Red vs. Yellow

So I have now been in Bangkok for about a day and half now. I am not sure what the so-called News back home in the states is feeding people about Bangkok but things are fine here, with the small issue that the airport is shutdown causing about 30k tourists a day to not be able to come in and a reported 100k stranded here. It's really gonna kill tourism here in Thailand, as people will never want to come back. I still can't believe it's shutdown after 5 days now. They did let about 80 (i think) empty planes leave for other airports to let stranded passengers leave from other airports in thailand, which is positive news. I think the country is on edge right now, as no one knows which way things will head...for better or worse. Earlier in the week, the police tried to go into the airport but had to recede as the PAD (yellow-against the Prime Minister) out numbered the police and actually took control of a few of the police vehicles. So who has control????

So yesterday I metup with Charles from Cameroon. We met via a web community called couchsurfing. It's a great site that helps connect like minded travelers and allows you to host or request to surf peoples couch. It helps in saving hotel costs and getting to know locals in the area. So I did not actually surf Charles couch since he was supposed to already be hosting people but we metup for dinner and to hangout. Charles is a very genuine guy and has been in Thailand now for about 17 months and speaks about 10 languages, yes 10. Crazy!! I really admire people who speak more then one language. Originally coming over to complete his masters, he switched to teaching english and dj'ing professionally. So after meeting up, we had authentic Cameroon food from a small restaurant on the 3rd floor of some building. A very hole in the wall type of spot with no signs what so ever. The food was delicious and cheap at that. Charles says every sunday he heads into the city and eats there. After that we went to a barber shop, as part of Charles sunday routine is to get shave and his nails down. As it's been 3 weeks for me, I told him I also go for a haircut. So we went to this place down a little alley that is ran by a thai girl who married an african and learned how to cut and weave africans hair. It was a gold mine, as it was packed with people coming in and out. I was the only non-african to be getting my hair cut and the all of workers were thai. Of course they thought I was thai too and we went through the whole 'english?' and 'you look thai' conversation. After getting my fade and lined up in the front we went back to the hotel to see if I can cancel as Charles said he can now host me since his coushsurfers never made it, most likely cause of the flights. But to no avail, since I pre-paid and already canceled once and they re-booked since my flight was canceled and then I was able to get a bus in. I still may crash at his place tomorrow night, as he has invited me to sit in on a few of his engligh classes to high school thai kids, which I think would be very interesting. To end the night, we went to Kho San Road, the popular backpacker street in Bangkok. On the way to Kho San Road I see the first group of red (pro government) group gathered together, not exactly sure which building/area it was, but that was my first sighting of reds. The previous night he DJ'd at three clubs on that street, so as we walk down the street he knows and says hi to everyone and we run into another coushsurfer that he knows that teaches english in Indonesia who is from Wisconsin and was stuck in Thailand. So the three of us, grab a beer and watch the first half of the manchester united vs. manchester city football (soccer) match (as watching football on sundays is also part of his sunday ritual, kinda like mind but a different kind of football). After the first half is over, we head to one of the clubs he DJ'd at to grab something he left behind and then went to another lounge to finish the match. After that, a kebab to fill our hunger craving, a walk down the night market to see everything from rabbits to VHS tapes being sold and then a 10 bhat bus ride make to the hotel to call it a night.

Amazing Race.....Thailand

This entry was written yesterday (Saturday 7.29)

The first leg of the trip has been completed. Jenn should be over the pacific now traveling back to the bay area. It was my first 'real' trip with her and we shared many good times, exciting new cities (some that I think we both can agree that we may not be back for awhile and others that we really enjoyed), and of course lots of memories. She was a soldier thru it all and actually surprised me as I have only really traveled with very few like this and it's no vacation at times and can be very tough at times. Especially for the fact that most people think we are thai people, then we give the dumb 'I don't understand look look' and politely say 'english?' I guess she can even pass as burmese and me more thai, as she was the only one of 11 car full of farangs (westerners) to get ID'd by the border police that are stationed throughout the thailand hills to be sure illegals from other countries are not entering thailand.

