tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173424202320561872024-03-14T11:24:15.604-04:00This Great Big AdventureTJ and Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12231536015927930734noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-10307314656469476392013-05-28T15:08:00.000-04:002013-05-28T15:08:05.341-04:00We're home!!!For everyone who hasn't heard already, we're back in Atlanta safe and sound. We'll head back to Raleigh tomorrow and take a few days to settle back in. However, we still have a few blog entries to make before we're done. As soon as we can, we'll tell you about our time in Malaysia and Singapore, our flight home, and then we'll finish with our thoughts on the trip as a whole, so stay tuned!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-90526919093062327422013-05-20T01:06:00.006-04:002013-05-20T01:06:54.596-04:0026 Hours of TravelWhen we arrived on the island of Koh Samui, we made the
mistake of not booking any onward travel from the mainland. Our plans
officially ended when we arrived at our resort, and while we knew we had a
deadline of when to arrive in Singapore, we had only a vague idea of how we
were going to get there.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We started trying to fix this problem by walking into a
random travel agency on the island and asking if they booked train tickets. No
luck. They told us to try a place in the next village, but the next place we
stopped at didn’t seem to be staffed. Hmm.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a couple more tries, TJ pulled the bike over suddenly
when we passed a sign that said “train ticket reservations.” We excitedly
walked into the air-conditioned office and started talking to the agent. A few
minutes later, we left with reserved beds on a train to Butterworth, Malaysia.
We had to return later that afternoon to pick up the physical tickets, and we
had to pay a mark-up that we have avoided the entire trip by buying tickets
directly from the train station, but we were relieved to have somewhere to go
at the end of the week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The travel agent’s bus/ferry combination tickets to get us
to the train station cost 500 baht each. We declined and set out to find a
cheaper ticket. On the other side of the island, near the ferry pier, we found
what we needed for half the price. We were good to go!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsg3l-3_wr0/UZmtAvhblzI/AAAAAAAAGOY/sy7hZF0SSl4/s1600/DSCN4267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsg3l-3_wr0/UZmtAvhblzI/AAAAAAAAGOY/sy7hZF0SSl4/s1600/DSCN4267.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our hotel offered us a late check-out, so around 1:00 pm, we
climbed into the backseat of the fancy car they use as a shuttle. Our driver dropped
us off at the bus, which took us onto the ferry, across the water, and onto
Surat Thani. It couldn’t have been
easier.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-auxcWL-kTyE/UZmtc7TGw3I/AAAAAAAAGOo/ooA0nUOvILk/s1600/DSCN4345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-auxcWL-kTyE/UZmtc7TGw3I/AAAAAAAAGOo/ooA0nUOvILk/s1600/DSCN4345.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58I45hM-1h0/UZmtgw5Is-I/AAAAAAAAGOw/mFbtxnlbGZc/s1600/DSCN4349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58I45hM-1h0/UZmtgw5Is-I/AAAAAAAAGOw/mFbtxnlbGZc/s1600/DSCN4349.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sb1ja0o2Xxs/UZmtmchZJaI/AAAAAAAAGO4/tdOzlfqu4Zo/s1600/DSCN4352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sb1ja0o2Xxs/UZmtmchZJaI/AAAAAAAAGO4/tdOzlfqu4Zo/s1600/DSCN4352.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unlike every other train station we’ve been to on this trip,
Surat Thani’s train station is nowhere near the town it is named for. It’s
actually about 15 kilometers away in an entirely different town called Phun
Phin. The bus we were on stopped in Surat Thani town around 4:30 Thai time (we
got there at 5). Our plan was to wander a bit, grab some dinner, and then make
our way to the train station later in the evening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-KwEbLFtXY/UZmtvSWHaMI/AAAAAAAAGPI/o1xzMCBEGnw/s1600/DSCN4354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-KwEbLFtXY/UZmtvSWHaMI/AAAAAAAAGPI/o1xzMCBEGnw/s1600/DSCN4354.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the moment we got off the train, drivers were asking us
“Where you go?” We learned that private transportation to the train station
cost 400 baht, so we set our sights on the public bus instead. A kind tuk tuk
driver (they do exist!) walked us through our options: we could take a bus up
until 6:00 for 15 baht each, or we could walk around, get dinner, and call him
when we were ready to go if we were willing to pay the 400 baht. We thanked him
and then climbed aboard the nearest bus, hoping it was heading in the right
direction. For a moment, we were afraid we had found the local school bus
because every single person on it was wearing a school uniform. Then a ticket
collector came by and selected the correct coins out of our outstretched hands,
so we figured non-school passengers were allowed. We did, eventually make it to
the train station.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ot17d2abMA/UZmttL1qBnI/AAAAAAAAGPA/dD-6tfpXZ5I/s1600/DSCN4353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ot17d2abMA/UZmttL1qBnI/AAAAAAAAGPA/dD-6tfpXZ5I/s1600/DSCN4353.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our train was scheduled to leave at just after one in the
morning, so we had about seven hours, at a minimum, to entertain ourselves. We
walked around with our packs for a while, found some dinner, squatted in an
air-conditioned coffee shop until the shop closed, and watched episodes of the
League on our laptop at the non-air-conditioned train station. It was insanely
hot, and we were tired, but we were determined to enjoy our last few hours in
Thailand. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XpKufN_ah2Y/UZmt9HPQqDI/AAAAAAAAGPg/bTyLgn7tQBk/s1600/DSCN4359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XpKufN_ah2Y/UZmt9HPQqDI/AAAAAAAAGPg/bTyLgn7tQBk/s1600/DSCN4359.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I had the bright idea of brushing my teeth. I walked to
the station’s restroom, which I had paid 3 baht to use earlier in the evening.
I dropped the three coins on the counter and walked past the lady, who said
“No, FIVE baht.” Apparently the price had gone up. I had absolutely no other
coins on me, so I grinned and said “Three baht for just the sink, then?” She
quieted down, and I went about my business. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A second later, I realized I had forgotten the toothpaste. I
left my toiletries on the counter, told the lady I would be right back, and
jogged over to TJ to find it. Within seconds, I was back, walking through the
turnstiles to get to the sink. The lady/guard had an absolute fit. “Five baht!”
she kept screeching at me, pointing at the sign in front of her (she had taped
the number five over the number three). “I already paid you!” I told her,
baffled. “Look, this is my bag right here.” She said a few more things I’m
probably glad I didn’t understand. Suddenly, an older man reached over the
fence toward me, holding a five baht coin. I just looked at him, but he said
“Give to her,” gesturing at the lady. I’m so thankful that my last experience
with Thai locals was not simply an angry woman yelling at me. It was balanced
by the kindness I’m more used to experiencing here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Around 2:30, our train finally pulled into the station, and
we found our beds ready for us. I fell asleep almost instantly, but I kept
waking up to dreams that we had arrived at the border and had to get off the
train Right Now!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_swI7D__5Q/UZmt4MLwzgI/AAAAAAAAGPY/kOzXOWCWIrA/s1600/DSCN4361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O_swI7D__5Q/UZmt4MLwzgI/AAAAAAAAGPY/kOzXOWCWIrA/s1600/DSCN4361.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, border control came at a pleasant time in the late
morning. This time, Thailand had no problems letting us leave. We walked
through Malaysia immigration and back onto the train with no excitement. A few
hours later, we were getting off the train in Butterworth, waiting for a ferry,
and on our way to Penang. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I3jMF7OPHIE/UZmuL-nsUbI/AAAAAAAAGPo/-Ls_MY_5k20/s1600/DSCN4362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I3jMF7OPHIE/UZmuL-nsUbI/AAAAAAAAGPo/-Ls_MY_5k20/s1600/DSCN4362.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-53331641407954541402013-05-16T11:14:00.000-04:002013-05-16T11:14:22.236-04:00Island Paradise<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the time we hugged Peetim goodbye, we had about twelve
hours of travel in front of us. First, we climbed onto the nearly empty coach
bus with Peetim and her friend jumping aboard behind us. They made sure we were
settled, said a final goodbye, and then they were gone. We were on our own once
again, but not entirely. Robin happened to be going in the same direction. She
originally planned on flying, but with prices higher for foreigners than for
Thais, the train was a better option. We already had tickets for an overnight
train to Surat Thani, so Robin was hoping to find a bed on our train. Peetim
had called ahead to check, and there were nine seats left when we left
Singburi. We just had to get to the station in Bangkok in time to buy one of
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66loOuArytE/UZNknYJZw4I/AAAAAAAAGKo/rvzVPuniuWQ/s1600/DSCN3991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66loOuArytE/UZNknYJZw4I/AAAAAAAAGKo/rvzVPuniuWQ/s1600/DSCN3991.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ride to Bangkok was long but uneventful. The minibuses,
while less comfortable, are certainly faster. We’ve come in and out of Bangkok
enough times that we can recognize where we are, though, so it was no surprise
when we pulled into the northern bus station called Mo Chit. From there, we had
two options for getting to the train station. A subway line connects the Mo
Chit area to the train station, but the route is long and circuitous, and the
subway station was too far to walk. Since we would need a taxi anyway, we
decided on the second option – hire a cab to take us all the way to the train
station. It was a long ride either way, but the express roads helped, and we
made it to the station in plenty of time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We led Robin to the information booth, where they could
check availability. As we were talking to them, two second class sleeper seats
opened up. The information agent sent us running to the ticket window. In the
time it took us to get there, one seat had already been booked. As our ticket
agent was processing our request, the second seat disappeared. Disappointing!
The end result was perfect, though. Second class seats are such a great way to
travel that they are usually all booked. TJ and I had actually bought first
class tickets a few days before because they were the only ones available.
Robin ended up in a first class cabin in the same train car we were in, so we
spent the evening eating dinner and hanging out together. When the attendants
came by to make our beds, we said our goodnights and settled in for a good
night’s sleep, confident that our 4:30 AM arrival time would be delayed until
at least 6:00. The attendants promised to wake us up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i2WHA74rmN0/UZTx6PJ30TI/AAAAAAAAGK4/AjLBqx7IW-Q/s1600/DSCN3995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i2WHA74rmN0/UZTx6PJ30TI/AAAAAAAAGK4/AjLBqx7IW-Q/s1600/DSCN3995.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At 4:32, there was frantic pounding on our door with shouts
of “SURAT THANI!” How could this possibly be the one time we were on a train
that wasn’t delayed? Groggily, we collected our things and shoved them into our
backpacks. The tiny cabin barely had room for two people to stand, so when we
opened the door for the attendants to join us, we could hardly move. They
“helpfully” grabbed bags and backpacks as the train rolled to a stop, insisting
in panicked voices that we get off the train, NOW! TJ, wearing the backpack
that the attendant was trying to drag off the train, managed to pull out of his
grasp long enough to grab our onward tickets from the table before tumbling out
of the train’s open door. Robin was standing there waiting for us, and the
three of us blearily watched the train pull away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I9m5lxZ9lEk/UZTx9iF8iqI/AAAAAAAAGLA/sdw2wJIGbk8/s1600/DSCN3999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I9m5lxZ9lEk/UZTx9iF8iqI/AAAAAAAAGLA/sdw2wJIGbk8/s1600/DSCN3999.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somehow, we found our way to the row of cafes that serve as
a bus stop and spent the next two hours entertaining ourselves with their free
wifi and eating breakfast. When the buses pulled up, they ushered TJ and me
forward and told us Robin’s ticket was for a different bus. We heard from her
later that she made it to the island and to her yoga class safely, but we were
sad to say goodbye. After an hour on a bus and another two hours on a ferry
(where we watched the second Garfield movie in Thai), we were on Koh Samui, our
island destination.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rVtgJ7EDavU/UZTyBy7MLyI/AAAAAAAAGLI/b-AzGsba668/s1600/DSCN4000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rVtgJ7EDavU/UZTyBy7MLyI/AAAAAAAAGLI/b-AzGsba668/s1600/DSCN4000.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The very first booking TJ and I made when we decided to take
this trip was a resort on the island of Koh Samui. Even before we bought our
plane tickets, we knew that three months of traveling would wear us out, and we
would need a place to refresh toward the end. Had we waited until now to make
those plans, there is no way I would have been able to shell out the money, but
it turns out, it was one of the best decisions we made on this trip. We have
been looking forward to it since we booked it back in November, and it was it
was wonderful to just relax and be taken care of.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9avg5MxTZA/UZTyHP36IUI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/OAFiNRV7x9E/s1600/DSCN4005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O9avg5MxTZA/UZTyHP36IUI/AAAAAAAAGLQ/OAFiNRV7x9E/s1600/DSCN4005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTT8OGps04Q/UZTyJngkL3I/AAAAAAAAGLY/PPbQvGZhx1o/s1600/DSCN4006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LTT8OGps04Q/UZTyJngkL3I/AAAAAAAAGLY/PPbQvGZhx1o/s1600/DSCN4006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our resort was called “Elements”, and it was on the beach on
the south side of the island. We spent five days relaxing by the pool and eating delicious food.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4STFBTUXS4E/UZTzysApHdI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/CtYb0GR7KJM/s1600/DSCN4211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4STFBTUXS4E/UZTzysApHdI/AAAAAAAAGNQ/CtYb0GR7KJM/s1600/DSCN4211.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dzrqhPvDF_E/UZT0T-TLKiI/AAAAAAAAGNo/Adt7Lupo7Xw/s1600/DSCN4221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dzrqhPvDF_E/UZT0T-TLKiI/AAAAAAAAGNo/Adt7Lupo7Xw/s1600/DSCN4221.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The package we booked included a private longtail boat tour
of neighboring islands. We went snorkeling and ate a picnic lunch on our own
private beach, where we stayed until the larger tourist boats showed up in the
afternoon. The driver of the boat set up our picnic for us, including a few
bottles of beer, and then disappeared for a while. Nothing at all like the
budget tours we are used to!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--HURBs2Vz3w/UZTyldbIWBI/AAAAAAAAGL4/ZkQRD0m6AKs/s1600/DSCN4050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--HURBs2Vz3w/UZTyldbIWBI/AAAAAAAAGL4/ZkQRD0m6AKs/s1600/DSCN4050.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3bnUoYeaGMo/UZTysEZquGI/AAAAAAAAGMA/vqIrH7rRwaY/s1600/DSCN4079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3bnUoYeaGMo/UZTysEZquGI/AAAAAAAAGMA/vqIrH7rRwaY/s1600/DSCN4079.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NphHo-pBP0w/UZTy4Lt_MlI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/f-XA3eLb6zI/s1600/DSCN4115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NphHo-pBP0w/UZTy4Lt_MlI/AAAAAAAAGMQ/f-XA3eLb6zI/s1600/DSCN4115.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-scXSrEstR5k/UZTy9Ja-xYI/AAAAAAAAGMY/eHg8ji_aIrc/s1600/DSCN4119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-scXSrEstR5k/UZTy9Ja-xYI/AAAAAAAAGMY/eHg8ji_aIrc/s1600/DSCN4119.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQu8LYlRAI0/UZTzEXbyFCI/AAAAAAAAGMg/KkqWDLOzwUk/s1600/DSCN4129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oQu8LYlRAI0/UZTzEXbyFCI/AAAAAAAAGMg/KkqWDLOzwUk/s1600/DSCN4129.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days later, we enjoyed a couple’s massage at the
resort’s spa. Then we finished the day with an amazing dinner from the onsite
restaurant, delivered to our balcony as the sun set. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AeA7RPHAqe0/UZTz_BnV8zI/AAAAAAAAGNY/13OTjzHWayQ/s1600/DSCN4251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AeA7RPHAqe0/UZTz_BnV8zI/AAAAAAAAGNY/13OTjzHWayQ/s1600/DSCN4251.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2TSj25OBiM/UZT0FQYKYdI/AAAAAAAAGNg/PZITMJZpz58/s1600/DSCN4264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F2TSj25OBiM/UZT0FQYKYdI/AAAAAAAAGNg/PZITMJZpz58/s1600/DSCN4264.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we weren't living the lives of the rich and famous, we were exploring the island on motorbike, playing "football golf" and visiting the local dog rescue in honor of Beau and Kaylee.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKpKlqChlZA/UZT09E3aHBI/AAAAAAAAGOI/gHrWdIrHKWA/s1600/DSCN4340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKpKlqChlZA/UZT09E3aHBI/AAAAAAAAGOI/gHrWdIrHKWA/s1600/DSCN4340.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bE55tFqrUYA/UZTzi5RrxGI/AAAAAAAAGNA/Xd96EEsGJFk/s1600/DSCN4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bE55tFqrUYA/UZTzi5RrxGI/AAAAAAAAGNA/Xd96EEsGJFk/s1600/DSCN4176.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rsGQAu3Tec/UZTzmNLRGPI/AAAAAAAAGNI/X0HijSSGqp4/s1600/DSCN4188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rsGQAu3Tec/UZTzmNLRGPI/AAAAAAAAGNI/X0HijSSGqp4/s1600/DSCN4188.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TJ got a high score!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yG6IqZxKH68/UZT0hmwKO4I/AAAAAAAAGNw/_Lm1Q-pxPHY/s1600/DSCN4281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yG6IqZxKH68/UZT0hmwKO4I/AAAAAAAAGNw/_Lm1Q-pxPHY/s1600/DSCN4281.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jNXSg6qJp7k/UZT0rdt1CHI/AAAAAAAAGN4/70k1ECFt7iY/s1600/DSCN4283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jNXSg6qJp7k/UZT0rdt1CHI/AAAAAAAAGN4/70k1ECFt7iY/s1600/DSCN4283.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We met a newlywed couple from Ireland enjoying the last few
days of their honeymoon and became instant friends. After that, we spent our
evenings at the hotel bar or near the pool, swapping stories with our new
friends and Vasco, the manager of the restaurant, and his girlfriend. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyKthOQ741o/UZT0y2S7vXI/AAAAAAAAGOA/U0FCL2xat8c/s1600/DSCN4327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyKthOQ741o/UZT0y2S7vXI/AAAAAAAAGOA/U0FCL2xat8c/s1600/DSCN4327.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, we took a short joyride before returning our
motorbike, dragged our empty packs out of the closet, filling them up, and checked out of our
little paradise. On to Malaysia, Singapore, and ultimately, home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdxxJrNIR1s/UZTzJLbEleI/AAAAAAAAGMo/AHGRUbXdSyo/s1600/DSCN4134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FdxxJrNIR1s/UZTzJLbEleI/AAAAAAAAGMo/AHGRUbXdSyo/s1600/DSCN4134.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-35773364833969858292013-05-15T12:47:00.003-04:002013-05-15T12:47:44.353-04:00Because We Have Friends There<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our biggest reason behind returning to Thailand earlier than
planned was to visit our favorite places before going home. So, after Pai, we
packed our bags and headed to Singburi.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The journey from Pai to Singburi was similar to the first
time we made that journey. We took the minibus along the winding roads back to
Chiang Mai. We spent the night in the big city before catching the 2<sup>nd</sup>
class government bus south. We called Peetim as we were arriving at the
Singburi bus station to ask for a pick up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Beyond the basics, though, the trip was remarkably
different. First, instead of springing for a night at a hotel, we decided to
try out Couchsurfing for the first time! Couchsurfing.org is a program of hosts
who offer their spare rooms, beds, and couches for travelers to sleep on as
they visit new places. We have heard wonderful things about it for years, but
it had just never worked out for us to try it ourselves. Thanks to Fye in
Chiang Mai, now we have!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y7XSZwTefc/UZNhKyrYqFI/AAAAAAAAGH8/x6h5pjb34HY/s1600/DSCN3880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y7XSZwTefc/UZNhKyrYqFI/AAAAAAAAGH8/x6h5pjb34HY/s1600/DSCN3880.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our experience began at the bus station, where Fye and two
other Couchsurfers she was hosting picked us up. We piled into her car, bags
and all, and drove through the rush hour traffic into the city. The Polish
girls who with us had come to the bus station to buy tickets for their next
destination (naturally, we steered them toward the bus to Pai), and now we were
dropping them off to visit one of the temples in the city. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The three of us, TJ, Fye, and I, stopped at the market next,
where Fye picked up bags and boxes full of interesting foods. Later, these bags
became an impressive dinner that we shared with yet another surfer, a German
guy named Andrew. We learned to eat with our hands in the traditional northern
Thai style, by picking up a pinch of sticky rice and using it to scoop up
various sauces, meats, and vegetables. After a dessert of sweet sticky rice and
mango with Thai custard, we were stuffed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWOekGAZibw/UZNhJowrqwI/AAAAAAAAGH0/zjskyiWeubw/s1600/DSCN3877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sWOekGAZibw/UZNhJowrqwI/AAAAAAAAGH0/zjskyiWeubw/s1600/DSCN3877.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent the rest of the night chilling out at Fye’s bar, making hand prints, and getting to know her, her roommates, and the total of five other surfers who
were joining us for the night. When it got late, we headed upstairs to the
large, open room Fye had designated for her couchsurfers. We pulled out mats,
blankets, and pillows and bedded down so we could wake up early to meet our
bus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5JaQqsYBEh4/UZNhGGAiGSI/AAAAAAAAGHk/r-b3x0P9YAE/s1600/DSCN3868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5JaQqsYBEh4/UZNhGGAiGSI/AAAAAAAAGHk/r-b3x0P9YAE/s1600/DSCN3868.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last bus we took out of Chiang Mai was at 8 pm, putting
us in Singburi around 4 am. This time, we left on the 9 am bus so we could be
at Peetim’s in time for dinner. After a long but pleasant bus ride, where we
could understand just enough of the bus driver’s Thai to piece together his
instructions (“I heard ’15’ and ‘toilet’ so I think we have a 15-minute
bathroom break!”), we arrived in Sinburi at 6 pm. It reminded me of when we
arrived in Sydney at the beginning of this trip.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just like in Sydney, our first visit to Singburi was a
venture into the unknown. Other than Peetim’s name and phone number, we didn’t
know a soul. We were sleep deprived and unsure of ourselves. This time, we
confidently leapt off the bus after giving Peetim a 15-minute warning that we were
almost there. Almost immediately, we caught sight of a friendly face: Peemoo
and his wife were there to pick us up! We threw our bags in the back of his
truck, climbed into the cab, and drove to Peetim’s house for dinner. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9sWC3uWiA3I/UZNhLxsTACI/AAAAAAAAGIE/Gy1jurjoqHM/s1600/DSCN3885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9sWC3uWiA3I/UZNhLxsTACI/AAAAAAAAGIE/Gy1jurjoqHM/s1600/DSCN3885.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dinner, which was TJ’s favorite, Pad Kra Pao, lasted for the
rest of the night. First, we greeted Peetim and her family with big hugs. Then
we opened beers, met Robin, the newest volunteer teacher, and caught up. It was
a Wednesday night, and everyone had to be up early for work. So we said our
goodnights, took our much-desired showers, and fell asleep, so happy to be
“home”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNQAeVjb7wI/UZNhNvFPVRI/AAAAAAAAGIU/Os9Z1qEc67Y/s1600/DSCN3889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zNQAeVjb7wI/UZNhNvFPVRI/AAAAAAAAGIU/Os9Z1qEc67Y/s1600/DSCN3889.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peetim's friend, teaching us how to eat lotus seeds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2QnNqM6nae0/UZNhMrtEEXI/AAAAAAAAGIM/v43Dr-CE-Y0/s1600/DSCN3888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2QnNqM6nae0/UZNhMrtEEXI/AAAAAAAAGIM/v43Dr-CE-Y0/s1600/DSCN3888.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new addition to Peetim's family: Robin, Jr.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guMNxx5HZ4I/UZNhoa7eQ-I/AAAAAAAAGJU/YZwzJ9sir0M/s1600/DSCN3945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guMNxx5HZ4I/UZNhoa7eQ-I/AAAAAAAAGJU/YZwzJ9sir0M/s1600/DSCN3945.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdzJwlAJQIc/UZNhz4EuYNI/AAAAAAAAGJk/th1tYSxvK_I/s1600/DSCN3965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdzJwlAJQIc/UZNhz4EuYNI/AAAAAAAAGJk/th1tYSxvK_I/s1600/DSCN3965.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pancakes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next two days were full of visiting friends and
practicing English. We surprised the office where we had taught before by
showing up to say Hi. They were thrilled to see us, but one of them explained
that they were embarrassed that they didn’t know we were coming, so they didn’t
have time to prepare a thank you gift. Of course, we insisted that we didn’t
want anything, but that didn’t stop them from producing a few tokens to present
us with. Just another example of the incredible generosity of the Thai
community. We thanked them with a short yoga class, led by Robin, future Yoga
teacher.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shc0iRzDOiQ/UZNhUEsZx8I/AAAAAAAAGI0/hMxV2nIAgZE/s1600/DSCN3902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-shc0iRzDOiQ/UZNhUEsZx8I/AAAAAAAAGI0/hMxV2nIAgZE/s1600/DSCN3902.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IbKaTGrhAyU/UZNhcw2gVRI/AAAAAAAAGJM/vQL2jaoiUcs/s1600/DSCN3913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IbKaTGrhAyU/UZNhcw2gVRI/AAAAAAAAGJM/vQL2jaoiUcs/s1600/DSCN3913.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also visited a couple other offices that are currently learning
English. Thailand is a member of the recently-created ASEAN conference, which
encourages English as the common language among member countries. As result,
all of the service personnel in Singburi are learning English, so we visited
the office of Local Administration (fire fighters, city planners, etc.) for an
English lesson. The next day, we did the same thing at the local police
station, where we received a tour of the station and a plethora of photographs
with every on-duty cop. We even got to see them lock someone away in a jail
cell (a rare occurrence in peaceful Singburi), and TJ got invited to come back
and drink whiskey and sing Karaoke with the guys any time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9F91bpsx3c/UZNhPjuKiEI/AAAAAAAAGIc/SdDCGfX3Ruo/s1600/IMG_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9F91bpsx3c/UZNhPjuKiEI/AAAAAAAAGIc/SdDCGfX3Ruo/s1600/IMG_0867.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywokB2l9wE4/UZNh8mS2s_I/AAAAAAAAGJw/EyAXuistY9o/s1600/DSCN3977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywokB2l9wE4/UZNh8mS2s_I/AAAAAAAAGJw/EyAXuistY9o/s1600/DSCN3977.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HwQzh78IUcI/UZNiEkf4kPI/AAAAAAAAGKA/JjgUfPmJDRQ/s1600/DSCN3987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HwQzh78IUcI/UZNiEkf4kPI/AAAAAAAAGKA/JjgUfPmJDRQ/s1600/DSCN3987.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a nice lunch with Peetim and her fellow English
teacher, TJ, Robin, and I headed back to the bus station. We were on
our way south again, through Bangkok, to the islands!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dl-YRVBlfUY/UZNiGj-fzSI/AAAAAAAAGKI/OPcPjMQw4ME/s1600/DSCN3989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dl-YRVBlfUY/UZNiGj-fzSI/AAAAAAAAGKI/OPcPjMQw4ME/s1600/DSCN3989.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-51405590652851982622013-05-12T11:07:00.001-04:002013-05-15T12:36:59.805-04:00Episode VI: Return of the PaiPai continues to be one of my favorite places on the planet. I was a little worried that because of the wonderful time we had the first trip, I had built it up too much in my head. I hadn't. Pai is still awesome. We arrived via local bus from Chiang Mai in the late afternoon, and made the short walk to Baan Pai Village, our home for the next few days. We had just taken an overnight train from Bangkok, and then a five hour bus trip, so we decided an easy night in was just what we needed. It was a good decision. Once we settled in, the skies opened up and poured rain. Didn't bother us one bit. We relaxed in our private bungalow, and only ventured as far as the restaurant about 100 feet from our room to listen to a Thai guy sing his own renditions of "Wish You Were Here", "Tears in Heaven", and "American Pie" while we ate our dinner.<br />
<br />
The next day, we headed down the street to a breakfast place we had found on our previous trip that has delicious breakfast crepes. On our way back, Courtney stopped at a little storefront and booked a motorbike lesson, while I went and rented a Honda Click 125cc as our transportation for the next few days.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZJwzbYhM4E/UY4Wt1uraBI/AAAAAAAAF3M/bGL8nlcjZF8/s1600/DSCN3706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SZJwzbYhM4E/UY4Wt1uraBI/AAAAAAAAF3M/bGL8nlcjZF8/s320/DSCN3706.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OvoYhI4bQ5I/UY-hPfoI82I/AAAAAAAAGGo/bQjMdEwBiXU/s1600/DSCN3853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OvoYhI4bQ5I/UY-hPfoI82I/AAAAAAAAGGo/bQjMdEwBiXU/s320/DSCN3853.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
She was a fast learner, and within no time, she was driving around like an expert.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sESRTDAj38Q/UY4XEAV1pHI/AAAAAAAAF4U/mHxpd-T0ECY/s1600/DSCN3750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sESRTDAj38Q/UY4XEAV1pHI/AAAAAAAAF4U/mHxpd-T0ECY/s320/DSCN3750.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Afterwards, we decided to see if we could find one of the many waterfalls surrounding Pai. We had ventured out to one on our last trip, so we picked one on our map and headed for it. We followed a paved road for a little bit. Then we followed a dirt road for a little while longer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ri4_zcv4j_Y/UY-iLIeejZI/AAAAAAAAGG0/4KE8mkM6VMU/s1600/DSCN3718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ri4_zcv4j_Y/UY-iLIeejZI/AAAAAAAAGG0/4KE8mkM6VMU/s320/DSCN3718.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Then the road ended, so we did what any sane person would do. We marched ourselves up the stream into the jungle in search of the elusive waterfall. We followed a small path that lead up through the hills and past a few local farms, getting some good pictures along the way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAJDCKq4vQU/UY4WzE5QGjI/AAAAAAAAF3c/kmD2V9xk7-o/s1600/DSCN3715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAJDCKq4vQU/UY4WzE5QGjI/AAAAAAAAF3c/kmD2V9xk7-o/s320/DSCN3715.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Eventually we came to a spot on the trail where the rain had washed a large chunk of it down the slope, and the skies were getting darker, so we decided to turn back. We'll get you next time waterfall!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEKVJWNhiPQ/UY4WwDhXKLI/AAAAAAAAF3U/DTl-gYH2sEU/s1600/DSCN3712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DEKVJWNhiPQ/UY4WwDhXKLI/AAAAAAAAF3U/DTl-gYH2sEU/s320/DSCN3712.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We hopped back on our bike and headed back down the dirt road with a few other westerners that hadn't had any better luck finding it than we had.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2ASXJlhY0s/UY4W1CTYytI/AAAAAAAAF3k/bXFID6pnfiE/s1600/DSCN3717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d2ASXJlhY0s/UY4W1CTYytI/AAAAAAAAF3k/bXFID6pnfiE/s320/DSCN3717.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We waited out the rain for a while in our cozy bungalow, and then headed back out to Pai Canyon. There are trails that follow the top of the canyon, and in some places, it only a few feet across.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNxnb76iQhI/UY4W3KH-LTI/AAAAAAAAF3s/YHYRgubEUSM/s1600/DSCN3729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iNxnb76iQhI/UY4W3KH-LTI/AAAAAAAAF3s/YHYRgubEUSM/s320/DSCN3729.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tk7CaRolimU/UY4W5V_myCI/AAAAAAAAF38/uvKezluawPw/s1600/DSCN3731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tk7CaRolimU/UY4W5V_myCI/AAAAAAAAF38/uvKezluawPw/s320/DSCN3731.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The walk may feel a little treacherous, but the view is absolutely incredible.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eDJj7jsUtNI/UY4W3wjsUZI/AAAAAAAAF30/0U3SIYYlEOo/s1600/DSCN3732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eDJj7jsUtNI/UY4W3wjsUZI/AAAAAAAAF30/0U3SIYYlEOo/s640/DSCN3732.JPG" height="112" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Afterwards, we headed back for dinner and some good sleep. We got up the next morning and hopped back on our motorbike. Our destination today: Soppong. The drive is 43km of windy, mountain roads that are tons of fun. About halfway through the drive, we stopped at a lookout point on top of the tallest mountain in the area.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ehxDvVdmF64/UY4W6nTr1VI/AAAAAAAAF4E/8tZox-B3yug/s1600/DSCN3737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ehxDvVdmF64/UY4W6nTr1VI/AAAAAAAAF4E/8tZox-B3yug/s320/DSCN3737.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We were running low on fuel, so once again we bought gas poured from a recycled 1L Thai whiskey bottle. It's actually more normal here than it sounds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzAQg_nfxog/UY4XA4XQWXI/AAAAAAAAF4M/R3MU6JsLSrc/s1600/DSCN3739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzAQg_nfxog/UY4XA4XQWXI/AAAAAAAAF4M/R3MU6JsLSrc/s320/DSCN3739.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If Pai is the party town of the area, Soppong is its quiet, nature-loving little sister that isn't allowed out after dark. It's just a little tiny one-road town that happens to be in the center of lots of rivers, waterfalls, and caves. We stopped at a little cafe for a freshly made honey-lemon soda, and then headed down another 'road' for Tham Lod (Lod Cave).<br />
<br />
The cave is famous for the 'Swifts' which are small birds that nest in the caves. During the day, you can see hundreds of them swirling around the cave entrance, going to and from their nests.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrv20u5wGhk/UY4XGB94nbI/AAAAAAAAF4c/tGIW2SoEtKY/s1600/DSCN3757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mrv20u5wGhk/UY4XGB94nbI/AAAAAAAAF4c/tGIW2SoEtKY/s320/DSCN3757.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Lod Cave was amazing. Not just pretty cool, but make-your-heart-race incredible. There are no electric lights inside the cave, so you hire a guide armed only with a reliable gas Coleman lantern to lead you through the cave. We opted to also hire a bamboo raft to help us float down the underground river in the cave to get from cavern to cavern. It's a little spooky, floating down a river, watching the light from the entrance disappear behind you, listening to the thousands of bats high above you, hoping your one lantern doesn't run out of fuel in the middle of a pitch black cave.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V2hGqy9jjIw/UY4XHeB6YOI/AAAAAAAAF4k/vPn7U21Hn_Q/s1600/DSCN3772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V2hGqy9jjIw/UY4XHeB6YOI/AAAAAAAAF4k/vPn7U21Hn_Q/s320/DSCN3772.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We huddled close to our guide, who lead us through these amazing caverns. The rock formations were bright white and beautiful, and there was a sense of awe that came from being underground and not being able to see past the 30 feet radius of our lantern, or not being able to see what was at the bottom of the rickety wooden stairs you were climbing down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ejDoNirLb3Q/UY4XIWc8fLI/AAAAAAAAF4s/iUCZ_ysQ1v8/s1600/DSCN3779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ejDoNirLb3Q/UY4XIWc8fLI/AAAAAAAAF4s/iUCZ_ysQ1v8/s320/DSCN3779.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpJTTslkXWo/UY4XLdjYM4I/AAAAAAAAF48/BWZqnUTDfYk/s1600/DSCN3789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpJTTslkXWo/UY4XLdjYM4I/AAAAAAAAF48/BWZqnUTDfYk/s320/DSCN3789.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vcwTKqb8uM/UY4XMo1qZcI/AAAAAAAAF5E/yVoez9xreoo/s1600/DSCN3795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3vcwTKqb8uM/UY4XMo1qZcI/AAAAAAAAF5E/yVoez9xreoo/s320/DSCN3795.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There was also evidence that people had been living in and around the cave for a very, very long time. There were cave drawings inside that dated back at least a thousand years. There were also remnants of ancient coffins in some places deep in the cave.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FLklaaGsq2Y/UY4XKXYSjCI/AAAAAAAAF40/g6jSLeeOFKQ/s1600/DSCN3784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FLklaaGsq2Y/UY4XKXYSjCI/AAAAAAAAF40/g6jSLeeOFKQ/s320/DSCN3784.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LyQeFvLzVE0/UY-oQQuuzrI/AAAAAAAAGHE/2WwHi8LIZf4/s1600/DSCN3827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LyQeFvLzVE0/UY-oQQuuzrI/AAAAAAAAGHE/2WwHi8LIZf4/s320/DSCN3827.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Eventually, we hopped back on our bamboo raft and floated our way back out of the cave. We stopped at a little roadside restaurant and had a delicious lunch of crispy pork with rice, and fried noodles with vegetables. We're comfortable enough with Thai food now that we don't need everything spelled out in English for us, and are perfectly capable of ordering lunch with the locals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIF61h8bZ44/UY-vZjIeOII/AAAAAAAAGHU/XAC7QzBnyCo/s1600/DSCN3845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIF61h8bZ44/UY-vZjIeOII/AAAAAAAAGHU/XAC7QzBnyCo/s320/DSCN3845.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We got back just in time for the afternoon rains to come, which we had come to expect by now. During a break in the storm, we wandered down the street for dinner. Halfway through dinner, the skies opened up again, and we found ourselves jogging through the rain to get back to our bungalow. Surprise!<br />
<br />
In the morning, we packed up our bags and headed back to the bus station.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NlPpBSMhARQ/UY4XP_9gQzI/AAAAAAAAF5M/sC4bBfLwlfQ/s1600/DSCN3857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NlPpBSMhARQ/UY4XP_9gQzI/AAAAAAAAF5M/sC4bBfLwlfQ/s320/DSCN3857.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After a warm send-off by the locals...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGvQ2s3I4kc/UY4XRxZ1bcI/AAAAAAAAF5U/e9XeJ8gvu98/s1600/DSCN3860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGvQ2s3I4kc/UY4XRxZ1bcI/AAAAAAAAF5U/e9XeJ8gvu98/s320/DSCN3860.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
...we waved goodbye to Pai. It may be a little longer than a month until the next time were back, but I know for sure that we will. We'll probably stay a little longer, too... ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064275686815629327noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-37044538450079373472013-05-09T09:31:00.000-04:002013-05-09T09:31:00.637-04:00Onward to Pai<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After our day in Bangkok, we spent the night on the
northbound train, just like we did the first time we left Bangkok. We even
stayed in second class sleepers, just like the first train that we enjoyed so
much.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The major difference this time is that we knew what we were
doing. We are no longer the wide-eyed tourists with fresh Thai visas. Unlike
most of the backpackers around us, we have made this journey before. On the
subway near the train station, I asked a group of backpackers if they were
headed to the train station. Yes, they were on the overnight train to Chiang
Mai, too! They were excited to find people who could point them in the right
direction, and we were excited to find that we were not only in a position to
do that, we were also relaxed enough to actually notice the new travelers
around us. It sounds like a small change, but the first time around, I never
would have asked someone if they were headed toward the train station. I didn’t
even know where the train station was!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EmumCO-RAKA/UYs8ZnjVgmI/AAAAAAAAF1U/pOf_WuqGnU4/s1600/DSCN3697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EmumCO-RAKA/UYs8ZnjVgmI/AAAAAAAAF1U/pOf_WuqGnU4/s1600/DSCN3697.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our train was supposed to arrive in Chiang Mai around 8 AM,
but Thai time mixed with actual delays on the track meant we arrived closer to
11 AM. We didn’t mind – it meant we could sleep later. We left the train
station after briefly consulting a map and purposefully pointed ourselves in
the direction of the bus arcade. The last time we made this exit, we fought
through crowds of tuk tuk drivers and travel agents trying to get our
attention. This time, only one person politely offered us a tuk tuk ride, and
he quickly moved on when we said no. We must look more confident.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We walked away from the train station and across the main
road, so the traffic was moving in the direction of the bus arcade. Then we
flagged down a passing songthaew and asked if he was going as far as the bus
station. For 30 baht each, we climbed in the back of his truck with one other
passenger. Soon, we were walking into the bus station that we spent an hour
searching for on our first visit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our ultimate destination from the bus station was Pai, still
our favorite place in Thailand. We started at the same window that we bought
our tickets from last time, expecting the familiar 150 baht mini bus ticket.
