Happy as Pai

I am having the most amazing time.  Asia is wonderful!  I am overwhelmed by the rich culture, the warm and welcoming people and the beautiful landscape.  This part of the world is quickly shaping up to be my favorite.

Audrey and I are having a great time in laid back Pai.  We arrived a few days ago and have enjoyed wandering around town, drinking cold Chang beer and eating lots of yummy vegetarian food. 
The town is in the north of Thailand.  It’s extremely small with a very chill atmosphere.  Pai is surrounded by emerald green mountains and rice fields.  There is a river that runs through town and many waterfalls and hotsprings.  The weather here has been nice – the mornings and evenings are cool but the afternoons are very hot. 
Yesterday we made our way to the local Eco pool for a dip in the cold water.  Audrey got word from home that it had started to snow; we laughed over dinner about the fact that she worked on her tan while her home town was being quietly blanketed by winter.
Today we have enrolled in a 4-hour yoga class.  We just finished the first half and we’re currently taking a break before starting the afternoon lesson.  Unfortunately for us, we didn’t get home until 3am this morning so yoga has been a bit more difficult than it should be.
We found a small jazz bar next to our hotel.  We’ve stopped in every night for a beer and a little live music.  The group of people who own the place and hang out there are a mix of Thais, Canadians and Europeans.  We’ve gotten to know them pretty well and have enjoyed seeing familiar faces around town.  I’m sure we’ll end up there for a drink tonight.
Tomorrow we’re renting motorcycles and driving out to a few of the local waterfalls and caves.  And for all of you that know us, keep your fingers crossed … Audrey and Meg on rented motor bikes should be very interesting.

I’ll keep you posted …

Chiang Mai

After three incredible days, we are leave Chiang Mai today.  Our time here has been wonderful. 

Chiang Mai is a small city in northern Thailand.  Originally a walled city founded in the 1200’s, new sections of the town have sprawled up around what is remaining of the old fortification wall.  The original interior square still exists and is full of old temples, hotels, bars and restaurants. 

During our time here, Audrey and I hiked to a waterfall, visited a hillside tribe, rode a mama elephant, went rafting down a river on a bamboo raft, rented bicycles and visited a number of temples, bought clothing and had dinner at the famous night market, went to a Thai dance club and got pedicures, facials and Thai massages.  All of that in just three days.

Today we are leaving town and heading to Pai in hopes of enjoying a full moon party and a little more relaxation. 

Until next time …

Bangkok

We arrived in Bangkok yesterday afternoon.  The city is very busy, to put it lightly.  There are street vendors, taxi cabs, tuk-tuks, motorcycles and people around every corner.  The weather is extremely humid – it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.  It almost feels as though you can cut the air with a knife.

Audrey and I found a cheap little room with air conditioning on the famous Th Khao San.  We spent yesterday in a daze, trying to familiarize ourselves with our new surroundings.  Our evening was spent bar hopping where we saw, firsthand, the elicit and famous lady boys.  And, I must admit, many of them were very stunning.

Today we wandered over to the Imperial Palace.  We had a good time exploring the temples but the heat was so unbearable that we left earlier than we intended. 

Tonight we’re hoping to chow down on some good old vegetarian Thai food and then nap.  We have big plans to wake up in the middle of the night to watch the 1:45am Rugby World Cup championship game.  England vs South Africa – it should be a good match.

Tomorrow we’re off to Chiang Mai in hopes of cooler weather and a little less noise.

Until then …

South East Asia

Tomorrow I embark on the last leg of this fantastic journey.

My friend Audrey is flying in from Canada tomorrow evening.  I’m picking her up at the airport and then we’re heading into San Francisco for dinner and a few drinks before catching a 1:00am flight to Thailand.  We’ll be traveling together for two months – hopefully visiting the northern temples and the southern islands of Thailand, along with areas of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.  Although I must admit, we haven’t officially planned anything, nothing.  (We don’t even know where we’re staying when we get to Bangkok.)  But I have faith.  Faith along with my Lonely Planet bible, extra visa photos and all necessary shots; hopefully everything will unfold accordingly.  I foresee quite an adventurous few months ahead – jungle treks, white water rafting, elephant rides, cooking classes, yoga, full moon parties, coastal cycling and many other things.

