So much has happened in the past few weeks I can't believe I am almost at the end of my time at this island! I am in Koh Chang right now which is an island in the southern and eastern part of Thailand. Amazingly we might be the only Americans here. There are a lot of european and australian tourists and some thai. It is so fun to amaze the thai people here with our use of the language and our understanding and they love us for it! We are having a great time!
In Bangkok we went on a river cruise looking at the great hospital, where the king is, the floating market, and general life for the people along the river. It is a great way to see the city and it makes for an inexpensive cab ride as well. We went to grand palace for a while and it was the most incredible place I have seen thus far in Thailand. It is beautiful and also taken care of very nicely. It is also home to the emerald buddha which is beautiful but kind of small. After that we took a cab to the bus station, a five hour bus to trat ferry station, a cab to the ferry, a ferry to the island and another cab to our hotel. We were so glad to be off any sort of mode of transportation. We stayed at this hotel for two nights that wasn't on the beach or near one so we switched to the one we are at now. Yesterday we went snorkeling all day on this big tour boat and the guys loved us so much because we spoke thai that they let us jump off the top of the boat into the ocean all the time! It was so fun and the water was so clear and blue. Today because of the incredible burns on my back from snorkeling...we are staying in the shade, maybe kayaking, maybe hiking to a waterfall. We will see what happens i guess. Tomorrow we are going back to bangkok to see the wat of the reclining buddha which is the largest in the world and a better tour of the floating market and possibly the flower market which is world renoun. Then we fly back to chiang mai on thrusday night and leave friday morning for the village for three weeks....I know busy right? If you have any questions ask because I am not sure how in detail to write because i can't pick and choose what to write about.
Loving Thailand everyday more,
Aubs
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Hopefully a quick one because I am paying for this by the minute
SOOOOOO much has gone on since we last met here in cyber space. I have been traveling for the past three days and it has been wonderful! We left at 8am sunday and this is the first time I have had to sit since then. We have been sitting on the bus but it has been watching movies talking or getting to know each other more in the group which I can tell you is really good. I had a lot of first impressions of these people that have been blown away and I am getting to know myself more by learning more about these people. It is always a learning expereince.
We went to a bunch of temples and very interesting museums as well which has been fun. The first day we were in sukkothai and woke up the next morning to bike around the ancient ruins of the city. We went to a Chetti in Pitsanulok as well and stayed there last night. The hotels we stay at are super nice and as soon as we get into the hotel every day we get into our swimsuits and jump right into the pool! It is so nice and refeshing. I have taken a lot of pictures and hopefully I can share them with you all too. We are now in loppuri (i spelled that wrong I am sure) and it is a city renoun for its infestation of monkeys. We went to a chetti today and the monkeys climbed all over us and tried to eat bugs out of our hair. A weird expereience that I labeled "a once in a lifetime experience that I will pass on if I have to do it again". The monkeys were dirty and that is the reason why I would pass haha. Tomorrow we go to the ancient capital of Siam called Auyttaya which is supposed to be fun and we are taking a boat cruise with karaoke and crazy dancing all night long. I am excited for the days to come. After that we head to Bangkok and then to Koh Chang for spring break. I am not sure how often I can update this so don't be alarmed if you don't hear much....
Aubs
We went to a bunch of temples and very interesting museums as well which has been fun. The first day we were in sukkothai and woke up the next morning to bike around the ancient ruins of the city. We went to a Chetti in Pitsanulok as well and stayed there last night. The hotels we stay at are super nice and as soon as we get into the hotel every day we get into our swimsuits and jump right into the pool! It is so nice and refeshing. I have taken a lot of pictures and hopefully I can share them with you all too. We are now in loppuri (i spelled that wrong I am sure) and it is a city renoun for its infestation of monkeys. We went to a chetti today and the monkeys climbed all over us and tried to eat bugs out of our hair. A weird expereience that I labeled "a once in a lifetime experience that I will pass on if I have to do it again". The monkeys were dirty and that is the reason why I would pass haha. Tomorrow we go to the ancient capital of Siam called Auyttaya which is supposed to be fun and we are taking a boat cruise with karaoke and crazy dancing all night long. I am excited for the days to come. After that we head to Bangkok and then to Koh Chang for spring break. I am not sure how often I can update this so don't be alarmed if you don't hear much....
Aubs
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
My 30th post!!!!
Everyone should be celebrating my 30th post on here. If you have been following...great work, if not then 30 may seem like too many posts but trust me they are out there somewhere.
Well here are some updates on the past week:
Monday was our last day of art class. We had a celebration by giving jasmine necklaces to the professors and they each tied string around our wrists and gave us a blessing to learn more and continue studying. Apparently this is a common practice of a leaving ceremony. The monks did this as well but there was a lot more string to be handed out haha. It was so cool to see all the art professors care about us so much and give us such warm blessings.
We went to Ban Patsuwan on Monday which is a group home for kids in the slums and an internship for some people in our group. It was so fun to hang out with the kids, eat ice cream and play games outside.
Tuesday we went to the Prision which is another internship for people and it is mostly teenagers in for stealing, drugs, prostitution and assult. We did a talent show and hung out with the kids. It was a very interesting place.
Today is our last day of class. We had Thai writing already this morning and now we have culture class later. After that we are planning on studying for the test tomorrow by the pool. I don't know how far we will actually get studying :)
I have started packing up my things and separating it all for the big field trip and for spring break. I am really wishing I had enough money to buy a big box and send my stuff home rather than take it home in my suitcase. There is not that much room haha.