Instead, the man told us that the government bus was leaving in an hour, and
tickets were only 78 baht. Government buses are the slower, less likely to fall
off the cliffs or make you carsick way to travel, but this one didn’t offer air
conditioning. We needed a little bit of excitement in a day that had gone so
smoothly already, though, so we signed up. We weren’t sure what to expect.
Maybe chickens?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8x9t-94myk/UYuj6sJyvhI/AAAAAAAAF2Y/ZcRZsn_okvs/s1600/DSCN3703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8x9t-94myk/UYuj6sJyvhI/AAAAAAAAF2Y/ZcRZsn_okvs/s1600/DSCN3703.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next hour gave us plenty of time to cross the street for
a quick, cheap lunch, and then we were watching our bus load. It looked more
like a school bus, with tiny seats that might fit three small children or two
Thais, but they were not made to hold two westerners. TJ’s shoulders alone took
up two thirds of the seat. I didn’t mind sitting halfway into the aisle because
I could sit straight ahead anyway. My knees would dig into the wooden back of
the seat in front of me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FnBSFNoNnlQ/UYuj0_r0lbI/AAAAAAAAF2Q/FkzZtUPzTXM/s1600/DSCN3702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FnBSFNoNnlQ/UYuj0_r0lbI/AAAAAAAAF2Q/FkzZtUPzTXM/s1600/DSCN3702.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were lucky, though. Not only was the bus completely
devoid of chickens, but the only empty row of seats was right behind us. I laid
claim to it, and suddenly we had two seats that could accommodate both TJ’s
wide shoulders and my freakishly long thighs. Off to Pai!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZpvIgDt4Do/UYukG21fJ7I/AAAAAAAAF2o/z-7L3bYFWj4/s1600/DSCN3705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oZpvIgDt4Do/UYukG21fJ7I/AAAAAAAAF2o/z-7L3bYFWj4/s1600/DSCN3705.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our first stop in Pai was at the same hotel that we had
stayed in before. Baan Pai Village was offering its bungalows for $14 a night
now that high season had passed, and we ended up staying in exact same bungalow
as before. We were hoping to time it just right with the rainy season coming
next month, but it turns out it can rain during the Thai summer as well. And
rain it did. It stormed every night that we were in Pai, but it didn’t make us
love it any less. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YoxpP5wTWeg/UYukRlttGuI/AAAAAAAAF2w/zPVXmGFtwPA/s1600/DSCN3856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YoxpP5wTWeg/UYukRlttGuI/AAAAAAAAF2w/zPVXmGFtwPA/s1600/DSCN3856.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-60040392225870930412013-05-09T09:22:00.001-04:002013-05-09T09:29:11.358-04:00Ho Chi Minh City vs. BangkokHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Bangkok, Thailand have quite
a bit in common. They are both large cities with crazy traffic. They are both a
little overwhelming to a first-time visitor. People who live in smaller towns
nearby generally dislike them. Scams are prevalent in both cities. They are
both hard to avoid when you are traveling through Asia.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In less than 48 hours, we were able to compare these cities
almost side-by-side. After our overnight bus from Nha Trang, we spent almost an
entire day exploring Saigon. That evening, we caught a short flight back to
Bangkok. We spent the night in a dark, hot hostel dorm room near the Bangkok
train station, and then we had most of the day again to explore before catching
our overnight train north. We found a lot of differences.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Transportation:</u></b>
In Bangkok, we have taken every form of public transportation available to us.
Sky Train, subway, riverboat, tuk tuk, taxi, and even public bus. On this
particular day, we spent our time on the Sky Train and the subway. These trains
are easy to navigate and cheap, and for everywhere they don’t reach, we would
usually take a tuk tuk or public bus. Even walking around Bangkok is relatively
easy with elevated walkways protecting you from the crazy traffic below.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mHOF7DhljHA/UUqG2nR5AhI/AAAAAAAAE1Q/dKHYM4O-0f8/s1600/DSCN1245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mHOF7DhljHA/UUqG2nR5AhI/AAAAAAAAE1Q/dKHYM4O-0f8/s1600/DSCN1245.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saigon’s public transportation was nearly non-existent, as
far as we could tell. They had the cyclos, of course, more for ripping off
tourists than actual transportation, and you could always find a taxi, but they
had no metro system, and we didn’t see many public buses (to be fair, we didn’t
really look for them). We got around on the backs of motorbikes by booking
tours and took a taxi when we needed it, but mostly, we relied on walking
everywhere we wanted to go, even though each street crossing was a near-death
experience. If we had a specific destination in mind, I think we would be able
to find a bus that would take us there, but the simple exploring we wanted to
do was not particularly easy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RU-tCzndL6o/UYs917_H36I/AAAAAAAAF1k/ITiCRYuHvTg/s1600/DSCN3298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RU-tCzndL6o/UYs917_H36I/AAAAAAAAF1k/ITiCRYuHvTg/s1600/DSCN3298.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Tourist
Attractions:</u></b> Fortunately, we stayed in a hotel in the middle of
Saigon’s District 1, so we could walk to the main tourist attractions. Many (not
all) of them relate to the country’s civil war. Like the Vietnamese boy we met
in Da Lat told us, Vietnam has a violent history of war, war, war. On our last
day in Vietnam, we visited the War Remnants Museum, a reminder of the horrors
of what they call “The American War.” We spent a sobering morning learning
about Agent Orange, tortured prisoners, and the American invasion of Vietnam.
It was healthy to gain a perspective different from the one we learn in high
school history class, but it was depressing to see the combination of atrocious
acts and such a negative view of our own country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aGtXyicYIDA/UYs7YWHk80I/AAAAAAAAF0E/Wq6zHn7VZuc/s1600/DSCN3677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aGtXyicYIDA/UYs7YWHk80I/AAAAAAAAF0E/Wq6zHn7VZuc/s1600/DSCN3677.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thailand, on the other hand, seems to be the only country in
this region that has mostly avoided modern wars. There are no war museums.
Their King is the longest-reigning monarch in the world today, and everyone we
talk to adores him. It is a country familiar with peace, and the big
attractions in Bangkok reflect that. You can visit the palace where the King
used to live (unlike in Saigon, where the “palace” is the Reunification Palace,
where the former southern government was located). You can see Buddhist temple
after temple. Or, you can do what we did our first day back in Bangkok, which
was head to the local cinema and watch Iron Man 3 in 3D for $6.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0AA8ZmGbbk/UYs8HRgVGHI/AAAAAAAAF08/cE_0mnU_fZk/s1600/DSCN3690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r0AA8ZmGbbk/UYs8HRgVGHI/AAAAAAAAF08/cE_0mnU_fZk/s1600/DSCN3690.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Downtime:</u></b>
Remember that bus ride into Ho Chi Minh City where I couldn’t sleep? I was
looking forward to a nap in a park somewhere the next morning. It didn’t
happen. We convinced the hotel we stayed in last week to store our packs for us
and went for a walk. Vietnam takes good care of its parks, which meant that
nearly every patch of grass in the two parks we walked through was either wet
or being watered. Instead, I decided to lay down on a bench while TJ read a
book, but a polite policeman quickly spotted me and waved for me to sit up.
Even the museum employees frowned at me for taking a seat in the
air-conditioned part of the museum and pointed me toward a few chairs outside,
in the heat. Finally, we stumbled across a shopping mall with a bookstore,
bought our status as customers by picking up a copy of the newest Jack Reacher
book, and spent the afternoon on their comfortable sofas reading. In the
air-conditioning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-29vm8JZPz64/UYs7hXUJoiI/AAAAAAAAF0M/OKeMUzU30As/s1600/DSCN3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-29vm8JZPz64/UYs7hXUJoiI/AAAAAAAAF0M/OKeMUzU30As/s1600/DSCN3671.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_rp6U_SRCR8/UYs72aFRiDI/AAAAAAAAF0k/uTpT39XjdJ0/s1600/DSCN3686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_rp6U_SRCR8/UYs72aFRiDI/AAAAAAAAF0k/uTpT39XjdJ0/s1600/DSCN3686.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Bangkok, we already know where the big malls are, so we
headed straight there for a cheap food court meal and the movie I already
mentioned. We know we can leave our packs at the train station if we don’t have
another option, but in this case, we left them at our hostel. Even if we
weren’t headed for a shopping mall, the Sky Train provides short bursts of
air-conditioning that give us breaks from the heat, so we’re not as desperate
while we’re out and about. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pWvPDebpts/UYs8D5xph3I/AAAAAAAAF00/r8Slto9CqlA/s1600/DSCN3688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--pWvPDebpts/UYs8D5xph3I/AAAAAAAAF00/r8Slto9CqlA/s1600/DSCN3688.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Food:</u></b> We
enjoyed Vietnamese food, but since we were still new to the country, we hadn’t
quite figured it out yet. We were still gravitating toward the fancier, more
expensive restaurants with English staff and menus. We were caught off guard
when we passed restaurants that served dog and cat dishes, and we weren’t sure
what to think when our tour guides in Da Lat told us they liked horse meat
(they were serious). We stuck to safe dishes in nice restaurants when we were
alone, and TJ fell in love with a dsih called Beef Loc Lac. Whatever we ate
tasted delicious, but we were paying extra for the comfort.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ib7tANKZFnw/UYs7qntMaII/AAAAAAAAF0U/5GsCxxQCY6Y/s1600/DSCN3683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ib7tANKZFnw/UYs7qntMaII/AAAAAAAAF0U/5GsCxxQCY6Y/s1600/DSCN3683.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6wNLYJK9IwU/UYs77LmmarI/AAAAAAAAF0s/AFRmrUHbJcY/s1600/DSCN3687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6wNLYJK9IwU/UYs77LmmarI/AAAAAAAAF0s/AFRmrUHbJcY/s1600/DSCN3687.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve gotten familiar with Thai food, though, and we love
it. We can order our favorites in any restaurant. The little stand behind the
train station that charges a dollar per meal and has Thai words spelled in
Roman letters on the menu? No problem. The food court that deals in “coupons”
and allows you to point to the food that looks good? Even easier.<o:p></o:p><b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uiuvx9RpqI0/UYs8UEuRlLI/AAAAAAAAF1M/X_GM-Z3R2cs/s1600/DSCN3693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uiuvx9RpqI0/UYs8UEuRlLI/AAAAAAAAF1M/X_GM-Z3R2cs/s1600/DSCN3693.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JODGJVkReho/UYs8PKshDhI/AAAAAAAAF1E/pfHKwnkJqlw/s1600/DSCN3692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JODGJVkReho/UYs8PKshDhI/AAAAAAAAF1E/pfHKwnkJqlw/s1600/DSCN3692.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Language:</u></b> Before
we left Thailand, we speculated about what the other countries in Southest Asia
would be like. Obviously, they would be different, but how different? We
suspected it would be a lot like going from the US to Canada – different to a
resident of one of the countries, but not all that different to a visitor.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, we discovered the difference was more like going
from the US to Mexico. Every country we visited has its own language, its own
currency, and its own culture. They even each have a different alphabet! The
Thai alphabet is a complete mystery to us, despite the weeks that we have spent
here. We can sometimes recognize familiar words like “Singburi” or “Baht” in
the right context, but we can’t even begin to guess at how to pronounce other
words. Orally, though, Thai is starting to sound familiar to us. Even though we
don’t know what they mean 99% of the time, the sounds are soothing. And we get
excited when we hear someone use a word from our limited vocabulary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vietnam was basically the opposite. Orally, we were
completely lost. Our entire Vietnamese vocabulary consists of Bo (beef) Loc
Lak, Bahn Mi (bread), and the toasting refrain of “Mot, Hay, Baa, YO!” Nothing
else sounds remotely familiar. However, their alphabet is based on Roman
letters, so we could awkwardly try to pronounce words from menus and street
signs. More importantly, we could make sense of directions and transportation.
If someone pronounced the name of a street or city, we could generally
recognize it once we saw it written down. That was a pleasant change from
Thailand!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwE9r4zvTxw/UYs-sHxP9-I/AAAAAAAAF10/4RhrTg0dYj4/s1600/DSCN3339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwE9r4zvTxw/UYs-sHxP9-I/AAAAAAAAF10/4RhrTg0dYj4/s1600/DSCN3339.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, after a night on a bus, a day in Saigon, an evening on a
plane, and a night in a Bangkok hostel, we are officially back in Thailand. And
even though we very much enjoyed our week in Vietnam, we couldn’t be happier.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-18440061237891568902013-05-04T06:57:00.002-04:002013-05-04T06:57:37.807-04:00Vietnam Beaches<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’re still a bit nervous when it comes to mini-buses,
thanks to our round-about adventure to Singburi, so we were dismayed when our
“29-seat bus” pulled up in Da Lat, and it was actually a 15-seater. We hoped it
was simply a transfer to the bus station, where we would find our real bus.
Four hours later, though, we found ourselves in Nha Trang, on Vietnam's coast, grateful to be alive and
without a scratch. Our bus driver was very talented when it came to ALMOST
running off the road or hitting other buses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the moment we arrived in Nha Trang, we let out a sigh
of relief. We enjoyed Da Lat, but it was very much a Vietnamese tourist town.
Several times, we ran into service personnel who didn’t speak English and were
not at all interested in trying to communicate with us. In Nha Trang, we didn’t
stray far from the tourist district, and almost every sign had English on it.
In fact, there might have been more Russian than Vietnamese on signs and menus,
and there were Russian tourists everywhere. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4CJZqBb-do/UYTkBIVLe_I/AAAAAAAAFxE/AYZz3-iQ2Xg/s1600/DSCN3529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C4CJZqBb-do/UYTkBIVLe_I/AAAAAAAAFxE/AYZz3-iQ2Xg/s1600/DSCN3529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our experience only got better when we arrived at our
hostel. Two ladies checked us in and showed us around. One of them, Li, took a
liking to us when she saw our passports and realized TJ was only five days older
than she was. She quickly became my best friend in Vietnam.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zw_-dzB9rg8/UYTl7X3-AFI/AAAAAAAAFzs/u0gw3T-WD9A/s1600/DSCN3670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zw_-dzB9rg8/UYTl7X3-AFI/AAAAAAAAFzs/u0gw3T-WD9A/s1600/DSCN3670.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent our first full day in Nha Trang doing what you
should do in a resort town – going to the beach! It was hot and sunny, so we
spread out my sarong as our beach towel and relaxed. When it got too hot, we
went for a swim in the ocean – because I’m fearless and can totally do that
now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oDZ2wpxO8LI/UYTkMyXkJSI/AAAAAAAAFxU/VnlwD0PrF8A/s1600/DSCN3536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oDZ2wpxO8LI/UYTkMyXkJSI/AAAAAAAAFxU/VnlwD0PrF8A/s1600/DSCN3536.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cUtZfKI6wk/UYTkeiDLptI/AAAAAAAAFxk/tO3_opMlJrY/s1600/DSCN3545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cUtZfKI6wk/UYTkeiDLptI/AAAAAAAAFxk/tO3_opMlJrY/s1600/DSCN3545.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As evening approached, the beach got very crowded. A big
group of people got together and started playing team-building games.
Naturally, TJ jumped up when they got near us and flagged in the winning team
for their centipede race. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fm_7DJiHmIo/UYTkkUWCoKI/AAAAAAAAFxs/3iOxYIDwz8g/s1600/DSCN3563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fm_7DJiHmIo/UYTkkUWCoKI/AAAAAAAAFxs/3iOxYIDwz8g/s1600/DSCN3563.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feeling bold after his brief referee role, TJ then joined a
smaller group of guys playing volleyball. I got to sit and read a book without
him interrupting me, and he got to interact with people who barely knew a word
of English. We were each in our element.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7i4HHo-9bVY/UYTkoaRtnII/AAAAAAAAFx0/Tn8JlOJMEb0/s1600/DSCN3567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7i4HHo-9bVY/UYTkoaRtnII/AAAAAAAAFx0/Tn8JlOJMEb0/s1600/DSCN3567.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once we had our fill of the beach, we headed back to our new
hotel to clean up. We had to change hotels this morning because our first
didn’t have a room available. This hotel didn’t have my new best friend at the
reception desk, but it did have a nice room that opened onto a fantastic
balcony. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-90nb0BJScV8/UYTkHXvJ4FI/AAAAAAAAFxM/JbdM2W1qyow/s1600/DSCN3530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-90nb0BJScV8/UYTkHXvJ4FI/AAAAAAAAFxM/JbdM2W1qyow/s1600/DSCN3530.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tku6GS5MBjM/UYTkwQCRu5I/AAAAAAAAFyE/KuB3dTh_cjE/s1600/DSCN3570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tku6GS5MBjM/UYTkwQCRu5I/AAAAAAAAFyE/KuB3dTh_cjE/s1600/DSCN3570.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next morning, we checked out of our fancy balcony room
and put our bags in storage. We had an overnight bus booked to Ho Chi Minh City
and an entire day to kill before we were on our way. Our plan was to visit
nearby Vinpearl Island, where they have a cable car over the water. Our receptionist
told us it was too far to walk to the cable car (she was right, it was about 4
km and HOT outside!), so we hailed a taxi and headed to Vinpearl!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkLRheNLP7Y/UYTk7kBPHUI/AAAAAAAAFyM/1Q-qpR9i1Mg/s1600/DSCN3576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dkLRheNLP7Y/UYTk7kBPHUI/AAAAAAAAFyM/1Q-qpR9i1Mg/s1600/DSCN3576.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ePzthXb0k3s/UYTk90I3BVI/AAAAAAAAFyU/JgLoBkKMszk/s1600/DSCN3577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ePzthXb0k3s/UYTk90I3BVI/AAAAAAAAFyU/JgLoBkKMszk/s1600/DSCN3577.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It turns out that the ticket for the cable car includes
access to Vinpearl Land, an amusement park on the island. We took the 12-minute
cable car ride across the bay and exited directly into the theme park. Within
minutes, we were sweating, so we went straight to the indoor, air-conditioned
arcade. Our first stop was the 4-D movie: “Exploration of Tunnel!” It was an
American movie, narrated by an old man with a Southern accent who warned us
about Indian burial grounds. About thirty people sat in movie-theater seats
that moved around according to where the tunnel led us. There was no mistaking
our theater for an American one, though. True to Asian tendencies (if you look
at the traffic and general queuing standards here), the initial scramble to
find a seat was absolute chaos. Pushing from behind, pulling people aside, the
crowd caught us off guard! Somehow, we managed to find two seats next to each
other on the very last row.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent the better part of the afternoon inside the arcade
after our short movie. All the arcade games were free! We played whack-a-mole,
air hokey, horse racing, and gun shooting. TJ showed off his Dance Dance
Revolution skills, and I scored a bonus round at the basketball hoops. Once we
had our fill, we ventured outside to explore the rest of Vinpearl Land.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KN5sx7T_YOE/UYTlFwkQN6I/AAAAAAAAFyc/ymZ5QxoPrDM/s1600/DSCN3587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KN5sx7T_YOE/UYTlFwkQN6I/AAAAAAAAFyc/ymZ5QxoPrDM/s1600/DSCN3587.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kP8aHA7VrSw/UYTlJQZN23I/AAAAAAAAFyk/WFLgGjuzqzM/s1600/DSCN3590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kP8aHA7VrSw/UYTlJQZN23I/AAAAAAAAFyk/WFLgGjuzqzM/s1600/DSCN3590.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKm5f3wT8f8/UYTlMQUs1iI/AAAAAAAAFys/rRgdTr6GqGk/s1600/DSCN3593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKm5f3wT8f8/UYTlMQUs1iI/AAAAAAAAFys/rRgdTr6GqGk/s1600/DSCN3593.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The best part of the park was a ride they call the Alpine
Coaster. We buckled ourselves into a small cart that carried us up the hill,
and then we coasted down a luge track while looking at the beautiful views. It
was so much fun!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U79Xm8WE_Ok/UYTlSHb5f9I/AAAAAAAAFy0/Ymn309NC0Sw/s1600/DSCN3602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U79Xm8WE_Ok/UYTlSHb5f9I/AAAAAAAAFy0/Ymn309NC0Sw/s1600/DSCN3602.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fH-JnfpTLmA/UYTlWx1K3LI/AAAAAAAAFy8/_PDi0918EOU/s1600/DSCN3600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fH-JnfpTLmA/UYTlWx1K3LI/AAAAAAAAFy8/_PDi0918EOU/s1600/DSCN3600.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43chnD5RTfk/UYTlbMwbgyI/AAAAAAAAFzE/VfYVu9pPkHo/s1600/DSCN3607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43chnD5RTfk/UYTlbMwbgyI/AAAAAAAAFzE/VfYVu9pPkHo/s1600/DSCN3607.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When it started raining, we ducked into the (also free) aquarium and spent a couple hours with the fish. They had one of those tunnels underneath the main tank with a moving sidewalk to push you along. We went through twice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7GknZ9boBcs/UYTlhn9uiLI/AAAAAAAAFzM/IWWUp9FSZ6g/s1600/DSCN3618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7GknZ9boBcs/UYTlhn9uiLI/AAAAAAAAFzM/IWWUp9FSZ6g/s1600/DSCN3618.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jxRwfY14DyQ/UYTlk-QddDI/AAAAAAAAFzU/qVoN_ZSLLqM/s1600/DSCN3619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jxRwfY14DyQ/UYTlk-QddDI/AAAAAAAAFzU/qVoN_ZSLLqM/s1600/DSCN3619.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JwDEiTc5Igo/UYTlsuo_6-I/AAAAAAAAFzc/JGeL4rclOBo/s1600/DSCN3627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JwDEiTc5Igo/UYTlsuo_6-I/AAAAAAAAFzc/JGeL4rclOBo/s1600/DSCN3627.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just before we left, we noticed a crowd of people at a covered pavilion. It was a circus show, staring dogs and monkeys! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2USrkP7dD4/UYTl55P6UEI/AAAAAAAAFzk/jVUOxz6k5TY/s1600/DSCN3647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j2USrkP7dD4/UYTl55P6UEI/AAAAAAAAFzk/jVUOxz6k5TY/s1600/DSCN3647.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After sunset, we took the cable car back across the bay and
hired a cab to return us to our hotel. We had just enough time to shower and
eat a good dinner (the best way to begin an overnight trip), and then we walked
back to our original hostel. I got to hang out with Li while we waited for our
bus to pick us up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our ride back to Ho Chi Minh City was easily the most
frustrating overnight transportation of our trip. The girls at our hostel had
tried their best to get us on a sleeper bus (the nice kind, not the Cambodian
kind), but everything was, as we had heard in Saigon, full. This was the only
bus available, and it was normal reclining bus seats. We didn’t care, and the
price was cheap, so we didn’t worry about it too much.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not far into our journey, the bus driver turned on the
radio. Loud. Even through my trusty earplugs, it was deafening. The Vietnamese
voice had the cadence of a comedian, which is hard to ignore even when you
don’t understand the language. I gave up on sleep and pulled out my book,
thinking I would read until I got sleepy enough to fall asleep anyway. Twenty
minutes into that idea, the bus driver decided to turn all the lights off,
including the reading light above my seat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My next choice was the MP3 player. I pulled out the old one
I’ve been using since 2007 and tried to turn it on. Dead battery. TJ helped me
dig out our bag of spare batteries and changed it. The player turned on, and
then it turned off again, broken.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is about the time TJ warned me that my inner
four-year-old was showing. I was not handling it well. Our next hotel was in
Bangkok, twenty-four hours away. We weren’t even sure what we were going to do
with our backpacks when we got to Saigon. Our laptop battery was almost dead, and we had no way to charge it. After a long, full day, I was exhausted,
and my only option was lying there awake, listening to loud Vietnamese music
alternating with Vietnamese talk radio. TJ comforted me with thoughts of
napping in a park when we got to Saigon, handed me his iPod, and closed his
eyes. I took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By the end of a Billy Joel album, the Vietnamese music had
miraculously stopped, and I fell asleep as soon as I handed the iPod back to
TJ. I slept hard for an hour or two, until we stopped for a rest break at 4:00
in the morning. As we got back on the bus to leave the rest stop, I confessed
to TJ that if the music started again, I would cry. Right on cue, the bus
driver cranked up the radio as he pulled out of the parking lot. It didn’t stop
until we got to Saigon.<o:p></o:p></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-42602083528713444892013-04-28T12:35:00.000-04:002013-04-28T23:09:45.084-04:00Da Lat is for lovers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
