotel California and some Bob Marley songs) Then went off to bed. It rained ALL night and most of the next morning. Our group separated; the Oregon couple and the police women were only doing a two day trek. The three of us stayed with the french couple and one of the guides who went by the name of "Bond. James Bond." :)
We walked for 2.5 hours up into the jungle-to get to the very top of the hill. My little heart was working quite hard so I stayed in the back so I could go a bit slower and stabilze it from time to time. Got to know one of our guides, Weelow. The sweetest little Thai man. About 40 years old and goes on these treks once a week. I love him. :) Not to worry, Joe...he's already taken and with child. ;)
When we FINALLY reached the top, we stayed in a small village with the Lahu Tribe. They originated in Tibet. The children were to die for! So precious! I am finding myself ooing and aaing over Thai kids a lot out here! That and all the puppies and kitties and other animals!
Immediately Becca and I ran to the cold showers and rinsed off. Then they cooked for us later that night. We spent time talking with the couple from Oregon and the poice officers. We sang songs while our guide played guitar (our guides knew Hotel California and some Bob Marley songs) Then went off to bed. It rained ALL night and most of the next morning. Our group separated; the Oregon couple and the police women were only doing a two day trek. The three of us stayed with the french couple and one of the guides who went by the name of "Bond. James Bond." :)
Here is a photo of where we slept, and one of the children in the Lahu tribe:
We took another 2.5hour treck the next day. Bond ended up having to hold my hand quite a bit. It was pretty funny. If you know me, of course I'd be the one having my hand held going down a wet muddy jungle. Of course. I couldn't help but laugh: "If it weren't for men..."
We stopped at a village half way down, and I died over more kids there, this little girl knew how to say "HELLO!" and how to blow kisses! It's amazing how happy they are up here. Without anything Bond said my face looked like a movie star. :) Very kind of him.
We found our way to a waterfall and Bond cooked us lunch while we went in the water and tried to decipher what the village guy was pantamiming to us about going in the water.
After that, we ate, and a few of the village kids came over to us. They were FACINATED by my hand sanitzier; mainly because it stung their hands where they were cut and dirty. But they kept requesting I pour more and more into their hands. :)
We stopped at a village half way down, and I died over more kids there, this little girl knew how to say "HELLO!" and how to blow kisses! It's amazing how happy they are up here. Without anything Bond said my face looked like a movie star. :) Very kind of him.
We found our way to a waterfall and Bond cooked us lunch while we went in the water and tried to decipher what the village guy was pantamiming to us about going in the water.
After that, we ate, and a few of the village kids came over to us. They were FACINATED by my hand sanitzier; mainly because it stung their hands where they were cut and dirty. But they kept requesting I pour more and more into their hands. :)
Then we continued on to our trek, to another waterfall. It started raining really hard, again, at that point. We continued on until finally reaching our destination of sleeping.
Before dinner hit, something wretched came over me and I barely had any food before rocking myself back and fort in an effort ot sleep off the chills and shakes I had. When I finally came to in the middle of the night, somebody was in our hut with a flash light and started going through my stuff. I waited a moment then popped up and grabbed my stuff so it was inside my mosquito net with me. Part of me thought I was tripping out, but I had a bad feeling and knew that it wasn't somebody in our group. The rest of the night, for god knows how many hours, I struggled to sleep. My bones and body ached immensly and I was in a lot of pain: just couldn't get comfortable or setlle. I turned on my iPod, listened to some tunes and thought happy thoughts to try and make the day come faster. Finally it did, and Becca said she heard somebody in our hut that night, too. So I wasn't crazy. Nothing got taken and nobody was hurt.
At breakfast I still felt ill so I took some motrin and went to lay down. Finally it was time to go; we took an easier 30min trek down to the rapids, and then we white water rafted. THAT WAS SO FUN!!!! After that, we hopped on bamboo rafts and took those down the river for a bit. Also nice; nowhere near as exciting as the white water. ;)
We were fed again and then hopped on a twoish hour ride back to the city.
My clothes were all wet and stinky. It was gross. I think part of me being sick was because of how damp everything was. I never had anything dry on, and it gets chilly in the jungle at night. We got back to Chang Mai, found our way to a guest house. Becca and I dropped off our laundry and have since been online. :)
Oh! When we were rafting, we saw a wild elephant on the side of the river!! Amazing!!!
Anyway, that was that! It was a lot of fun; and ended just in time! I'm still feeling a bit funny, but that's nothing a good thai massage won't fix!! :) Still no hot showers, yet. :) You get accostomed to cold ones after a while.
My legs from the knees down are absolutely hidious. Covered in bruises and scrapes and bug bites. No matter what; I can't help how sweet my blood is, I guess. :)
Miss all of you. Not sure what are plans are now. We were going to head to Chang Pai; but it looks like the weather is going to be too bad.
XOXOOXOXOXO Love you all OXOXOXOXOX
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Chaing Mai
Last night we hooped on a sleeper train for about 11 hours to get here, to Chaing Mai. The train wasn't that bad. I got in a few hours here and there of sleep. We arrived pretty early this morning, checked into the Libra Guest House and set out to decide on a trek. We found one we loved!
Tomorrow we will be taking off in the morning for a three day, and two night, trek into the jungle! We will be riding elephants, bamboo rafts, white water rafting, hanging out wtih the Long Neck Tribe, and staying in native tribe villages. So stoked.
After we found that place, Jordan and Becca rented mopeds.
After the Ayutthaya bicycle situation, they understood that me driving a motorcycle was out of the question :) So I sat behind Becca. I was scared out of my mind at first, but slowly losened up. We drove all through Chaing Mai, and outside of it, up into the mountains and jungle towns. It was the most beauitful thing I have ever seen.