Saturday we are going to the hotsprings with our family and then going out to dinner. Then Sunday early we are leaving for Sukkothai, one of the ancient capitals of Siam. It should be a fun trip!
Aubs
Well here are some updates on the past week:
Monday was our last day of art class. We had a celebration by giving jasmine necklaces to the professors and they each tied string around our wrists and gave us a blessing to learn more and continue studying. Apparently this is a common practice of a leaving ceremony. The monks did this as well but there was a lot more string to be handed out haha. It was so cool to see all the art professors care about us so much and give us such warm blessings.
We went to Ban Patsuwan on Monday which is a group home for kids in the slums and an internship for some people in our group. It was so fun to hang out with the kids, eat ice cream and play games outside.
Tuesday we went to the Prision which is another internship for people and it is mostly teenagers in for stealing, drugs, prostitution and assult. We did a talent show and hung out with the kids. It was a very interesting place.
Today is our last day of class. We had Thai writing already this morning and now we have culture class later. After that we are planning on studying for the test tomorrow by the pool. I don't know how far we will actually get studying :)
I have started packing up my things and separating it all for the big field trip and for spring break. I am really wishing I had enough money to buy a big box and send my stuff home rather than take it home in my suitcase. There is not that much room haha.
Saturday we are going to the hotsprings with our family and then going out to dinner. Then Sunday early we are leaving for Sukkothai, one of the ancient capitals of Siam. It should be a fun trip!
Aubs
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Update
So sorry for those avid readers of my blog (hi mom and dad)...but I have been really busy and my internet time has been devoted to facebook and email only haha. I have a few updates to fill you in on life here in Thailand:
1. My internship is officialy over but that does not mean the end of fun monk time. on monday we toured the zoo with them all afternoon in the swealtering heat and walked for easily six miles. This could have been the best day on the trip so far. The monks are so funny because they take pictures of EVERYTHING. Today we went to the Chiang Mai cultural museum which sounds boring but it was hilarious taking pictures of everything and everyone. We joke and say that the monks could make a flip book of the time we spend together because there are constant pictures being taken.
2. Wendesday we paid to get into a hotel pool in the afternoon and got some sun and went swimming. Not only that but our group has taken to finding good street food to eat for lunch before our adventures and I have never eaten such great food in my life...for one dollar! Today we had pork sautee which is curried pork on a stick with peanut sauce and clear soup...so arroy (which means delicious).
3. This past weekend I went to Marit's internship which is at an AIDS orphanage and we had ice cream and played with jump ropes, footballs, facepaints and balloons. It was really fun and it was good to see what Marit does for her internship too.
4. We had to say goodbye to our good friend Buoi on saturday because she is in Florida which was sad, but we also bought her plane ticket to Minnesota in May so I am very excited for that! We are planning on a really amazing time!
5. Sunday we had a Thai cooking class and let me tell you...you can hire me any time to make authenitc thai food and I will do it for you! We made green curry coconut coup (one of my favorites) and pad thai and fried bananas. I was so full after all of that! But it was really fun!
6. Classes have been good. We don't have language class anymore because we had our final in that already, but we still have thai writing, thai culture, and thai art left. Tomorrow is our last art class and next week is a four day week so I want to plan a trip maybe to doi intanon, the highest point in Thailand for some good hiking and fun!
7. I am getting homesick more often. Not terribly but it would be nice to have everything easy and normal again sometimes. Most times I forget I am even here but I think because we are leaving our host families soon I am going to feel a little homeless. O well...every day is a new day!
Aubs
1. My internship is officialy over but that does not mean the end of fun monk time. on monday we toured the zoo with them all afternoon in the swealtering heat and walked for easily six miles. This could have been the best day on the trip so far. The monks are so funny because they take pictures of EVERYTHING. Today we went to the Chiang Mai cultural museum which sounds boring but it was hilarious taking pictures of everything and everyone. We joke and say that the monks could make a flip book of the time we spend together because there are constant pictures being taken.
2. Wendesday we paid to get into a hotel pool in the afternoon and got some sun and went swimming. Not only that but our group has taken to finding good street food to eat for lunch before our adventures and I have never eaten such great food in my life...for one dollar! Today we had pork sautee which is curried pork on a stick with peanut sauce and clear soup...so arroy (which means delicious).
3. This past weekend I went to Marit's internship which is at an AIDS orphanage and we had ice cream and played with jump ropes, footballs, facepaints and balloons. It was really fun and it was good to see what Marit does for her internship too.
4. We had to say goodbye to our good friend Buoi on saturday because she is in Florida which was sad, but we also bought her plane ticket to Minnesota in May so I am very excited for that! We are planning on a really amazing time!
5. Sunday we had a Thai cooking class and let me tell you...you can hire me any time to make authenitc thai food and I will do it for you! We made green curry coconut coup (one of my favorites) and pad thai and fried bananas. I was so full after all of that! But it was really fun!
6. Classes have been good. We don't have language class anymore because we had our final in that already, but we still have thai writing, thai culture, and thai art left. Tomorrow is our last art class and next week is a four day week so I want to plan a trip maybe to doi intanon, the highest point in Thailand for some good hiking and fun!
7. I am getting homesick more often. Not terribly but it would be nice to have everything easy and normal again sometimes. Most times I forget I am even here but I think because we are leaving our host families soon I am going to feel a little homeless. O well...every day is a new day!
Aubs
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