*Warning: This post has a picture of snake in it!*</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XWCpwzVRxjY/UX1BiELIc7I/AAAAAAAAFgo/fs7HkLL9aJY/s1600/DSCN3340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XWCpwzVRxjY/UX1BiELIc7I/AAAAAAAAFgo/fs7HkLL9aJY/s320/DSCN3340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Sometimes Courtney and I have a great plan for our next few days. Sometimes we make it up as we go. Da Lat has definitely been the latter. We stumbled off of our bus from Ho Chi Minh City at 5:15am. We had no map, no plan, no hotel, no idea where we were, no exit strategy, and very little sleep. We strapped on our backpacks and stumbled down the street just as the sky was beginning to brighten. We asked a few strangers which direction to the center of town, and we got a few confused looks before they pointed out the way. We found the middle of town just as the sun was coming up, and stopped to watch the sunrise over the lake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5_bDUi9Rss/UX1BjkqmMpI/AAAAAAAAFgw/VAzD62YQYAU/s1600/DSCN3343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K5_bDUi9Rss/UX1BjkqmMpI/AAAAAAAAFgw/VAzD62YQYAU/s320/DSCN3343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As we sat there, we borrowed the wifi signal from the cafe next door and found an open hotel near the center of town. We strapped our backpacks back on, and after viewing one of the rooms and being satisfied, we booked our next few nights. Step one, complete.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Step two was to pass out and sleep til early afternoon. Eventually we woke up and wandered from our hotel in search of food. We found a little bar in the basement of a nearby hotel that we had heard about, and sat down to dinner and a few drinks. Just what the doctor ordered.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raiVXt-wPqM/UX1BkqPDRVI/AAAAAAAAFg4/6dSJY-IvLAg/s1600/DSCN3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raiVXt-wPqM/UX1BkqPDRVI/AAAAAAAAFg4/6dSJY-IvLAg/s320/DSCN3348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTrYLGFCE4w/UX1BmDWH7fI/AAAAAAAAFhA/hci6IKOD96E/s1600/DSCN3352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTrYLGFCE4w/UX1BmDWH7fI/AAAAAAAAFhA/hci6IKOD96E/s320/DSCN3352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On our way home, we stopped in the local market and found a candy vendor for dessert. We walked away with a bag full of sugar coated dried fruit and little cubes made of aloe vera. They were delicious. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6JULatwIDlM/UX1Bn6nqYXI/AAAAAAAAFhI/rHP7BjPHPF4/s1600/DSCN3355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6JULatwIDlM/UX1Bn6nqYXI/AAAAAAAAFhI/rHP7BjPHPF4/s320/DSCN3355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As we were getting ready for bed, we heard muffled singing coming from somewhere nearby, but we couldn't figure out where. We listened out the window, opened our door and listened down the hall, but it never seemed to get louder. Then it dawned on us. Our hotel is right next to a large karaoke place. The singing was coming from slightly intoxicated Asians singing their favorite songs on the other side of our wall. Thankfully, the place closes around 11:30, so its been mildly amusing/irritating instead of terrible. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBeeaShRfVU/UX1BotjZupI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/bOozDdJbKZU/s1600/DSCN3358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XBeeaShRfVU/UX1BotjZupI/AAAAAAAAFhQ/bOozDdJbKZU/s320/DSCN3358.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We got up the next day and checked the weather forecast. Afternoon showers were on the way, so we decided to stick around town and see what we could find that morning. What we found was the Hang Nga Guesthouse, also known as the "Crazy House." </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dlhb6lnsQ7Q/UX1BuZ1D13I/AAAAAAAAFho/lY8rZ_JEBBE/s1600/DSCN3393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dlhb6lnsQ7Q/UX1BuZ1D13I/AAAAAAAAFho/lY8rZ_JEBBE/s320/DSCN3393.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This place was wild. It was filled with winding tunnels and towering staircases linking the rooms of this guesthouse. We spent forever exploring every nook and cranny of this insane hotel. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-woZq_ASn6ss/UX1BqPjN_dI/AAAAAAAAFhY/3Yd7lC0gpCA/s1600/DSCN3382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-woZq_ASn6ss/UX1BqPjN_dI/AAAAAAAAFhY/3Yd7lC0gpCA/s320/DSCN3382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gv0CHAN0LtU/UX1Bw1O2URI/AAAAAAAAFhw/JrflDf_dkF0/s1600/DSCN3394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gv0CHAN0LtU/UX1Bw1O2URI/AAAAAAAAFhw/JrflDf_dkF0/s320/DSCN3394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hb6ByjRDbgA/UX1BsPP9dNI/AAAAAAAAFhg/gV8POGCjANI/s1600/DSCN3381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hb6ByjRDbgA/UX1BsPP9dNI/AAAAAAAAFhg/gV8POGCjANI/s320/DSCN3381.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqrc1DY1O8E/UX1BySdjyTI/AAAAAAAAFh4/Sm_iCMWIzBg/s1600/DSCN3413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqrc1DY1O8E/UX1BySdjyTI/AAAAAAAAFh4/Sm_iCMWIzBg/s320/DSCN3413.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5dSLkKrRxc/UX1BzWY3vcI/AAAAAAAAFiA/9efPfmKAXuw/s1600/DSCN3421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5dSLkKrRxc/UX1BzWY3vcI/AAAAAAAAFiA/9efPfmKAXuw/s320/DSCN3421.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We grabbed a bite to eat and then headed back to our hotel just as the rain clouds were rolling in.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERquKf0Kuig/UX1B06FpDMI/AAAAAAAAFiI/ykFntXIp1Dw/s1600/DSCN3431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERquKf0Kuig/UX1B06FpDMI/AAAAAAAAFiI/ykFntXIp1Dw/s320/DSCN3431.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The skies opened up, and stayed that way for most of the day. Courtney and I took the opportunity for a relaxing dinner and a movie night in at our hotel. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We were up early the next morning. We had booked a day tour with the <a href="http://www.easyrider-tours.com/" target="_blank">Da Lat Easy Rider Club</a>. The Easy Riders are a group of motorcycle enthusiasts turned tour guides. You can book them for just a day, or even for a multi-day journey around Vietnam. Our guides, Phuong and Bom, met us at their office and we were off. </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LN5kXFvBoLc/UX1B4dTzb5I/AAAAAAAAFiY/aBxkZLr2B-4/s1600/DSCN3445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LN5kXFvBoLc/UX1B4dTzb5I/AAAAAAAAFiY/aBxkZLr2B-4/s320/DSCN3445.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our first stop was at a nearby pagoda. Before a long journey, Vietnamese people come here to pray for good luck, so that's exactly what we did. They also have a giant dragon statue!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzS_ZyGVq0I/UX1B2eHfm5I/AAAAAAAAFiQ/0HbstyIsSIw/s1600/DSCN3441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzS_ZyGVq0I/UX1B2eHfm5I/AAAAAAAAFiQ/0HbstyIsSIw/s320/DSCN3441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We stopped at a few places along the way with great views of the surrounding countryside. The central highlands of Vietnam are beautiful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ziYsGpnWe8w/UX1B5-wdn9I/AAAAAAAAFig/eMIIhCebFpg/s1600/DSCN3446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ziYsGpnWe8w/UX1B5-wdn9I/AAAAAAAAFig/eMIIhCebFpg/s320/DSCN3446.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03ekAkJFZMU/UX1B79wYpCI/AAAAAAAAFio/zWKCzPl_SpU/s1600/DSCN3449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03ekAkJFZMU/UX1B79wYpCI/AAAAAAAAFio/zWKCzPl_SpU/s320/DSCN3449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Our next stop was at a local coffee plantation. They grow a number of different coffee beans here, and as of last year, Vietnam was the world's number one exporter of coffee.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFYu1uAz-NU/UX1B_qv-UZI/AAAAAAAAFi4/Ayqw4_3pnJ0/s1600/DSCN3450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFYu1uAz-NU/UX1B_qv-UZI/AAAAAAAAFi4/Ayqw4_3pnJ0/s320/DSCN3450.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BTnQNjHhm-I/UX1B82Fr5DI/AAAAAAAAFiw/W-0vtFdz3aw/s1600/DSCN3452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BTnQNjHhm-I/UX1B82Fr5DI/AAAAAAAAFiw/W-0vtFdz3aw/s320/DSCN3452.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
From there, we went to the Elephant Waterfall. We followed our guide down a very treacherous path down the rocks to the bottom of the waterfall, but we're so glad we did. The views were amazing!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3d9sCBfZJQ4/UX1RYGIf6wI/AAAAAAAAFlA/GHxJFsTCZbE/s1600/DSCN3457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3d9sCBfZJQ4/UX1RYGIf6wI/AAAAAAAAFlA/GHxJFsTCZbE/s320/DSCN3457.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ceIKvoKDrA/UX1CCGwjGVI/AAAAAAAAFjA/gzjlwAD0huM/s1600/DSCN3459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ceIKvoKDrA/UX1CCGwjGVI/AAAAAAAAFjA/gzjlwAD0huM/s320/DSCN3459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6VDSIez8k90/UX1CEV7xa9I/AAAAAAAAFjI/M5__aim0kDY/s1600/DSCN3465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6VDSIez8k90/UX1CEV7xa9I/AAAAAAAAFjI/M5__aim0kDY/s320/DSCN3465.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
On our way back up, Bom took us across a few precariously placed rocks that lead to a cave behind the waterfall. It was so intense to be behind that much falling water.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2drqWCrU1tE/UX1CFDWdIbI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/h4OoQl7pfZQ/s1600/DSCN3473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2drqWCrU1tE/UX1CFDWdIbI/AAAAAAAAFjQ/h4OoQl7pfZQ/s320/DSCN3473.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We walked back up the hill to the pagoda at the top, and were rewarded with a picture with the giant happy Buddha.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9GEFazBJz2g/UX1CHBUH21I/AAAAAAAAFjg/1DoJZyYtSYc/s1600/DSCN3481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9GEFazBJz2g/UX1CHBUH21I/AAAAAAAAFjg/1DoJZyYtSYc/s320/DSCN3481.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xcsBuw7WXbM/UX1CJUZ71EI/AAAAAAAAFjo/ofSYJo3r7sY/s1600/DSCN3486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xcsBuw7WXbM/UX1CJUZ71EI/AAAAAAAAFjo/ofSYJo3r7sY/s320/DSCN3486.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After that, we sat down to a traditional Vietnamese lunch with our guides. Before we knew it, our table was full of rice, vegetables, pork, beef meatballs, tofu, chicken, and spring rolls. I was also offered a shot of interesting looking "rice wine'. Game for anything, I counted down with our two guides "Mot, Hai, Ba, YO!" (One, Two, Three, Cheers!) and downed the glass. Not bad, I thought. Then they showed me the jar it came from.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bELx68ExzI/UX1CKLb_KUI/AAAAAAAAFjw/-7UP_ikm07U/s1600/DSCN3488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9bELx68ExzI/UX1CKLb_KUI/AAAAAAAAFjw/-7UP_ikm07U/s320/DSCN3488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Snake wine is a traditional Vietnamese drink. They take wine made from rice and yeast, and shove a few snakes, head and all, into the jar. They let it sit for about 6 months, and then its ready to serve at about 30% alcohol. Our guides informed us that the people drink it as a local remedy, especially as a cure for gout. A few more Mot Hai Ba YO's later and I had a snake wine buzz.<br />
<br />
After lunch, we stopped at the rice winery to see how the rice wine is made. Turns out, its just like making moonshine in the hills of North Carolina.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ADOAxRH_YU/UX1CLYecrMI/AAAAAAAAFj4/07TJLSNChTw/s1600/DSCN3492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ADOAxRH_YU/UX1CLYecrMI/AAAAAAAAFj4/07TJLSNChTw/s320/DSCN3492.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
As we started heading back, the skies were growing darker. Sure enough, about halfway back to town, it started pouring. Not just raining, but pouring. Our guides were great, and managed to avoid most of the streets-turned-rivers by snaking (no pun intended) their way along canals and through alleyways.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vrA1PUFvXww/UX1CNCiD2WI/AAAAAAAAFkA/tB0HsSiZdM0/s1600/DSCN3499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vrA1PUFvXww/UX1CNCiD2WI/AAAAAAAAFkA/tB0HsSiZdM0/s320/DSCN3499.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtpocaurBmk/UX1CORfMh7I/AAAAAAAAFkI/EpyFXxAvPhM/s1600/DSCN3501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtpocaurBmk/UX1CORfMh7I/AAAAAAAAFkI/EpyFXxAvPhM/s320/DSCN3501.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18uxovusXYg/UX1CPvoLO2I/AAAAAAAAFkQ/b6o6TXRC_t0/s1600/DSCN3503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-18uxovusXYg/UX1CPvoLO2I/AAAAAAAAFkQ/b6o6TXRC_t0/s320/DSCN3503.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RCokPpXe3jg/UX1CQXsrAHI/AAAAAAAAFkY/puWOW_HSzyU/s1600/DSCN3507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RCokPpXe3jg/UX1CQXsrAHI/AAAAAAAAFkY/puWOW_HSzyU/s320/DSCN3507.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G5JnHr_h-oU/UX1CRftN20I/AAAAAAAAFkg/I15DBLqXaxA/s1600/DSCN3512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G5JnHr_h-oU/UX1CRftN20I/AAAAAAAAFkg/I15DBLqXaxA/s320/DSCN3512.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We made it safely back to our hotel, and even managed to dry out a little before dinner. We went to the same guesthouse for dinner as the night before, as it was lots of good food for cheap (dinner and drinks came to around $5). While we were waiting on our food, we struck up a conversation with a fellow American sitting at the table across from us. She was from Washington, and had just arrived that day. As we were talking, the 9-year-old Vietnamese boy next to her interrupted us. "Excuse me, I don't want to interrupt, but I would like to practice my English with you." How could we say no!?! The four of us proceeded to talk all through dinner about everything from his favorite subject in school (he likes math and recess, but history is boring! Too many wars.) to the places he wants to visit in America (The big bridge in California) to why there are people on earth (I kid you not, he asked me who the first human was and where the rest of us came from, and then sat there, interested, and listened while I gave him the evolutionary history of mankind). His mother sat next to him the whole time, smiled, and looked very proud. After saying goodbye to our new friend and encouraging him to always ask questions, we headed back to the market.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8TD6Ky6ojE/UX1CS-yN1MI/AAAAAAAAFko/7BKGrc9AqwI/s1600/DSCN3521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8TD6Ky6ojE/UX1CS-yN1MI/AAAAAAAAFko/7BKGrc9AqwI/s320/DSCN3521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The market was crazy thanks to all of the Vietnamese toursists on holiday for Reunification Day, or the day the Americans left Vietnam (ironic, no?). We managed to find what we were looking for. A few limes and a bag of sugar. We got back to our hotel and made freshly squeezed, all local limeade. We added a little vodka, and sat back to relax after an amazing three days in Da Lat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvnrCXs3_CE/UX1CF2UgmOI/AAAAAAAAFjY/zcjnrveoEkU/s1600/DSCN3477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DvnrCXs3_CE/UX1CF2UgmOI/AAAAAAAAFjY/zcjnrveoEkU/s640/DSCN3477.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064275686815629327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-11229281071050138212013-04-28T07:09:00.000-04:002013-04-28T07:09:23.339-04:00Saigon Street EatsWhile I was writing that last blog post, TJ was dodging rush-hour motorbikes on his way to every travel agent in our district. He visited at least eleven, and the answer was the same every time: "Full." He couldn't find a bus or train out of the city until Monday.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, he found one option: a bus that left Saigon for Dalat at midnight - seven hours from now. He came back to the hotel to discuss it with me, and then we left to buy the tickets together. It meant giving up a paid night at our hotel. It meant packing wet clothes that we thought we would have an extra day to dry. It meant leaving the barely-familiar Saigon for another completely unknown city, with no time to research. But we know that we tend to like smaller cities better than large ones, and we knew that spending the weekend in Dalat would be cheaper than spending it in Saigon, so we jumped.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By the time we got to the travel agent, the "midnight" bus had strangely transformed into a 10:30 pm bus. That added the element of rushing through dinner and springing for a taxi to get us to the station on time, but we were already committed. I may have had a bit of buyer's remorse on our way back to the hotel, but TJ convinced me to either suck it up and make the best of it, or go back to the agent to cancel our tickets. I decided to trust in our ability to make it work. That, and we had ten minutes until dinner!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At 6:00, we were meeting Barbara and Vu from <a href="http://www.saigonstreeteats.com/" target="_blank">Saigon Street Eats</a> for a Vietnamese family-style dinner. They specialize in street food tours, but with our lack of fondness for tentacles and our short time frame, we opted to go out to a real restaurant instead. I was especially looking forward to this experience because I already felt like I knew Barbara a bit. I've been reading her blog for the last few months as we've prepared for this trip, and it was so much fun to meet her in person!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Barbara and Vu met us in the lobby of our hotel and handed us helmets. More motorbikes! They whisked us off through the city, just in time to catch a beautiful view of the city from a bridge.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSJzN79-cio/UX0BGMzi56I/AAAAAAAAFfU/hvDXzdmCEyg/s1600/DSCN3316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSJzN79-cio/UX0BGMzi56I/AAAAAAAAFfU/hvDXzdmCEyg/s1600/DSCN3316.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iHcrpadZZQ/UX0BKrljMEI/AAAAAAAAFfc/ZwU0xHAovUE/s1600/DSCN3318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iHcrpadZZQ/UX0BKrljMEI/AAAAAAAAFfc/ZwU0xHAovUE/s1600/DSCN3318.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Dinner itself was phenomenal. TJ and I were game to try just about anything, so our hosts kept ordering. We ended up with plates of vegetables, chicken, meatballs, pork, and beef, and we tasted everything. TJ and I even tasted our first frog!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWX9s-ArjOw/UX0BRIgSVUI/AAAAAAAAFfk/tJTpuVg0CJ0/s1600/DSCN3322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWX9s-ArjOw/UX0BRIgSVUI/AAAAAAAAFfk/tJTpuVg0CJ0/s1600/DSCN3322.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The most entertaining part of the evening was interacting with the waiters and waitresses. This particular restaurant had stellar service, by Vietnamese standards, and that meant the staff never stopped fussing over us! I watched them pluck a shrinking ice cube out of Barbara's glass with tongs so they could replace it with a giant ice cube. Every time they brought a dish to the table, they would rearrange all the dishes already present, including the ones you were eating off of. If they were ready to clear a plate that still had food on it, they would grab whichever pair of chopsticks was currently not in use and plop the food into your bowl, ready to eat. I loved it!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We ended dinner with a hot pot, a spicy soup heated over a flame at our table. They cooked the broth in the kitchen and then added seafood, vegetables, and herbs once it got to our table. We added some delicious noodles to our individual bowls and then ladled the soup on top. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DtKxr3EG29M/UX0BWBdfL8I/AAAAAAAAFfs/FO8Wjp_jLog/s1600/DSCN3328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DtKxr3EG29M/UX0BWBdfL8I/AAAAAAAAFfs/FO8Wjp_jLog/s1600/DSCN3328.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Time was running short if we were going to make our bus, so Barbara and Vu picked up some takeaway dessert for us to eat on the bus and dropped us off at our hotel. We've gotten our brush teeth-change clothes-pack bags routine down to seven minutes now, so we were in and out and on our way to the bus stop in no time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzEZ7Vqf_L4/UX0BZkLa62I/AAAAAAAAFf0/xlfGMb3eOBs/s1600/DSCN3330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EzEZ7Vqf_L4/UX0BZkLa62I/AAAAAAAAFf0/xlfGMb3eOBs/s1600/DSCN3330.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqBPqpoCdYM/UX0BcTW6WQI/AAAAAAAAFf8/Noqd3PJpwjE/s1600/DSCN3333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zqBPqpoCdYM/UX0BcTW6WQI/AAAAAAAAFf8/Noqd3PJpwjE/s1600/DSCN3333.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then, of course, we waited for an hour. During which we noticed all the fancy buses with fully-reclining seats and lots of room were lined up on the left side of the station:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_ITB9w8utA/UX0BfNDA-VI/AAAAAAAAFgE/hAJLsxfpvJQ/s1600/DSCN3335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_ITB9w8utA/UX0BfNDA-VI/AAAAAAAAFgE/hAJLsxfpvJQ/s1600/DSCN3335.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And on the right side, all by itself, was our little bus:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-raT9iLnGHFc/UX0Bgtr2HjI/AAAAAAAAFgM/BFsuvbo3zyo/s1600/DSCN3336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-raT9iLnGHFc/UX0Bgtr2HjI/AAAAAAAAFgM/BFsuvbo3zyo/s1600/DSCN3336.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But considering it was all that was available, it was good enough for us. Off to Dalat!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7eGAzBC104/UX0BrhoUV_I/AAAAAAAAFgU/Ys3u_H8nxaw/s1600/DSCN3338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e7eGAzBC104/UX0BrhoUV_I/AAAAAAAAFgU/Ys3u_H8nxaw/s1600/DSCN3338.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-15946036047725169982013-04-26T08:59:00.000-04:002013-04-26T10:18:42.482-04:00The First ScamTJ and I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (called Saigon by everyone who lives here) on Wednesday afternoon. Despite two months of traveling, we still get a little overwhelmed when we arrive in a new country's big city. Our rule, "If in doubt, walk" still stands, though, so we found a map of the area and set off, looking for the hotel we had booked the day before.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-00ptjE31h_8/UXp38ZE-FTI/AAAAAAAAFdc/otGzhYOPp6E/s1600/DSCN3250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-00ptjE31h_8/UXp38ZE-FTI/AAAAAAAAFdc/otGzhYOPp6E/s1600/DSCN3250.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I have to introduce Vietnam by admitting that I was nervous about coming here. It's not exactly the most American-friendly country, and we have heard very mixed reviews about it from people we have met along the way. For every person that enjoyed visiting the country, we met someone who disliked it. Although we left our hearts in Thailand and considered skipping Vietnam all together so we could return, we knew that we had to face our fears and give the country a chance. This is the trip of no regrets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApDhrRNxbCI/UXj9VY0btRI/AAAAAAAAFbk/c81JZf0hEwQ/s1600/DSCN3251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApDhrRNxbCI/UXj9VY0btRI/AAAAAAAAFbk/c81JZf0hEwQ/s1600/DSCN3251.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So we found our hotel relatively easily, even using our map to help out a fellow bus passenger along the way, ate a delicious dinner, and caught our first glimpse of this crazy city. The traffic that we walked past on our way to dinner was absolute chaos, so we laughed that there would be no beloved motorbikes for us - the only vehicle we could possibly feel safe in would be the big buses like the one we arrived in. Then we made it back to our hotel room and promptly booked a day tour with <a href="http://backofthebiketours.com/" target="_blank">Back of the Bike Tours</a>. Because we're here to face our fears, right?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqKmSWRLC94/UXj9gbb4N5I/AAAAAAAAFbs/t87uVfjgbeQ/s1600/DSCN3252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqKmSWRLC94/UXj9gbb4N5I/AAAAAAAAFbs/t87uVfjgbeQ/s1600/DSCN3252.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Our guides picked us up this morning, handed us helmets, and helped us onto the bikes behind them. We had two ladies, both very good at English, who each drove a motorbike with one of us on it. That was it! No big group, no megaphones, no matching stickers or hats. Just four people on two motorbikes in the insane Saigon traffic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvYkL0gHPsY/UXj-JkTyI_I/AAAAAAAAFb0/ASuYqLONH6U/s1600/DSCN3260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvYkL0gHPsY/UXj-JkTyI_I/AAAAAAAAFb0/ASuYqLONH6U/s1600/DSCN3260.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ON_VG-mV2w/UXp3QgvDVaI/AAAAAAAAFc0/gm_hDvED_QI/s1600/DSCN3253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ON_VG-mV2w/UXp3QgvDVaI/AAAAAAAAFc0/gm_hDvED_QI/s1600/DSCN3253.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8tQjTzXr4c/UXj-LYQJZGI/AAAAAAAAFb8/A2Gr7ztvFEE/s1600/DSCN3264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M8tQjTzXr4c/UXj-LYQJZGI/AAAAAAAAFb8/A2Gr7ztvFEE/s1600/DSCN3264.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FadTTjupCIg/UXj-RPLGcNI/AAAAAAAAFcE/LMmW96rCJvc/s1600/DSCN3272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FadTTjupCIg/UXj-RPLGcNI/AAAAAAAAFcE/LMmW96rCJvc/s1600/DSCN3272.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
First of all, we survived. I'm writing this from the safety of our hotel room. Second, it was an amazing way to see the city! We went everywhere, tried all kinds of different foods, asked lots of different questions about their government and religions here, and got advice on which sights we should visit around the city. These ladies were wonderful at introducing us to Vietnam, and we even enjoyed the heart-stopping weaves through crowded intersections. Maybe we would enjoy Vietnam after all!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xWpGP9mUnI/UXp2vL3gWVI/AAAAAAAAFcc/MYB7rPSIR_w/s1600/DSCN3285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9xWpGP9mUnI/UXp2vL3gWVI/AAAAAAAAFcc/MYB7rPSIR_w/s1600/DSCN3285.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mangosteen - a new favorite!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02fFNTtiqIg/UXp2x_hnpjI/AAAAAAAAFck/Q1bBapdmAtU/s1600/DSCN3286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02fFNTtiqIg/UXp2x_hnpjI/AAAAAAAAFck/Q1bBapdmAtU/s1600/DSCN3286.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first taste of dragonfrruit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pn2i3KPjmEE/UXp24CsUYFI/AAAAAAAAFcs/crWgqzNroDw/s1600/DSCN3288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pn2i3KPjmEE/UXp24CsUYFI/AAAAAAAAFcs/crWgqzNroDw/s1600/DSCN3288.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then the tour ended. It was 12:30, and our guides dropped us off at the main Post Office (at our request) with directions and encouragement to visit things like the museum and the cathedral. We had a map, we had our bearings, we were good. We made it to the museum just in time for them to reopen for the afternoon, and...I decided I wasn't feeling well. Too much heat and pollution for the day, and we can always save the museum for tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg4aSzDGHUY/UXp3ZHiWU2I/AAAAAAAAFc8/ENjGEcNLybo/s1600/DSCN3299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zg4aSzDGHUY/UXp3ZHiWU2I/AAAAAAAAFc8/ENjGEcNLybo/s1600/DSCN3299.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOE9nakxKiU/UXp3eBJT5iI/AAAAAAAAFdE/LXFYSZKG9bk/s1600/DSCN3303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cOE9nakxKiU/UXp3eBJT5iI/AAAAAAAAFdE/LXFYSZKG9bk/s1600/DSCN3303.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
TJ, bless his heart, took the first opportunity to get me back to the hotel he could find. While we were looking for a taxi, a man approached us, offering one. I asked him if it was a "company" taxi (the kind you want), and he said yes. Skeptical, we followed him. Halfway across the street, he changed tactics and suggested, "Would you ride a bicycle?" He meant the contraptions TJ and I call "cyclos" - a three-wheeled bicycle with a seat on the front for tourists. My gut reaction was a big "No!", but TJ wanted to get us back to the hotel and thought it would be fun.<br />
<br />
The guy took us to his friend and then jogged off around the corner. The cyclos each hold one person, so we needed two bikes for the two of us. The first guy had run off to get his own bike, which he had planned on taking us to all along. While we waited, the friend encouraged us to both hop on the bike, TJ in the driver's seat, for a photo op. When we hesitated, expecting him to charge us for the picture, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the bike. First sign. The first guy arrived with his bike, we both asked, separately, how much the ride would be, and both of our questions were expertly avoided. Second sign. We climbed in anyway. We weren't going very far; how much could it be?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--u7UlRQLkGc/UXp3j87OODI/AAAAAAAAFdM/r-_lpWEfoBs/s1600/DSCN3308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--u7UlRQLkGc/UXp3j87OODI/AAAAAAAAFdM/r-_lpWEfoBs/s1600/DSCN3308.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After a peacefully slow ride outside of the rush of traffic, we pulled into familiar territory, a couple blocks from our hotel. Then we stopped. Third sign. Even with TJ's map and specific instructions, the guys were finished, and our rides were over. Since TJ was carrying the money, he raised an eyebrow at our first guy's high price, but paid him, thinking it was for a unique experience. Then, that guy immediately pedaled off, leaving my driver demanding the same amount of money from me. That high price was for ONE of us, not both. When we balked, he pulled out convenient laminated papers showing the "official" prices for one-way and round-trip, both exorbitant. We had less than half the amount left in our wallet, so TJ sprinted off to the nearest ATM (he's always doing that!), leaving me waiting with the impatient driver.<br />
<br />
A few minutes later, dues paid, pride hurting, and final blocks walked, we angrily stumbled into our hotel room - to find that no one had touched it in the entire time we had been gone. Only the second time on this trip that we have splurged on a real hotel room, with a (gasp!) bathtub, hand towels, and maid service, and we don't even get to enjoy them! So we put in a polite call to the reception desk and parked ourselves in the lobby while our bed was being made.<br />
<br />