My memory card on my camera is full so I am attempting to download them and get them online for all of you to see. However computers here are not fast, and I do have to pay to use them so as I can, I will add pics to my blog tonight and when I return and upload to my snapfish album.
From now on I am going to upload them more often, to save me from the confusion and worry. I let Becca and Jordan take my memory card first and upload from it, and it deleted the pics they downloaded. Luckily it wasn't too many of them; but there was a cute shot of me and Becca together on the bike that Jordan took. I'll try to reclaim those when I can.
Becca and Jordan went shooting at a place along the road; I decided to save my baht. Then we blew some of it on a monkey show. It was really depressing. :( Poor monkeys on chains and in cages. We didn't know when we walked in it would be that way.
We headed back just as it started to rain; which again, made me a bit nervous; but both Becca and Jordan did a great job! It was amazing...watching everything from the back of a moped, racing around Thailand. :)
We are still the only farang here (that means tourist); and were the only ones on mopeds. :) Obviously there are plenty of Brits and others here at the guest house. But out and about we rarely see anybody that isn't Thai; nor do we encounter people that speak English. It is wonderful here. The further we get from the big city, the more I love it. The food, the atmosphere. Everything.
I miss you all loads! My legs look horrid! ;) Bruises and swelling still from that bike ride and the bugs still get to us no matter how much stuff we put on. It's not that bad, though. Good thing I have a pair of pants. Oh! And, here they washed our clothes and fixed them for us! :) Whew!
Okay, off I go trying to get pictures uploaded. We will be back in three days and I will have tons to write about then, I am sure! Again: love and miss you.
Tomorrow we will be taking off in the morning for a three day, and two night, trek into the jungle! We will be riding elephants, bamboo rafts, white water rafting, hanging out wtih the Long Neck Tribe, and staying in native tribe villages. So stoked.
After we found that place, Jordan and Becca rented mopeds.
After the Ayutthaya bicycle situation, they understood that me driving a motorcycle was out of the question :) So I sat behind Becca. I was scared out of my mind at first, but slowly losened up. We drove all through Chaing Mai, and outside of it, up into the mountains and jungle towns. It was the most beauitful thing I have ever seen.
My memory card on my camera is full so I am attempting to download them and get them online for all of you to see. However computers here are not fast, and I do have to pay to use them so as I can, I will add pics to my blog tonight and when I return and upload to my snapfish album.
From now on I am going to upload them more often, to save me from the confusion and worry. I let Becca and Jordan take my memory card first and upload from it, and it deleted the pics they downloaded. Luckily it wasn't too many of them; but there was a cute shot of me and Becca together on the bike that Jordan took. I'll try to reclaim those when I can.
Becca and Jordan went shooting at a place along the road; I decided to save my baht. Then we blew some of it on a monkey show. It was really depressing. :( Poor monkeys on chains and in cages. We didn't know when we walked in it would be that way.
We headed back just as it started to rain; which again, made me a bit nervous; but both Becca and Jordan did a great job! It was amazing...watching everything from the back of a moped, racing around Thailand. :)
We are still the only farang here (that means tourist); and were the only ones on mopeds. :) Obviously there are plenty of Brits and others here at the guest house. But out and about we rarely see anybody that isn't Thai; nor do we encounter people that speak English. It is wonderful here. The further we get from the big city, the more I love it. The food, the atmosphere. Everything.
I miss you all loads! My legs look horrid! ;) Bruises and swelling still from that bike ride and the bugs still get to us no matter how much stuff we put on. It's not that bad, though. Good thing I have a pair of pants. Oh! And, here they washed our clothes and fixed them for us! :) Whew!
Okay, off I go trying to get pictures uploaded. We will be back in three days and I will have tons to write about then, I am sure! Again: love and miss you.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lop Buri and the Gang of Renegade Monkeys
Okay okay okay highlight of my trip so far: Lop Buri!!!!!!
We arrived on a train. And let me jsut say the train ride itself was amazing. SO much lush jungle on the outside and such kind people inside that knew no idea what any word in English was. ;) I sat with a family that had the cutest little baby and an older sister. They offered to share some food and pop with me. So cute.
I can't tell you how beautiful the people are here. I told the mom as best as I could that her children were beautiful. I believe she understood. Their kindness was really wonderful.
We got here, and walked towards the monkey temples, stopping at the 711 for some beer. At first, we were amazed by the monkeys just chillin on the street and power cords, but once we made it onto the actual ruins of the temple...
The most pics I've taken this trip!!!
Jordan got sunflower seeds and they came right upt o him to eat, soon Becca and I followed suit and we had precious littlemonkeys and greedy monkeys eatingo ut of our hands!! Eventually they started climbing on us!! It was amazing!! :) One of them, as I held my hand out full of seeds, reached for and grabbed my beer!! It was hilarious. Homie didn't get it though: that was MINE! :)
Another monkey jumped on Becca's head and stole her sunglasses. Hilarous!
We walked around a bit more; went into a different temple, paid our respects, then climed a wall and enjoyed our second round of beers before heading back to our original temple with the monkeys. There we went inside and took pics of the monkeys outside. Then we went back outside and played with them some more. 
The pictures are amazing. The experience even more so!!!!!
With a few hours left before our sleeper train to Chang Mai we headed back and it started to rain. It has been pouring non stop since. It's been about tow hours. We stood on the corner of Kumueng Road (after I bought a pink cute little shower cap to cover my fanny pack) eating an amazing fried chicken skewer in the rain from this Thai woman. :) THe three of us, under her umbrella, our backs getting soaked, just enjoying the food. ;)
We have managed to find an internet cafe. Soon we need to get to teh train station.
