Travel Gone Wrong

There always has to be one. In an adventure of this length you are bound to come across a day you wish you could go back and change. Traveling from Chiang Mai to Laos was that day.

 

We had everything planned out as we went to bed. Get up early, go to the bus station, buy the nicer bus ticket and sit back and relax for the six hour drive. What we had read made this seem so easy! Turns out everyone really wants that bus even in the low season. As we asked the woman at the bus station counter for two seats she immediately responded with a confused look and a quick sorry. "You don't have your tickets already?" Uhhhhh crap. So instead we had to aim for a city in the middle and try from there. We were on a tight schedule to make it to our treehouse on time. 

So an hour later we hop on a decent bus and sit for the three hours or so to Chiang Rai. Now here is where the fun really begins. There is a local bus that goes to the border of Thailand and Laos, but it makes a lot of stops, has no air conditioning and is pretty packed. So Rebecca checks Uber, because why not! Although it will be more we decide to try. We wander around the parking lot bus station trying to find our driver, he's around the corner but his English is limited. Our Thai consists of about four words, so we are screwed. Trying to figure out if he will really drive the few hours to the border goes back and forth, he finally says yes and gives us a price, we start to get in the car and he looks confused too. We hop out and decide the bus sounds like a better choice now. 

 

Back to the dusty parking lot we go. We see signs for the bus we want but the lady outside of it sends us to another bus. This one doesn't leave for an hour and we are nervous. To top that the bus she wants us to get on seemed to be stuck in its spot. The driver tries to reverse and four people run up to push the bus back so he can face forward. Great sign! Luckily another English speaking traveler is heading in the same direction as us. He says we are on the right track and we will be having a local experience this way. We climb on board and immediately the sweat drips down my back. The bus has all the windows open and a fan at the top, there are baby chicks on board somewhere making cute little chirps. More and more people arrive and we squeeze in together. Finally we set off on the road and I'm sure this bus won't make it. The driver has to fight with the gears to get anything to happen. Multiple times the clunks and clangs feel as if we are dropping parts along the road as we slowly trudge along. The door stays propped open the whole time with the street just feet away. Luckily the breeze is coming in the window and our new traveling companion is sharing stories and travel tips to keep us distracted. At one point an older gentleman sitting in front of me falls off his seat and is inches from the open door. Let me just say this was not a calming situation. After what felt like forever we reached the stop that would lead us to the border! People had told us all different times for crossing so our race continued. 

Our bags were thrown into a tuk tuk and across the bridge we went. As I hopped out of the tuk tuk I felt like something was wrong, I knew my clothes were sweaty but they didn't feel right. I was just about to ask Rebecca to check for me when she informed me that my very expensive ($6) elephant pants had caught on something and now my butt was out for the world to see. Great timing as I was entering a new country. I tied Rebecca's cardigan around my waist and we continued on! 

I was in a bit of a frantic state so when the guard asked for my exit ticket and I looked in all the normal places and didn't see it I was at a loss. He said I could pay an extra fee so I pretty much threw money his way and didn't attempt to find it. Of course it was in my bag just at my feet, safely put away for easy access. Figures. The visa process was surprisingly easy and a bus was waiting to take us to the city. I even had time to change my pants! I sat down thinking everything would be better now. Then I opened my purse. Sitting there was a bar of forgotten chocolate I bought the night before. Seeing as it's deathly hot here of course it melted all over. I guess it was time for a good purse cleaning anyway. 

All I can say is I'm glad we made it in one piece. The day was definitely not my favorite to look back on, but it sure was one to learn from. Fingers crossed not many more will be like this. 

A Second Chance for Elephants

I don't exactly know what I was expecting for our elephant experience. I knew I wanted a place that does not allow you to ride the elephants or put on a show. I wanted to actually be helping these amazing creatures. I guess I just wasn't expecting so many stories and visuals that made my heart break into pieces.

On our ride to the park we watched a video documenting how some elephants are treated in Thailand. Some being used to beg for money on the streets while rocking back and forth in pain from the noise and vibrations. Some as timber elephants who are worked too hard and pushed to extremes. Luckily the light in all of this was at the Elephant Nature Park. Lek Chailert, the founder, has created an environment to protect many animals and give them a well deserved life. Not only are there seventy-two elephants ranging in age from one year to over eighty years old, but also over 400 rescued dogs, 300 cats, and a large herd of water buffalo. Yes, you heard me, 300 cats!! My kinda place. We made friends with them right away, and a few may be hidden in my bag at this very moment... But, back to the elephants. 

 

Several of the elephants have stepped on land mines while working and needed serious help before coming to wander through the park. A few are blind from human causes, bright spotlights, punishments and more, and rely on their new found families to guide them around. Some have seemingly small problems such as their old owners cutting off the hair from their tails to sell at high prices. You'd think this was no big deal, but in fact that hair is used to throw mud and dirt on their backs to protect them from the sun. Every where I looked there was another elephant who had gone through something awful before coming here. 

 

We started our day with a quick feeding. Some of the elephants are fed by visitors and happily wrap their trunks around the tiny bananas and watermelons we handed them. After this we walked through parts of the park meeting elephants and learning about their histories. One part I loved the most was how these elephants pick their families when they arrive at the park and stick together. Every elephant has their own mahout to take care of them. The families each have their own areas of the park to avoid conflict. We even got to see several babies! There is no breeding there, but a few moms were saved as they were pregnant. The babies are doted on and have "nannies" who help care for them. 

Later that day we met a few elephants at the river and helped wash them off. They love playing in the water and rolling around cooling off. Just watching them was an amazing site. And the water felt good for us too! 