Now, we're sitting on our clean sheets, feeling much better, trying to recover our sense of adventure and brainstorming how to get out of this city and gain a different perspective. Apparently it is a Vietnamese holiday and all buses, trains, and private drivers out of the city are completely booked through the weekend. Now what do we do?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XU0J3MW6bk/UXp3qiFiHfI/AAAAAAAAFdU/D8_RBcdEBNM/s1600/DSCN3304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XU0J3MW6bk/UXp3qiFiHfI/AAAAAAAAFdU/D8_RBcdEBNM/s1600/DSCN3304.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-77351816248731130252013-04-25T10:16:00.000-04:002013-04-26T10:19:46.907-04:00Cambodia's Capital, BrieflyWe had three main goals for our time in Cambodia: visit Angkor Wat, procure visas to Vietnam for TJ and myself, and drop Jamie off at the Phnom Penh airport for her flight back to Bangkok. To accomplish all of that, we spent a total of about a week in Cambodia.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First piece of advice: don't spend a week in Cambodia.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A lot of travelers seem to whisk through this country, stopping for a day or two at Siem Reap to get a quick view of the temples between Thailand and Vietnam. That wasn't quite the experience I wanted, so we stayed for a few extra days. With two more days before Jamie's flight back to Bangkok, we didn't have time to go far, and we had to be Phnom Penh long enough to get our visas processed anyway.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So the bus we met at midnight in Siem Reap was a sleeper bus that would take us to Phnom Penh. Our first choice bus, the one that left at 1pm and would provide us with air conditioning in the hottest part of the day, was already booked, so we got three seats on the sleeper bus instead. The guy who booked the tickets told us the bus had beds instead of seats, and we were intrigued.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dBFWXIKbiHs/UXqJrYroj6I/AAAAAAAAFeE/QBpwSLoeFy8/s1600/DSCN3191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dBFWXIKbiHs/UXqJrYroj6I/AAAAAAAAFeE/QBpwSLoeFy8/s1600/DSCN3191.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The concept of beds on the bus was less intriguing when we saw it in practice. It looked like the seats were placed directly on the floor, with no legs, and extended to allow room for your legs in front of you. Scratch that - to allow room for a small, Asian person's legs in front of you. None of us fit! The seats were organized as bunks, with two seats above and two seats below. We were all on the bottom bunk, which meant no windows or lights. The top bunks had both, but no ladder to climb. We watched several people fail to get in their seats on their first launch, so they had to gear up for a second or third jump from the armrests below.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1bkRIlLvp0/UXqJnTadqnI/AAAAAAAAFd8/ME0J4Qac7_0/s1600/DSCN3189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1bkRIlLvp0/UXqJnTadqnI/AAAAAAAAFd8/ME0J4Qac7_0/s1600/DSCN3189.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKe9DwrChco/UXqKnsTdafI/AAAAAAAAFfE/M1bQ39PZ-E0/s1600/DSCN3186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKe9DwrChco/UXqKnsTdafI/AAAAAAAAFfE/M1bQ39PZ-E0/s1600/DSCN3186.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQNJNBH5NfM/UXqAg7hI3sI/AAAAAAAAFds/g8bzgULMq6U/s1600/DSCN3188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sQNJNBH5NfM/UXqAg7hI3sI/AAAAAAAAFds/g8bzgULMq6U/s1600/DSCN3188.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie put us in fits of laughter with this face. She looked like this for the first hour of our trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Despite all odds, Jamie ended up with a double seat to herself, and even TJ and I managed to find a comfortable position to get some sleep. We arrived in Phnom Penh at 7 am, tired but coherent.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We made a beeline to our hotel, where they offered us breakfast while we waited for our room to be ready. At 9 am, TJ and I handed over our passports for visa applications, and then we all crashed. With comfortable beds, good air conditioning, and full stomachs, we slept most of the day.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZM4r4RuxWH0/UXqJ31cRYLI/AAAAAAAAFeM/j39NOh5ORvo/s1600/DSCN3198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZM4r4RuxWH0/UXqJ31cRYLI/AAAAAAAAFeM/j39NOh5ORvo/s1600/DSCN3198.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0MsTmPjKw9M/UXqJ99qZ9fI/AAAAAAAAFeU/H8jhJ1qjvwQ/s1600/DSCN3202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0MsTmPjKw9M/UXqJ99qZ9fI/AAAAAAAAFeU/H8jhJ1qjvwQ/s1600/DSCN3202.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The heat of Cambodia and the constant attention of vendors had us worn out, so we spent our time in Phnom Penh recovering rather than touring. We rarely ventured far from our hotel's pool or our air-conditioned room, and only then to view the palace a short tuk tuk ride away. Instead, we watched movies, ordered fast food delivery, and enjoyed each other's company.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjYNk5FMrD4/UXqKByOEV6I/AAAAAAAAFec/j3CN7D4Z9B0/s1600/DSCN3213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjYNk5FMrD4/UXqKByOEV6I/AAAAAAAAFec/j3CN7D4Z9B0/s1600/DSCN3213.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsbbtyIdIBw/UXqKK7TGNXI/AAAAAAAAFek/Z2ZXoeCtpTE/s1600/DSCN3222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsbbtyIdIBw/UXqKK7TGNXI/AAAAAAAAFek/Z2ZXoeCtpTE/s1600/DSCN3222.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9WaaBDvZEa8/UXqKOVgW8pI/AAAAAAAAFes/2HIUaWl0mRA/s1600/DSCN3225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9WaaBDvZEa8/UXqKOVgW8pI/AAAAAAAAFes/2HIUaWl0mRA/s1600/DSCN3225.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A model of Angkor Wat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then we dropped Jamie off at the airport for her trip home! We have an early bus to Vietnam in the morning, but we stayed in Phnom Penh just long enough to know that she got out of Cambodia safely and to pick up our passports. The rest of our trip is just the two of us!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKXZ46SlCic/UXqKSOW-4HI/AAAAAAAAFe0/vBqWz4VhgEQ/s1600/DSCN3233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VKXZ46SlCic/UXqKSOW-4HI/AAAAAAAAFe0/vBqWz4VhgEQ/s1600/DSCN3233.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fTIqSAadvqM/UXqKaODMV0I/AAAAAAAAFe8/3btASznaia4/s1600/DSCN3244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fTIqSAadvqM/UXqKaODMV0I/AAAAAAAAFe8/3btASznaia4/s1600/DSCN3244.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ordered a pizza, and this is what we got: sausage, pineapple, and raisin. Surprisingly delicious!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-6793972254058539722013-04-24T08:53:00.000-04:002013-04-26T09:06:05.448-04:00Temples of CambodiaWhen I was growing up, I was influenced by some pretty great teachers. A couple of them in particular had interests in architecture and history that led to my fascination with certain monuments: the Taj Mahal, Hagia Sophia, and Angkor Wat - my three world wonders.<br />
<br />
In 2008, I made the trip to India to see the Taj Mahal. In 2011, TJ spent nearly an entire day at the Hagia Sophia in Turkey. Now, in 2013, I have seen Angkor Wat. All three are just as incredible as I hoped they would be.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wa77JzxRw5k/UXfR4HqLKVI/AAAAAAAAFak/IEGe0GMgiuA/s1600/DSCN3181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wa77JzxRw5k/UXfR4HqLKVI/AAAAAAAAFak/IEGe0GMgiuA/s1600/DSCN3181.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When we arrived in Siem Reap, we arranged through our hotel for a tuk tuk driver to give us a tour of the temples. On the first day, we purchased a three-day pass for $40 a person and were on our way!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZuNOLgrFUA/UXfKoO3TK4I/AAAAAAAAFU8/SU-jms7ajHw/s1600/DSCN2749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZuNOLgrFUA/UXfKoO3TK4I/AAAAAAAAFU8/SU-jms7ajHw/s1600/DSCN2749.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On2gQs055Uw/UXfKqP_xU6I/AAAAAAAAFVE/yypxk9CEOTc/s1600/DSCN2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-On2gQs055Uw/UXfKqP_xU6I/AAAAAAAAFVE/yypxk9CEOTc/s1600/DSCN2748.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The "thing to do" when you visit Angkor Wat is to arrive at sunrise. It is the only temple in the area that is facing west, so the sun rises behind the face of the temple. We were too exhausted from our journey to make the sunrise trek on the first day, so we slept in a bit and then started with a few of the far-off temples later in the day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LeNvJCNge4/UXfMLAViMxI/AAAAAAAAFWk/wa7RRkNoW0M/s1600/DSCN2820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0LeNvJCNge4/UXfMLAViMxI/AAAAAAAAFWk/wa7RRkNoW0M/s1600/DSCN2820.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It was hot. Blistering, how-can-we-possibly-be-next-door-to-Thailand HOT. The tuk tuk provided a nice, deceptive breeze when it was moving, but every time we stopped, the three of us would be dripping in sweat before we even reached the temple gate. During our stay in Siem Reap, we met fellow travelers who would spend up to eleven hours visiting temples so that they could see everything in one day. I can't imagine how they did it. Our longest day was about five hours, and I'm not sure we would have lasted a minute longer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEOCJWbeMdU/UXfKw_rJHMI/AAAAAAAAFVM/1vcZfSOtgMc/s1600/DSCN2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XEOCJWbeMdU/UXfKw_rJHMI/AAAAAAAAFVM/1vcZfSOtgMc/s1600/DSCN2754.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Despite the heat, we managed to visit three "temples" our first afternoon: Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean, and Pre Rup. Banteay Srei is a small temple referred to as the "Lady Temple." It has some of the best preserved samples of Khmer carvings in the world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Op0fymhDDto/UXfK06RltvI/AAAAAAAAFVU/Rnk27noeG28/s1600/DSCN2758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Op0fymhDDto/UXfK06RltvI/AAAAAAAAFVU/Rnk27noeG28/s1600/DSCN2758.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzUWgsr6ysg/UXfK6usW9dI/AAAAAAAAFVc/sHoxeJB5iGQ/s1600/DSCN2760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzUWgsr6ysg/UXfK6usW9dI/AAAAAAAAFVc/sHoxeJB5iGQ/s1600/DSCN2760.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFSG-Vid4wU/UXfLANxIfyI/AAAAAAAAFVk/Nmyk4BrlEV0/s1600/DSCN2765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFSG-Vid4wU/UXfLANxIfyI/AAAAAAAAFVk/Nmyk4BrlEV0/s1600/DSCN2765.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Kbal Spean isn't a temple. It's actually a riverbed that holds thousands of small carvings under the water. To view the river, you have to do a "small" hike up a nearby hill. With ridiculous heat and no water, we thought "well, we can probably handle a little walk." We were completely unprepared for 1500 meters of climbing over exposed tree roots and scaling near-vertical groups of rocks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Er69jaiWyKk/UXfLR6BjNiI/AAAAAAAAFVs/G1GfK5rhLDU/s1600/DSCN2771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Er69jaiWyKk/UXfLR6BjNiI/AAAAAAAAFVs/G1GfK5rhLDU/s1600/DSCN2771.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Eventually, we made it to the top and marveled at the carvings. They were definitely impressive. What really captured our attention, though, was the waterfall crashing just below the carvings. We each took turns stepping underneath it to cool off and get our hair wet. It was the perfect refreshment to get us ready for our hike back down to the tuk tuk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2eUivPAuwYM/UXfLWp0rdcI/AAAAAAAAFV0/aYNooJZNqP8/s1600/DSCN2772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2eUivPAuwYM/UXfLWp0rdcI/AAAAAAAAFV0/aYNooJZNqP8/s1600/DSCN2772.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXQzQteH2hg/UXfLc2yfBvI/AAAAAAAAFV8/wPNNA6VJ00A/s1600/DSCN2778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXQzQteH2hg/UXfLc2yfBvI/AAAAAAAAFV8/wPNNA6VJ00A/s1600/DSCN2778.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IpPZSGnO8vA/UXfLicgylpI/AAAAAAAAFWE/pwTM2Dk_Fsc/s1600/DSCN2784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IpPZSGnO8vA/UXfLicgylpI/AAAAAAAAFWE/pwTM2Dk_Fsc/s1600/DSCN2784.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Pre Rup is a larger temple that we passed on our way back to the hotel. It's a popular spot to watch the sun set. Most of the days we were in Siem Reap were overcast in the evenings, so we were lucky to be able to watch the sunset on a clear day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QiA-8v5uvq0/UXfL1v4NdfI/AAAAAAAAFWU/9kDTjK6TCTs/s1600/DSCN2809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QiA-8v5uvq0/UXfL1v4NdfI/AAAAAAAAFWU/9kDTjK6TCTs/s1600/DSCN2809.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzetUNMecmo/UXfMDxTb9FI/AAAAAAAAFWc/1Bzn6cvTiwI/s1600/DSCN2815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzetUNMecmo/UXfMDxTb9FI/AAAAAAAAFWc/1Bzn6cvTiwI/s1600/DSCN2815.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vdQKmwFBN_A/UXfMYoPf12I/AAAAAAAAFW0/2tK7FZYtFoI/s1600/DSCN2857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vdQKmwFBN_A/UXfMYoPf12I/AAAAAAAAFW0/2tK7FZYtFoI/s1600/DSCN2857.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h070epr0wjs/UXfMb_txbLI/AAAAAAAAFW8/AQLFR4Rjuho/s1600/DSCN2858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h070epr0wjs/UXfMb_txbLI/AAAAAAAAFW8/AQLFR4Rjuho/s1600/DSCN2858.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We made a plan with our tuk tuk driver to see sunrise at Angkor Wat in two days and decided to take the day off in between. We had a day of wandering around Siem Reap, sleeping as much as we wanted, getting massages, and soaking in the hotel's pool. We also made time to prepare for our adventure the next day by visiting the museum in town. It walked us through the timelines and symbolism of the big temples we were about to see.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2atwMmASA4E/UXfMv5L9_iI/AAAAAAAAFXE/7oIy32A-zfY/s1600/DSCN2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2atwMmASA4E/UXfMv5L9_iI/AAAAAAAAFXE/7oIy32A-zfY/s1600/DSCN2884.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tiVIdzManxU/UXfMzn4DUYI/AAAAAAAAFXM/RGklLRFWuU8/s1600/DSCN2885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tiVIdzManxU/UXfMzn4DUYI/AAAAAAAAFXM/RGklLRFWuU8/s1600/DSCN2885.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DBxpU7R3BYc/UXfSrJMWq9I/AAAAAAAAFaw/hCyujKPlfAw/s1600/DSCN2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DBxpU7R3BYc/UXfSrJMWq9I/AAAAAAAAFaw/hCyujKPlfAw/s1600/DSCN2886.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since it was our "free day," we decided to make fun plans for dinner! Our hotel set us up with a traditional dance dinner theater downtown. For $12 per person, we were excited about a night of Cambodian culture and food. The dancing was nice and entertaining, but what really impressed us was the food. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet, and there was tons of it! We each went back for several plates full of different things to try.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8MJJ1pKJmE/UXfNIOX6JLI/AAAAAAAAFXY/oCq-QMNH2f8/s1600/DSCN2891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8MJJ1pKJmE/UXfNIOX6JLI/AAAAAAAAFXY/oCq-QMNH2f8/s1600/DSCN2891.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBr3vzfy-YA/UXfNNKxhWUI/AAAAAAAAFXg/8b9P8PzrPbA/s1600/DSCN2894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBr3vzfy-YA/UXfNNKxhWUI/AAAAAAAAFXg/8b9P8PzrPbA/s1600/DSCN2894.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMkesT7sNeA/UXfNUseUhYI/AAAAAAAAFXo/m3ekWtU6byQ/s1600/DSCN2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IMkesT7sNeA/UXfNUseUhYI/AAAAAAAAFXo/m3ekWtU6byQ/s1600/DSCN2897.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bm4FaIsNsrs/UXfNbuy013I/AAAAAAAAFXw/aINpbsDNRn0/s1600/DSCN2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bm4FaIsNsrs/UXfNbuy013I/AAAAAAAAFXw/aINpbsDNRn0/s1600/DSCN2902.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Then, it was the big day! We awoke at 4 am so we could meet our driver at 4:45. He whisked us to Angkor Wat, where it was still so dark we could barely see the outline of the towers. Our driver had suggested we stand just in front of the reflecting pool to watch sunrise, but it was so dark that we couldn't tell what was water and what wasn't. Our first attempt at entering the temple was blocked by a group of white-robed worshipers kneeling at the front entryway. (We later realized that entrance was closed for construction anyway).<br />
<br />
As the outline of the temple was becoming more visible, the number of people joining us at the temple was also growing. We scrambled back down the long walkway to claim a spot near the reflecting pools, now that we could see that was where other people were heading. Then we watched one of the most spectacular sunrises I have ever seen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fg7I9ZkcUuM/UXfNjJF0gtI/AAAAAAAAFX4/cLAEITIvp4I/s1600/DSCN2905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fg7I9ZkcUuM/UXfNjJF0gtI/AAAAAAAAFX4/cLAEITIvp4I/s1600/DSCN2905.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZFtC24E3ac/UXfNoJxQIcI/AAAAAAAAFYA/oNy-I2LPVQc/s1600/DSCN2908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NZFtC24E3ac/UXfNoJxQIcI/AAAAAAAAFYA/oNy-I2LPVQc/s1600/DSCN2908.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wpdTQzSTZ4/UXfNynvk1AI/AAAAAAAAFYI/H6d8tk0undY/s1600/DSCN2916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wpdTQzSTZ4/UXfNynvk1AI/AAAAAAAAFYI/H6d8tk0undY/s1600/DSCN2916.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-psKgWbgx-iQ/UXfN4TXij6I/AAAAAAAAFYQ/YO5NzNE2cJI/s1600/DSCN2926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-psKgWbgx-iQ/UXfN4TXij6I/AAAAAAAAFYQ/YO5NzNE2cJI/s1600/DSCN2926.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After a few hours taking in the beauty of Angkor Wat, we grabbed a quick breakfast and headed to the next area of temples.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8v4Mh9z5zG8/UXfOB6JOXxI/AAAAAAAAFYY/NjqL4sll7A8/s1600/DSCN2951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8v4Mh9z5zG8/UXfOB6JOXxI/AAAAAAAAFYY/NjqL4sll7A8/s1600/DSCN2951.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xhlgzWHBoGM/UXfO_D1XN7I/AAAAAAAAFYk/JdcFZWrMq3o/s1600/DSCN2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xhlgzWHBoGM/UXfO_D1XN7I/AAAAAAAAFYk/JdcFZWrMq3o/s1600/DSCN2983.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E9V9AB4sgMY/UXfTKKB_r2I/AAAAAAAAFa8/wmm4TK2csoI/s1600/DSCN2943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E9V9AB4sgMY/UXfTKKB_r2I/AAAAAAAAFa8/wmm4TK2csoI/s1600/DSCN2943.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0Pkm-YUdFc/UXfTYQbfUCI/AAAAAAAAFbE/58_JCbYRIuw/s1600/DSCN2974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0Pkm-YUdFc/UXfTYQbfUCI/AAAAAAAAFbE/58_JCbYRIuw/s1600/DSCN2974.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Angkor Thom was the capital of the Khmer empire in the 1100's. It is a huge city, with city walls, temples, and parts of the palace grounds still standing. We started with the most well-known temple in the city: the Bayon temple.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oaM9Nd7kidI/UXfPQ1mvR8I/AAAAAAAAFY0/9ZvAL6Ygq9o/s1600/DSCN3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oaM9Nd7kidI/UXfPQ1mvR8I/AAAAAAAAFY0/9ZvAL6Ygq9o/s1600/DSCN3027.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiaW8nBn-Po/UXfPgFvS3cI/AAAAAAAAFY8/zXTrRkZBDSg/s1600/DSCN3051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JiaW8nBn-Po/UXfPgFvS3cI/AAAAAAAAFY8/zXTrRkZBDSg/s1600/DSCN3051.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSdtTcXMjYs/UXfPmUI8csI/AAAAAAAAFZE/AOXeRBzUtqs/s1600/DSCN3061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSdtTcXMjYs/UXfPmUI8csI/AAAAAAAAFZE/AOXeRBzUtqs/s1600/DSCN3061.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
We finished up by visiting a few other ruins in the area, and then we made it back to the hotel before lunch time. We were exhausted! Our evening plans included a trip to the night market, but we knew we needed to recharge if that was ever going to happen. As it was, we made it to the market, but I felt like I was sleep walking the entire time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qVq97h0Lbe8/UXfRo-yyGMI/AAAAAAAAFZY/rfIq-EK_gKg/s1600/DSCN3089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qVq97h0Lbe8/UXfRo-yyGMI/AAAAAAAAFZY/rfIq-EK_gKg/s1600/DSCN3089.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpayEi6fKm0/UXfRuAt6TTI/AAAAAAAAFZg/NTM4V49ktx8/s1600/DSCN3092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpayEi6fKm0/UXfRuAt6TTI/AAAAAAAAFZg/NTM4V49ktx8/s1600/DSCN3092.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYAKCzKwOLI/UXfRvrXobZI/AAAAAAAAFZo/7Vts9ajuhOY/s1600/DSCN3105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYAKCzKwOLI/UXfRvrXobZI/AAAAAAAAFZo/7Vts9ajuhOY/s1600/DSCN3105.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VG5SAEZlWY/UXfRxiEyJUI/AAAAAAAAFZw/Dl9sJ5rml6c/s1600/DSCN3110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VG5SAEZlWY/UXfRxiEyJUI/AAAAAAAAFZw/Dl9sJ5rml6c/s1600/DSCN3110.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6HoTG4BS7wo/UXfRyyKnc5I/AAAAAAAAFZ8/N_0El-1Zoa0/s1600/DSCN3116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6HoTG4BS7wo/UXfRyyKnc5I/AAAAAAAAFZ8/N_0El-1Zoa0/s1600/DSCN3116.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The next day was our last day in Siem Reap. We had an overnight bus ride to Phnom Penh that night and no plans for the day. On a whim, we decided to take in one more view of the temples. Our regular driver was already booked for the day, so our hotel called in their back-ups - every single one of them. Each person they called had taken advantage of a day off and left town! Finally, they reached the last name on their list and the driver said he'd pick us up in ten minutes. Success!<br />
<br />
We mostly wanted the tuk tuk to drive us around and give us that good breeze we appreciated so much. It turns out that the temples aren't nearly as far away as they look on the map, though, so the breeze didn't last all that long. In between, we got out and trudged through the remaining temples, trying to appreciate them despite the withering heat. By the last temple, we were all a little slower to get out of the tuk tuk. After four days of soaking up ancient culture with no complaints, Jamie finally announced she was done. TJ and I went in for a quick look at the East Mebon temple, full of elephant statues, before meeting her back at the tuk tuk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfVIaiTy9ic/UXfR0qTwz8I/AAAAAAAAFaE/iL3LUvtmyQ0/s1600/DSCN3145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EfVIaiTy9ic/UXfR0qTwz8I/AAAAAAAAFaE/iL3LUvtmyQ0/s1600/DSCN3145.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-skcJP77LIlA/UXfR1jRCuuI/AAAAAAAAFaM/J8JWkDAnJqU/s1600/DSCN3147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-skcJP77LIlA/UXfR1jRCuuI/AAAAAAAAFaM/J8JWkDAnJqU/s1600/DSCN3147.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LkMFJgmwJU/UXfR2tR0rAI/AAAAAAAAFaU/J_GI_TQbHCk/s1600/DSCN3151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LkMFJgmwJU/UXfR2tR0rAI/AAAAAAAAFaU/J_GI_TQbHCk/s1600/DSCN3151.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVqS9PXwCv0/UXfR3r3RnBI/AAAAAAAAFac/rjF7ELo3MFw/s1600/DSCN3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVqS9PXwCv0/UXfR3r3RnBI/AAAAAAAAFac/rjF7ELo3MFw/s1600/DSCN3159.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
We killed time for the rest of the night at the swimming pool and market, and then we met our midnight bus to Phnom Penh. That's an entirely different story.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtJhsE74MY8/UXSRyM8dAAI/AAAAAAAAFZQ/9WoRx5vUvcc/s1600/DSCN3172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtJhsE74MY8/UXSRyM8dAAI/AAAAAAAAFZQ/9WoRx5vUvcc/s1600/DSCN3172.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-59460577249624043572013-04-21T21:36:00.000-04:002013-04-21T22:23:46.342-04:00Thailand and Cambodia are not the same...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I<span style="font-family: inherit;">f you had asked me two months ago what the difference
between Thailand and Cambodia was, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you. Now,
I am very aware of the differences. It looks different, the people are
different, the language is different, the money is different, the markets are
different, the Tuk-tuks are different, and the food is different.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our trip into Cambodia started with a marathon travel
session by boat, mini-bus, songtaew, overnight bus, local bus, and our now
travel-hardened own two feet. We left Koh Phi Phi on an early ferry and had a
few hours to kill before our overnight bus to Bangkok, so we negotiated a price
with the waiting mini-bus driver and we were on our way to the beach town of Ao
Nang, about 30km from Krabi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ-4j3Wa4c8/UXSRGoT-2BI/AAAAAAAAFTI/rX03YNTUrF4/s1600/DSCN2721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ-4j3Wa4c8/UXSRGoT-2BI/AAAAAAAAFTI/rX03YNTUrF4/s320/DSCN2721.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We ate a delicious lunch right next to a big air conditioner
and couldn’t have been happier. After a while, we strapped back on our
backpacks and did a little sightseeing around the town. We noticed the skies
were growing a little gray, so we flagged down a passing songtaew (A small
pickup truck with a canopy and two benches down the length of the bed) and
hopped a ride back to the Krabi bus station just as it started to drizzle. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z3niziICs9k/UXSRLOMPzLI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/ymAuS0G1FhM/s1600/DSCN2723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z3niziICs9k/UXSRLOMPzLI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/ymAuS0G1FhM/s320/DSCN2723.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8297nHas-eQ/UXSROlt6_CI/AAAAAAAAFTY/DlFiL1GHToI/s1600/DSCN2726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8297nHas-eQ/UXSROlt6_CI/AAAAAAAAFTY/DlFiL1GHToI/s320/DSCN2726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3H3FP7GKIw4/UXSRP1MzEYI/AAAAAAAAFTg/1mcGawL-JKg/s1600/DSCN2731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3H3FP7GKIw4/UXSRP1MzEYI/AAAAAAAAFTg/1mcGawL-JKg/s320/DSCN2731.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We loaded up on dinner and snacks for our overnight ride to
Bangkok, which was scheduled to arrive around 5am. Our plan was to grab a taxi
as soon as we arrived, high-tail it to the train station, and catch the 5:55am
train to the Cambodian border. Our bus finally arrived in Bangkok at 6:05am.
Awesome…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Px0Usb0WnUg/UXSRRC4xsiI/AAAAAAAAFTo/WWFNNoSoWS8/s1600/DSCN2732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Px0Usb0WnUg/UXSRRC4xsiI/AAAAAAAAFTo/WWFNNoSoWS8/s320/DSCN2732.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CMk5Fb9urDs/UXSRWMI3N5I/AAAAAAAAFTw/gtiz2r_jgn0/s1600/DSCN2733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CMk5Fb9urDs/UXSRWMI3N5I/AAAAAAAAFTw/gtiz2r_jgn0/s320/DSCN2733.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">New plan! We were at the Southern Bus Terminal, and knew
that buses leaving for the border left from the Northern Bus Terminal (or as we
like to call it, “The bus terminal that sent us to Ban Mi instead of Sing Buri”)
After asking a helpful conductor, lots of gesturing, and saying “Mo Chit Bus
Station?” over and over, we got on the local bus 28. Sure enough, it dropped us
off right next to the Northern Bus Terminal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What’s this? The actual building for buying tickets with
signs in English and helpful staff? Where did this come from? I didn’t see this
the first time…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had heard a few stories from people warning against
buying a ticket straight through, as sometimes the ticket wasn’t honored once
you reached the Cambodian side of the border, but we found a good price on
tickets to Siem Reap through the state run bus company that we have had good
luck with so far, and the bus was leaving in 45 minutes, so we decided to risk
it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DqIlqQY5RHw/UXSRcTlqe7I/AAAAAAAAFT4/j03NaZgb5YQ/s1600/DSCN2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DqIlqQY5RHw/UXSRcTlqe7I/AAAAAAAAFT4/j03NaZgb5YQ/s320/DSCN2742.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6xOiReCah6o/UXSReU_f0hI/AAAAAAAAFUA/MIdVD1MNQ5s/s1600/DSCN2737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6xOiReCah6o/UXSReU_f0hI/AAAAAAAAFUA/MIdVD1MNQ5s/s320/DSCN2737.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l9xanNSGyf8/UXSRgsDrKPI/AAAAAAAAFUI/Qi5VBsni4v4/s1600/DSCN2736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l9xanNSGyf8/UXSRgsDrKPI/AAAAAAAAFUI/Qi5VBsni4v4/s320/DSCN2736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The bus itself actually worked out great. The only problem
we had with it was when they brought us to a satellite office to purchase our
Cambodian visas instead of purchasing them at the border. We ended up paying
about $15 more than our guide books told us to expect, but it was hassle free
and now we know better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our real problems happened at the border crossing. Courtney
and I had obtained 30 day visas for Thailand on March 18. We checked the
wording online, and it said the visas were valid “for a period not exceeding 30
days” which, to us, meant we had til the end of the day on April 17. Apparently
Thai time applies to days as well as minutes and hours, because the tiny stamp
on the bottom of our visas in our passports said April 16. According to them,
we had overstayed our visas by one day, and there was a 500 baht charge for
each of us (about $17). Not only that, but we were leaving Thailand, and so instead
of carrying around the extra baht with us, we had spent the last of it on water
and snacks. We stepped out of line, I dropped my bag at Courtney’s feet, and
sprinted back into Thailand, desperately looking for an ATM. I found one at a
nearby market, yanked the 1000 baht out, and sprinted back. We had to wait
through another line to pay, and then yet another line to get a receipt for
paying. We finally stepped out on the other side, and our hearts sank when we realized
we didn’t see our bus, nor anyone from it. We wandered forward, going through
the possible scenarios in our head. “At least we have our Passports and an ATM
card. There is a hotel over there if we’re stranded. If nothing else, there is
a guy selling tax-free whiskey and we’ll figure out our problems tomorrow.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thankfully, after a few more steps, we spotted our bus, and
another line of our fellow travelers under a sign that said “Passport Control”.