Oh! :( At Baan Lotus, Jordan and I got our clothes washed and they reak of mildew. Hoping they aren't totally ruined. For me it wasn't ALL my clothes, and she gave me some baht back. But poor JOrdan! :( It's all his clothing.
So now we are in this cafe, and it is pouring out. And I just...today so far has been the best of the entire trip! I mean:MONKEYS ALL OVER ME!!! IT was amazing!
The pictures are amazing. The experience even more so!!!!!
With a few hours left before our sleeper train to Chang Mai we headed back and it started to rain. It has been pouring non stop since. It's been about tow hours. We stood on the corner of Kumueng Road (after I bought a pink cute little shower cap to cover my fanny pack) eating an amazing fried chicken skewer in the rain from this Thai woman. :) THe three of us, under her umbrella, our backs getting soaked, just enjoying the food. ;)
We have managed to find an internet cafe. Soon we need to get to teh train station.
Oh! :( At Baan Lotus, Jordan and I got our clothes washed and they reak of mildew. Hoping they aren't totally ruined. For me it wasn't ALL my clothes, and she gave me some baht back. But poor JOrdan! :( It's all his clothing.
So now we are in this cafe, and it is pouring out. And I just...today so far has been the best of the entire trip! I mean:MONKEYS ALL OVER ME!!! IT was amazing!
Nobody bit me or scratched at me, so don't worry! The brusies and scrapes and swollen ankle I have from yesterday I think is enough for now. ;)
So in about an hour or so we have to hopp on a sleeper train for an 11hr ride to Chang Mai...
This place is amazing.
It looks like I won't get to go to the islands while we are here, esp if we hit Vietnam: and I really REALLY want to go to Vietnam; so I guess I'll just have to take an extra trip out here someday. :)
Okay well I love you all. I really think anyone that hasn't been here as to come; because nothing can capture quite what this is like.
Best effing decision I have ever made in my life.
LOVE AND MISS YOU ALL TO BITS!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Worry not
I know I know I know you are worried, lol. The cuts aren't so bad. My seat, however, is not happy with me getting on that bike and on such a rough terrain for so long ;) I'm quite sore just where I've never been sore before.
We're still in Ayutthaya right now. Waiting to catch a bus to head north. Before going to Chang Mai we are going to go hang out with a "gang of renegade monkeys" which I am pretty stoked about. I wish I had a camera yesterday for one thing; although the ruins were amazing, there was this huge area of just lush green tress with palm trees to the right and left and in the center amidst all the green were sunflowers. Beautiful bright sunflowers.
And you all know those are my favorite. Aside from plumeria.
WHICH ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE HERE!! I can't get over it! Beautiful white plumeria trees!! We saw the hott pink ones with yellow in them in the ancient city, as well. Oi! The scent of plumeria amidst the rain is unreal.
After chilling with renegade monkeys today (omg seriously...ah! :) ) We will take an 8hour train ride to Chang Mai: which I hear from Joe is amazing and seems to be so in the books.
The internet isn't as reliable out here now, so if you write and I don't write back: know that is why. BUT I love getting letters and posts! Makes me feel like people are following and care! :) And all the way out here, that's a nice feeling.
I'm getting plenty of water. And where we are, it's only humid and rainy a bit so it's not as unpleasant as it was-weather wise-in Bangkok.
I can't stress how beautiful it is here. Eerything is so so so green. But like...I've never seen this kinda green before in my life. It's a Thailand Green! :) I love Thailand green! :) And you become accostomed to, and feel endeared towards the dogs that just hang out here. Well, I have. :) I find myself enjoying the random bugs and sights and smells here: It's so different. They (the dogs)don't all look miserable and unhappy. I think becaus the weather here is much better. In Bangkok they just laid there and looked half dead.
Here it is a frequent sight to see a dog or two just chilling in the arms of a giant buddah or on the steps of an ancient temple. Watching you as if you are nothing new to them. I'm trying to facebook chat w/ Court, write emails, and write in my blog all at the same time. :) Sorry if my blogs are missplet or all over the place: I want to get as much out as I can and take care of as many things as I can. :)
So it's only been like four days or something? I can't believe that. I am so glad I had no idea what I was getting into, because it makes everything here so amazing and bodacious! ;) I can't even imagine what is in store. I will need to get postcards now and start sending those out! As now I have adventures! :)
Okay I should go. Maybe in Chang Mai I will have internet!
I walk around with my hand as if it were holding one out in England sometimes.
I try to send you all images of what it's like here when I am laying in bed about to sleep. I figure if I think of you all hard enough you might feel it. So if you get a flash of some amazing lush green trees, elephants, or monkeys: it's me. Or if you feel a big hug at one point, that's me too.
Loving and missing you all.
Seriously.
Kate: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Facebook says it's tomorrow; which I think means it's today here! :) XOXO
XOXOXOXOXOXOOXXOOXOXXOXOXOOXXOOXXO
We're still in Ayutthaya right now. Waiting to catch a bus to head north. Before going to Chang Mai we are going to go hang out with a "gang of renegade monkeys" which I am pretty stoked about. I wish I had a camera yesterday for one thing; although the ruins were amazing, there was this huge area of just lush green tress with palm trees to the right and left and in the center amidst all the green were sunflowers. Beautiful bright sunflowers.
And you all know those are my favorite. Aside from plumeria.