So now I wait for the second leg of my trip to start. It's pretty crazy times here in thailand and pretty much history in the making. The PAD (Peoples Alliance of Democracy) wants the Prime Minister to step down and have actually shutdown the two main airports in Bangkok for 5 days now and right now there does not look to be like any light at the end of the tunnel but you never now, things can change just like that here in Thailand. It's pretty crazy if you think about it, to shut downn an airport like Bangkok. The country is suffering and will continue to suffer since the country depends on tourism so badly and not who would want to come to Thailand knowing you may not be able to leave.

It was like real life amazing race this morning, trying to find ways to get out of Chiang Mai or even Thailand for that matter. The flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia was full and the flight on tues maybe cancelled if the bangkok airport is still not open since the place is coming from Bangkok. We contacted a private taxi and he wanted about 9,000 bhat (about $270) to drive me to the Cambodia border (about a 10 hour drive). All trains into Bangkok was full for the next few days that were leaving Chiang Mai as well. But finally we found a bus that had room to get me into Bangkok that leaves at 5.30pm and gets in at 3am the next morning. Extra special thanks to Roxanne and Matthew for all the help in getting me a bus ticket and to the bus station and for letting us stay there the last few nights!

So if the airport is still shutdown by Thurs, I will take a bus to the border of Cambodia and then have a driver from the guesthouse pick me up at the Cambodia border. I have read and heard horror stories about going overland into Cambodia but the guy from the guesthouse assures me that things would be find, as it used to be alot worse.

The last two days have been great, kinda chill honestly, since Matthew and Rox have been taking care of us with buffets for lunhc, no dinner really since we stuff ourselves at lunch and breakfast cooked and served by her and her mother.

Last night was Jenn's last night of the trip and we went to the Chiang Mai night bazaar to finish off the souvenir shopping. We helped the thai economy since no new tourists are coming in for awhile and we actually had to pickup a new bigger carry-on bag to bring home all of the stuff we got. On the way home, we got a little lost and thought we were being dropped off on the right street by the songtel driver but we were actually on the road that runs parallel to the street that Rox and Matthew live off of. So we had to call them and tell them we were on a street that basically had two 7-11's on each side of the road. It's kind of crazy how many 7-11's there are in thailand. So they went to each 7-11 near there house and finally found us. Ahh the joys of traveling and getting lost in a country that you don't speak the language.

The day before that (Thanksgiving Day) we hired a car to take us directly from Lampang to Roxannes and Matthews house for 800 bhat (about 25 bucks), not bad for an 1.5 hour drive but I think we could of got it for a little cheaper but I was not prepared to bargain and I figured it was not too bad. We then had a feast at the Holiday Inn. It was really good and a very memorable thanksgiving day. I guess Rox and Matt go every week for the sunday seafood brunch buffet after church soo they know practically everyone that works there.

Later that night Jenn and I went to the Night Safari. I guess there are only 3 in the world, so both Jenn adn I have been to 2 now, Singapore and Chiang Mai. It was actually pretty good and I thought better then the Singapore one but Jenn thought different.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Before I start with an update on the trip, I just wanted to wish everyone back home a happy thanksgiving!

Its Thursday evening here, so I know most everyone in the states had a short week of work and has traveled short or far to be with family and friends for this thanksgiving holiday.

Since it is thanksgiving and all, let me quickly give thanks (in no particular order) to all of my parents for helping raise me to be who I am and always support although may not agree with my lifes decisions, jenn for sticking up with me for over 4 years now, my grandparents for helping raise me, my gma for also being a world traveler and taking my sister and I to Europe when I was 12 - officially kicking off my travel bug when I didn't even know it, my great-grand parents for having dinner for the whole family every thurs night - helping me understand the true meaning of 'family', my uncle and aunt for always taking me to the best restaurants in the city, my reef friends for always trading and sharing the most rare and exotic corals with me and looking after my tank for me when I leave on these long holidays - hoping I don't have yet another crash while on holiday, my aunt and uncle for always keeping me well fed on Harv's Harv's - hopefully one day I will see the return of Eddie's as I know that's your passion in life and I love to see people do what they love in life, my sister and brothers for always being there -no matter what -even though one day I hope to get closer with you Zack (go Ducks!), also speaking of passions in life check 43kix.com, gofobo.com and filmmetro.com - its great to see what a small town boy from the Lake of the Oazarks can do in Hollywood :) (on that note I have to thank you and your brothers for the Party Cove, Silver Party, and Salt River experience, the memories never to be forgotten), Cisco and all of the great lifelong friends that I have met and worked with over the years-it's such a great company but life needs its changes, my aunt for helping raise me with all of the rides to/from school and all of my extra curricular activities, Annette and NetApp for giving me the chance and allowing me to come on for a few months and then leave for 6 weeks - don't worry, I will be back and we will make a difference in the way channel business is done their, my uncle for making sure I stayed ontop of my grades, all of my cousins - as we have been thru a lot growing up together, and my big brother Lou - for all of the good times and memories...can't wait to see you in Cambodia!!