Whew! Once we knew we hadn’t been left, the new long line didn’t bother us as
much. We had our passports stamped and jumped back on board to watch the now
drastically different country side go by on our remaining two-hour ride to Siem
Reap. Instead of brick houses and shops, we were now passing shabby wooden shacks,
naked children playing in their front yards, and multiple people peeing on the
side of the road. Our bus driver pulled over at a roadside stand, and proceeded
to purchase a plastic bag full of fried whole frogs, complete with head and
legs still attached. We were a little wide eyed as we drove, but luckily the
scenery became a little more like what were used to as we approached Siem Reap.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our bus dropped us off in the middle of town, which was
actually the middle of a town, and we were introduced to another difference
between the countries: the persistence of people trying to get you to spend
money. In Thailand, they might ask you if you need a tuk-tuk or want a massage,
and then politely nod and smile when you say no. In Cambodia, we were bombarded
with a steady stream of “Lady Sir, you want massage only 1 dollar.” “Sir Lady,
you need tuk tuk I know where you go. Anywhere in city one dollar person.” “Lady
Lady you buy from me I give you discount please.” It never stops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We were determined not to get a tuk tuk from someone harassing
us at a bus station, so we google maps’d our way and started walking. As we
were leaving, we picked up another fellow traveler who was looking for a place
to stay, so Marc from Pittsburg walked the 1km or so with us. Something about
us must have seemed trustworthy, because our route quickly turned into a mud
filled alleyway between buildings, but he plodded along with us, and after only
one or two wrong turns, we saw the sign for Siem Reap Rooms Guesthouse. Not
knowing what to expect after our walk through that part of town and expecting
more of the same, we were blown away with the little gem of a hotel we were at.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vyuRDQSNKM/UXSR8F5Ua0I/AAAAAAAAFUo/Y7mx-vFe8eo/s1600/DSCN3132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vyuRDQSNKM/UXSR8F5Ua0I/AAAAAAAAFUo/Y7mx-vFe8eo/s320/DSCN3132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The staff was super friendly, and walked us
through the possible tours of the temples that they offered while they gave us
free, super delicious welcome drinks of honey lemon iced tea. The furniture was
all dark stained wood and everything was very clean. Our room had comfy beds
and our own private bathroom. It even had a rooftop pool. After the long 36
hour journey to get there, we felt like we were in heaven.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQTBxZ1WZFQ/UXSRqZ7mg4I/AAAAAAAAFUQ/Yw-QsxXV_ds/s1600/DSCN2871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jQTBxZ1WZFQ/UXSRqZ7mg4I/AAAAAAAAFUQ/Yw-QsxXV_ds/s320/DSCN2871.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtJhsE74MY8/UXSRyM8dAAI/AAAAAAAAFUg/0GF0mTuMsWk/s1600/DSCN3172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZtJhsE74MY8/UXSRyM8dAAI/AAAAAAAAFUg/0GF0mTuMsWk/s320/DSCN3172.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064275686815629327noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-60182673314950646222013-04-21T11:58:00.000-04:002013-04-21T11:58:07.184-04:00Good times at the beach!For the beach evenings that we weren't exhausted or battling a storm at sea, we found fun places to hang out for a while and meet new people.<br />
<br />
Our first night in Krabi, that place was a restaurant called Mr. Krab-i's. Our friends from Peetim's house, Jess and Tom, discovered it when they were visiting Krabi and told us we had to check it out. We found ourselves hungry again after an early dinner and headed down the street to find this place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HmHKz_uUBg/UXQGoeKRr9I/AAAAAAAAFRs/9TrKop4CVV0/s1600/DSCN2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_HmHKz_uUBg/UXQGoeKRr9I/AAAAAAAAFRs/9TrKop4CVV0/s1600/DSCN2470.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Mr. Krab-i's is an Italian restaurant with a bar, so we started with a round of appetizers and drinks. As we were ordering, TJ jumped right in by asking our waiter, "Are you Max?" Surprised, he answered, "Yes. How did you know?" That got us talking about how we had heard of his restaurant. Max spent most of the rest of the evening sitting near our table, chatting with us, suggesting his favorite foods for us to order, and telling us stories about how an Italian guy ended up in Krabi, Thailand.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O1b7GNOY2_8/UXQGkrNI8uI/AAAAAAAAFRk/w-8xFEIlzBA/s1600/DSCN2473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O1b7GNOY2_8/UXQGkrNI8uI/AAAAAAAAFRk/w-8xFEIlzBA/s1600/DSCN2473.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My favorite part of the night was as we were getting ready to go, and Max called us back to the bar for one more drink. He explained the origin of "Mr. Krabi-i" (Mr. Krab-"eye") was a tequila shot we call the pirate shot: you snort the salt, drink the tequila, and squirt the lime in your eye! He poured us each a tequila shot - on the house! - during the story, then told us to enjoy the shot the normal way. Cheers! If you're ever in Krabi, you have to go by his restaurant. The food is delicious, but the company is even better.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5bMYw-NICM/UXQGhRbbDTI/AAAAAAAAFRc/c8hk4Gk99ho/s1600/DSCN2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5bMYw-NICM/UXQGhRbbDTI/AAAAAAAAFRc/c8hk4Gk99ho/s1600/DSCN2472.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Our next night out was on the island of Koh Phi Phi (pronounced "Pee Pee"), after our boat adventure. We napped in the afternoon, and then wandered out to explore the town for dinner. Just around the next corner, we found Reggae Bar, the bar we had heard of where they allow (encourage) tourists to participate in Muay Thai fights against each other. TJ was so excited about this opportunity, so we grabbed a table up close to the action and let the staff know he was game. Then we waited.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKq8ca0YsnY/UXQG5gP5p0I/AAAAAAAAFR0/ruIJUiyPKgk/s1600/DSCN2684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CKq8ca0YsnY/UXQG5gP5p0I/AAAAAAAAFR0/ruIJUiyPKgk/s1600/DSCN2684.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gn7tbRsQXS8/UXQG9ToQtBI/AAAAAAAAFR8/lmM7kS6GhpU/s1600/DSCN2687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gn7tbRsQXS8/UXQG9ToQtBI/AAAAAAAAFR8/lmM7kS6GhpU/s1600/DSCN2687.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
It took ages for the rest of audience to drink enough to think fighting was a good idea. They even paraded TJ around the ring for a few minutes, daring other tourists to step up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MucUzXr5pdc/UXQHEb81eFI/AAAAAAAAFSE/zBUHJdrVjS0/s1600/DSCN2697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MucUzXr5pdc/UXQHEb81eFI/AAAAAAAAFSE/zBUHJdrVjS0/s1600/DSCN2697.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Just when I was starting to the think it wasn't going to happen, a Canadian guy decided he was brave enough and signed up. He and TJ headed to the back to suit up and drink a beer together. Jamie and I were on pins and needles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uxWZWLX7U2E/UXQHRfO9kYI/AAAAAAAAFSU/sIMqfAL2zqE/s1600/DSCN2701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uxWZWLX7U2E/UXQHRfO9kYI/AAAAAAAAFSU/sIMqfAL2zqE/s1600/DSCN2701.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ys0fdJOFZuA/UXQHKEA5s4I/AAAAAAAAFSM/kp9QQ8DKREg/s1600/DSCN2703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ys0fdJOFZuA/UXQHKEA5s4I/AAAAAAAAFSM/kp9QQ8DKREg/s1600/DSCN2703.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
They stepped into the ring, and the bell rang. The fight had started! TJ showed off his skills in the first minute - sending the guy to the ground with a punch to the face. I was so proud!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SN8d_sE3nuQ/UXQHbPR9I9I/AAAAAAAAFSc/-AQS0BbCsaE/s1600/DSCN2708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SN8d_sE3nuQ/UXQHbPR9I9I/AAAAAAAAFSc/-AQS0BbCsaE/s1600/DSCN2708.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The fight ended after three rounds, and then the guys stood next to each other, waiting for the judgement. The ref raised TJ's hand. He won!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wIcGUJ7QUAM/UXQHhgAkQwI/AAAAAAAAFSk/cQzkusYE6T0/s1600/DSCN2713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wIcGUJ7QUAM/UXQHhgAkQwI/AAAAAAAAFSk/cQzkusYE6T0/s1600/DSCN2713.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yE1o6H1KrgI/UXQHnxssDCI/AAAAAAAAFS0/Cal4P7ewhVg/s1600/DSCN2715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yE1o6H1KrgI/UXQHnxssDCI/AAAAAAAAFS0/Cal4P7ewhVg/s1600/DSCN2715.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
The most random part of the evening happened in the middle of TJ"s fight. I was standing on the edge of the ring filming, and as the bell rang to end a round, I felt a hand tap on my ankle. I looked down, expecting to see a staff member asking me to move. Instead, I saw a familiar face! There was a group of girls from Canada that we ran into everywhere we went. They were in TJ's surfing class in Byron Bay. They were in our hostel in Noosa and on our bus once or twice. Just when we thought we had lost them, we passed them on the street in Airlie Beach. Now, a month later, we were in Thailand, and here were the girls again - two of them, at least - following our footsteps again. What are the odds?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FCCumNDooJo/UXQHmkUZkII/AAAAAAAAFS4/TIg2jCIvY5c/s1600/DSCN2714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FCCumNDooJo/UXQHmkUZkII/AAAAAAAAFS4/TIg2jCIvY5c/s1600/DSCN2714.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As our Canadian shadows are beginning their Thailand adventure, we are ending ours. From here, we head to Cambodia!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-35109281517597703472013-04-19T10:58:00.001-04:002013-04-19T10:58:48.627-04:00Maya Bay Adventure!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
It is so beautiful that they used it to film the Leonardo DiCaprio movie “The
Beach”. It is located on the island of Phi Phi Ley, near the tourist haven of
Phi Phi Don. Most tourists from Phi Phi Don hire a boat taxi and head out to
Maya Bay for a few hours, ruining the picturesque setting with their loud
noises and tiny speedos. Courtney, Jamie, and I had a plan to defeat the other
tourists and have the beach all to ourselves.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QmPJ9daVs9g/UXFYpsql84I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/1AGghSCLZFo/s1600/DSCN2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QmPJ9daVs9g/UXFYpsql84I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/1AGghSCLZFo/s320/DSCN2661.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had a heard from a few travelers along the way that the
only real way to see Maya Bay was to book a Sleep Aboard Tour. There is one
company that has permission from the government (It’s a national park) for this
type of trip. They take a small group of travelers out on their boat in the
afternoon, arrive at Maya Bay just as the rest of the tourists are leaving,
take you to the beach for some swimming and relaxing, feed you dinner, give you
a bucket of fruit juice and rum, play music, and participate in your drinking
games. After that, they take you back out to the boat, let you swim in the
amazing light show of the phosphorescent plankton, then set you up with a
pillow, sleeping bag, and mattress on the deck so you can fall asleep under the
stars. Back to the beach for a while in the morning before the next group of
tourists arrive, then back to the boat for breakfast before finally heading
back to Phi Phi Don. How could we possibly pass this up?!?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We booked our trip online a few days in advance, and we got
a confirmation and some instructions. We booked ferry tickets for that morning
from Krabi, and grabbed some yogurts from 7-11 for breakfast. Our ferry tickets
included a van ride from our hotel to the pier, so it was a relatively easy
journey from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5NeYa2DtfHE/UXFXFIvzFRI/AAAAAAAAFO8/UHNaSg3C-tU/s1600/DSCN2557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5NeYa2DtfHE/UXFXFIvzFRI/AAAAAAAAFO8/UHNaSg3C-tU/s320/DSCN2557.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2I43OhjBmUo/UXFXJxCwPfI/AAAAAAAAFPE/OR6q3uIvFBg/s1600/DSCN2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2I43OhjBmUo/UXFXJxCwPfI/AAAAAAAAFPE/OR6q3uIvFBg/s320/DSCN2561.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We hopped off the ferry and made our way to the travel
office where we were able to leave most of our stuff while we were on the boat.
We grabbed a quick bite to eat at a local Italian place and then it was off to
meet our boat. We found it at the pier with plenty of time to spare, and
eventually headed off to Phi Phi Ley. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yQfYBLh_GRA/UXFXNGIPpSI/AAAAAAAAFPM/01K8kUTbDqI/s1600/DSCN2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yQfYBLh_GRA/UXFXNGIPpSI/AAAAAAAAFPM/01K8kUTbDqI/s320/DSCN2571.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbVvNj_yxOE/UXFXRch6LYI/AAAAAAAAFPU/ZdEnXIoHVKM/s1600/DSCN2574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbVvNj_yxOE/UXFXRch6LYI/AAAAAAAAFPU/ZdEnXIoHVKM/s320/DSCN2574.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Along the way to Maya Bay, we stopped at a few interesting
places. The first was a place called the “Viking Caves”. Apparently pirates
used to hide out here 500 years ago, and found out that making soup from the
nest of the swallow’s that roost here is actually nutritious because it is made
from the saliva of the swallow. Today, those same bird’s nests sell for 6,000
Euros per kilo in Europe, making it some of the most expensive spit in the
world. There are a few Thai guys who live in the cave, and climb to impossible
heights using only bamboo poles tied together to reach these nests. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mi9aBP5xVro/UXFXY5hkisI/AAAAAAAAFPc/r-xdX3UqJDk/s1600/DSCN2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mi9aBP5xVro/UXFXY5hkisI/AAAAAAAAFPc/r-xdX3UqJDk/s320/DSCN2582.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also stopped at a small bay to do a little snorkeling.
Courtney is getting braver by the day and jumped right in (not off the top of
the boat like I did, but close enough). We swam for a while with the fish while
Jamie kayaked around us. Eventually we got back on board for a quick snack as we
made our way to Maya Bay.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lV9glzMQZVA/UXFXd1UYVwI/AAAAAAAAFPk/6IIhpXNJGzc/s1600/DSCN2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lV9glzMQZVA/UXFXd1UYVwI/AAAAAAAAFPk/6IIhpXNJGzc/s320/DSCN2588.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeqKmumLPds/UXFXpOOZisI/AAAAAAAAFPs/fX3n42cpWBA/s1600/DSCN2594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qeqKmumLPds/UXFXpOOZisI/AAAAAAAAFPs/fX3n42cpWBA/s320/DSCN2594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewNiv2KVDnw/UXFXxecEo0I/AAAAAAAAFP0/TJqTQAoI5JY/s1600/DSCN2610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewNiv2KVDnw/UXFXxecEo0I/AAAAAAAAFP0/TJqTQAoI5JY/s320/DSCN2610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Fiw-W1VX2k/UXFX8fOgh_I/AAAAAAAAFP8/o-ha_dTDaMs/s1600/DSCN2630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Fiw-W1VX2k/UXFX8fOgh_I/AAAAAAAAFP8/o-ha_dTDaMs/s320/DSCN2630.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihv4BhDkzNk/UXFX_CrdW0I/AAAAAAAAFQE/OLCTMIYCbZc/s1600/DSCN2621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihv4BhDkzNk/UXFX_CrdW0I/AAAAAAAAFQE/OLCTMIYCbZc/s320/DSCN2621.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you’ve seen the movie, you know exactly what I’m about to
describe because it looks just as beautiful in real life as it does in the
film. The bay itself is fairly shallow, and you can see right to the bottom.
The water is a beautiful green color in the sunlight, and the entire thing is
surrounded by high, rocky cliffs except for a small opening out to the ocean.
It’s absolutely breathtaking. We took our big boat just a little ways into the
bay, and then rode the dingy to the beach itself. We arrived around 5:00pm, and
most of the tourists were leaving as we arrived. It was awesome to watch
everyone else leave, and then have the beach all to ourselves. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wrxIz-_sh5Y/UXFYEu9fw1I/AAAAAAAAFQM/ZA_P8BUAxak/s1600/DSCN2647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wrxIz-_sh5Y/UXFYEu9fw1I/AAAAAAAAFQM/ZA_P8BUAxak/s640/DSCN2647.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VPN7SmE1qRc/UXFYLch8nGI/AAAAAAAAFQU/3FP_oQRbKgo/s1600/DSCN2644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VPN7SmE1qRc/UXFYLch8nGI/AAAAAAAAFQU/3FP_oQRbKgo/s320/DSCN2644.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L-G51S0bzMY/UXFZCGoUfOI/AAAAAAAAFRM/v0d0Z5pIwqU/s1600/DSCN2671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L-G51S0bzMY/UXFZCGoUfOI/AAAAAAAAFRM/v0d0Z5pIwqU/s320/DSCN2671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2DKEurGUo9M/UXFY2Heur-I/AAAAAAAAFRE/btPOnQEtMkg/s1600/DSCN2668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2DKEurGUo9M/UXFY2Heur-I/AAAAAAAAFRE/btPOnQEtMkg/s320/DSCN2668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We lounged around till about 7pm, and then all got together
for very tasty dinner of rice, vegetables, and chicken curry. It was so good
that I had to get seconds, and once we were all full, out came the free buckets
of booze. We taught the people around us how to play “Horse Racing”, which we
had learned from our friends on the <i>Condor</i>
in the Whitsundays. After a few rounds to get everyone socially lubricated, our
Thai guide suggested we switch to everyone’s favorite game, Circle of Death. I
have to say, that game is twice as fun with an international crowd. “Never have
I ever killed a chicken.” Also, things get interesting when you have to explain
what streaking is to people who speak very limited English, but they’re face
sure gets red when they finally understand and then take a drink as they
sheepishly look at their friends.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oX7fqKreUQU/UXFYY_wrmGI/AAAAAAAAFQc/693sdipOjLQ/s1600/DSCN2648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oX7fqKreUQU/UXFYY_wrmGI/AAAAAAAAFQc/693sdipOjLQ/s320/DSCN2648.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YAw6nAPQifI/UXFYfffA-aI/AAAAAAAAFQk/D-urIap8iVQ/s1600/DSCN2653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YAw6nAPQifI/UXFYfffA-aI/AAAAAAAAFQk/D-urIap8iVQ/s320/DSCN2653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Around 11pm, we headed back to our boat and started seeing
tiny flashes of light in the water as we drove. The lights were little plankton
in the water that glow blue, green, and yellow. From the surface of the water,
they look like a few tiny little lightning bugs. Once we reached our boat,
however, I put on a mask and snorkel and got to see just how amazing they
actually are. Underwater, there are literally thousands of them around you, and
they are ‘activated’ by your motion in the water. Swishing your arms and legs
creates a spectacular light show that could have only been made better with a
Pink Floyd soundtrack. It was insane.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After drying off, we found a couple mattresses and sleeping
bags on the roof of the boat and stretched out for a peaceful night’s sleep
under the stars… Or so we thought. That’s when the real adventure began.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Around 1am, I woke up to a light drizzle of rain. I gently
shook Courtney awake, and she promptly looked up at the sky and simply pulled
her sleeping bag up a little higher, rolling back over to go back to sleep.
Then it started raining a little harder. Enough that we decided to move down
underneath the tarp on the upper deck. There were a few holes in it, but it
kept us fairly dry. Then the bottom fell out… Of both the sky, and the tarp we
were hiding under. We dragged our soaking sleeping bags and selves down below
deck with the rest of the passengers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The problem with “below deck” is that there was a door with
a missing window, multiple windows that refused to shut, and two giant bay
doors towards the back that had no way of closing. Also, the roof leaked in
multiple places. I found the girls a relatively safe spot and a few dry
sleeping bags and went into damage control mode. We moved most of the stuff
from the leaky spots to dry areas, and then our guide attempted to cover up the
bay doors while myself and a med student from Ohio St. fought a losing battle
of covering the missing front window with a sleeping bag. About an hour later,
the rain finally subsided and we were able to take inventory of our situation.
The girls were still dry and sleeping, hugging the dry laptop, so I was able to
help a few other people find a safe spot before finally grabbing one of the
last dry sleeping bags and crashing for a few hours at the front of the boat. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We got up around 6am to a very apologetic crew and headed
back to the beach for a little more private time before the rest of the Tourons
(Tourist Morons) showed up. Once they did, we went back to our boat for a
delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit. We waved goodbye to
Maya Bay, knowing that it was going to be a trip that we would never forget.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sHs4byzAwh0/UXFYlXqFXZI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/zIDM2qWrYB4/s1600/DSCN2658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sHs4byzAwh0/UXFYlXqFXZI/AAAAAAAAFQ0/zIDM2qWrYB4/s640/DSCN2658.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuQo876LHDM/UXFYjjIrJEI/AAAAAAAAFQs/3cKKuU5NI4g/s1600/DSCN2655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HuQo876LHDM/UXFYjjIrJEI/AAAAAAAAFQs/3cKKuU5NI4g/s320/DSCN2655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064275686815629327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-31204506082732310372013-04-17T12:57:00.000-04:002013-04-18T11:33:17.177-04:00Happy New Year!We arrived in Krabi just in time to celebrate the Thai New
Year, or Songkran. We knew the celebration would be sometime during the days we
were at the beach, but we weren’t sure exactly which day it happen. When we
woke up on Saturday morning, we knew before we even left our dorm room that the
festivities had begun.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Singburi, we celebrated the beginning of Songkran at the
temple with the monks. Then we splashed clay and water on our students at the
send-off party. It was all in good fun, and, we have now discovered, it was all
pretty tame.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The streets of Krabi on Saturday were an absolute war zones.
Thais and tourists alike gathered in groups, attacking every passer-by: pedestrian,
passenger, or even driver. TJ and Jamie ventured out to grab breakfast and
managed to avoid the main attacks, but they noticed something peculiar while
they were outside: not a single tuk tuk or songtaew was to be seen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChGPywnNY4Q/UW7P_cmZsII/AAAAAAAAFMw/Lo4nAsWqDO0/s1600/DSCN2477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ChGPywnNY4Q/UW7P_cmZsII/AAAAAAAAFMw/Lo4nAsWqDO0/s1600/DSCN2477.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We camped out on my bed, eating breakfast and coming up with
a strategy. Our goal for the day was to head out to the main bus terminal,
where we could buy tickets for an overnight bus back to Bangkok. Our visas are
due to expire in a few days, so we really didn’t have any flexibility on the
date we headed back. The travel desk at our hostel had warned us that there
were only seven seats left for the date we planned to leave, but they sold the
tickets at such a mark-up that we decided to make our way to the bus station
and buy the tickets ourselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day before, Jamie and I had scoped out the bus station
right after it closed. We knew which tickets we wanted to buy and where to buy
them, and since we had taken a local bus to get there, we had some idea of
where it was located. The three of us decided that the only logical course of
action was to rent a motorbike, fit all three of us on it, and make our own way
to the bus station. How hard could it be?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h3mSjgY5OrU/UW7S1AOw8AI/AAAAAAAAFOo/Q5wtcun3Xms/s1600/DSCN2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h3mSjgY5OrU/UW7S1AOw8AI/AAAAAAAAFOo/Q5wtcun3Xms/s1600/DSCN2476.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We gathered at the window again and spotted a motorbike
rental right across the street. Dressed in bathing suits and cover-ups, we
darted outside and made it all the way to the shop. The guerillas’ efforts were
clearly focused on the main street to our left. We checked out a motorbike and
three helmets, and then climbed on: TJ, myself, and then Jamie. Satisfied that
we fit, we took off down the main strip in the direction our local bus had
taken the day before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had barely made it through the first intersection before we were soaked. Water came at us from every angle, sometimes accompanied by colored chalk or clay. We made it down the main street in one piece, but everything we carried on us, except the few items in ziplock bags in Jamie's backpack, were absolutely soaked through. It was ridiculous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-klCDQpvXB-0/UW7QMQ2BfKI/AAAAAAAAFNA/39_0XkuwOUI/s1600/DSCN2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-klCDQpvXB-0/UW7QMQ2BfKI/AAAAAAAAFNA/39_0XkuwOUI/s1600/DSCN2480.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our quick trip to the bus station turned into a most-of-the day excursion when we realized the bus station was a small side road that neither Jamie nor I could recognize. We drove all over the town and visited nearly every group of water-throwers. There was the large group of lady boys, all dressed in matching t-shirts. There were small groups of little kids with a hose and a bucket. There were the guys who offered all of us sips of Thai whiskey from their glasses. There were the mean-spirited ones who pelted us with ice-cold water and laughed at our screams. There were even groups in the backs of pick-up trucks, armed with large barrels of water and buckets or water guns. Nowhere was safe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z3prkXKbvP4/UW7QRZLYaKI/AAAAAAAAFNI/cCbylSxhvdE/s1600/DSCN2481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z3prkXKbvP4/UW7QRZLYaKI/AAAAAAAAFNI/cCbylSxhvdE/s1600/DSCN2481.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OFS8A3zhjU/UW7Qb3drkZI/AAAAAAAAFNQ/U0WX2ihvG2E/s1600/DSCN2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OFS8A3zhjU/UW7Qb3drkZI/AAAAAAAAFNQ/U0WX2ihvG2E/s1600/DSCN2486.JPG" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
We quickly learned to slow down when a dousing was coming. Both to prevent the force of the water from unseating us or blinding TJ and to give us the opportunity to quickly ask "Bus station??" to the people around us. A lot of people nodded at us and said something in Thai, probably thinking "bus station" was some kind of English greeting. Enough understood the request to gesture out a path and get us moving in the right direction. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNMMEH0LKAA/UW7R3qJFq0I/AAAAAAAAFOg/nrnjABf4G94/s1600/DSCN2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNMMEH0LKAA/UW7R3qJFq0I/AAAAAAAAFOg/nrnjABf4G94/s1600/DSCN2487.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a few hours of this madness, we figured we had to be close to the bus station. We had narrowed down the area, but we weren't sure of the exact street. We slowed down for a group (thankfully, one with warm water!), and gave them our normal greeting of "bus station??" They happily pointed down the road just behind them. We had found it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We successfully bought bus tickets, for 500 baht less than what our hostel charged, and then we braved the ride back to our hostel. By that time, we were done with the motor bike and tired of being soaked to the bone. We had two options: hide out in the hostel or get out of town.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELFBRYSrrYc/UW7Qjz-MauI/AAAAAAAAFNg/7TtfjmdLQvs/s1600/DSCN2494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELFBRYSrrYc/UW7Qjz-MauI/AAAAAAAAFNg/7TtfjmdLQvs/s1600/DSCN2494.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Getting out of town seemed the more interesting option, so we parked our bike near the pier and hired a boat to take us to Raileh Beach. I had my heart set on visiting this beach ever since the German girl in Noosa told us we should go there. We couldn't find affordable accommodation on our typical short notice, so we settled for a day trip. It was beautiful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPJgY-ESXPU/UW7Q33LDOnI/AAAAAAAAFNw/dGKfCvNt4TU/s1600/DSCN2516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPJgY-ESXPU/UW7Q33LDOnI/AAAAAAAAFNw/dGKfCvNt4TU/s1600/DSCN2516.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3R78Knqvxk/UW7Q--RszfI/AAAAAAAAFN4/JkkUepjuSCE/s1600/DSCN2518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t3R78Knqvxk/UW7Q--RszfI/AAAAAAAAFN4/JkkUepjuSCE/s1600/DSCN2518.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ga2SGFtPTE/UW7RDHTTIPI/AAAAAAAAFOA/0M8DiHhSySw/s1600/DSCN2535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ga2SGFtPTE/UW7RDHTTIPI/AAAAAAAAFOA/0M8DiHhSySw/s1600/DSCN2535.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The longtail boat brought us to the east side of the "beach," which really isn't a beach at all. It's more of a mangrove swamp with a cement walkway that goes under the water so your sandals don't get sucked off in the mud. We waded through the outgoing tide and found ourselves in the "town." Raileh is connected to mainland Krabi, but it's only accessible by boat, since huge cliffs cut it off from the rest of the area. It feels more like a tiny island, and there are no road or cars or even motorbikes. Instead, there are narrow walking paths that cut through from the east side to the western beach, following along nice resorts and small shops. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJa63OOnCWo/UW7QvsDuW3I/AAAAAAAAFNo/K8oxIX3poZU/s1600/DSCN2513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJa63OOnCWo/UW7QvsDuW3I/AAAAAAAAFNo/K8oxIX3poZU/s1600/DSCN2513.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f17KxneWCZg/UW7RYtPa_wI/AAAAAAAAFOI/1T3-59NXdCA/s1600/DSCN2545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f17KxneWCZg/UW7RYtPa_wI/AAAAAAAAFOI/1T3-59NXdCA/s1600/DSCN2545.JPG" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent a few hours lounging on the beach, eating lunch, and generally enjoying the feeling of dry clothes. At 5:00, we headed back to the boats to make sure we could find a ride home. By the time we got back to Krabi town, things had calmed down considerably. The Thais had all gone home to get ready for dinner, and the only water wars still going on were between a few straggling tourists who hadn't quite figured out that the day was over. One of them managed to get TJ and me on our way into our hostel. Jamie was a couple steps ahead of us and escaped. I was so tired of water!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7t_6x4YjO38/UW7RgI0X24I/AAAAAAAAFOQ/rcEBVp24eFA/s1600/DSCN2550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7t_6x4YjO38/UW7RgI0X24I/AAAAAAAAFOQ/rcEBVp24eFA/s1600/DSCN2550.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Dwq56hQlEk/UW7RrDGFGDI/AAAAAAAAFOY/En6QJdzSC_0/s1600/DSCN2552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Dwq56hQlEk/UW7RrDGFGDI/AAAAAAAAFOY/En6QJdzSC_0/s1600/DSCN2552.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even the excited tourists gave up after a little while, and we ventured out again for dinner. Jamie split off to get a massage while TJ and I wandered around the nearby night market. No water guns were in sight, so we all made it home dry. Dry and exhausted.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-revaLGcWugY/UW7Qg4mDO5I/AAAAAAAAFNY/0vKzHtUjO5A/s1600/DSCN2493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-revaLGcWugY/UW7Qg4mDO5I/AAAAAAAAFNY/0vKzHtUjO5A/s1600/DSCN2493.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-31103385945571914982013-04-13T12:26:00.002-04:002013-04-13T12:26:30.750-04:00How To Get From Singburi To Krabi In 11 Simple Steps<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 1. After a leisurely breakfast, say goodbye to your
friends, students, and host. Check that you have all your laundry, shove the
last few forgotten items into your pack, and hop into a pick-up truck/taxi
that’s been waiting for you for the last half hour.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eIoxmvYwWk8/UWmFde6qiYI/AAAAAAAAFLo/964L5r6Hnno/s1600/DSCN2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eIoxmvYwWk8/UWmFde6qiYI/AAAAAAAAFLo/964L5r6Hnno/s1600/DSCN2436.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 2. Take a break in Ayutthaya. Eat lunch, ride an
elephant, say Hi to an ostrich. You know, the normal roadtrip break activities.
Make sure to stop and watch the elephants celebrate Songkran, but try not to
get wet. It will be a while before you can take a shower again.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0kAZpfv_k7g/UWmFCdKFrxI/AAAAAAAAFLQ/64sfRfanKNY/s1600/DSCN2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0kAZpfv_k7g/UWmFCdKFrxI/AAAAAAAAFLQ/64sfRfanKNY/s1600/DSCN2398.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1sHGJPSfZMQ/UWmFLcRwfGI/AAAAAAAAFLY/ytS9LRMeAt0/s1600/DSCN2417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1sHGJPSfZMQ/UWmFLcRwfGI/AAAAAAAAFLY/ytS9LRMeAt0/s1600/DSCN2417.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qIwaL4r1cg0/UWmFbP1wIeI/AAAAAAAAFLg/qoTF6klM8OE/s1600/DSCN2429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qIwaL4r1cg0/UWmFbP1wIeI/AAAAAAAAFLg/qoTF6klM8OE/s1600/DSCN2429.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 3. Arrive at the Ayutthaya train station. Wait for over
an hour for your delayed train. Thank locals politely when they insist your
train is the one coming into the platform, even though it’s not.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MSW05JS0qpU/UWmFhvVFlxI/AAAAAAAAFLw/0yPdLdfItDE/s1600/DSCN2440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MSW05JS0qpU/UWmFhvVFlxI/AAAAAAAAFLw/0yPdLdfItDE/s1600/DSCN2440.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 4. Climb aboard the correct train. Snag three seats
together and spend the next two hours wiping soot from your face as you pass
burning agricultural fields. When the rain starts, realize you enjoy it because
the train is not air-conditioned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEyGQk6E5mw/UWmFmNGQWiI/AAAAAAAAFL4/ky6QxNqlTL8/s1600/DSCN2441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEyGQk6E5mw/UWmFmNGQWiI/AAAAAAAAFL4/ky6QxNqlTL8/s1600/DSCN2441.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 5. Disembark at the main train station in Bangkok, dash
inside, and head immediately to the information desk. Beg them for train
tickets to Surat Thani for tonight. Try not to get discouraged when they show
you the rows of zeroes on the screen that mean the only available seats are in
3<sup>rd</sup> class with no A/C. Try again at the refunds/reschedule desk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 6. Celebrate your success at finding three seats with
air conditioning by going out to a nice dinner in Little Arabia. Relax with a
hookah. Argue good naturedly with your waiter when you ask for your check and
he says No. Ask again. And again. Stop at the shopping mall on your way back to
the train station.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PutIviPQThU/UWmFqETgwPI/AAAAAAAAFMA/BUieYNvyEyw/s1600/DSCN2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PutIviPQThU/UWmFqETgwPI/AAAAAAAAFMA/BUieYNvyEyw/s1600/DSCN2448.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c_0juh0aWbU/UWmFtej93TI/AAAAAAAAFMI/SDKquimEHgQ/s1600/DSCN2449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c_0juh0aWbU/UWmFtej93TI/AAAAAAAAFMI/SDKquimEHgQ/s1600/DSCN2449.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2IzGthmkFo/UWmFyuSivqI/AAAAAAAAFMQ/xHib65xfsRk/s1600/DSCN2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2IzGthmkFo/UWmFyuSivqI/AAAAAAAAFMQ/xHib65xfsRk/s1600/DSCN2454.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 7. Return to the train station with half an hour to
spare before your train leaves. Collect your luggage from storage and find your
seats. Discover the seats are in different cars, but at least they are on the
same train, so you don’t complain too much. Take a sleeping pill and pass out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 8. Get off the train at Surat Thani, still confused
from waking up. Get herded out of the station by a man who claims to be staff,
and find yourself looking for a seat at a café down the street. Get a sticker
stuck to your arm that says “Krabi” and wait patiently. Order pancakes when the
café owner proves to be less patient about squatters at her tables.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 9. Take a short bus ride to another café. Sit and wait
again. Repeat “Krabi” several times to several different people. Sense a scam
when someone tells you all the Raileh Beach hotels are booked, but then smile
when you realize she’s actually offering to let you use the café’s wireless to
find an alternative. Panic a little bit when you realize how badly you need a
shower and a place to sleep, and there’s a chance you might not have either of
those when you get there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 10. Take the advice of a friendly New Yorker and
frantically book a night at a hostel in Krabi town as the bus is loading. It’s
just one night, and the place has air conditioning. Send TJ and Jamie to save a
seat and stall the bus while the reservation goes through. Save the reservation
number and climb onto the bus just before it pulls away. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Step 11. Get off the bus in Krabi and realize you have no
idea where to go. Find friendly New Yorker and tell her you’re going to follow
her to the hostel. Stop and ask directions along the way when she admits she
doesn’t really know, either. Cheer when you find the hostel, and be absolutely
delighted with the quality of the place. Decide to stay two nights. Take a
shower.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTwkeGC9pKA/UWmGPWU9WdI/AAAAAAAAFMg/KsvuULpJCi0/s1600/DSCN2467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QTwkeGC9pKA/UWmGPWU9WdI/AAAAAAAAFMg/KsvuULpJCi0/s1600/DSCN2467.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-41991621062350027252013-04-13T12:07:00.003-04:002013-04-13T12:07:45.737-04:00Back to SingburiTJ and I knew we would miss our Thailand "home" once we headed back to Bangkok. So before we even left, we made plans to return. We had to go to Bangkok to meet Jamie, but then we would bring her back to Singburi with us where she could meet Peetim and some of our friends.<br />
<br />
The plan: Pick Jamie up at the airport Tuesday night. Wake up the next morning and meet our tour guide, like we did the last time we were in Bangkok, who takes us on a canal tour of "Hidden Bangkok". Finish the tour around 1 pm and head to the northern bus terminal, where we begin our two-hour bus ride to Singburi. Get off at the stop right around the corner from Peetim's house and wait for a ride or walk to her house. Then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Singburi with local friends.<br />
<br />
You've realized how this works by now, right?<br />
<br />
The reality: We did, in fact, pick up Jamie from the airport on Tuesday. It wasn't exactly the glitch-free evening I hoped for, but we found her, packed her into a taxi, and got all of us to the hotel safely. First step, check!<br />
<br />
The second step was lining up the tour guide. We have been working with the tour company for the last two or three weeks trying to confirm our tour dates. The owner seems like a very sweet lady, but for some reason, she only receives about half the emails we send. That means when we think we have confirmed days in advance, she's still wondering what our plan is. Oh, boy. When we went to bed at 2 am on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, we had a short email from her saying that confirming at 11 pm the night before does not give her enough time to find a tour guide for us! We sent back a quick email telling her it was ok, nevermind about the guide, maybe next time. Then we went to sleep.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RIwkrqQDeY/UWmBZoCncUI/AAAAAAAAFKU/_wnTrjrDqi4/s1600/DSCN2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RIwkrqQDeY/UWmBZoCncUI/AAAAAAAAFKU/_wnTrjrDqi4/s1600/DSCN2383.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Six short hours later, we all woke up to incessant knocking on our door. Jamie called out "Come back later!" I assumed it was a drunk tourist confused about their room number. TJ was the lucky one who got up to answer it (after I poked him in the ribs a few times). After a short conference outside the door, he stepped back inside and told us it was our tour guide. Her boss had called her at 2 am and told her to meet us at 8 am. What do we do? I sleepily muttered "Can you tell her to go away?" TJ won my heart yet again when he simply answered, "Yes." and left to deal with it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrOCZArwLu8/UWmBeA14gRI/AAAAAAAAFK4/aYBKPCLtk-w/s1600/DSCN2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrOCZArwLu8/UWmBeA14gRI/AAAAAAAAFK4/aYBKPCLtk-w/s1600/DSCN2384.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Instead of spending the day with a tour guide, we gave Jamie our own tour of Bangkok's public transportation. We slept late and then walked through Khao San Road to the riverside. We picked up a local boat headed down the river and paid our 15 Baht to ride all the way to the far end. Then we caught the skytrain back up to the main train station.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSAg9XpMysM/UWmBoSFjzcI/AAAAAAAAFKk/gJq3gxyGqCU/s1600/DSCN2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSAg9XpMysM/UWmBoSFjzcI/AAAAAAAAFKk/gJq3gxyGqCU/s1600/DSCN2389.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Train tickets to the beach were solidly booked, even though we were buying a few days in advance. We decided to deal with that later and took it as our sign to get out of Bangkok. So we headed north, to the northern bus terminal at Mo Chit.<br />
<br />
Here is where we found ourselves unprepared. We had a note (in Thai) from Peetim describing where we were going, and we had a brief description from Tom and Jess that the bus station was on the other side of a park from the sky train station. We left the sky train station, found the park, and then turned right and started walking. The park was completely walled in, and as far as we walked, we couldn't find a way in. Jess had also warned us that it was a long walk, so we might want to take a tuk tuk. Except there were no tuk tuks in sight, and the only transportation we could find was a line of taxi drivers who wanted to charge us 200 baht for the ride. When we said No, they heckled us about how far we would be walking without them.<br />
<br />
The situation lightened up once we got past the line of taxi drivers. We realized that we did need a taxi, so we flagged down a moving one as we walked. We got a great guy who spoke almost no English, but he immediately reached for his meter when we climbed in, and he seemed to understand "bus station". Yay! (The whole trip cost us 65 baht, by the way. Far from 200.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ihfcii_7OI0/UWmBt2Mey-I/AAAAAAAAFK0/SQKnqRmoIv0/s1600/DSCN2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ihfcii_7OI0/UWmBt2Mey-I/AAAAAAAAFK0/SQKnqRmoIv0/s1600/DSCN2391.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
He dropped us off at the bus station, someone pointed us toward the "building white", and we set about finding the bus we needed. After showing Peetim's note to a couple off-duty bus drivers, one got up and led us around to a desk where we could buy our tickets. He told us "Ban Mi" several times, and we nodded along, not exactly sure what Peetim's note said, but appreciative that this man was taking the time to help us.<br />
<br />
Soon, we found ourselves sitting on a mini bus, tickets in hand, with faith that this bus would get us where we needed to go. We settled in for the two-hour ride.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7n_hDgtV6M/UWmBr4q3doI/AAAAAAAAFKs/Ssdj1jwQVdE/s1600/DSCN2390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7n_hDgtV6M/UWmBr4q3doI/AAAAAAAAFKs/Ssdj1jwQVdE/s1600/DSCN2390.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Three hours later, we finally admitted to ourselves that we were not going to Singburi. We showed Peetim's note to the driver for the second time (he had already given us an "OK!" before), and he scratched his head while he re-read it. Finally, TJ called up Peetim and handed the phone to the driver. We were officially lost.<br />
<br />
After a much-too-long conversation between Peetim and our driver, we were told to get off the bus at Ban Mi (so that's what the first guy kept repeating to us!) and wait. Peetim and Tom both called us along the way to make sure we were ok, but by that time, we at least knew where we were going. After sitting around at the bus station for a little while, a pick-up truck with a now familiar face pulled up. Peetim's neighbor!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-no6ZgibJTp4/UWmB8K8F-1I/AAAAAAAAFLA/GNo9P0UHkS4/s1600/DSCN2393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-no6ZgibJTp4/UWmB8K8F-1I/AAAAAAAAFLA/GNo9P0UHkS4/s1600/DSCN2393.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In safe hands once again, we settled in for the long ride back to Peetim's house. We were greeted with friendly faces, a steak dinner they had kept out for us, and more pancakes! It was exactly what we were looking forward to; we only wish the evening had begun a few hours earlier!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XhdfNMsjcw/UWmCpei1V_I/AAAAAAAAFLI/Xq3SJsGhtEQ/s1600/DSCN2394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XhdfNMsjcw/UWmCpei1V_I/AAAAAAAAFLI/Xq3SJsGhtEQ/s1600/DSCN2394.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-92125699318639858902013-04-10T13:06:00.000-04:002013-04-10T13:06:43.676-04:00Singburi to Bangkok<br />
<div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 2.0pt 0in;">
<div class="underline">
After nearly two weeks of living like real people, we packed
up our backpacks today and left our temporary home in Singburi. We miss it
already.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
Our English students were just as sad to see us go. They
changed their last day of class by one day so that it coincided with our last
day, and someone decided that instead of a normal class, our last day would be
a send-off party at Peetim’s house. Even Peetim’s not exactly sure how that
became the plan, but she’s good at hosting parties, so she readily agreed.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
The party started before I even got out of bed. I left our
room to brush my teeth, and I was faced with a table full of our students,
greeting me with, “Good morning!” Peetim had been up since 5:00 running to the
market and getting everything in order, so some people showed up early to help.