WHICH ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE HERE!! I can't get over it! Beautiful white plumeria trees!! We saw the hott pink ones with yellow in them in the ancient city, as well. Oi! The scent of plumeria amidst the rain is unreal.
After chilling with renegade monkeys today (omg seriously...ah! :) ) We will take an 8hour train ride to Chang Mai: which I hear from Joe is amazing and seems to be so in the books.
The internet isn't as reliable out here now, so if you write and I don't write back: know that is why. BUT I love getting letters and posts! Makes me feel like people are following and care! :) And all the way out here, that's a nice feeling.
I'm getting plenty of water. And where we are, it's only humid and rainy a bit so it's not as unpleasant as it was-weather wise-in Bangkok.
I can't stress how beautiful it is here. Eerything is so so so green. But like...I've never seen this kinda green before in my life. It's a Thailand Green! :) I love Thailand green! :) And you become accostomed to, and feel endeared towards the dogs that just hang out here. Well, I have. :) I find myself enjoying the random bugs and sights and smells here: It's so different. They (the dogs)don't all look miserable and unhappy. I think becaus the weather here is much better. In Bangkok they just laid there and looked half dead.
Here it is a frequent sight to see a dog or two just chilling in the arms of a giant buddah or on the steps of an ancient temple. Watching you as if you are nothing new to them. I'm trying to facebook chat w/ Court, write emails, and write in my blog all at the same time. :) Sorry if my blogs are missplet or all over the place: I want to get as much out as I can and take care of as many things as I can. :)
So it's only been like four days or something? I can't believe that. I am so glad I had no idea what I was getting into, because it makes everything here so amazing and bodacious! ;) I can't even imagine what is in store. I will need to get postcards now and start sending those out! As now I have adventures! :)
Okay I should go. Maybe in Chang Mai I will have internet!
I walk around with my hand as if it were holding one out in England sometimes.
I try to send you all images of what it's like here when I am laying in bed about to sleep. I figure if I think of you all hard enough you might feel it. So if you get a flash of some amazing lush green trees, elephants, or monkeys: it's me. Or if you feel a big hug at one point, that's me too.
Loving and missing you all.
Seriously.
Kate: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Facebook says it's tomorrow; which I think means it's today here! :) XOXO
XOXOXOXOXOXOOXXOOXOXXOXOXOOXXOOXXO
Ayuthaya
Well today has been quite a day, I must say. We woke up and checked out, and took a bus to Ayuthaya.
We checked into the most perfect guest house EVER. It is called the Baan Lotus. It is run by this little Thai lady who was born and raised in the house with her 6 siblings. Best English I've encountered in this town. She is absolutely fantastic. Just so cute and sweet. The guest houses reside on a compound which is a slice of paradise to say the least!! We have a pond with lily pads and a wodden bridge outside of hour room. There are roosters and chicks running around, and the melody of frogs and exotic birds surround us always. It's incredible.
We wanted to see the ruins here, so Jordan and Becca (both knowing I've ridden a bike about one time in my whole life) said the best way to get around would be on a bike. So, I grabbed Bike #5: my lucky number and hopped on. It was pretty terrifying attempting to ride a bike in the streets here with cars and tuk tuks and mopeds all around. I did okay; walked it a bit because it was too frightening and I am far too unexperienced. When the rain got really heavy (as it's been raining almost all day) we stopped in a market and were definitely the only NON Thai people there. Nobody really understood any English. We got some food and then walked around until the rain lightened up a bit. It hits you and dries because of the humidity. I have to say I love rain here.
Anyway, we managed to get to the ruins; but I felt awful because Becca and Jordan kept having to stop and wait for me to catch up because I'd fall or wouldn't be able to go. We got to the ruins and WOW.
Absolutely incredible. I mean, it's an entire city. The ancient capital and it is just the most beautiful thing ever. I managed okay through most of it; but did take a few pretty bad falls. Thai people kept laughing at me because they could see how bad I was on my bike. :/
After about three hours, and a few really gnarly falls I decided it was best for me to leave them to keep exploring and to catch a tuk tuk home. I hated making that decision; but the ride back would have been so long, and the rain was pouring hard, and I just kept hurting myself. So Jordan got a tuk tuk for me, Becca lent me some money (as I took nothing with me when we left... the only time I've ever gone out without things) and hopped on.
I started to well up and feel like crying. It's frustrating for me when I can't keep up with others, and sometimes it can be a bit to take in: being this far away from home, and for such a long period of time. As the rain poured down hard, of the driver stopped at a guest house far from mine-thinking it was where I was supposed to be. And I tried to explain it wasn't and show him on a map, but he didn't have the correct map: and he didn't understand any English. At all. He and I walked inside to have somebody translate. Luckily the owner of that guest house was British and fluent in Thai so told him where to go and then looked at me and said: "He's an idiot and doesn't know, this is what I've told him to do..." Great! lol All alone, with no map, and nothing but 100baht and my driver doesn't know where to go.
I got back in that tuk tuk, felt a bit overwhelmed, and then when I started seeing familair sights a sense of relief. He got me home and all in one piece!
My legs were covered in mud and dirt and as I tried to wash them off in the shower, I felt quite a bit of pain and saw that under that dirt were lots of big bumps and bruises. Nice.
My legs look absolutely awful now. And they hurt because they're swollen a bit from the pedals of the bike crashing into me over and over again when I would fall. :)
I'm quite the trooper, though! I mean, I rode that bike on the roads here in Thailand with cars and other things, in the rain for three whole hours! I probably significantly fell about 5 times.
After showering, I got electricuted when attemping to hold my adapter in the outlet, improperly.