Looks like I had to get a little sentimental with all of the downtown on trains, buses, songtewls, in hotels battling food sickness and being away from family when I know everyone is starting to get together for this special holiday has made me really realize all that I am thankful for. I know there is many more things that I did not list so don't be mad if you were not listed. I am just thankful someone cares to follow me along on my travels.

I am really going to miss being with my family the most but will also miss dads smoked turkey in the webber-always nice and moist, watching and of course throwing a little on the nfl games, beating Zack with dads and I's best ball, all of the different varieties of sticky rice, all of the different pies, the pumpkin roll (Do the Pumpkin roll!!), ahh the list can go on and on and I need to head to bed.

So Jenn and I are both SAFE in Chiang Mai! I am not sure what the good ol US News is feeding you, but Thailand is not in shambles, maybe parts of Bangkok and yes its true that both airports in Bangkok are shutdown until at least Saturday (crazyiness!!) but we are safely at her cousins house in Chiang Mai which is hundreds of miles away and it is currently safe here. We had a delicious thanksgiving brunch buffet at the Holiday Inn in Chiang Mai, and this was not your typical Holiday Inn that you are thinking of. We had turkey, cranberry sauce, duck, sushi, thai dishes, and more. So Jenn flies out directly to Taipei and then SF on Sat. I, on the other hand was supposed to fly to Bangkok on Saturday and the Cambodia on Thurs and will either get another flight into Cambodia on Thurs from another city such as Singapore or go overland (via bus). I hope I can fly, since I hear the overland trip is not very short or nicely paved road once reaching Cambodia. We will see though, as I will try to stay away from Bangkok even though the photo ops would of been AMAZING in bangkok but my life means a but more to me then some photo ops.

My best goes out to all of my friends and their friends and families in Mumbai!

Again, Happy Thanksgiving and it looks like I will have to find another time to update you on the trip!!!!


(sorry for any mis-spellings or grammatical errors, as I know there are probably a ton, it's just too late for me to re-read and correct)

Safe in Thailand

Just letting everyone know that I am safely hundreds of miles away from Bangkok. I am supposed to fly into Bangkok this Saturday and then to Cambodia on Thursday. With the airport currently being shutdown, I will wait to see what the status is on my flights and the protests before heading in.

Hope everyone has a happy thanksgiving!

I will miss all of the delicious food, family gatherings, and thanksgiving football.

We are headed from a town called Lampang back to Chiang Mai to spend the last two days of Jenn's legg with her cousin. Will post more about the last few days and some photos, as there is always a few stories to tell.

Frogger (revised)

I revised the frogger blog, as the original one was written in a internet cafe and I was pressed for time. I re-wrote the blog with more details....enjoy!!

Crossing the main street in Sukhothai is like playing frogger. You have to cross in halves or even thirds since you will even have mopeds coming at you in the opposite direction on the sidewalks. Plus since they drive on the right hand side everything is reversed.

We had a 9.5 hour door to door journey from Chiang Mai to Sukhothai. We took a sawngthael (basically a converted pickup into a taxi cab with benches in the back) from the hotel in Chiang Mai to the train station. Took over a 6 hour train ride to Phitsanulok (train ride was nice and served us a lunch better then airplane food if that is saying anything), then a one hour bus ride to Sukhothai, and then another sawngtheal to our ghetto ass guest house. The guest house was a recommended pick in Lonely Planet which both Jenn and I did not agree with.