Before I knew it, tables were being set up for lunch and a crowd was beginning
to form. On the lunch tables were round grills I had never seen before.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5EPDaD2A68Y/UWWWX8gz-qI/AAAAAAAAFIY/4ypodGV7eMg/s1600/DSCN2277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5EPDaD2A68Y/UWWWX8gz-qI/AAAAAAAAFIY/4ypodGV7eMg/s1600/DSCN2277.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
Whoever invented those grills (apparently someone in Korea)
was a genius. They produce delicious food. But TJ and I didn’t know that yet,
so we stood still for a few moments and tried to figure out what was happening.
Eventually, a couple of our students caught on to our cluelessness and helped
us out. Amidst lots of laughter and, “No, no. Like this!” we managed to grill
small slices of marinated pork on the top part of the grill while adding some
vegetables and noodles into the bowl around the grill to cook in a mix of broth
and meat juice. We even added in a few pieces of squid as we got more
comfortable.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIyOPOC8hTk/UWWZc3PgnPI/AAAAAAAAFIk/4FCTVXXgxTo/s1600/DSCN2279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIyOPOC8hTk/UWWZc3PgnPI/AAAAAAAAFIk/4FCTVXXgxTo/s1600/DSCN2279.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I8eQccJ1TW4/UWWZgqTQxNI/AAAAAAAAFI0/T61vw9WkTyQ/s1600/DSCN2282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I8eQccJ1TW4/UWWZgqTQxNI/AAAAAAAAFI0/T61vw9WkTyQ/s1600/DSCN2282.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
The grills were kept hot throughout the afternoon, so lunch
never exactly stopped, but once most people had their fill, we moved inside for
a few good rounds of karaoke. Some of the Thai songs included lessons (for me
and TJ, at least) in Thai dancing, which TJ and I tried to repay when it was
our turn to sing. We ended up with a nearly empty room instead.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9c7JBDlhgxA/UWWZeN2R8lI/AAAAAAAAFIs/6OvuQeJTZPM/s1600/DSCN2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9c7JBDlhgxA/UWWZeN2R8lI/AAAAAAAAFIs/6OvuQeJTZPM/s1600/DSCN2289.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOmsg2fAfvw/UWWZ1FDWwpI/AAAAAAAAFI8/G6nKGr8qJkA/s1600/DSCN2292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SOmsg2fAfvw/UWWZ1FDWwpI/AAAAAAAAFI8/G6nKGr8qJkA/s1600/DSCN2292.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KS8eYMhrz2k/UWWZ2VRpkcI/AAAAAAAAFJE/luW8YwY_oBw/s1600/DSCN2293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KS8eYMhrz2k/UWWZ2VRpkcI/AAAAAAAAFJE/luW8YwY_oBw/s1600/DSCN2293.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
Not to be deterred, we joined the crowd outside once again.
Different Thai fruits had been added to the table, along with a tray of fresh
popcorn one of the men popped over a nearby open fire. One of the fun things to
do at a table full of so many different foods is to point at different plates
and ask “What is this?” The Thais wants to know the English name, and we want
to, well, know what it is we’re about to eat. (The most frequent answer we get
is “pig”.) With a lot of the fruits, though, don’t have an English name, or at
least, we have no idea what it is. Like small, orange apricot-looking fruits
that grow on a tree in Peetim’s front yard. Or little clusters of pods with
white flesh that taste slightly similar to soy beans. I have no idea what to
call them in English, and I’m not sure of their Thai names either.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
After presenting certificates to all our students, we let
the games begin! We repeated a few of the games that we learned from the monks,
like rolling a lime across the floor by swinging a cucumber.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_x62B3oqX8/UWWaMGuEXTI/AAAAAAAAFJU/J0BHFMiBTXE/s1600/DSCN2315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J_x62B3oqX8/UWWaMGuEXTI/AAAAAAAAFJU/J0BHFMiBTXE/s1600/DSCN2315.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWFjO9u05T4/UWWaPjsMt7I/AAAAAAAAFJk/7edKc7XBA_I/s1600/DSCN2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWFjO9u05T4/UWWaPjsMt7I/AAAAAAAAFJk/7edKc7XBA_I/s1600/DSCN2340.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1k1DQ8-mnw/UWWZ4OtnQbI/AAAAAAAAFJM/sOdudtI773Q/s1600/DSCN2296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1k1DQ8-mnw/UWWZ4OtnQbI/AAAAAAAAFJM/sOdudtI773Q/s1600/DSCN2296.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
We learned a new game with balloons. Each of us had a
balloon strapped to our ankle with a rubber band. The supposed goal is to hop
around trying to pop everyone else’s balloons without having your own popped.
The actual goal is to get a good laugh at everyone hopping around, so we had
extra balloons at the ready. As soon as your balloon was popped, you simply
slipped on a new one and jumped back into the game.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmgnMRKy2F8/UWWaNic_J2I/AAAAAAAAFJc/epVkiD3OPoc/s1600/DSCN2346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmgnMRKy2F8/UWWaNic_J2I/AAAAAAAAFJc/epVkiD3OPoc/s1600/DSCN2346.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--2KlRmZPAyg/UWWaf9uTxeI/AAAAAAAAFJs/8HRYJRArNs0/s1600/DSCN2362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--2KlRmZPAyg/UWWaf9uTxeI/AAAAAAAAFJs/8HRYJRArNs0/s1600/DSCN2362.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
As the event was coming to a close, our students decided to
wish us good luck on our journey by pelting us with white clay. The white clay
is only made in Lopburi, a town near our homestay, and it is used in central
Thailand to usher in the new year. You slap a handful of clay on your friends’
faces and wish them “Good luck!” as they, in turn, douse you with ice cold
bottled water.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yz-MUcDd8OY/UWWavft-7tI/AAAAAAAAFKE/511jLn73274/s1600/DSCN2378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yz-MUcDd8OY/UWWavft-7tI/AAAAAAAAFKE/511jLn73274/s1600/DSCN2378.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b-2b0ERNamk/UWWanh2cegI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/8oElCri8XH0/s1600/DSCN2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b-2b0ERNamk/UWWanh2cegI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/8oElCri8XH0/s1600/DSCN2370.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCxUZ77KSaE/UWWaq2dbJMI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/ql7FHL0Pfaw/s1600/DSCN2377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCxUZ77KSaE/UWWaq2dbJMI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/ql7FHL0Pfaw/s1600/DSCN2377.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
After saying goodbyes all around, we cleaned up and set out
for the bus station. Our friend Peemoo gave TJ one last ride on the back of his
motorbike, while I rode along in Peetim’s car. We climbed onto the minibus that
Peetim reserved for us and settled in for the two-hour ride to Bangkok.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
We started recognizing signs for places in Bangkok, but we
weren’t sure where to get off the bus. If in doubt, sit still, I guess. So we
rode the bus until it pulled into a parking lot and the driver told us the ride
was over. I had left my map of Bangkok in Singburi, so I was slightly panicked.
Where in Bangkok were we? How would we know which direction to go? TJ took
charge and said we would walk down the nearest main street until we found
either a map or a sky train. We headed toward the main road and decided to turn
left.</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
Very quickly, we noticed that things seemed terribly
familiar. TJ even commented “I almost expect to see our first hotel right here.
It looks just like that street!” Maybe all streets in Bangkok look the same?
Then we noticed a mall where we had eaten dinner before and looked around some
more. Sure enough, there was our hotel, just down the street. We knew exactly
where we were!</div>
<div class="underline">
<br /></div>
<div class="underline">
From there, we used a combination of sky train and tuk tuk to
find our new hotel on Khao San Road. With just enough time to drop off our bags,
we headed straight out again, this time to the airport to meet up with my
sister, Jamie! We collected her from her flight, brought her back to the hotel
and promptly climbed into bed. It was 2:00 am, and we have a busy day planned
for tomorrow!</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-58680027093942186752013-04-08T09:21:00.002-04:002013-04-08T09:34:43.478-04:00How We Made Our Thai Television DebutThe class where TJ and I have been teaching English doesn’t
meet on weekends, so we have had the last couple days free to explore the town.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After class on Friday, we went straight to our neighbor’s
horse farm, where we visited a baby horse and its mama. The horse was born on
Tuesday, so it’s officially the youngest horse either of us has even seen, and
it’s precious.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoIhKQpPCUo/UWK4KA2w5XI/AAAAAAAAFDs/-V7puOjM9QM/s1600/DSCN2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoIhKQpPCUo/UWK4KA2w5XI/AAAAAAAAFDs/-V7puOjM9QM/s1600/DSCN2023.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we saddled up and went for a quick ride. The horse they
readied for us obviously thought he should be done for the day, so it took
quite a bit of encouragement to get him going. The first few times around, he
stopped by the gate and patiently waited to be led back to the stable.
Eventually, he got the hang of it and took each of us on several laps.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1Py8Giwlgk/UWK5AiU_MnI/AAAAAAAAFD0/EyaWC_ZLRXw/s1600/DSCN2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1Py8Giwlgk/UWK5AiU_MnI/AAAAAAAAFD0/EyaWC_ZLRXw/s1600/DSCN2033.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mqMByNE8S0/UWK5TCfvYwI/AAAAAAAAFD8/JcmYcdYV-o0/s1600/DSCN2038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--mqMByNE8S0/UWK5TCfvYwI/AAAAAAAAFD8/JcmYcdYV-o0/s1600/DSCN2038.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He did get a little spooked when we changed riders and TJ
got in the saddle, though. He did TJ’s first lap around the ring backward!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mM_sU_UOQA0/UWK5ZrLEljI/AAAAAAAAFEE/tGypVEWeqgU/s1600/DSCN2048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mM_sU_UOQA0/UWK5ZrLEljI/AAAAAAAAFEE/tGypVEWeqgU/s1600/DSCN2048.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3jrSwwJxKA/UWK5fB_ZKII/AAAAAAAAFEM/fGjLJS9mssY/s1600/DSCN2052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q3jrSwwJxKA/UWK5fB_ZKII/AAAAAAAAFEM/fGjLJS9mssY/s1600/DSCN2052.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday was our “free day,” and we took full advantage of
it! We slept late and then lounged around the property reading books or
checking email. We joke here that we only have some idea of what’s going on
about fifty percent of the time, and Saturday was no exception. Peetim, our
host, was gone all day, and with no word from her, we weren’t sure what the
plan was for the rest of the day. We have adapted pretty well to this
ambiguity, though, so we spent most of the day relaxed and waiting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EZYfq7t-Zz0/UWK50FXw59I/AAAAAAAAFEU/zzzd0atAnyY/s1600/DSCN2055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EZYfq7t-Zz0/UWK50FXw59I/AAAAAAAAFEU/zzzd0atAnyY/s1600/DSCN2055.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At some point, a car pulled into the driveway and a British
couple, Jess and Tom, climbed out of the backseat. We thought we had heard that
two girls were coming to join us at the homestay on Saturday, so at least our
expectations were close this time. They were the first non-Thai people we have seen
in over a week, and we were so excited to show them around and have a real
conversation. The British accent has never sounded so familiar to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As our new friends were settling in, Peetim appeared and
offered to take us to the grocery store before we spent the evening at the Muay
Thai gym. The people at the gym have been so welcoming to us while we have been
here, so we wanted to do something to thank them. Many of the kids who train
are orphans who are allowed to sleep at the gym as long as they train in Muay
Thai and go to school. When we asked if there was anything they needed, the
instructor told us that what they need the most is food.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Food it is! Peetim walked us through the grocery store, and
TJ and I pulled things off the shelves as we walked past. Big bags of rice. The
kids’ favorite energy drinks. Chips. Canned tuna. Every time we asked Peetim
for suggestions, she would insist that we had gotten enough, but TJ would
announce that we weren’t done yet, so if she didn’t have a suggestion, he would
pick out snacks himself. It was so much fun to fill up that shopping cart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WeYxr3NSYS8/UWK6WuUeCWI/AAAAAAAAFEc/OKiqAc79xHE/s1600/DSCN2069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WeYxr3NSYS8/UWK6WuUeCWI/AAAAAAAAFEc/OKiqAc79xHE/s1600/DSCN2069.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We transferred the bags into the trunk of Peetim’s car and
then unloaded everything when we arrived at the gym. The table was filled with
grocery bags, and the kids pawed through them, curious about what we had
brought them. The instructor’s eyes lit up when he realized we hadn’t forgotten
him – he whisked two of the bottles of beer into the freezer so he and TJ could
enjoy them together before we left.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YR3MWlTsPoI/UWK6b21aDdI/AAAAAAAAFEk/ODOfrvxotyI/s1600/DSCN2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YR3MWlTsPoI/UWK6b21aDdI/AAAAAAAAFEk/ODOfrvxotyI/s1600/DSCN2072.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TJ spent the rest of the evening training with the guys at
the gym. Tom was a good sport and joined him for a few rounds of punches, and
even I got some good kicks in on a heavy bag. Sweaty and tired, we piled into
the car to head home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eeVez508lOI/UWK6fk7eMsI/AAAAAAAAFEs/t-LwbsvGvn0/s1600/DSCN2073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eeVez508lOI/UWK6fk7eMsI/AAAAAAAAFEs/t-LwbsvGvn0/s1600/DSCN2073.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xReqFxsG1hY/UWK6wRe8koI/AAAAAAAAFE0/1GKCB8tsRbk/s1600/DSCN2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xReqFxsG1hY/UWK6wRe8koI/AAAAAAAAFE0/1GKCB8tsRbk/s1600/DSCN2081.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In keeping with our “we don’t know what’s going on”
experience, the car stopped about halfway home, and Peetim turned the motor
off. That’s usually our signal to get out, but we were on the side of a main
road, and nothing looked familiar. Turns out, when we thought she said, “You
stay,” she actually said, “Choose steak.” So, we welcomed our fellow teachers
with a spread of steaks, French fries, and fresh watermelon. What a wonderful
surprise!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday morning, we were up early and cramming into Peetim’s
neighbor’s pick-up truck. We were headed to Ayuthaya, a town between here and
Bangkok that boasts a large collection of ruined temples from the days when
Ayuthaya was the capital of Thailand. Our drive spoke no English, so Peetim
gave us an outline of the day before we left, and then handed us a piece of
paper to show the driver when we needed to: it said “Toilet” in Thai.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kCwK5UeJelk/UWK68Hy7nnI/AAAAAAAAFE8/Dm0Vcm0pddU/s1600/DSCN2082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kCwK5UeJelk/UWK68Hy7nnI/AAAAAAAAFE8/Dm0Vcm0pddU/s1600/DSCN2082.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJWG7c598jc/UWK7QNwEotI/AAAAAAAAFFE/c_Tk8DoZgO8/s1600/DSCN2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hJWG7c598jc/UWK7QNwEotI/AAAAAAAAFFE/c_Tk8DoZgO8/s1600/DSCN2085.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ruins in Ayuthaya were amazing. The weather was a tiny
bit cooler than it has been, and since it was a Sunday, we expected massive
crowds. We managed to miss most of the people, though, and even found ourselves
alone among the ruins several times. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJuhrsxKgcs/UWK7XJDDAjI/AAAAAAAAFFM/xTMcCoVwgOM/s1600/DSCN2091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gJuhrsxKgcs/UWK7XJDDAjI/AAAAAAAAFFM/xTMcCoVwgOM/s1600/DSCN2091.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6uGSeebC64/UWK7lfxqq5I/AAAAAAAAFFc/64yq9cwFsxc/s1600/DSCN2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6uGSeebC64/UWK7lfxqq5I/AAAAAAAAFFc/64yq9cwFsxc/s1600/DSCN2106.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We stopped for lunch at the floating markets, a series of
platforms and small boats that sell everything from trinkets to clothing to
food. Other vendors, on solid ground, had animal exhibits like a petting zoo or
elephant rides. We passed this guy while we were still in the car:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd5ZXnT6TdQ/UWK8MIIYaWI/AAAAAAAAFGE/-qASzS25Fv8/s1600/DSCN2124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd5ZXnT6TdQ/UWK8MIIYaWI/AAAAAAAAFGE/-qASzS25Fv8/s1600/DSCN2124.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Infju10Uy44/UWK79XNp7FI/AAAAAAAAFF0/KfLXy9RpfgY/s1600/DSCN2121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Infju10Uy44/UWK79XNp7FI/AAAAAAAAFF0/KfLXy9RpfgY/s1600/DSCN2121.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s7gERGDzmLM/UWK8EqKFxoI/AAAAAAAAFF8/z6usHAbbtRc/s1600/DSCN2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s7gERGDzmLM/UWK8EqKFxoI/AAAAAAAAFF8/z6usHAbbtRc/s1600/DSCN2123.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we were making the rounds, a fish tank caught my eye, and
I didn’t hesitate. I crossed over a small bridge and presented myself at the
entrance to the fish spa. My feet were ugly, this would be a new experience,
and I was ready! The woman happily took my baht and washed my feet, then set a
timer for 15 minutes. I plunged my feet in the tank.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XyDLamRVrko/UWK7zBqgdxI/AAAAAAAAFFk/TRzRWU7lVvA/s1600/DSCN2112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XyDLamRVrko/UWK7zBqgdxI/AAAAAAAAFFk/TRzRWU7lVvA/s1600/DSCN2112.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I lasted about thirty seconds before pulling my feet back
out again. It felt so weird! Almost like those at-home foot massagers that
vibrate, except this was tons of tiny little fish and they were NIBBLING at me!
TJ convinced me that we had paid for this experience and I was going to
experience it, darn it, so I should put my feet back in. I did. I finally
discovered that if I didn’t think about what was happening, it actually did
feel pretty good.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckolo0hKolI/UWK71Z_oieI/AAAAAAAAFFs/uTg4AkPm4Mk/s1600/DSCN2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckolo0hKolI/UWK71Z_oieI/AAAAAAAAFFs/uTg4AkPm4Mk/s1600/DSCN2115.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My feet are still ugly, but they were amazingly smooth and
moisturized afterward. It was worth it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With filled bellies, smooth feet, and our ancient temple
cravings satisfied, we hopped back in the truck for the trek back to Singburi.
This time, I sat in the front with the air-conditioning, and TJ, Tom, and Jess
climbed in the very back. The entire ride home was peppered with honks from
passing cars as the three of them waved excitedly to every car that came near us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We barely had time to
rest at home before we were climbing into the back of another truck, pre-made
sandwiches in hand. We knew we were off to see the “young monks” and work with
them on their English, but as usual, we had no idea what to expect when we got
there. We were slightly prepared by the warning to put our wallets and cell
phones in a dry bag so they didn’t get wet. Spoiler alert: we never did get water
thrown at us, but we did have quite an adventure!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The truck we were in had a cover over the bed, so we couldn’t
see where we were going. We rumbled along, munching on the sandwiches, until
the truck stopped on the side of the road and Peetim gestured in front of us.