Ahhh you all better be laughing your asses off right now, this is just too typical of me and my life, aye? :)
So I started to write in my journal: as there is no internet at our guest house, and then just enjoyed the absolute beauty around me. No photograph or picture or description can properly capture the experience that I am having at the Baan Lotus, and in this town. It's so old! :) I definitely am so glad we got out of Bangkok.
The compound has gekkos, chickens and roosters and their chicks, dogs, love birds, and so much green! It's a nirvana. I'm in love with this place.
We're supposed to be hopping on a 10 hour bus ride tomorrow to Chang Mai. Hopefully the weather will not get any worse. Although, again, I cannot explain how much I love love love the rain here.
We checked into the most perfect guest house EVER. It is called the Baan Lotus. It is run by this little Thai lady who was born and raised in the house with her 6 siblings. Best English I've encountered in this town. She is absolutely fantastic. Just so cute and sweet. The guest houses reside on a compound which is a slice of paradise to say the least!! We have a pond with lily pads and a wodden bridge outside of hour room. There are roosters and chicks running around, and the melody of frogs and exotic birds surround us always. It's incredible.
We wanted to see the ruins here, so Jordan and Becca (both knowing I've ridden a bike about one time in my whole life) said the best way to get around would be on a bike. So, I grabbed Bike #5: my lucky number and hopped on. It was pretty terrifying attempting to ride a bike in the streets here with cars and tuk tuks and mopeds all around. I did okay; walked it a bit because it was too frightening and I am far too unexperienced. When the rain got really heavy (as it's been raining almost all day) we stopped in a market and were definitely the only NON Thai people there. Nobody really understood any English. We got some food and then walked around until the rain lightened up a bit. It hits you and dries because of the humidity. I have to say I love rain here.
Anyway, we managed to get to the ruins; but I felt awful because Becca and Jordan kept having to stop and wait for me to catch up because I'd fall or wouldn't be able to go. We got to the ruins and WOW.
Absolutely incredible. I mean, it's an entire city. The ancient capital and it is just the most beautiful thing ever. I managed okay through most of it; but did take a few pretty bad falls. Thai people kept laughing at me because they could see how bad I was on my bike. :/
After about three hours, and a few really gnarly falls I decided it was best for me to leave them to keep exploring and to catch a tuk tuk home. I hated making that decision; but the ride back would have been so long, and the rain was pouring hard, and I just kept hurting myself. So Jordan got a tuk tuk for me, Becca lent me some money (as I took nothing with me when we left... the only time I've ever gone out without things) and hopped on.
I started to well up and feel like crying. It's frustrating for me when I can't keep up with others, and sometimes it can be a bit to take in: being this far away from home, and for such a long period of time. As the rain poured down hard, of the driver stopped at a guest house far from mine-thinking it was where I was supposed to be. And I tried to explain it wasn't and show him on a map, but he didn't have the correct map: and he didn't understand any English. At all. He and I walked inside to have somebody translate. Luckily the owner of that guest house was British and fluent in Thai so told him where to go and then looked at me and said: "He's an idiot and doesn't know, this is what I've told him to do..." Great! lol All alone, with no map, and nothing but 100baht and my driver doesn't know where to go.
I got back in that tuk tuk, felt a bit overwhelmed, and then when I started seeing familair sights a sense of relief. He got me home and all in one piece!
My legs were covered in mud and dirt and as I tried to wash them off in the shower, I felt quite a bit of pain and saw that under that dirt were lots of big bumps and bruises. Nice.
My legs look absolutely awful now. And they hurt because they're swollen a bit from the pedals of the bike crashing into me over and over again when I would fall. :)
I'm quite the trooper, though! I mean, I rode that bike on the roads here in Thailand with cars and other things, in the rain for three whole hours! I probably significantly fell about 5 times.
After showering, I got electricuted when attemping to hold my adapter in the outlet, improperly.
Ahhh you all better be laughing your asses off right now, this is just too typical of me and my life, aye? :)
So I started to write in my journal: as there is no internet at our guest house, and then just enjoyed the absolute beauty around me. No photograph or picture or description can properly capture the experience that I am having at the Baan Lotus, and in this town. It's so old! :) I definitely am so glad we got out of Bangkok.
The compound has gekkos, chickens and roosters and their chicks, dogs, love birds, and so much green! It's a nirvana. I'm in love with this place.
We're supposed to be hopping on a 10 hour bus ride tomorrow to Chang Mai. Hopefully the weather will not get any worse. Although, again, I cannot explain how much I love love love the rain here.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Final day in Bangkok
Today is our last day here.
This morning we woke up and headed over to the National Museum; which is the LARGEST museum in all of South East Asia. It was pretty neat! Some of it was typical museum history blah blah stuff ;) but other things were really facinating.
They had some clay bowls that were created way back when; some of the oldest artifacts found, and they were SO similar to the pots I studied in Peruvian Art History. It was facinating to see how the tools and arts for civilizations that were worlds apart and had no idea about eachother developed so similarly: and ulitmately, at this time, so differently.
Afterwards we got some lunch.
Seriously: the food here is out of control.
Then Becca and Jordan went ot get their teeth whitened-it's cheaper here. I don't need that so I instead went for another hour long thai massage. :) Came back here and as Jordan and I went to wander for more food the skies opened up.
It's wonderful. Walking in the rain is so enjoyable because it is still so warm here.
I'm looking forward to leaving the city; we're going to head to Chang Mai, but make a stop before hand.