It was very shady from the get go. First when we got dropped off at the guest house by the sawngthael, he sped away and did not collect his 50 bhat. But then after we got into the guest house some little girl and another guy ask for the 50 bhat. So we paid them. Then we get into the guest house and it’s another little bungalow with one little 30 watt light and the bathroom with shower is about the size of my closet in my bedroom back home (which is not exactly big). We both did not really feel that place and decided to look for other places for the rest of the time in Sukhotai. We found a nice place up the road for a about 3 bucks more a night and checked in next morning, which was not in the Lonely Planet.

So why did we travel 9.5 hours to this little city? For the old city ruins that are scattered about a 45km square within the old city. Sukhothai was the first capital of Thailand and actually means ‘Rising of Happiness’ and the architecture is to be the most classic of thai styles. The ruins were very impressive and is basically the only thing that brings in backpackers and tourists from all over. So after taking a a sawngthael to the old city, we decided to have lunch at one of the many restaurants that pack the main road leading to the old city. Another bad decision (more to come)! So we rent bikes to tour the old city and as we get to the first ruin, Jenn is not feeling well. We spend sometime wondering around taking photos and then head off to the next one. She decides to sit it out in on the grass and in the shade as I wonder around the old city by myself.

Since the ruins bring in lots of tourists from all walks of life, the city has a different kind of vibe then all of the other cities we have visited thus far. It just seems a tad bit shadier here then others. Like the people are out to try and get over on the tourists. Being a tourist/traveler in other parts of the world, you start to get a little jaded as people try to get over on you for a maybe 10, 20, 30 bhat. Yes, that’s only 25 cents to a buck which probably means a lot more to these people in these parts of the world but hey, if everyone were to do this to me, it adds up quickly. Or, if I let them get away with it, then they know its ok to go ahead and try to get over on the next tourist. I think it just starts to wear on me, as locals try to rip you off.

So after the ruins we came back and then our bellies started to explode yet again (for me at least)! Dam, in all of my travels I have never gotten sick like that. Yes, Lou and I got a case of the Delhi bellie, but that’s pretty much a guarantee when traveling in India, they way we traveled it. But to get food sickness and pi** a**, two times in a row sucked. Luckily we had a nice bathroom facility at this guest house and plenty of toilet paper, which can be seen as luxury here as they are used to using the bidet. I think we can point this case of food sickness to Jenn’s noodles that she ordered since I only had a few bites and did not get as sick as her. So today she rested as I wondered around in the heat for a bit.

So tomorrow we are set to take a bus to a city called Lampang, which will be about a 4 hour bus ride and will leave us 1 hour out from Chiang Mai!

bangkok belly

Took a 3 hour bus ride from Pai back to Chaing Mai yesterday, through the hills and curves we finally made it. I thought Jenn would get sick, since the bus driver was driving like maniac but surprisingly she didn't.

We checked into the PornPing (our hotel) which was right in the middle of the nightly market. Ate pizza of all things and then walked around the market a bit. That's when I stomach started feeling a little uneasy and told Jenn we better head back to the room. It could be a number of things here in thailand such as the random dogs walking through the kitchens of restaurants, the milk I used for my cereal that just sits out without ice, the random street food that I pickup when I feel the urge to eat, or what I think caused the bangkok belly (even though I have yet to spend time in bangkok) is the rabbit cream that I ate. No not that rabbit cream that you are thinking of but something that jenn saw at 7/11 and showed me, I told her it was just the custard buns we get at dim sum and at 8 baht each she agreed to treat me to one. Not a good decision, as I have been paying the price for eating rabbit cream all night and day by constantly running to the toilet with a bad case of pi** a**!

So today was an easy day of just heading to the train station to get our tickets to Sukhothai and resting. I have just eaten a few pieces of toast and 2 cans of sprite. Hopefully whatever it is, will be out of me before the 6 hour train journey tomorrow!!

Bye Pai

After three nights, 4 days in Pai, it's time to journey on. Today we will take a bus back to Chiang Mai. How easy it is to relaxe in Pai. After the elephant rides, I have not done much but eat, walk the markets, and swim in the pool. Everyday has felt like a lazy Sunday here in Pai but I now know why people either love it or hate it. Lots of tourists...mostly westerners that come out after the sun starts to attend the nightly market. It does have an artsy feel to it, which is nice but after 4 days here, I think both of us are ready to head on. It was also nice to do Mae Hon Song and Ta Lak befoe getting lazy here.