They wanted to show us our destination:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pfoVFkR2MXw/UWK8ZYBRNFI/AAAAAAAAFGM/F0K9avvfYRA/s1600/DSCN2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pfoVFkR2MXw/UWK8ZYBRNFI/AAAAAAAAFGM/F0K9avvfYRA/s1600/DSCN2131.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We climbed part of the hill and stopped in an area just
beyond the main temple. The area was filled with monkeys! The monkeys are
considered good luck, so farmers tend to bring piles of fruit to leave here for
the monkeys. We fed them, too – parts of our uneaten sandwiches and a few bags
of chips. After a while, a family pulled up to join us, and their young sons
shyly handed us bags of peanuts to share. The monkeys loved those!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gJutIAxCqmE/UWK8q3u7cjI/AAAAAAAAFGU/DzYi-jDnNlA/s1600/DSCN2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gJutIAxCqmE/UWK8q3u7cjI/AAAAAAAAFGU/DzYi-jDnNlA/s1600/DSCN2143.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BPS9Z3VXjyc/UWK8wwOwvyI/AAAAAAAAFGc/9ETtAedE_tw/s1600/DSCN2145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BPS9Z3VXjyc/UWK8wwOwvyI/AAAAAAAAFGc/9ETtAedE_tw/s1600/DSCN2145.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7UqRxif9zR4/UWK_IxaQI7I/AAAAAAAAFGo/ykLCSkkSqeI/s1600/DSCN2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7UqRxif9zR4/UWK_IxaQI7I/AAAAAAAAFGo/ykLCSkkSqeI/s1600/DSCN2148.JPG" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HLviINyuWjM/UWLAEWYSfsI/AAAAAAAAFG8/82SvWvU-itc/s1600/DSCN2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HLviINyuWjM/UWLAEWYSfsI/AAAAAAAAFG8/82SvWvU-itc/s1600/DSCN2176.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not far behind us, the monks of the temple were starting to
congregate. We finished playing with the monkeys and then headed in their
direction, watching them climb stairs to settle in for meditation. As far as I
can understand, Sunday was this temple’s kick-off for a Thai holiday, so the
ground in front of the meditating monks was crawling with news cameras and
photographers. The monks invited us to join them, so the four of us climbed the
hill and sat near them, trying to at least keep our eyes closed for the cameras
that suddenly focused on us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3hK_7IwM90/UWLARDv7WzI/AAAAAAAAFHE/ZAoOqfF3gZQ/s1600/DSCN2181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3hK_7IwM90/UWLARDv7WzI/AAAAAAAAFHE/ZAoOqfF3gZQ/s1600/DSCN2181.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml6q6Yr_zFg/UWLAc4JlCDI/AAAAAAAAFHM/4pVpF9IrO_w/s1600/DSCN2191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml6q6Yr_zFg/UWLAc4JlCDI/AAAAAAAAFHM/4pVpF9IrO_w/s1600/DSCN2191.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of the evening was a mix of press conference,
religious ceremony, and festival games. We were encouraged to participate in it
all, sitting among the well-dressed Thais of the press conference, pouring
scented water over the Buddha image, and cheering on the young monks with their
relay races. Then, we got pulled and prodded into to place so that we could
participate in the races, too.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yh-TnZ2DqS0/UWLAjntN6wI/AAAAAAAAFHU/1QCiVQRNJFA/s1600/DSCN2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yh-TnZ2DqS0/UWLAjntN6wI/AAAAAAAAFHU/1QCiVQRNJFA/s1600/DSCN2193.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
TJ and Tom joined a race where they had to pull on a pair of
ladies underwear and then race around a pole and back holding a water balloon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4D6kuhugfoE/UWLAoG_PPmI/AAAAAAAAFHc/q_JCnd4rPV4/s1600/DSCN2217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4D6kuhugfoE/UWLAoG_PPmI/AAAAAAAAFHc/q_JCnd4rPV4/s1600/DSCN2217.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I got a ribbon tied around my waist with a cucumber
tied to the end. I was supposed to swing the cucumber, without using my hands,
and use it to roll a small lime down the lane toward the finish line. I was
terrible at it! Fortunately, Tom suited up and took turns with me, so we were
at least able to cross the finish line, even if it was well behind the laughing
Thai boys.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywSIKr6wL2g/UWLArwe33FI/AAAAAAAAFHk/nxe79KDyfDw/s1600/DSCN2221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywSIKr6wL2g/UWLArwe33FI/AAAAAAAAFHk/nxe79KDyfDw/s1600/DSCN2221.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlG8FcLVmwE/UWLAxqsYvlI/AAAAAAAAFHs/tGccXnM6c2U/s1600/DSCN2224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlG8FcLVmwE/UWLAxqsYvlI/AAAAAAAAFHs/tGccXnM6c2U/s1600/DSCN2224.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We rushed through a delicious dinner provided by the
community so that we could visit the boys once again before they headed back to
their bunks. They politely sat in rows while we walked them through a few
English phrases, even though we could barely see them in the dark. Then, Peetim
decided to stir things up by asking everyone to stand in a circle!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Vy6OSMU7A4/UWLA5_tAaRI/AAAAAAAAFH8/lMO2Vs9WW3w/s1600/DSCN2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Vy6OSMU7A4/UWLA5_tAaRI/AAAAAAAAFH8/lMO2Vs9WW3w/s1600/DSCN2232.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQSA_IdJWlg/UWLA01eoiDI/AAAAAAAAFH0/WHSJX7d0Czg/s1600/DSCN2228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQSA_IdJWlg/UWLA01eoiDI/AAAAAAAAFH0/WHSJX7d0Czg/s1600/DSCN2228.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven-year-old twins. I asked if I could take them home!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvKCok7AMU4/UWLA9kW8vwI/AAAAAAAAFIE/deltvDEBC5U/s1600/DSCN2233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvKCok7AMU4/UWLA9kW8vwI/AAAAAAAAFIE/deltvDEBC5U/s1600/DSCN2233.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The complicated part here is that women are not allowed,
under any circumstances, to come into contact with a monk. Even though these
were children, Jess and I had to be careful not to brush against them or touch
their hands. At first, we thought that meant we couldn’t participate. Then TJ
and Tom realized they could be our buffers, so they stood on either side of us
in the circle, each of them holding one of our hands and the hand of a young
monk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were counted off in groups of four, and then Peetim would
call out numbers – “Group 2 and 4, switch places!” There would be a mad rush of
monks, all dressed in bright orange robes (the only part of them we could
really see in the dark), scrambling to find a new place in the circle. Jess and
I never dared to cross the middle of the circle. We simply stayed in the area
we started in and rotated around each other. Whenever TJ and Tom ran off to
other parts of the circle, we would discover that we were the ONLY ones in our
area. Most of the young monks wouldn’t come near us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-doXjjP3rpE8/UWLBDIN9BxI/AAAAAAAAFIM/wG1u8wXW2B0/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-doXjjP3rpE8/UWLBDIN9BxI/AAAAAAAAFIM/wG1u8wXW2B0/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After wearing ourselves out, we bid goodnight to the monks
and came home, but our long day wasn’t over yet! Peetim promised us pancakes
from the pancake man at 9:00, so we waited with growling bellies (of course, we
weren’t hungry until after she mentioned pancakes) for headlights to appear at
the gate. By 10:00, we were ready to give up. Even in Thai time, 10pm is a
little late for the pancake man to show up, right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To settle our appetites, TJ, Jess, and I headed for the
collection of snacks at the front of the property. We decided that one of two
things would happen – a) looking for a snack would trigger the pancake man’s
appearance, similar to the way your food always arrives at a restaurant when
you leave to use the restroom, or b) the pancake man wouldn’t show up, but at
least we would have a snack. It was a win-win situation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure enough, as we were digging through the different bags
of chips, we finally noticed headlights at the front gate. Tom knocked on
Peetim’s window, and she rushed with us to open the gate and accept the bag of
Thai pancakes – paper thin, rolled up in parchment paper, and covered in sweet
stickiness. I’m pretty sure they were the best pancakes I’ve ever eaten.<o:p></o:p></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-45524246067340696472013-04-06T10:13:00.000-04:002013-04-09T00:29:11.176-04:00Real LifeWhen TJ and I were planning this trip, we approached it with a dose of realism. We knew that three months away from home meant three months where anything could happen, to us or our loved ones, and we would be far away.<br />
<br />
We did our best to anticipate those events. On the chance that something happened to us while we were traveling, we finalized our wills and advance directives and told our families where to find them. We made sure our dogs would be taken care of. We updated the deed for our house so that it is officially joint property. It should have been a depressing process, but I actually found it comforting to know that my family would have less to worry about if something terrible happened. We talked to our parents about what to do if something unthinkable happened to them while we were gone. Then we visited as many family members and friends as we could. It was so much fun to have an excuse to see everyone!<br />
<br />
The thing about tragedy, though, is that it tends to hit where you least expect it.<br />
<br />
About two weeks after we left, my Uncle Ken suddenly collapsed on his way to work. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment and tests, and he was ultimately diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mXD4BV6MD4w/UWAhhyNacaI/AAAAAAAAFCk/NCuIJ6c_27k/s1600/903548_10100631702315541_1363120798_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mXD4BV6MD4w/UWAhhyNacaI/AAAAAAAAFCk/NCuIJ6c_27k/s1600/903548_10100631702315541_1363120798_o.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Hayley McIntire's collection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next few weeks were a series of highs and lows for me. On one hand, I was having the time of my life! We were sailing the Whitsundays! We were exploring the Australian rainforest! We were kayaking in the national park! We were wandering the streets of Bangkok! Every time we had internet, though, I checked my email with nervous anticipation. Would Uncle Ken hold on long enough for me to see him again?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okxbABuP9sw/UWAo9Hgu6lI/AAAAAAAAFC8/y7k7KNenhgk/s1600/041_MLVE_Strip.Jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okxbABuP9sw/UWAo9Hgu6lI/AAAAAAAAFC8/y7k7KNenhgk/s1600/041_MLVE_Strip.Jpg" height="320" width="106" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: SayCheez Photobooth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the last week, I have had to come to terms with the fact that the answer is No. Uncle Ken passed away the day before Easter, surrounded by our loving and supportive family. I wasn't there. His life will be celebrated today by large numbers of family and friends. I won't be there.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zzWrmikX7SA/UWAgL1O99WI/AAAAAAAAFCc/Aba0Jg6uMBM/s1600/885418_10151377205276317_1009248265_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zzWrmikX7SA/UWAgL1O99WI/AAAAAAAAFCc/Aba0Jg6uMBM/s1600/885418_10151377205276317_1009248265_o.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: from Andrea's wedding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So I've been trying to find my own way of saying goodbye. On Wednesday, our host took us to visit her local temple. We brought large baskets of rice and curry to help feed the monks that live at the temple. The idea is that you receive blessings in return for bringing food, so we took a seat after helping to set up the food table and listened to the monks chant. It was a great chance to sit quietly for a little while and feel God's peace.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5OHtkEOAL4k/UWAs7zU9wtI/AAAAAAAAFDI/J9kpDpHH4j8/s1600/DSCN1992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5OHtkEOAL4k/UWAs7zU9wtI/AAAAAAAAFDI/J9kpDpHH4j8/s1600/DSCN1992.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EViONAG9Pr0/UWAtLHDLGTI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/UpaKd2mrNaw/s1600/DSCN1994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EViONAG9Pr0/UWAtLHDLGTI/AAAAAAAAFDQ/UpaKd2mrNaw/s1600/DSCN1994.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bmT_8Lpwrd0/UWAtS282yRI/AAAAAAAAFDY/IwwerfkoJF4/s1600/DSCN1998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bmT_8Lpwrd0/UWAtS282yRI/AAAAAAAAFDY/IwwerfkoJF4/s1600/DSCN1998.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As we wandered around the temple grounds afterward, I finally let myself think about Ken. He was a man who plays a prominent role in some of my earliest and fondest memories. I remember splashing into the surf behind his house on a zipline. I remember eating buckets of "sand" in his kitchen and watching movies in his motor home. He took me on countless boat rides, both from his house in Florida and later at Lake Lanier. He helped me entertain friends that I brought to the lake, including convincing Ania to hold on to the back of his tractor while he drove her all over the property. When medical questions surpassed "mom knowledge," Dr. Ken was just a phone call away. More recently, I watched him delight in a grandson who will surely cherish photographs of him, if not memories.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OVX_ucwLII/UWAog66HxkI/AAAAAAAAFC0/1ByCc9NaY9g/s1600/Ken+and+judy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0OVX_ucwLII/UWAog66HxkI/AAAAAAAAFC0/1ByCc9NaY9g/s1600/Ken+and+judy.jpg" height="290" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Carol Westbrooks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You helped make my childhood the magical experience it was, Uncle Ken, and you were everything an uncle should be. Rest in peace. You are loved very much by very many.Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-68120740382918105822013-04-04T09:40:00.000-04:002013-04-04T09:42:35.284-04:00Life experience is priceless...I've learned more about Thai culture in the last few days then I ever thought possible. Every day, our eyes are opened more and more about how people on the other side of the world live. In the last few days, we have ridden the back of a motorcycle, driven by a 57 year old Thai man named Pee-wee who didn't speak any English, to the top of a rocky mountain. We have participated in a ceremony where a young man became a Bhuddist monk. We traveled to a Thai sheep farm where we fed the sheep and the farmer named his new 3 day old lamb James after me, and then cooked fish soup made from fish that we caught with a net that day. We have learned Muay Thai at a small gym where half of the students are orphans and live in a shack next to the open air gym, and then climbed in a bus with them to travel 3 hours away to cheer them on at a competition. It's been a busy few days.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We've been helping our host, Peetim, teach English for the past few days to an office who's job is giving government assistance to poor Thai farmers... I think. The boss, Peemoo, is one of our best students and really likes Courtney and I. By the way, the prefix Pee- means that it's a nickname that is easy for foreigners to say. Thai names are long and complicated, so they introduce themselves with a nickname. We've met Peetim, Peemoo, and Peewi (Pee-wee) so far.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Peemoo liked us so much that he wanted to show us everything about Thai culture. When he heard that we wanted to visit the Monkey Temple in nearby Lop Buri, he offered to take us there on his motorcycle. Being the adventurists that we are, we agreed. We showed up at Peemoo's house early Saturday morning, where he had a number of motorcycles lined up and ready to go. Once he realized that we didn't know how to drive a motorcycle, he said, "No problem!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI33ByVPDSw1Ei2nXGuUW0RM6z_jT6M1AU5WfW2A2V5pA66WZpeuPC97KSj-8qJw1X5gcuNwRYCUaQFi-7xQJ_mSUdg76318mlB0bDluF_vTxHT_edidaty8XeO7o_dFw-1uPpIpoR7g/s1600/DSCN1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI33ByVPDSw1Ei2nXGuUW0RM6z_jT6M1AU5WfW2A2V5pA66WZpeuPC97KSj-8qJw1X5gcuNwRYCUaQFi-7xQJ_mSUdg76318mlB0bDluF_vTxHT_edidaty8XeO7o_dFw-1uPpIpoR7g/s1600/DSCN1737.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWxo7MwVIVkD6mnqOLqWQjSb6F5iTatltUB1PSGYTt8M-j0_WFitb8tVQNm3DJZZ5nlSljzEFCDcCCNpwjjTYbC7ZLd-8nYlRjvDGB_qnwNIVhYI5al5b91gwAfekSZjFiKxBpnGP4A/s1600/DSCN1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWxo7MwVIVkD6mnqOLqWQjSb6F5iTatltUB1PSGYTt8M-j0_WFitb8tVQNm3DJZZ5nlSljzEFCDcCCNpwjjTYbC7ZLd-8nYlRjvDGB_qnwNIVhYI5al5b91gwAfekSZjFiKxBpnGP4A/s1600/DSCN1738.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKDazrEctiPydG_7d8XLohXGVucXrDC3zT_LOUTb1HIsDW8lb1PdOzB2DOJ6bGZQoUpSsqakSUaHBxFzzBjHXXoEqPhnznhAT7DqEGsHy8oppoCGOz4NUy4Z6xE63ODEKlyDQ0hT_hA/s1600/DSCN1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKDazrEctiPydG_7d8XLohXGVucXrDC3zT_LOUTb1HIsDW8lb1PdOzB2DOJ6bGZQoUpSsqakSUaHBxFzzBjHXXoEqPhnznhAT7DqEGsHy8oppoCGOz4NUy4Z6xE63ODEKlyDQ0hT_hA/s1600/DSCN1739.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Enter the Enduro Motorcycle Club of Thailand. Peemoo and his friends ride almost every weekend, and were happy to take us along on a 120+ mile trek across Thailand. Courtney rode along with Peemoo for the day, and I hopped on the back with Peewi and we were off to Lop Buri. Lop Buri is about 35 kilometers from Sing Buri, and has a temple in the middle of the city where there are hundreds of monkeys. They are EVERYWHERE!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYCvtc9wJoaus1e_tXVsh9hmorq_B0e6buhXeC1WSCNoRhhIJdGfuPxRmPGSNqhsHzE0DAdX9ID_NEfiNITbteWxSdv0wuX7BHRu5EW0Yb6clMWzNvMHTNIez_FFiWsmpEiavpgieVQ/s1600/DSCN1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYCvtc9wJoaus1e_tXVsh9hmorq_B0e6buhXeC1WSCNoRhhIJdGfuPxRmPGSNqhsHzE0DAdX9ID_NEfiNITbteWxSdv0wuX7BHRu5EW0Yb6clMWzNvMHTNIez_FFiWsmpEiavpgieVQ/s1600/DSCN1746.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM-4bFDGXogfrxIiERRGQqt4FUZ5oUuTPAM6ZUzdrn_I7Zpl9AlIvdmKf_2eA2cFuMU252R1mGehdZKE3ZPqG-01wW0w5umJTsR2nAfengNxA5TB3Z9V_TRsD4AR_cAbHyqxWtk6oiQ/s1600/DSCN1748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM-4bFDGXogfrxIiERRGQqt4FUZ5oUuTPAM6ZUzdrn_I7Zpl9AlIvdmKf_2eA2cFuMU252R1mGehdZKE3ZPqG-01wW0w5umJTsR2nAfengNxA5TB3Z9V_TRsD4AR_cAbHyqxWtk6oiQ/s1600/DSCN1748.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hu0uU3IXLjkfaiKJ1_YUUvEZZO5vFXzFPF-vehapgIvH_N5AU-J8TXfESOPZWHrXTBXpmJUbkutlKfmhf2qtmy5Y3QMdWi0h0EjyDgOi9tjVofwL5kG2-UocR4-zEarCpHQh_bQxww/s1600/DSCN1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hu0uU3IXLjkfaiKJ1_YUUvEZZO5vFXzFPF-vehapgIvH_N5AU-J8TXfESOPZWHrXTBXpmJUbkutlKfmhf2qtmy5Y3QMdWi0h0EjyDgOi9tjVofwL5kG2-UocR4-zEarCpHQh_bQxww/s1600/DSCN1752.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9SP0WWfRvABc8PAhdPezPev73UtjLFcvrE59jjArLziW7YkJJW7q_c-2uatVfIhzKVAQ4uDfwSOuyQIEsj8yqZUbZzM5nz73IqG7blnRQ2_kZSp7kccH20Lva0JdIXIqtGFAbxySGg/s1600/DSCN1755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9SP0WWfRvABc8PAhdPezPev73UtjLFcvrE59jjArLziW7YkJJW7q_c-2uatVfIhzKVAQ4uDfwSOuyQIEsj8yqZUbZzM5nz73IqG7blnRQ2_kZSp7kccH20Lva0JdIXIqtGFAbxySGg/s1600/DSCN1755.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oMxn5pTUNkZMzk48avhZagvQvS_rGeNfEmUBYsmYdvdQFF06LaoQcQNGPqwyOXkKZOpwP3dFrHDlMOhHrGv1sRKSvPftRtLI8tWryUYbkJFeOSqFZbkGhrvoqKnR91Nd5gs_tflmhA/s1600/DSCN1756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oMxn5pTUNkZMzk48avhZagvQvS_rGeNfEmUBYsmYdvdQFF06LaoQcQNGPqwyOXkKZOpwP3dFrHDlMOhHrGv1sRKSvPftRtLI8tWryUYbkJFeOSqFZbkGhrvoqKnR91Nd5gs_tflmhA/s1600/DSCN1756.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0leswag0pbB7WlQo1dDiG6Igphr0f47_TaxbkoRoh34f7F9UWg0WJ4UR1orxKhbsMDRSDKogEeD8JJFG4hDRG2KlsyrRGxJXuRscLUDh3QoosbKs6bBDevTGLXPfuqb8qVfDPoGx9OQ/s1600/DSCN1757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0leswag0pbB7WlQo1dDiG6Igphr0f47_TaxbkoRoh34f7F9UWg0WJ4UR1orxKhbsMDRSDKogEeD8JJFG4hDRG2KlsyrRGxJXuRscLUDh3QoosbKs6bBDevTGLXPfuqb8qVfDPoGx9OQ/s1600/DSCN1757.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Ysd8gbHUw-4Ip43EZkCQIaMuBwpYKBHANyfeStqW6SyK6X_fS-VMruEbRX1uulqlR219mtA6AHzEgyM-NGnBoceam1wCbsZyGmnLca1_AxFnaZXx29TffOMaLHqre7WbPefn7g9xg/s1600/DSCN1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Ysd8gbHUw-4Ip43EZkCQIaMuBwpYKBHANyfeStqW6SyK6X_fS-VMruEbRX1uulqlR219mtA6AHzEgyM-NGnBoceam1wCbsZyGmnLca1_AxFnaZXx29TffOMaLHqre7WbPefn7g9xg/s1600/DSCN1762.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After that we headed to another temple that was filled with Peacocks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6G8v6952bTdmiz2atpv8qMYKZkHzVHK7P3t8fQlIdiTH2WuqL7_43cXiwdPI8QXFXHpaZiwy_amYpX6Q2tXjMeVdhwrJxtogDbsg3bS3mr-yS169T_09j3GOxSMJoddunKalroXang/s1600/DSCN1772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6G8v6952bTdmiz2atpv8qMYKZkHzVHK7P3t8fQlIdiTH2WuqL7_43cXiwdPI8QXFXHpaZiwy_amYpX6Q2tXjMeVdhwrJxtogDbsg3bS3mr-yS169T_09j3GOxSMJoddunKalroXang/s1600/DSCN1772.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVBzeqO17hDxP2qdJQq4L5XNX3lipaYhrpaRaJRV52OgPjDZzn3Z7ZNDnI6J4CQKfprDF8MPSlwZSdnX0f7KYMbWUf4KIY_XUVfd7YpeBaJK9-lYJyUn8jJcjGYADjRnIBz1QAOG0HA/s1600/DSCN1774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVBzeqO17hDxP2qdJQq4L5XNX3lipaYhrpaRaJRV52OgPjDZzn3Z7ZNDnI6J4CQKfprDF8MPSlwZSdnX0f7KYMbWUf4KIY_XUVfd7YpeBaJK9-lYJyUn8jJcjGYADjRnIBz1QAOG0HA/s1600/DSCN1774.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once we left there, we headed out to the base of a mountain for lunch at the Enduro Motorcycle clubhouse. After a tasty lunch of rice, egg, and sausage, I latched myself firmly onto Peewi's back and we began to climb the steep "road" of dirt and rock. Some parts where just plain terrifying, but we eventually made it to the top without incident. The view was simply amazing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SnUAqiP3QDwarDzmybF9DxY1UhRSfFZ-8C8Oi2TxkJdjcxOK3MuOGFxdqBMWGlzChtcsNgwhfpu1-128YLrOz8ecjbFGOKaiElRUDK8Kq3KA1vyFuXaFz0vpxQZ0i-Hx8OLMZ_ILvg/s1600/DSCN1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SnUAqiP3QDwarDzmybF9DxY1UhRSfFZ-8C8Oi2TxkJdjcxOK3MuOGFxdqBMWGlzChtcsNgwhfpu1-128YLrOz8ecjbFGOKaiElRUDK8Kq3KA1vyFuXaFz0vpxQZ0i-Hx8OLMZ_ILvg/s1600/DSCN1787.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1PTNSYHRAreYre7Vmt-8PPEiPY23nCu30lhyphenhyphenX2qzfYtvAyB1j51nQxZpG5e-oL5ajssUTVAgDQNyo3XJMDIMc9Z3uXuNaMe7_FUyxHqLWod4cEBVozHFJeTtLVo67Nfu-qrjR7caaA/s1600/DSCN1791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1PTNSYHRAreYre7Vmt-8PPEiPY23nCu30lhyphenhyphenX2qzfYtvAyB1j51nQxZpG5e-oL5ajssUTVAgDQNyo3XJMDIMc9Z3uXuNaMe7_FUyxHqLWod4cEBVozHFJeTtLVo67Nfu-qrjR7caaA/s1600/DSCN1791.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLJJelXj4r-nUpsNvzRPRA8gOYsthAcEE5duGsX-9UFaRCYbUgFuMNQNoCrvxKd1ELoS9rrbSpOfFFYmhIkDEdrX1dpjzqsn9dHsMGUmePxnTukiHMDrXl3yQ3xDUPuHqZD-g7qPxBg/s1600/DSCN1798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLJJelXj4r-nUpsNvzRPRA8gOYsthAcEE5duGsX-9UFaRCYbUgFuMNQNoCrvxKd1ELoS9rrbSpOfFFYmhIkDEdrX1dpjzqsn9dHsMGUmePxnTukiHMDrXl3yQ3xDUPuHqZD-g7qPxBg/s1600/DSCN1798.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRzKfQg64ZK3CO-V97N6ZeUOU7v-Mrb80SS0ua6bHY2CBQ0OdY7hOvTncP96vHcS0-jKna7ci0Hjdb4UNhGgIQEFdvf8X0mHzyKTxoAbye45ut7sy0Hr-rJFz9CTNZ9o0Zdnrnrs5WA/s1600/DSCN1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRzKfQg64ZK3CO-V97N6ZeUOU7v-Mrb80SS0ua6bHY2CBQ0OdY7hOvTncP96vHcS0-jKna7ci0Hjdb4UNhGgIQEFdvf8X0mHzyKTxoAbye45ut7sy0Hr-rJFz9CTNZ9o0Zdnrnrs5WA/s1600/DSCN1808.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tByPJ_TziCnXuqrbvsp4Po9tMXN3JEGhtfB0rRIgXLCuw-upGLmW9JsHpTxpUmIU1w1BbM_0rJVEsgkjUObuhhtWpSwU9z-RxxIaG_30k1qcfYayXIbBx1a-iOAku69Zf0-fqLYvLQ/s1600/DSCN1810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tByPJ_TziCnXuqrbvsp4Po9tMXN3JEGhtfB0rRIgXLCuw-upGLmW9JsHpTxpUmIU1w1BbM_0rJVEsgkjUObuhhtWpSwU9z-RxxIaG_30k1qcfYayXIbBx1a-iOAku69Zf0-fqLYvLQ/s1600/DSCN1810.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNPFoIesSyVfCfAbQnrMayrcPm1_1FCW_8ZoR5KWgsCaXrfjdbZAiXbgMTo8PlwuAiuK46WKuPMpfmLqYjZaRJX-HK9sv6DlkkOH0zdGyrIyalNiZkqw9zyg5g7NOTC3PG0SbGKoPBA/s1600/DSCN1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNPFoIesSyVfCfAbQnrMayrcPm1_1FCW_8ZoR5KWgsCaXrfjdbZAiXbgMTo8PlwuAiuK46WKuPMpfmLqYjZaRJX-HK9sv6DlkkOH0zdGyrIyalNiZkqw9zyg5g7NOTC3PG0SbGKoPBA/s1600/DSCN1813.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH2Jj6jE2QBL49-V9WRGjmqstmHyC3F9XBwVML0yYHo2yV_75GpvtUc8w-3biwMNOQgBiMRoKXwhgwxOVN6w682Uam_8RqpDa_UbAcZHB-GXy2x1xAoSsUqan_7L2yOfPqCxg4XliCQ/s1600/DSCN1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKH2Jj6jE2QBL49-V9WRGjmqstmHyC3F9XBwVML0yYHo2yV_75GpvtUc8w-3biwMNOQgBiMRoKXwhgwxOVN6w682Uam_8RqpDa_UbAcZHB-GXy2x1xAoSsUqan_7L2yOfPqCxg4XliCQ/s1600/DSCN1819.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once we had our fill, we headed back down the mountain, and managed to make it with only one minor spill at the end. The bike and both riders came out without a scratch, and we began our long 60 mile ride home. For those of you who don't ride motorcycles very often, 60 miles is a very long trip on the back of a small motorcycle built for small Thai people. There is no comfort after the 10th mile. The last 50 is a constant struggle of trying to put your butt is just the right spot to keep your back from seizing up and thus falling off.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFbbueu-7NmpZqnHaVEMFsTtBwcNEZMmALF9mfSpo9GyiUQurfStVuo59OXHIRcLwZWMh4Mza7qLobVVBPbif3hLR2005ThjnmOofu0Kth8yLgkoYLTlJRri_kMRU2o_SUDAuMEF2Sw/s1600/DSCN1825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFbbueu-7NmpZqnHaVEMFsTtBwcNEZMmALF9mfSpo9GyiUQurfStVuo59OXHIRcLwZWMh4Mza7qLobVVBPbif3hLR2005ThjnmOofu0Kth8yLgkoYLTlJRri_kMRU2o_SUDAuMEF2Sw/s1600/DSCN1825.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The next day, we met Peemoo early again. This time, we headed to the local temple to take part in ceremony where a young man became a monk. Almost every Thai male becomes a monk when he turns 20 years old. This is a big deal for the community, sort of like a wedding where all of his family and neighbors come out to send him off. The man can spend any amount of time as monk, from 1 week to the rest of his life, but most choose to stay a monk for around 3 months. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The man wears white robes until he is accepted by the other monks. The ceremony begins with a long parade of friends and family escorting the new monk down the road to the temple. There is music and everyone dances as they slowly meander their way. There are also trucks following the procession filled with gifts for the new monk, gifts for the other monks, baskets filled with coins that are individually wrapped up with ribbon to look like flowers, and refreshments for the parade of people.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdBzHXvvmxKzPMknljhDQCiEMmPs-rbIdc9CxKivyVpg-ULtKpOFPYOoukPpn2Hqg48CiW0GBI5yMkrQphgwHhi90ReoJbHAbI6i-GavB_-PpP2XXlZhYrpPGzXdRi4ZIcvobSZ_vZw/s1600/DSCN1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdBzHXvvmxKzPMknljhDQCiEMmPs-rbIdc9CxKivyVpg-ULtKpOFPYOoukPpn2Hqg48CiW0GBI5yMkrQphgwHhi90ReoJbHAbI6i-GavB_-PpP2XXlZhYrpPGzXdRi4ZIcvobSZ_vZw/s1600/DSCN1833.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once inside the temple walls, the new monk says a short prayer in front of one of the statues, and then takes one last picture with his family (And any white people that happen to show up. I think he was confused as to where we came from). After that the new monk leads everyone in a slow walk around the temple building. Three laps around to the right for a wedding and becoming a monk, three laps around the left for a funeral. The gifts are carried around as well. Courtney and I each had a basket full of the flower-coins.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLuMwaADRpwv5vrXWTJu5H8XUhloOHNflic7lr53Zj7zUYI-hq6wXgS-6MWEl2eTbTUZg9TXrQMmvof-99BnmH2zeOfB3iiu4iPBpH5AZucJR6SV4kCQm7PWp7_kWJAfQke0l9NneCw/s1600/DSCN1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLuMwaADRpwv5vrXWTJu5H8XUhloOHNflic7lr53Zj7zUYI-hq6wXgS-6MWEl2eTbTUZg9TXrQMmvof-99BnmH2zeOfB3iiu4iPBpH5AZucJR6SV4kCQm7PWp7_kWJAfQke0l9NneCw/s1600/DSCN1831.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvND1Hvyv37NSgDh-_AFx5HQHY7sMZeONfiKLGaW5tsVROkfT2r7OL35j2wmnmrIZP9DuX2xyIHiY1U4Qc4HreemMdIhDLYx6mYcwsKebarynDc4jUq81zlqAFrxgTqqJrbkRPTzorA/s1600/DSCN1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvND1Hvyv37NSgDh-_AFx5HQHY7sMZeONfiKLGaW5tsVROkfT2r7OL35j2wmnmrIZP9DuX2xyIHiY1U4Qc4HreemMdIhDLYx6mYcwsKebarynDc4jUq81zlqAFrxgTqqJrbkRPTzorA/s1600/DSCN1835.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1XPcNuHaWsq-fDVl9wVle8o8AHMNFobE7aI4uZVqJ17xc2PoxGGQZYyMJfDBHy6_V31ZzUyVoDy3CLwIAGiHsEmKtN_Rfj9JX0ZXQwbu6-iObsZuhC-jsd6ZQHr2bszVFXiipFiBQw/s1600/DSCN1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1XPcNuHaWsq-fDVl9wVle8o8AHMNFobE7aI4uZVqJ17xc2PoxGGQZYyMJfDBHy6_V31ZzUyVoDy3CLwIAGiHsEmKtN_Rfj9JX0ZXQwbu6-iObsZuhC-jsd6ZQHr2bszVFXiipFiBQw/s1600/DSCN1837.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmFUZCxcpAe5s8ci2S0ZA9eFnDbC7kjcb-dscz0lU7580Iz613owJugahR_4r0xs1G-asJol3R-QnvCPA8yj1XvU4WJTYF6NAhKozIzVzehwLeMrUB4366r-x6jW7sbqB58hbQuZZMA/s1600/DSCN1847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmFUZCxcpAe5s8ci2S0ZA9eFnDbC7kjcb-dscz0lU7580Iz613owJugahR_4r0xs1G-asJol3R-QnvCPA8yj1XvU4WJTYF6NAhKozIzVzehwLeMrUB4366r-x6jW7sbqB58hbQuZZMA/s1600/DSCN1847.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once three laps are completed, the baskets are all handed up to the family who stand on the steps of the temple. The gifts and food are given to the monks, and then each family member takes a basket of flower-coins. This is where the fun begins. The crowd stands eagerly below, with the children right up front. Then suddenly, the family begins hurling handfuls of coins into the air at the crowd. At first, we thought it was just for the children, but we soon realized that the adults were in as much of a frenzy to grab the flowers as the children were. Every time I reached for a flower on the ground, a hand would quickly reach through my legs and grab it first. There was even an older man holding an umbrella upside down to catch as many coins in the air as he could.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhBcC9J-f8wVLU-bVBHMFBwKovQAUpOTdwL6_LKttn6JN62dJwxaldPOBaLTXPoQuoknekDkkIXK3XR3AUKnJUU6qaaPWfRd6fjYg6H593QIsxSC7PIUAewEfM_XVm7VUch0qT5k63Q/s1600/DSCN1856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhBcC9J-f8wVLU-bVBHMFBwKovQAUpOTdwL6_LKttn6JN62dJwxaldPOBaLTXPoQuoknekDkkIXK3XR3AUKnJUU6qaaPWfRd6fjYg6H593QIsxSC7PIUAewEfM_XVm7VUch0qT5k63Q/s1600/DSCN1856.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CQoehoHxo6VXQsySzJuCHRkwh1mGzx2aP8ivzH9NR7w5iWK7s1Rt3XXv6hcmjh0bKI7Z7x7iQgip_kDYQ4_TX_0YOvj3pQbWopD0qY4GG0CSmrqMrLEBn4WeDwKtuT4Up2YWZauFLA/s1600/DSCN1862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CQoehoHxo6VXQsySzJuCHRkwh1mGzx2aP8ivzH9NR7w5iWK7s1Rt3XXv6hcmjh0bKI7Z7x7iQgip_kDYQ4_TX_0YOvj3pQbWopD0qY4GG0CSmrqMrLEBn4WeDwKtuT4Up2YWZauFLA/s1600/DSCN1862.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd3F4BGdstb68Px8qOVCwHrMyrpV4sM9us2Wjnk43wNdjduJbe9Aru7d2R76vFlhLY5sASuV4kXZKikRZIjlZDoPiERYva4xiUc3abMAgVWdPge9K-2X6f99W-8fT5Uo8MAjx7D-rig/s1600/DSCN1866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd3F4BGdstb68Px8qOVCwHrMyrpV4sM9us2Wjnk43wNdjduJbe9Aru7d2R76vFlhLY5sASuV4kXZKikRZIjlZDoPiERYva4xiUc3abMAgVWdPge9K-2X6f99W-8fT5Uo8MAjx7D-rig/s1600/DSCN1866.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9dW_nCTkPOC3IM8zXV2YtrkFoj5TWBuQnSgvqMR30SmTJzsNUAcqfwACCtHzuyXgMlPmGzyJtUXV78XjfgaTV5LXR6l-KeXQrLPva_mBhgklMaOUZkgtQzPvddapc96kAmrhMTtsNg/s1600/DSCN1868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9dW_nCTkPOC3IM8zXV2YtrkFoj5TWBuQnSgvqMR30SmTJzsNUAcqfwACCtHzuyXgMlPmGzyJtUXV78XjfgaTV5LXR6l-KeXQrLPva_mBhgklMaOUZkgtQzPvddapc96kAmrhMTtsNg/s1600/DSCN1868.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_dUCyfeskqI24ny2Nqgm01lLj_cYGhWQqo3LFJhGklQucWM-HxKyDkleIpER5kbI2xJOO1kEwWTnnz8-QWjpEsvAeaziE4R2aVKRfbMtI0fmFjb3lT43ERsavJj8WRUsilL_P94GKQ/s1600/DSCN1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_dUCyfeskqI24ny2Nqgm01lLj_cYGhWQqo3LFJhGklQucWM-HxKyDkleIpER5kbI2xJOO1kEwWTnnz8-QWjpEsvAeaziE4R2aVKRfbMtI0fmFjb3lT43ERsavJj8WRUsilL_P94GKQ/s1600/DSCN1869.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We learned that the coins collected are kept for good luck and not spent. Once the coin frenzy had died down, we went inside the temple where the new monk was being accepted by the older monks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGazzRnlgovEC3D5HEPBPq9hKVDkctoAUQtomiN_q7-AlBlPYxM3vwegLhN9p8WYVJR-vF-395JeXaDjzqA-A7KS1-ci18HkJ4MfSWCCSYB9KLz66w0l1axoAwHgBOwkJfY4u3x-gtgA/s1600/DSCN1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGazzRnlgovEC3D5HEPBPq9hKVDkctoAUQtomiN_q7-AlBlPYxM3vwegLhN9p8WYVJR-vF-395JeXaDjzqA-A7KS1-ci18HkJ4MfSWCCSYB9KLz66w0l1axoAwHgBOwkJfY4u3x-gtgA/s1600/DSCN1871.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After the ceremony, Peemoo invited us to visit his friends farm for lunch. It turns out his friend was one of the men who went with us the day before for the motorcycle ride. He is retired from his job at the farm assistance office and now runs his own farm with a small assortment of crops and 65 sheep. The sheep are kept only for the wool and not for eating, which we were happy to find out when he handed me his brand new three-day-old lamb. It was super cute, and when I asked what it's name was, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "James."</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gMFeFbEr7lex5ynoad5B1FVmsCgQaY5a98oyWDMoiZnAK-nyzhY83S8k4RObPrqYCMyX5NJzVHN7rk3J87x6fKGsVCugjCmYhyphenhyphens01gOPNX2K6K7p7R6mFNpPapLErdG6aVCltXy8Kg/s1600/DSCN1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4gMFeFbEr7lex5ynoad5B1FVmsCgQaY5a98oyWDMoiZnAK-nyzhY83S8k4RObPrqYCMyX5NJzVHN7rk3J87x6fKGsVCugjCmYhyphenhyphens01gOPNX2K6K7p7R6mFNpPapLErdG6aVCltXy8Kg/s1600/DSCN1883.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We fed the sheep for a while from the tree next to us, and then went to pick some fruits and vegetables for our own lunch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIQDLe50A2fxZfk4BkJujzG54uMR-j0fMIdb4JLC3DIxVrcbb9_oEuS1vRlX9y_S8kDdoNcPslX5a1VNYrDmiZDrqQvKbFrAovqoZGkZcKTIQ0aCK_H_py8aSEkrV4MuT9MYZl2_lyA/s1600/DSCN1892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIQDLe50A2fxZfk4BkJujzG54uMR-j0fMIdb4JLC3DIxVrcbb9_oEuS1vRlX9y_S8kDdoNcPslX5a1VNYrDmiZDrqQvKbFrAovqoZGkZcKTIQ0aCK_H_py8aSEkrV4MuT9MYZl2_lyA/s1600/DSCN1892.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We ended up with papaya, mango, and a new fruit they called a pomello. It's kind of like a mix between a grapefruit and a coconut.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxqb15rYq8ulvURtwAxGtHKUQEN08JjORVVVWtmkARNI3DSLFSxGxn4dMg41A32COysdpBAGM_ac9wJQLJNj-lrrAWh77CzpRcBcHy2SVsG8Rf61RWIAXkaoOKE9wWH0EmsQbY6T2XA/s1600/DSCN1873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxqb15rYq8ulvURtwAxGtHKUQEN08JjORVVVWtmkARNI3DSLFSxGxn4dMg41A32COysdpBAGM_ac9wJQLJNj-lrrAWh77CzpRcBcHy2SVsG8Rf61RWIAXkaoOKE9wWH0EmsQbY6T2XA/s1600/DSCN1873.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This was also about the time that "The Fisherman" (We never did learn his name) showed up. He took his net out of the back of his moped and sauntered over to the small pond next to the farm. He threw his net in, and at first, I was worried he hadn't caught anything. As he pulled his net out of the water, I was proven very wrong. At least a dozen fish struggled in the net as he pulled it from the water. He pulled the big ones out for us, took the medium ones with him, and tossed the little ones back. After what we can only assume was a trip home to drop off his part of the catch, he returned and we set about chopping herbs and fruit for our fish soup.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_CHvv17Q97CTuoHc6eJYFdKLHUz_yd8qjZXXLwmAtIXTTNHPB7vDqW3vmKO7lOhdwZKf5TwANJaELQQWYBJxQprR99VIijYgB4spVuUjA5vwhgpkdDi_QjU_HlRvokbmVxccWOEPrw/s1600/DSCN1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_CHvv17Q97CTuoHc6eJYFdKLHUz_yd8qjZXXLwmAtIXTTNHPB7vDqW3vmKO7lOhdwZKf5TwANJaELQQWYBJxQprR99VIijYgB4spVuUjA5vwhgpkdDi_QjU_HlRvokbmVxccWOEPrw/s1600/DSCN1897.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAnzzsn4RMEXZNID5jtLOq3p_Jwb00lpXTEdyQv6UJD-OAhZ3iErlZlCrTQKEnPw4JVd2gVNjIRBuLyAn0IjwtK2X39zbhR0T4ZipOjNYbxWZ7-pipLvbiCTBelD86CpNYoMv2xnVrw/s1600/DSCN1900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAnzzsn4RMEXZNID5jtLOq3p_Jwb00lpXTEdyQv6UJD-OAhZ3iErlZlCrTQKEnPw4JVd2gVNjIRBuLyAn0IjwtK2X39zbhR0T4ZipOjNYbxWZ7-pipLvbiCTBelD86CpNYoMv2xnVrw/s1600/DSCN1900.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU1qa48JZkxbZWT6Z4I9Tb9Fmcdwgz8Kfv-EkkZlOHLC8GCVytdYatExyF8WgTdZKagK2eLi8D8BM2pjCz4Wi5njxhCQrCNHmpClLvv4zOyk0ApIwSU63LuQA2ojactwYSFhhsijH2Q/s1600/DSCN1902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU1qa48JZkxbZWT6Z4I9Tb9Fmcdwgz8Kfv-EkkZlOHLC8GCVytdYatExyF8WgTdZKagK2eLi8D8BM2pjCz4Wi5njxhCQrCNHmpClLvv4zOyk0ApIwSU63LuQA2ojactwYSFhhsijH2Q/s1600/DSCN1902.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It turned out delicious, even though we had to pick the bones out of the fish before we could eat. We had a craving for some American entertainment, so we stopped by the local Tesco (Pretty much like a Wal-mart) and picked through the movie bin until we found three that were actually in English. We ended up with Green Zone, Wanted, and Alex and Emma.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Monday, it was back to the classroom for another day of