Being here has been really eye-opening. One thing I've really been affected by, which sounds silly, is the poor care of animals all over the place. :( There are dogs everywhere and they just look so unbelievably unhappy. The cats are missing tails and also look unhealthy. And at the market yesterday; the conditions they were kept in was so frightening. I know that this is just their world, and they value things differently from us. And oh gosh, the people. The beggars and the children...
Really makes you think.
It's wonderfully exotic here. When you take a moment and stop and look around at the trees and green, and everybody is covered in humidity, smells of different and exotic spices everywhere. Fresh and amazing fruit on almost every street for you to eat. Riding around in a tuk tuk, the wind blowing all over you as you speed through the taxis and cars and other tuk tuks: not actually cooling you, but keeping you dry. All the gold here, and jems on everything. It's just incredible.
There was an elephant outside of the boxing stadium the other night. I can't wait for us to ride them through the jungle!!
I do wish I were home for Mother's Day, though. :( I'll get you your peanut brittle when I return!!:) I keep trying to come on in hopes I'll have an email back, or somebody will be on skype, but the hours here are so off that it never usually works out. :) But when it does it's quite nice hearing from you guys! Email me!! amarie55@gmail.com.
Not sure how the internet will be for us after this stop; we're lucky cuz we have it in our hostel and for 15baht we can get a half an hour. But sometimes if you don't have it in your hostel the actual cafes are not worth how much they charge.
Alright, well I am not sure what we've got going on for tonight. Tomorrow, we will be hopping on a bus and headed North!! :)
From what I've seen in pictures, I'm going to be blown away when we get there.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!
This morning we woke up and headed over to the National Museum; which is the LARGEST museum in all of South East Asia. It was pretty neat! Some of it was typical museum history blah blah stuff ;) but other things were really facinating.
They had some clay bowls that were created way back when; some of the oldest artifacts found, and they were SO similar to the pots I studied in Peruvian Art History. It was facinating to see how the tools and arts for civilizations that were worlds apart and had no idea about eachother developed so similarly: and ulitmately, at this time, so differently.
Afterwards we got some lunch.
Seriously: the food here is out of control.
Then Becca and Jordan went ot get their teeth whitened-it's cheaper here. I don't need that so I instead went for another hour long thai massage. :) Came back here and as Jordan and I went to wander for more food the skies opened up.
It's wonderful. Walking in the rain is so enjoyable because it is still so warm here.
I'm looking forward to leaving the city; we're going to head to Chang Mai, but make a stop before hand.
Being here has been really eye-opening. One thing I've really been affected by, which sounds silly, is the poor care of animals all over the place. :( There are dogs everywhere and they just look so unbelievably unhappy. The cats are missing tails and also look unhealthy. And at the market yesterday; the conditions they were kept in was so frightening. I know that this is just their world, and they value things differently from us. And oh gosh, the people. The beggars and the children...
Really makes you think.
It's wonderfully exotic here. When you take a moment and stop and look around at the trees and green, and everybody is covered in humidity, smells of different and exotic spices everywhere. Fresh and amazing fruit on almost every street for you to eat. Riding around in a tuk tuk, the wind blowing all over you as you speed through the taxis and cars and other tuk tuks: not actually cooling you, but keeping you dry. All the gold here, and jems on everything. It's just incredible.
There was an elephant outside of the boxing stadium the other night. I can't wait for us to ride them through the jungle!!
I do wish I were home for Mother's Day, though. :( I'll get you your peanut brittle when I return!!:) I keep trying to come on in hopes I'll have an email back, or somebody will be on skype, but the hours here are so off that it never usually works out. :) But when it does it's quite nice hearing from you guys! Email me!! amarie55@gmail.com.
Not sure how the internet will be for us after this stop; we're lucky cuz we have it in our hostel and for 15baht we can get a half an hour. But sometimes if you don't have it in your hostel the actual cafes are not worth how much they charge.
Alright, well I am not sure what we've got going on for tonight. Tomorrow, we will be hopping on a bus and headed North!! :)
From what I've seen in pictures, I'm going to be blown away when we get there.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
What Pho
After shopping, Becca and I decided to head to What Pho: the largest temple. It was amazing. I mean, every inch of it was stunning.
It included the reclining Buddah statue: which is MASSIVE! As well as a beautiful shrine. We wandered around-it was MUCH more pleasant out than earleir at the market-took lots of pics and walked back to our hostel. This was by far, my favorite part of Bangkok: it was so beautiful and so elaborate and there were so many treasures to discover.
After that Becca, Jordan, and I wandered around Kho San (I misspelt in my last entry) and Rambutrii; got some food, then had some hukkah. Came home and wandered again.
Luckily, while we were walking around the first time I was thinking so much about how badly I wanted a foot massage, fate struck and we passed a saloon that gave us the most KILLER foot massages ever. I fell asleep in the chair! It's so fun to be luxorious out here! :) I misspelt that as well, I think.
It's almost midnight. Jordan wanted to stay one more day, so we'll be here tomorrow too: gonna check out the National Museum. Hopefully before noon or after two. :)
Still loving it here!
It included the reclining Buddah statue: which is MASSIVE! As well as a beautiful shrine. We wandered around-it was MUCH more pleasant out than earleir at the market-took lots of pics and walked back to our hostel. This was by far, my favorite part of Bangkok: it was so beautiful and so elaborate and there were so many treasures to discover.
After that Becca, Jordan, and I wandered around Kho San (I misspelt in my last entry) and Rambutrii; got some food, then had some hukkah. Came home and wandered again.
Luckily, while we were walking around the first time I was thinking so much about how badly I wanted a foot massage, fate struck and we passed a saloon that gave us the most KILLER foot massages ever. I fell asleep in the chair! It's so fun to be luxorious out here! :) I misspelt that as well, I think.