One thing that sucks about traveling, is getting settled in a place and unpacking everything, buying a few things here and there and then having to repack. As much as I thought I under packed, low and behold I felt my bag was going to rip when trying to zipper it up today. I bought WAY too many books and will probably end up sending some home when I reach Bangkok.

The other thing that I did not mention yet was the mossies or mosquitoes. I think I have got at least one every single days since getting here. And yes Mom, I have been putting on repellent but either they bite through my clothes, areas I did not put repellent on, have gotten used to the deet, or just love this american boys blood. I think Jenn and I are competing for the most bites, with her currently in the lead!

bye

Pai, actually pronounced bye is a nice chill town. After spending the first night of the trip in luxury, we have decided to extend it to three nights instead of 2. We visited both the local nightly farmers market which was serving up frog, crickets, and other not so common foods. We also spent a good amount of time up and down the more touristy, artsy night market. Saw some interesting art galleries and got to listen to some live music this evening.

One of the items on Jenn's 'must do' list was to ride an elephant. It was not something that I specifically wanted/needed to to but I told her I would accompany her. So she found a two hour ride for a little over 12 bucks, which included an hour in the forest (allegedly) and an hour in the water (allegedly). We knew it would be bareback since we were going though the water but she forgot to ask if we would have our own elephant. We did not, and the ride started with Jenn, the elephant trainer (an old thai guy, more to come on him), and I on the elephants back. After 15 or so minutes, the guy jumps off and I get on the elephants neck. Once these 15 minutes was over, Jenn had her fix and was ready to jump off. After 40 or so minutes through some grasslands, we approach the river, hand the guide our cameras and my shirt and he instructs the elephant to get into the water. He then proceeds to instruct the elephant to spray us with river water. Not sure how I feel being sprayed with river water coming from the elephants trunk.Next, the elephant is told to lay down and Jenn and I crash down into the river. We get back onto the elephant and he is told to lay down/throw us off into the river about 5 or so times. The old thai guy is busting up laughing and really enoying himself. It got old after about the second or third time, but it was nice to cool off in the river.


We got back to the elephant camp and then I noticed the sign below. Which caught my attention since the elephant trainer snorted a substance about 2 or 3 times throughout the trek. No questions asked from us, since we were basically in the middle of northern thailand with just him,us, and his elephant.



After the elephant ride, we got to lay in this round cement natural spring tubs. The sulfur smell always turns me off with these natural baths but it was relaxing.




After that we got back to The Quarter, we went and laid out at the pool for a bit. Ahh...the life of Pai, which I will miss!!

trust

We have spent the last 5 days in northern thailand, in small river towns near the Burma border. A little east of the golden triangle. It has been a nice simple, quiet lifestyle with no access to the internet, so no checking email, blogging, checking football scores or UFC results. Here is a pic of the simple huts that we have been living out of. Costs have ranged from about 350 baht a night (9 bucks) with a bathroom for these simple huts next to the river.

The last two nights have been spent in a town called Tam Lak which was about 7km north of Soppong. We took a bus from Mae Hon Song (150 baht/ 1.5 hours) to Soppong and then took a moped taxi from Soppong to Tam Lak (60 baht/15 mins). The ride moped ride was interesting, with my 40+ pound bag in front and me on the back, but you have to trust these guys as having up to 4 or 5 on a moped is nothing new to them.

The Cave Lodge in Tam Lak was simple and very nice. It was ran by an aussie and his wife who was a local to the village in Tam Lak. The lodge was very close to the Tam Lod Cave, which we hired a guide to take us thru. The caves were amazing and we took bambook rafts down the river to enter each of the 3 caves. Lots of thai tourists, very few westerners and of that very few americans. Mostly Europeans and Aussies that we ran into. The bamboo and cave tour reminded me of a Disneyland ride since you had to take a bamboo raft to one section, get out and tour the cave and then take it to the next. Although this is thru a natural cave and river. After the cave tour we food a line of street food and gorged out on chicken curren noodles, egg omlet over rice, basil chicken and papaya salad. Man we felt like true americans after that meal, that was the first time we truley gorged out on the cheap food. I think the whole meal with two sodas cost 140 baht (about 4 bucks).