teaching. We left a little early that day, because we had agreed to meet up
with our friends from the local Muay Thai camp. We had visited the camp on Friday for some training. I ended up in the ring, and Courtney even got some lessons while we were there. We learned that while some of the students come visit the gym every day, a number of them are actually orphans. The owner of the gym feeds them and allows them to sleep in the building next door as long as they go to school and train. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcJZckClyo4OjIZffmWZ3xeQKFgMxGp-ifMp-VKI65UTk2bFlJePicLNqdjbTVvdaR-ZpgFp9RnAPfZ4CVGeZkfkrcjQ_qf4avlMkfSBmOwBh4d8AsV-intmWhlAGRgP0XwWjtVLGOA/s1600/DSCN1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcJZckClyo4OjIZffmWZ3xeQKFgMxGp-ifMp-VKI65UTk2bFlJePicLNqdjbTVvdaR-ZpgFp9RnAPfZ4CVGeZkfkrcjQ_qf4avlMkfSBmOwBh4d8AsV-intmWhlAGRgP0XwWjtVLGOA/s1600/DSCN1674.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0JYs3kxTc7gFef4kWzDGXzCZINKEGYQZh57eyVmYGSaXricgWaPMdJPRpRYR6u7GBPNB_6WjVuUocQvcbYDIWnb0LvPGX_BIWfygJpo4TdWWZId_vF3-wA9LvC97xjS5KgsAm_G4jQ/s1600/DSCN1676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0JYs3kxTc7gFef4kWzDGXzCZINKEGYQZh57eyVmYGSaXricgWaPMdJPRpRYR6u7GBPNB_6WjVuUocQvcbYDIWnb0LvPGX_BIWfygJpo4TdWWZId_vF3-wA9LvC97xjS5KgsAm_G4jQ/s1600/DSCN1676.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxdal97DhkgRgLRLrz1F7gGgZGTn37kdm1o3scHpPP0qpFKRbF5rP8tKRNnRxSruNordeyXkF6Vd1q7rGg3wlnT6fWD7K3E0BWzXm-KOkXVxQo7xmSkAxE89U8zlYQTXjtVVlRXNTTg/s1600/DSCN1682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxdal97DhkgRgLRLrz1F7gGgZGTn37kdm1o3scHpPP0qpFKRbF5rP8tKRNnRxSruNordeyXkF6Vd1q7rGg3wlnT6fWD7K3E0BWzXm-KOkXVxQo7xmSkAxE89U8zlYQTXjtVVlRXNTTg/s1600/DSCN1682.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ryKcUmfXI3WX_xYg9EWNK5rhoHsH7F4AkCbVNi5QllgdRaQJPODO2eMQ9G5phhFhzSNsFn6_wDETNyP9C9ISstz_760nON0KT82Nuoazthh0TOmknrb89_QyIJ3TcvkA7-KMvjE7mg/s1600/DSCN1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ryKcUmfXI3WX_xYg9EWNK5rhoHsH7F4AkCbVNi5QllgdRaQJPODO2eMQ9G5phhFhzSNsFn6_wDETNyP9C9ISstz_760nON0KT82Nuoazthh0TOmknrb89_QyIJ3TcvkA7-KMvjE7mg/s1600/DSCN1688.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrxUdOhUOkr1ASqze_DfNnAFtsZn7dbVlrsL3HsfL_2jgupEw4831rVomBjLEJf3OV-pDrbBXNJRRGSUh83NEuZD9yeMgpW8tZPIj3OpB1_LR1Sp9kAmhbguwElFldA-CmEjJp6fbdA/s1600/DSCN1695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrxUdOhUOkr1ASqze_DfNnAFtsZn7dbVlrsL3HsfL_2jgupEw4831rVomBjLEJf3OV-pDrbBXNJRRGSUh83NEuZD9yeMgpW8tZPIj3OpB1_LR1Sp9kAmhbguwElFldA-CmEjJp6fbdA/s1600/DSCN1695.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjrGHuHJ3fM4GBpLbxXPdzyTj7Zhdy_aRSsJdf7mNpSirhXoYDsd4f4rm2MLfM8d5_lBuOzG66Xa02qtTKSbz_WVMInZK6PiPPHE5QoTgLAzfzM5yqToEmyYT0unz6iDHxGZ2ARErtw/s1600/DSCN1704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjrGHuHJ3fM4GBpLbxXPdzyTj7Zhdy_aRSsJdf7mNpSirhXoYDsd4f4rm2MLfM8d5_lBuOzG66Xa02qtTKSbz_WVMInZK6PiPPHE5QoTgLAzfzM5yqToEmyYT0unz6iDHxGZ2ARErtw/s1600/DSCN1704.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2iFqvD59fKT2LDI297ZHZUsjd9aZLqz31ARdsJXDOQwhyam1TNjaIerLvQ974yPthOCZeb3yvy0LIA1CB9uFFTMfTynMAbeVtPnSFxyR9Flq7oLzpSoI79EbaZtAjo0bbVZQNvaZQw/s1600/DSCN1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2iFqvD59fKT2LDI297ZHZUsjd9aZLqz31ARdsJXDOQwhyam1TNjaIerLvQ974yPthOCZeb3yvy0LIA1CB9uFFTMfTynMAbeVtPnSFxyR9Flq7oLzpSoI79EbaZtAjo0bbVZQNvaZQw/s1600/DSCN1708.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBjXGaH6Wu54QGif9kMW6baS1Q3CGzHUnywDnjGVzHoMXjwbbFvOAYSxjIQyJjLaC68r1NaqIz4eujwxiFMyeo2pXRw4fX6cUxJA8U7Z0ZcCWCqTBKXwaeCjlWRi8iNvNSLzl-35MEw/s1600/DSCN1717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBjXGaH6Wu54QGif9kMW6baS1Q3CGzHUnywDnjGVzHoMXjwbbFvOAYSxjIQyJjLaC68r1NaqIz4eujwxiFMyeo2pXRw4fX6cUxJA8U7Z0ZcCWCqTBKXwaeCjlWRi8iNvNSLzl-35MEw/s1600/DSCN1717.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei-KBKYHB-3CIeC7fQdiM_X28lfGYazx0pJa-0u_ItxJsOBo5uL1qyuR8TFxPFci4r5uCV83oQM8b7YamZ7GUT2ltbROPR4Zy-KkkXzhIojjLHrNKgudqWebgn3M_wvqLj5zAe8GOQg/s1600/DSCN1722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei-KBKYHB-3CIeC7fQdiM_X28lfGYazx0pJa-0u_ItxJsOBo5uL1qyuR8TFxPFci4r5uCV83oQM8b7YamZ7GUT2ltbROPR4Zy-KkkXzhIojjLHrNKgudqWebgn3M_wvqLj5zAe8GOQg/s1600/DSCN1722.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZmXR40MWs7yDnquJDuX88wfhlthxPbMGz7g7lLtKcvbpRD9ruksLnSgFmtxVeJbK0wFwR9Eq6bkkQ0gQ9HNpuW0lhzx27yABMbkun5wrSqo_Zs1mosmaMK-wDghCb5fV5yTICf6ngw/s1600/DSCN1729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZmXR40MWs7yDnquJDuX88wfhlthxPbMGz7g7lLtKcvbpRD9ruksLnSgFmtxVeJbK0wFwR9Eq6bkkQ0gQ9HNpuW0lhzx27yABMbkun5wrSqo_Zs1mosmaMK-wDghCb5fV5yTICf6ngw/s1600/DSCN1729.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They had invited us to travel with them to a competition about three hours away, so we took a motorcycle taxi from our classroom to the gym. We waited for everyone to show up, and then headed out in the van packed full of coaches, fighters, and the two of us. I'm not sure exactly what I expected to find when we got there, but I knew it wasn't going to be close after the sixth time we stopped to ask for directions. We ended up pulling into a dusty parking lot. The closest thing I can compare it to is a very small county fair. There was a giant inflatable slide and about two dozen vendors with various sweet and savory treats. There was also a man on a loudspeaker who we could only assume was selling raffle tickets to win an LCD TV or a motorbike, and a large plastic wall around what we found out was the actual Muay Thai arena. We bought a couple beers and two plastic lawn chairs for 40 Baht (About $1.20) and plopped ourselves down to watch the fights. The students we had traveled with were last on schedule, so we had time to watch these tiny, and I mean TINY kids slug it out in the ring. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3FzRJfaBxO_951amrbrAnI0RK49-ZbRIMLdq8KzPjaaUBP80Ij3dyLkYrjX1AhD93nOris9w2HQGJ2tgZdEcyNxHRdyDUHrWrbtrpqA-M43qIRE8YaRyiaTDgShuUWzYhJok_IdPnw/s1600/DSCN1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3FzRJfaBxO_951amrbrAnI0RK49-ZbRIMLdq8KzPjaaUBP80Ij3dyLkYrjX1AhD93nOris9w2HQGJ2tgZdEcyNxHRdyDUHrWrbtrpqA-M43qIRE8YaRyiaTDgShuUWzYhJok_IdPnw/s1600/DSCN1941.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfN4U0HXVZ6_Mdo2W7UA4Mrp9JPNaD7bLR6Yev6pFY31B1pQHCh880uYeUb5LP-WCTXoz_Np03fJX-VTQkbKBJev7ZIKGiV5m0ji-lKlTvMuFW5l8Xk7KYLGb_KQ78Cm270HRLfbeeA/s1600/DSCN1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfN4U0HXVZ6_Mdo2W7UA4Mrp9JPNaD7bLR6Yev6pFY31B1pQHCh880uYeUb5LP-WCTXoz_Np03fJX-VTQkbKBJev7ZIKGiV5m0ji-lKlTvMuFW5l8Xk7KYLGb_KQ78Cm270HRLfbeeA/s1600/DSCN1920.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SWMTcXdc3Zkm5zOZibVa9hgleQ8UPAAV8Zf1CPPFFZteVkf9qwcS0_UZ8H8aq5_DKGbRb190u0sCaFbqxJCYR8isWlq7sARy2Bqk3VGuiBrMlXJepJpn75iEApbzsUUldFDLFSG9dg/s1600/DSCN1946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SWMTcXdc3Zkm5zOZibVa9hgleQ8UPAAV8Zf1CPPFFZteVkf9qwcS0_UZ8H8aq5_DKGbRb190u0sCaFbqxJCYR8isWlq7sARy2Bqk3VGuiBrMlXJepJpn75iEApbzsUUldFDLFSG9dg/s1600/DSCN1946.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfY5JlNVHPYZMyrCR9HQstixk9O1EqtMg3elk0s_iSYmxi8UIHtkH5gvqtsY2VcyodLmZO-GCE1m9GDKfcBMSDVYGwDKVkqFvOe7RF6lLz-QdG5va0AEGcKyeyVkOXi1NvIIjJEG8UQ/s1600/DSCN1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfY5JlNVHPYZMyrCR9HQstixk9O1EqtMg3elk0s_iSYmxi8UIHtkH5gvqtsY2VcyodLmZO-GCE1m9GDKfcBMSDVYGwDKVkqFvOe7RF6lLz-QdG5va0AEGcKyeyVkOXi1NvIIjJEG8UQ/s1600/DSCN1959.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eventually, it was time for our team's turn, and they did awesome. The students won three out of their four fights, and the fourth one was very close. Finally, at 1am, we hopped back in the van for the long 3 hour ride home. We showed back up at our home stay at 4:30 in the morning, exhausted, but I wouldn't have traded it in for anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08064275686815629327noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-28348351224096755252013-04-02T09:18:00.000-04:002013-04-02T09:18:04.982-04:00Peetim's HomestayOur story left off in the early hours of Thursday morning, getting off the bus at an empty bus station we were told was Singburi. As the bus pulled away and we realized we were all alone, we hoped that was true.<br />
<br />
We had planned ahead enough to buy a Thai sim card for our cell phone in Chiang Mai, so TJ dialed the phone number we had been given. After a few rings, I could tell someone had answered from TJ's half of the conversation: "We're at the Singburi bus station. No, not Bangkok. Singburi." Sound familiar?<br />
<br />
Before long, TJ had convinced our host that we had, in fact, arrived in Singburi, and we were told to wait near the 7-11 for someone to pick us up. The morning is a bit of a blur after that. In my delirious state, we could have waited five minutes or thirty. At some point, a man in a pickup truck stopped and asked "Peetim's Homestay?" Our ride! We climbed into the back of his truck with our bags and tried to imagine where we were headed as he sped up. We had no idea.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlcF_zgx-Lw/UVgffH03mUI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/WoCme6d-HZg/s1600/DSCN1645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlcF_zgx-Lw/UVgffH03mUI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/WoCme6d-HZg/s1600/DSCN1645.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When the truck came to a stop, the sky was beginning to brighten, and we could barely make out the roofline of the complex we had pulled into. This was no modest village home we had pulled into...it was a large, walled-in group of buildings, all connected by roofs of varying heights. Before we had time to wonder, "Where are we?", we were met by a small Thai woman in a housecoat. This was Peetim, our host! She quickly ushered us up a set of stairs and into a big, air-conditioned (!) room with several beds. When we wearily refused her offers of food and drink, she kindly told us to get some sleep. She would have lunch ready for us at noon, and we were free to sleep until then. It was the happiest I have ever been to fall into (lay gingerly on) a hard-as-rock Thai mattress. We were asleep in minutes, still wearing our travel clothes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb6lTORoYU0/UVrZprf0qFI/AAAAAAAAFBw/3UaTutGE-Lw/s1600/DSCN1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb6lTORoYU0/UVrZprf0qFI/AAAAAAAAFBw/3UaTutGE-Lw/s1600/DSCN1905.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mango tree outside our room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We awoke to the promised lunch and a brief introduction to our afternoon. We were headed into town to visit an office building. This office had received a phone call a few weeks ago from someone speaking English, and the employees all avoided the phone call in a panic. The manager decided this was a problem and invited Peetim to teach his employees English. For the last two weeks, office work mostly stops from 1 - 4 pm while the employees sit in English class. For the next week, TJ and I, along with Peetim, are their English teachers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGCt2nr1ZOU/UVrXh5L-hvI/AAAAAAAAFBI/U0lYGNEXCkY/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGCt2nr1ZOU/UVrXh5L-hvI/AAAAAAAAFBI/U0lYGNEXCkY/s1600/IMG_0008.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
To be honest, I was a little nervous about teaching English. TJ found this opportunity online, and while I hesitated, he wouldn't take No for an answer. So I decided to have an open mind and approach it like any other adventure on our trip. I felt a little better after we arrived and Peetim assured us she would walk us through everything. She didn't expect us to know what we were doing. My hesitation completely evaporated, though, when we walked into the classroom. Turns out, teaching English is lots of fun!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-gnpWaiXXA/UVrXx_JVRkI/AAAAAAAAFBQ/VJWZHJfzaRk/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-gnpWaiXXA/UVrXx_JVRkI/AAAAAAAAFBQ/VJWZHJfzaRk/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Now that we have four days of teaching under our belts, we are both pretty comfortable in the classroom. Our lessons range from naming colors and shapes to giving a brief history lesson of the United States to acting like different animals. Peetim usually has a general plan for how the day will unfold, but that plan is subject to change as our "trainees" ask questions and TJ and I give our input. Today, for example, we printed out lyrics to a sappy love song (Shalalalala by the Vengaboys) in English. After at least three exciting renditions of the song, complete with clapping and dancing, we moved onto the rest of the CD, picking songs people liked and having a karaoke party. To help them out, we connected our laptop to the room's projector and pulled up the song lyrics for everyone to follow. Never did I imagine that I would find myself in Thailand, dancing and singing into a microphone songs I had never heard before in front of a room full of people.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qClzcb9OjFc/UVrZeeIRt4I/AAAAAAAAFBo/RFSqTCa1aI8/s1600/DSCN1984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qClzcb9OjFc/UVrZeeIRt4I/AAAAAAAAFBo/RFSqTCa1aI8/s1600/DSCN1984.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
On Mondays, we learned, the employees in this office come to work dressed in full uniform. Monday also happened to be the day that TJ and I planned to teach our students the Hokey Pokey. What better way to help them practice right versus left? And that is how we ended up doing the Hokey Pokey with 20 Thai adults in uniform. Several times.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PhKu3-QPW5A/UVrZGsXgFhI/AAAAAAAAFBY/AcdcIJFZFZU/s1600/DSCN1907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PhKu3-QPW5A/UVrZGsXgFhI/AAAAAAAAFBY/AcdcIJFZFZU/s1600/DSCN1907.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VRZheAnbS20/UVrZJ0Suo4I/AAAAAAAAFBg/Pd-9gEtHnpE/s1600/DSCN1910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VRZheAnbS20/UVrZJ0Suo4I/AAAAAAAAFBg/Pd-9gEtHnpE/s1600/DSCN1910.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The biggest contribution TJ and I can make to our students' education is their pronunciation. Peetim was quick to point out that a Thai teacher can teach them the vocabulary, but she can't always teach them the correct pronunciation. We spend a good portion of the class everyday simply reciting words and phrases for the class to repeat after us. They are all such good sports that even repetition can be fun. Phonics, for example, are entirely different when you're working with a group of non-native English speakers. (Is that obvious? It had never occurred to me!) I am constantly reminded of my efforts to learn foreign languages. You know when someone says "No, not X, Y!" and both X and Y sound exactly the same to you? I'm learning that every language has those similarities.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SbLkQ_1aung/UVrXNdCCgDI/AAAAAAAAFA4/bf2IAa-iSUE/s1600/DSCN1647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SbLkQ_1aung/UVrXNdCCgDI/AAAAAAAAFA4/bf2IAa-iSUE/s1600/DSCN1647.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Thai people, for example, have trouble hearing the difference between an L and an R. So the word "Lightning" often comes out sounding like "Rightning." T's and D's are (understandably) hard to distinguish as well, so words like "foot" and "food" (and even "fruit!") all sound the same. They are all extra conscious of saying "I like to eat food," rather than, "I like to eat foot." We repeat difficult words like these all the time, discussing how to form the sounds with correct lip and tongue placement. It is really a fascinating way to think about a language I take for granted daily.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w554j12QZYw/UVrXRnXzDGI/AAAAAAAAFBA/e2sLe2cpLNc/s1600/DSCN1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w554j12QZYw/UVrXRnXzDGI/AAAAAAAAFBA/e2sLe2cpLNc/s1600/DSCN1648.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish icecream from Peetim!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By far, the best part of the class is the attitude of the students. We are experiencing the generosity of Thailand at its best, and we are continually overwhelmed by it. Our students bring fresh fruits from their farms to share with us, they introduce us to new Thai treats from the bakery, and they invite us to their homes. Today, we bought ourselves a pizza for dinner, and it is very nearly the only money we have spent since we arrived in Singburi. The currency here seems to be friendship, rather than the Baht, and we are finding ourselves with lots of new friends. THIS is the Thailand we came here to see!Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17342420232056187.post-77240043697534711472013-03-31T08:54:00.001-04:002013-03-31T08:54:46.026-04:00Transportation in ThailandIn the week and a half since we got off the plane in
Bangkok, we have used a combination of trains, buses, boats, tuk tuk, songtaew,
motorbike, and our own two feet to get around. We've touched on the local
transportation in Bangkok before, when we used the local buses, sky train, and
ferry to get around. We braved the motorbike in Pai. Here’s what we think of
the other modes of transportation we have encountered.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjQ-WbGGRSI/UVgsEWAOrkI/AAAAAAAAE_g/uV21dBJO88k/s1600/DSCN1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjQ-WbGGRSI/UVgsEWAOrkI/AAAAAAAAE_g/uV21dBJO88k/s1600/DSCN1264.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Long-distance Train:</u></b> We had always planned to take the
overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, but we surprised ourselves by
deciding to go to Chiang Mai at the very beginning of our trip instead of
later. That decision found us at the railway station trying to figure out how
the trains worked. We had done our research about which train to be on (we
wanted Train 13) and which class (we wanted 2<sup>nd</sup> class with Air
Conditioning), but what we didn't count on was the big fat 0 on the screen at
the ticket window. Trains to Chiang Mai were completely sold out for the next
three nights. We briefly considered running back to our hotel to grab our bags
and catching the train that evening, but that would mean forfeiting a paid
night at a hotel and rushing through the afternoon. At a loss, a kind
information desk clerk finally let us in on a secret – often, seats open up on
the day of. If we came back at 9am the next day, we might be able to find
seats.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did as he suggested, and sure enough, there were suddenly
35 open seats in second class. We booked our tickets, went back to our hotel to
pack up and check out, and spent the day wandering around Bangkok. At 6 pm, we
loaded onto the train and found our seats.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm-L_6nbEvE/UVgsGiavt8I/AAAAAAAAE_o/BBjzplZSgQY/s1600/DSCN1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm-L_6nbEvE/UVgsGiavt8I/AAAAAAAAE_o/BBjzplZSgQY/s1600/DSCN1265.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second class means that you have a bed to sleep in, but it
feels like a hostel with beds lining the length of the train car. During the
day, we had two seats facing each other. At night, we had top and bottom bunks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was actually quite nice. We were able to order dinner, which
they brought right to our seats. And we woke up just in time to watch the
countryside go by a bit before we got into Chiang Mai.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vUWQqHvqX_E/UVgsJH0IovI/AAAAAAAAE_w/MWvDPMfu86g/s1600/DSCN1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vUWQqHvqX_E/UVgsJH0IovI/AAAAAAAAE_w/MWvDPMfu86g/s1600/DSCN1269.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7oZkA92iTE/UVgsNOoFEOI/AAAAAAAAE_4/6dAdfLYl4P0/s1600/DSCN1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7oZkA92iTE/UVgsNOoFEOI/AAAAAAAAE_4/6dAdfLYl4P0/s1600/DSCN1274.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SfYxV5TulTc/UVgthUnXz1I/AAAAAAAAFAI/W56Z8Rr_VSs/s1600/DSCN1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SfYxV5TulTc/UVgthUnXz1I/AAAAAAAAFAI/W56Z8Rr_VSs/s1600/DSCN1275.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>Long-distance Bus:</b></u> From Chiang Mai, we were ultimately
headed to Singburi, the town where we are doing our volunteer week. The train
stops at nearby Lopburi, but lots of Googling had us thinking that there might
be a bus that took us directly to Singburi. We arrived at the Chiang Mai bus
station on our bus from Pai and started asking around about how to get to
Singburi. We found a VIP bus that cost 800 baht each, but the guy told us to
come back and buy our ticket tomorrow. Before we left the bus station, we tried
one more time, asking at a ticket window that said “Government Bus.” They
ushered us toward a woman who spoke English, who explained that the second
class bus stops in Singburi bus station, but the first class and VIP class
buses only stop on the side of the highway. Second class it is, then!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMZavPa_RIc/UVge7nOaAMI/AAAAAAAAE_A/3G8orcuvYS0/s1600/DSCN1643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sMZavPa_RIc/UVge7nOaAMI/AAAAAAAAE_A/3G8orcuvYS0/s1600/DSCN1643.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We made it to the bus station the next day on a tuk tuk. We
learned our lesson from the last time we had tried to find it. When we were
leaving Chiang Mai for Pai, we had the great idea of walking to the bus
station, with our packs, to save a couple dollars on tuk tuk fare. At one
point, we walked into what we later discovered was the District Court and asked
if we could go to Pai. They, rightfully, looked at us like we were crazy.
Fortunately, the words “bus station” seem to be universally understood, so we
made our way after lots of gestures and pointing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wvyjc0FzaTA/UVge9tjgQZI/AAAAAAAAE_I/iBanZg3zv8Q/s1600/DSCN1644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wvyjc0FzaTA/UVge9tjgQZI/AAAAAAAAE_I/iBanZg3zv8Q/s1600/DSCN1644.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, this time we went straight to the bus station on a tuk
tuk, and he dropped us off around back, exactly where our bus was. We got out,
showed the driver our tickets, and added our bags to the pile underneath the
bus. Then I had the following conversation with the driver:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: We go to Singburi.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Driver: You sit in seats D and E.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: Yes. Then we get off at Singburi.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Driver: Seats there. [Pointing to our seats at the front of
the bus].<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: Ok. And we go to Singburi.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And that went on repeat for a couple minutes. Until I
changed tactic and announced, “We don’t go to Bangkok.” Clearly confused, the
driver points to the top of our ticket, where, printed in bold, it says "Chiang Mai – BKK".
Bless that patient man. I repeated “Singburi,” and he took the tickets from me,
carrying them closer to the brightly lit bus station. Apparently in small Thai
print at the bottom of the ticket, it said “Depart – Singburi.” Thank goodness!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point, it seemed the entire bus knew where we were
getting off. The conductor came to check on us twice to confirm where we were
going, and when we pulled into the station, other passengers alerted us to the
fact that we were finally in Singburi. It was 4:30 in the morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fortunately the bus ride was quite pleasant, with extra leg
room since we were in the front row, and blankets provided by the bus. They
even turned off the blaring Thai soap opera after a while so we could catch
some sleep. So for 4:30 in the morning, we were reasonably alert but still had
no idea what we were doing. This story will be continued…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlcF_zgx-Lw/UVgffH03mUI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/WoCme6d-HZg/s1600/DSCN1645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QlcF_zgx-Lw/UVgffH03mUI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/WoCme6d-HZg/s1600/DSCN1645.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>Tuk tuks:</b></u> We have finally ventured into hiring tuk tuks when
we need them, although the interaction still makes us a little nervous. We have
heard numerous accounts of scams by tuk tuk drivers who tell you your hotel is
closed or insists on taking you to a shop first. In Chiang Mai, at least, we
have had absolutely no experience with this. Every tuk tuk driver has been
nice, and they have all been fair. At our best, we discuss the price we are
willing to pay before-hand, ready to haggle if they suggest a higher price.
Every time except once, the driver starts at the price we have already decided
on, so we grin and hop in the car. The one time it was different, we offered
less and he met us in the middle. At our worst, we are distracted and
undecided, so the driver announces a relatively high price, and we dumbly nod
our heads and climb in. Fortunately, the former has been more common than the
latter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDnTWJRd3FA/UU6_IRpsu1I/AAAAAAAAE2I/v1Zze53gyKQ/s1600/DSCN1332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vDnTWJRd3FA/UU6_IRpsu1I/AAAAAAAAE2I/v1Zze53gyKQ/s1600/DSCN1332.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The funniest experience we have had was a driver who clearly
had picked us up on his way to dinner. We were trying to get to the Chiang Mai
bus station (always an adventure!) when he picked us up, and stopped again a
few blocks later. We initially thought he was asking directions, but after a
few apologetic glances our way, he managed to ask us what time we had to catch
our bus. It turns out, he had pulled over to order dinner, so we were sitting
there waiting on them to bring it to him! “Five minutes!” he promised (everything
in Thailand is “five minutes!”). But we just laughed and told him we would be
ok. For once on our trip, we were early for something, so no problem. He got us
to the bus in plenty of time<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>Songthaew:</b></u> In English, songthaew translates to “two rows.” That’s
a pretty apt description, considering it’s two rows of benches down the back of
a pick-up truck. Our common experience with these is when we are being picked
up by a hotel or planned tour, so we just hop in the back and ride along
wherever they take us. One time, we tried to hire one to take us somewhere
specific, and we somehow ended up chartering it to drive us across town. Not
quite how they are supposed to work…I think they act more like buses, stopping
to pick up other passengers along the way while giving you a cheap ride
ultimately to your destination. We have yet to really figure this one out yet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-olg92SJffhM/UVB9hWSCczI/AAAAAAAAE5Y/5BC0oDzDq5g/s1600/DSCN1417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-olg92SJffhM/UVB9hWSCczI/AAAAAAAAE5Y/5BC0oDzDq5g/s1600/DSCN1417.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>Our own two feet:</b></u> If in doubt, we walk, and we have been
doing quite a lot of that in Thailand! Our feet were prone to blisters when we
walked around Australia, back when I alternated between sandals and sneakers.
It is so hot here, though, that we are firmly in sandals, and my feet are ugly
enough to prove it. No more blisters for me! What I wouldn’t give for a warm
bath to soak them in, but we have yet to find a bathtub in Thailand (or
anywhere on our trip). I’m seriously considering going to that fish spa to
clean them up before we head home, though. We will see!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BwoBTy5xM8/UVgx2ym_feI/AAAAAAAAFAg/B_M-_sbTn9U/s1600/DSCN1589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BwoBTy5xM8/UVgx2ym_feI/AAAAAAAAFAg/B_M-_sbTn9U/s1600/DSCN1589.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616105274881538475noreply@blogger.com2