I will post again from the land of night markets and tuk-tuks.

Until then …

London

In the famous words of Carrie Bradshaw, “I’ve taken a lover” …

… and although my lover is quite old, demanding of my money and can sometimes turn a bit cold, he’s also very worldly and extremely interesting.  And, I must admit, the relationship is getting more and more serious by the day.

London is absolutely AMAZING!!!  I’m having such a wonderful time here.  My sister has been in school during the day so I’ve spent my time wandering the streets alone.  Over the past few days, I’ve climbed the spiral staircase to the very top of St. Paul’s Cathedral, run across the Thames, stared at Monet’s Water Lilies in the Tate Museum, awed at the Globe Theater, toured the Tower of London, taken photos of the London Bridge and the Eye of London, marveled at the Parliament Buildings, jumped in excitement at the burial sites of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Lewis Caroll, George Eliot, Robert Browning and Dylan Thomas (to name a few) at Westminster Abbey, got lost in Victoria Station, wound up in Piccadilly Circus, strolled down Regent Street, shopped in Oxford Circus, met up with a friend from Costa Rica at Buckingham Palace, skipped through China Town, had lunch with random strangers, learned the underground thoroughly, eaten ice cream at Covent Garden and walked aimlessly around unknown parts of this vast and brilliant city.  And even though I’ve seen a lot, I can’t seem to get enough.  I want more!

This afternoon I’m meeting up with my sister and we’re going to do something together.  She’s been so busy with school that she hasn’t had much of a chance to explore the city herself. 

Tonight Merry, Beth and I are catching a train back to Hastings to spend the weekend at my dad’s house.  Originally I was going to stay in the country for the remainder of my visit but I think I’ll head back into the city for my last few days.  I still have friends to meet up with (people I’ve met while traveling) and places to explore. 

I’ll will keep you posted as my journey unfolds.

Until next time …

(I have taken many photos but I didn’t bring the right USB cord for my camera.  I promise to post them all when I get home next week.)

Hastings

I landed on Thursday morning after eleven hours of travel.
Seven years felt like a long time, until I arrived – my dad’s house is exactly as I remember it.  The only thing that’s changed are the people who inhabit it.  My brother and sister have grown so much.  They are beautiful, smart, funny adults (well, nearly adults – they’ll be 18 in March).  Last time we saw each other, they were kids – 10-years old and so small and innocent.  Today they’re both enrolled in University and they’re taller and stronger than I.
Rosie looks the most like me.  Her bone structure and build are very similar to mine.  Rob looks the most like dad; they have the same mouth, the same smile.
It’s strange to see them all grown up.  I’ve missed so much of their childhood that it’s hard to believe they are the same little people I left behind.  And yet, our relationship hasn’t faltered a bit.  They’ve been very forthcoming and welcoming.  They have had no qualms when it comes to teasing me, making fun of my accent or calling me out when necessary. 
They are both so funny – smart asses, really – and I am enjoying them very much.  One thing is for sure, I’m not letting that much time go by before I see them again.  This is my family and it feels good to spend this time with them.
The twins are the only two still living in Hastings.  Both Beth and Merry have grown and gone.  Merry is in University in London and Beth has just graduated from Yorkshire and is now studying law in the city.  This afternoon I’m catching a train to London to spend the rest of the week at Beth’s house.  I can’t wait to see her.  She’ll be in school in the afternoons and studying in the evenings so I will be exploring London on my own throughout the week; I’m extremely excited about it.  I’ll have to figure out the underground system and get my hands on a map but, if all goes as planned, I’d like to hit up all the tourist spots I’ve never seen.
Keep your fingers crossed for me in hopes that I don’t wind up in a strange neighborhood in the cold, pouring rain (it’s freezing here – at least for a girl who just left the tropics). 
I’ll keep you posted on my adventures …