In the evening we took a hike to the cave exit with a Muriel a french lady that we met at the lodge to witness the nightly spectacle of hundreds of thousands of swift birds entering the cave to take rest on within the cave and the bats leaving to go feed on prey. It was pretty amazing and believe it or not that part of the cave really stunk like bird crap. Luckily we did not get crapped on. Then the thress of us plus two others that we met at the exit hiked back in th dark with two small flashlights.

So after the last 5 days of living in huts with mossie nets, we decided to slurge and live it up for a new nights. We took a 1.5 hour local bus ride from Soppong to a city called Pai. I was alittle reluctant to stop in Pai, since many of the reviews on Thorn Tree (Lonely Planet forum) were not positive. It's a hippie town with lots of tourists. Kind of reminds me of towns in Goa, India or maybe even Koh Phagnan. The bus ride was not your typical greyhound, local buses here are pretty small and I had the pleasure of sharing a seat with a local that was falling asleep taking up about 2/3 of the seat. The ride from Soppong to Pai is a hilly, curvy ride as well. Much worse then the drive over the sierras, maybe it compares to the ride to Hana in Maui. Luckily the bus does not go fast at all or people would be getting sick. So when we arrived into Pai, we founf signs to a boutique hotel and walked to it. Ended up being very nice and just what we were looking for. So the plan is to crash here for at least two more nights and then see about heading back to Chiang Mai.

Mae Hong Son

I have been away from the internet for a while (which has actually been nice), here is a post that I wrote while I was in Mae Hong Son.....


Spent the last two days in a city called Mae Hong Son. We took about an 30 minute flight from chiang mai to MHS yesterday and spent the later part of the day roaming the town. The town has just barely undergone a mini tourist boom, we have not ran into any americans here and have come across very few travellers. I think Jenn and I stump the locals as they are not quite sure what we are. The speak to us in thai and then we give the whole “we don’t understand” look and say ‘engligh?’ Some speak, since it is the universal language and they know if they want your money they better know English.

So today we hired a driver to take us the Karen Village which is known for women having the long necks with rings around the necks. I am on the fence about the whole thing and am not sure how I really feel about it. So they charge 250 baht, about 6 bucks to enter the village to see these people. The money supposedly goes to food and what not but to me its almost like a human zoo. We drove about 20 or so minutes from the town of Mae Hon Song to this village in the hills and here they are setup with tables selling hand made goods (supposedly) and lots of tourists coming through. Yes, we are helping the village and Jenn did her fair share of shopping but something just does not seem right about the whole setup. I guess that’s tourism for you.

Every night in the middle of the town they have a nightly market. Street food galore and good and cheap street food. Jenn and I gorged out on satay, deep fried pork nuggets, crispy pork jerky (we think), fried papaya, and those flour, coconut, onion things that we get at the Sunday thai food market in berkely. This was the first time we saw them in Thailand and they were just as good! We had too much food and left some for the guy that sold us our thai ice teas.

So I forgot to mention the huts that we are staying at here in the middle of the rain forest. They are very simple and the beds are hard as sh*t but it’s nice being in the middle of the rain forest, hearing the different animals, bugs, and condensation throughout the forest all night and not hearing a horn, tuk tuk, or car engine.

Yee Pang

Yee Peng festival is another name for the Loi Kathong festival that I mentioned earlier. Yesterday was the peak of the week long festival, as it was a full moon. It was complete madness in the streets! Not sure if I can say I have witnessed anything like it. Kind of reminded me of the Kyoto remembrance of the earth quake victims with the city of lights and a see of people, but thats Japan and we all know how orderly they are. Thai people on the other hand went absolutely nuts.

-Started with Jenn getting an extra long massage, locking me in the room and me having to call the front desk to unlock the door (lock is on the outside), so I can go look for her.
-Firecrackers, roman candles, bottle rockets, m80's, whatever being light from all directions by anyone. Kind of like chinese new years x 100, since these things are flying in all directions.
-People among peole fill the streets to partake in the celebration launching these laterns pictured below.
-People buying fish and other animals to release into the river, most likely to bring good luck for replenshing the river.

It was fun to witness, nontheless and glad we made it for the festival. The manager of the guest house gave us a latern to make a wish, light the candel and incense, and then launch into the river.
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Earlier in the day we went to the zoo, saw some pandas, tigers, bears, and other animals that you typically see at the zoo and then headed up to this temple high ontop of this hill. It was a LONG way up there but was a nice view of Chiang Mai.