It's almost midnight. Jordan wanted to stay one more day, so we'll be here tomorrow too: gonna check out the National Museum. Hopefully before noon or after two. :)
Still loving it here!
JJ Market
So all we've done today is wander around the largest market I have ever seen in my ENTIRE life!
They have everything there: from bunnies (I was really quite upset with the animals, as they are very obviously not cared for properly. It made me so so sad), clothes, furniture. EVERYTHING. And it's huge. We wandered for three hours, found and lost Emma, and still I am sure didn't see everything.
I've never experienced as much heat as I have today; and apparently it is only more so in Chaing Mai where we are headed. Usually we should be staying in from noon until two; so today being out in that heat-I'll admit, I had moments I was not too thrilled. But then I realized, if one is going to be soaking wet all over their body at all times due to the weather, it might as well be when you're in Thailand! :)
Mommy-the tuk tuks are a bit dangerous in a lot of ways, but they are SO SO SO fun and cheap. :) We love them. :) I saw your post after I wrote my last entry about them. Quite funny, I thought. Don't worry, I am watching out for myself.
I mean, it's so hott that I slept in my bikini and a few times throughout the night would wake up just to go take a cold shower and NOT dry off, but instead lie on my bed under the fan we have. :) The three of us moved into a triple room with AC today. Should be much more enjoyable.
I'm really stoked to eventually get to Vietnam.
Alright, off I go.
Much love to you all!
Not sure what's up for tonight.
They have everything there: from bunnies (I was really quite upset with the animals, as they are very obviously not cared for properly. It made me so so sad), clothes, furniture. EVERYTHING. And it's huge. We wandered for three hours, found and lost Emma, and still I am sure didn't see everything.
I've never experienced as much heat as I have today; and apparently it is only more so in Chaing Mai where we are headed. Usually we should be staying in from noon until two; so today being out in that heat-I'll admit, I had moments I was not too thrilled. But then I realized, if one is going to be soaking wet all over their body at all times due to the weather, it might as well be when you're in Thailand! :)
Mommy-the tuk tuks are a bit dangerous in a lot of ways, but they are SO SO SO fun and cheap. :) We love them. :) I saw your post after I wrote my last entry about them. Quite funny, I thought. Don't worry, I am watching out for myself.
I mean, it's so hott that I slept in my bikini and a few times throughout the night would wake up just to go take a cold shower and NOT dry off, but instead lie on my bed under the fan we have. :) The three of us moved into a triple room with AC today. Should be much more enjoyable.
I'm really stoked to eventually get to Vietnam.
Alright, off I go.
Much love to you all!
Not sure what's up for tonight.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Adventures in Bangkok
Clever title, isn't it?
It's about 8am here, why I awoke at 6am after getting home at about 2am I can't say...but that is usually my habit.
Last night after our nap we took a tuk tuk to the Muay-Thai boxing match. We were there from about 6:30pm until almost 11:00. We sat next to this wonderful English girl, Emma, who stuck with us the rest of the night and hopefully we will be able to meet up with today.
Anyway the boxing was awesome, to say the least. It was the most expensive thing we did here so far, sitting ring-side for 1,000baht. That's like 50.00 or something US. I have spent less than 200.00US dollars since being here and have had amazing food (a meal is about 2 bucks), gone to the grand palace, taken a taxi and two tuk tuk rides, gotten thai massages and more! It's quite wonderful.
Today we are planning on checking out the market; which should be loads of fun. Then heading back to the Grand Palace so we can see the National Museum and off to another temple and then possibly get another massage ;). I believe this will be our last day in Bangkok.
Last night after the show the four of us came back to Ko Sam Road (where all the backpackers are) and drank and danced the night away. Jordan had us all buy a bucket-which (mom you're going to cringe as I did) is this bucket filled with whiskey and redbull (here is loaded with something that just increases your energy). And then we went to this club where you got to pick a color glow stick bracelet to say if you were single or not: Emma and I both took red for taken ;p and they played loads of electro music and we just jump jump jumped around.
It's amazing here. So different. So unreal. I absoultely cannot wait, however, to get out of the city.
I am not writing post cards quite yet, as it's just too early.
OMG-Sara: when we were at the club w/ Joe in Manhattan Beach...remember the song "Shut the f*ck up?" Well they played it last night! I wish you were here. I wish all of you were here.
It's only been two days; I can hardly believe it! Oi! Last night at the boxing match Becca actually met up with a mate she had met in New Zeland, completely out of no where. Small small world, isn't it?
Seen a few Lady Boys :) And Jordan keeps getting called one by all the locals. :) It's pretty funny.
I woke up early and went out and wandered just up and down our street for a bit; it was so nice and peaceful. That changes drastically as the day goes on, people hassaling you for tuk tuk rides or trying ot get you to buy shit you don't want. It's a bit entertaining at times: last night a little girl called Jordan a lady boy for not buying a rose and a little boy came and tried to haggle us for like a necklace or something. But of course, Jordan is a lady boy :)
I'm not sure how much time I have left on my coupon so I might as well stop there. I'll try to write again tonight; as once we leave the city I don't know how often I will be able to get to the internet.
Again, I love and miss you all so much!
It's about 8am here, why I awoke at 6am after getting home at about 2am I can't say...but that is usually my habit.
Last night after our nap we took a tuk tuk to the Muay-Thai boxing match. We were there from about 6:30pm until almost 11:00. We sat next to this wonderful English girl, Emma, who stuck with us the rest of the night and hopefully we will be able to meet up with today.