Walk a mile in my shoes...

Two full days completed in Chiang Mai. We have walked a ton! Explored alot of the inner-city which is surrounded by a 1 square mile wall and moat. Makes it easy to get our bearings straight and not too lost. We saw a lot of temples yesterday and had a two hour herbal foot and face massage. So nice at a little over 12 bucks each for two hours. Even with the weak dollar, we are still able to get cheap massages and eat thai food for less than 5 bucks total including drinks. We also got to see the start of the parade for Loi Krathong/Yee Pang yesterday. TONs of tourists from Thailand and abroad. Luckily Jenn booked our place at Banilah well in advane.

18.5

Was the amount of time that Jenn and I spent in three different airplanes to finally make it to Chiang Mai, Thailand. If anyone does not know where Chiang Mai is, its about an hours flight north of Bangkok. It sits about 1000 feet above sea level, so its actually nice and cool here, compared to Bangkok or other parts of thailand that I am familiar with. So Jenn's cousin and her husband picked us with an almost miss. Since our pags were flown all the way over from SF to CM, we had to go to the international baggage terminal to get our bags but as an reasonable person would of thought since we were coming from Bangkok we would be domestic. So here they are waiting in domestic and we are looking lost in international, as they were going to leave Matthew (Roxanne's husband) went to look and found us over there. So they took us to check in to our guesthouse and they had thai food with them.

La Krathong - a latern fetival here in Chiang Mai brings in tons of tourists. We being two of them! It's a week long festival where people burn these laterns that are supposedly to burn away the bad luck and bring in good luck. Thousands of these laterns fly away high into the sky, so hopefully tonight we will get to burn a few or at least get some good photos of them.

Leg 1..Completed!

The tough part of the trip has been completed. The 14 hours in economy over to Taipei was not too bad. I was able to sleep about 12 of the hours. I resisted looking at my watch as I knew it was going to kill me seeing that we still had 8 or 10 hours left. Luckily enough on Friday I was able to meetup with my friends with city for an interesting night out. Unfortunately we did not make it to Krafty Kuts. Saturday took care of all the last minute items and watched the last of the college football until I get back.

Getting pretty excited about the trip now. Travelling will bring out the true colors of a person. Being with someone 24/7 for 3 weeks or more get takes it toll on you. Sometimes you need that alone time and all. I was finally able to watch this movie called a Map for Saturday which was a great documentary about a guy who leaves his well paying job to travel the world for a year. It's quite interesting and I can relate in so many ways. Well time to get ready for the 3.5 hour flight to bangkok.

Another adventure....

In alittle over 12 hours, Jenn and I are set out to Taipei, Bangkok, and finally Chiang Mai. I think it is finally starting to hit me that I will be gone for a little over 5 weeks. Although it sounds like a long time, I know its going to fly by and I will be right back into the groove in now time. I am pretty excited about Northern Thailand, as it sounds like a complete opposite of the beaches and Bangkok that I familiar with. Lots of rain forests, hill tribes, rivers,.

So after 3 flights in coach, we finally touchdown in Chiang Mai. If things go as planned, Jenns cousin Roxanne and her husband Matt will meet us at the airport and take us to the Banilah Guest House, which will be home from Mon to Thus.

2 days left....

So today is my last official day of work at NetApp until 12/22. I go back for about 4 days and then NetApp has shutdown until the beginning of the year. I guess not getting paid for about 2 months is going to suck and I will have to budget. One thing I have not been good at as of late (dam vegas, the marathon, and George) and have been telling Jenn she needs to get better at. Oh well, you only live once and you sure can't take your money to your grave.


Two full days to get a ton of stuff done. Packing will be the easy part but just making sure bills are paid, the tank is taken care of, all loose ends at NetApp also taken care seems to be some of my biggest concerns. Plus I would like book a few more flights back to Chiang Mai and also over to Cambodia. I still can't believe I leave in two days. I guess its just one of those things that doesn't really hit you til you are at the airport and even in the other country.

5 days encounting

A gazillion things left to complete for work before heading off on Saturday. Also, need to book a few last flights over to Cambodia and trying to figure out how to get to Ho Chi Mihn from Phonm Pehn without have to take an 8 hour bus ride.