Anyway the boxing was awesome, to say the least. It was the most expensive thing we did here so far, sitting ring-side for 1,000baht. That's like 50.00 or something US. I have spent less than 200.00US dollars since being here and have had amazing food (a meal is about 2 bucks), gone to the grand palace, taken a taxi and two tuk tuk rides, gotten thai massages and more! It's quite wonderful.
Today we are planning on checking out the market; which should be loads of fun. Then heading back to the Grand Palace so we can see the National Museum and off to another temple and then possibly get another massage ;). I believe this will be our last day in Bangkok.
Last night after the show the four of us came back to Ko Sam Road (where all the backpackers are) and drank and danced the night away. Jordan had us all buy a bucket-which (mom you're going to cringe as I did) is this bucket filled with whiskey and redbull (here is loaded with something that just increases your energy). And then we went to this club where you got to pick a color glow stick bracelet to say if you were single or not: Emma and I both took red for taken ;p and they played loads of electro music and we just jump jump jumped around.
It's amazing here. So different. So unreal. I absoultely cannot wait, however, to get out of the city.
I am not writing post cards quite yet, as it's just too early.
OMG-Sara: when we were at the club w/ Joe in Manhattan Beach...remember the song "Shut the f*ck up?" Well they played it last night! I wish you were here. I wish all of you were here.
It's only been two days; I can hardly believe it! Oi! Last night at the boxing match Becca actually met up with a mate she had met in New Zeland, completely out of no where. Small small world, isn't it?
Seen a few Lady Boys :) And Jordan keeps getting called one by all the locals. :) It's pretty funny.
I woke up early and went out and wandered just up and down our street for a bit; it was so nice and peaceful. That changes drastically as the day goes on, people hassaling you for tuk tuk rides or trying ot get you to buy shit you don't want. It's a bit entertaining at times: last night a little girl called Jordan a lady boy for not buying a rose and a little boy came and tried to haggle us for like a necklace or something. But of course, Jordan is a lady boy :)
I'm not sure how much time I have left on my coupon so I might as well stop there. I'll try to write again tonight; as once we leave the city I don't know how often I will be able to get to the internet.
Again, I love and miss you all so much!
Bangkok
After a terribly long plane ride (left LA at 1pm, and arrived in Hong Kong at 4am the following morning with a three hour layover before arriving here in Bangkok), we finally got to what we thought was our guest house ;P
Soon enough we realized we ended up at the wrong spot-no plumbing and the such. But we tried to get some sleep and this morning finally bumped into Jordan-the other mate we're traveling with-at the guest house we meant to stay at. It's quite nice here. And they have internet, so I will try to write more tomorrow night as well.
Today we went to The Grand Palace and saw the Emerald Buddah. It was quite extraordinary, to say the least. The amount of glitter and glam outdoes anything I've ever seen-the 16year old me would have peed herself!
It's quite humid...and when I say quite humid, I mean we are all constantly sweating bullets. I actually kinda like it. ;P
After that we came back to our hostel and decided that some food and a thai massage would be good before taking a nap. So that is what I am just coming in from: a one hour thai massage that cost $6 US dollars. It's amazing here. I am looking forward to making our way out of Bangkok and up through Northern Thailand. It is a bit too much of a city for me; but it is still incredible and I am excited for tonight with Becca and Jordan and then tomorrow.
I almost cried when getting to the airport. Being gone for so long and so far really freaked me out. It's still a bit surreal; but I just keep reminding myself that it will go by too fast and to enjoy enjoy enjoy it. And so far, I am! I miss you all terribly!
Mommy-I hope you can read this. :) I love you and miss you loads. And for all of you who I didn't get to see before I go, know I really wanted to!
Sara-they took off the pin in transit! :( Jerks. lol
Tonight we are going to check out a Thai boxing match! That should be pretty sick. Tomorrow we are planning on checking out the market, then heading to the National Museum and seeing another temple. I believe tomorrow will be our last day out here before we head north.
I should go now; save my minutes for later.
Love you all so much!
Soon enough we realized we ended up at the wrong spot-no plumbing and the such. But we tried to get some sleep and this morning finally bumped into Jordan-the other mate we're traveling with-at the guest house we meant to stay at. It's quite nice here. And they have internet, so I will try to write more tomorrow night as well.
Today we went to The Grand Palace and saw the Emerald Buddah. It was quite extraordinary, to say the least. The amount of glitter and glam outdoes anything I've ever seen-the 16year old me would have peed herself!
It's quite humid...and when I say quite humid, I mean we are all constantly sweating bullets. I actually kinda like it. ;P
After that we came back to our hostel and decided that some food and a thai massage would be good before taking a nap. So that is what I am just coming in from: a one hour thai massage that cost $6 US dollars. It's amazing here. I am looking forward to making our way out of Bangkok and up through Northern Thailand. It is a bit too much of a city for me; but it is still incredible and I am excited for tonight with Becca and Jordan and then tomorrow.
I almost cried when getting to the airport. Being gone for so long and so far really freaked me out. It's still a bit surreal; but I just keep reminding myself that it will go by too fast and to enjoy enjoy enjoy it. And so far, I am! I miss you all terribly!
Mommy-I hope you can read this. :) I love you and miss you loads. And for all of you who I didn't get to see before I go, know I really wanted to!
Sara-they took off the pin in transit! :( Jerks. lol
Tonight we are going to check out a Thai boxing match! That should be pretty sick. Tomorrow we are planning on checking out the market, then heading to the National Museum and seeing another temple. I believe tomorrow will be our last day out here before we head north.
I should go now; save my minutes for later.
Love you all so much!
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