 

The place felt very much like summer camp. Each group had a table and we all hung out together. I was lucky to have a wonderful group to talk to and hear travel stories. We had dinner and went to watch traditional Thai dancing. At the end the dancers pulled everyone up and had us join in. We started with just copying them and a bit of free style, but suddenly Gangdum Style was blaring from the speakers so there was nothing we could do but gallop around like idiots. It was hilarious. The Thai dancers were adorable as we danced away the night. Talk about sweaty! We finally stopped and headed to our surprisingly comfortable room with a shower that looked like a tree. I wrapped my mosquito net around my bed and went to sleep with sounds of elephants in the background. 

The next day we had a new guide and walked around the park more. We also got to do a little cooking in the elephant kitchen! Don't worry, it was easy. A nice mixture of rice, bananas, corn, salt and a few other ingredients mashed together with our hands and rolled into balls. We took these to the elephants with no teeth and fed them. They grabbed them eagerly and followed us with their trunks for more. Our cooking was delicious. 

 

Waiting for our next river walk I heard a commotion from the kitchen area. A calf had lost his mom and wandered onto the platform. He seemed calm at first and just walked around the people. The dogs however did not appreciate him being on their turf. It took several workers and one quick trip through the gift shop to get him out. I think he just wanted a new shirt. The excitement didn't stop there. On our way to the river the calf appeared again, being chased by a scooter. This upset him and he charged the guy with his newly grown horns. It was a bit unnerving, but after dodging behind a van for a minute we were able to move on. Hopefully he found his mom and was happy again. 

 

After a bit more time with the elephants and a quick rain storm we were back in the van heading to Chiang Mai; with a bit more knowledge, a few more friends and possibly some stowaways in my bag. And of course one baby elephant for my mom. No wonder my bags weigh so much! 

 

Life's a Beach

The perfect view for an amazing picture comes at a price. Apparently climbing straight up a rock face is said price. After reading about the viewpoint hike I was a little hesitant. I love a good hike, but I'm not great with heights. Walking up to the starting point made my stomach flip a bit. Right from the first step we were pretty much rock climbing without supports. There was a large rope placed at the site to help, but I did not exactly trust it. We slowly made our way up sticking our feet in any steady holes and encouraging each other along the way. We even picked up a hiking friend who was on her own and was happy to have some company. I was extremely happy to have on real shoes as I watched people clamber up with flip flops or even the pros who went barefoot. Once at the top the work paid off!

 

I was good with ending our adventure there and heading back to the pool, but that didn't happen. Another intriguing trail led us toward a lagoon. Now imagine that same challenging hike with loads of slippery mud and heading down the side only to have to come back up! At this point I was wishing I had listened to the muddy girl on the way up who told us it was not an easy feat. But we continued on. My once clean and new shoes were now caked in red mud and my butt was filthy from trying to get my short legs down to the next steady spot. I have to admit the end did me in. With three incredibly steep bamboo ladders inbetween myself and the lagoon I was out. I hiked back up the muddy wall and ran into some fellow Colorado travelers. Small world right! As we reached the end of the trail I was just happy to have a shower near by. 

 

Thankfully the rest of the day was spent relaxing by the pool and watching another gorgeous sunset on the beach. 

 

Our final day on Railay Beach was filled with an amazing massage and pool time. I also tried a delicious roti, almost crepe like dessert with bananas and Nutella. Delicious! 

I was extremely sad to say goodbye to such a wonderful spot, but eager to see what else my journey had in store for me. 

I Can't Believe We're Here!

As we ventured through our day we contunued to repeat over and over again how we couldn't believe we were here, and that life is good!

 

We started the day by renting a few kayaks and paddling around the beaches. Apparently seeing Princess Cave is a must so off we paddled. Two small caves were filled with offerings for prosperity and fertility. I shall let you just look at the pics to see the full view of this splendor. 

 

The warm water was a fantastic change from what I'm used to. As well as looking up at the astounding rock formations with stalactites and trees growing in all directions. 

Next up was a sunset tour around a few islands. I was hesitant after the first tour we took with the crowded boats of people who seemed uninterested in the beauty around us. I was beyond thrilled by how this tour turned out. 

 

We jumped from a longboat onto a pirate ship! Johnny was thrilled to be among his people and rum. There was plenty of space and the crew could not have been nicer. The guide, Mike, was Australian along with an Italian Argentinian, Charolette. They spent time talking to all the guests and making everyone feel comfortable. Charolette even brought out her sugar glider and let us pet him. So cute! 

This ship was endless fun. Onboard was a kayak, paddle boards, snorkeling gear, and floats. Oh and a bar.  Very helpful on a hot day. We grabbed the paddle boards and I tried to get myself to try tricks. A free drink was on the line! Sadly I just fell into the water. Good news, the water was amazing! I did see several jellyfish which scare the living daylights out of me, and I learned about sea lice. Not my favorite that's for sure. We swam around anyway and snorkeled through some cute little fishies. Rebecca and I had a great time trying to have underwater conversations about what we were seeing. Her attempt to scare a possible puffer fish was hilarious and resulted with more salt water up my nose. 

 

The next stop we jumped off the roof of the boat and swam and started talking to the travelers. Listening to everyone's travel stories and learning about the people around us was fascinating. Sitting on top of the boat with a drink in my hand while watching the sun set over the water is something I hope to never forget. But the most magical part of the night was still ahead. 

 

As we pulled up in long boats to a dark cove I was expecting to see the most miraculous sight. We were going to swim with bioluminescent plankton. Yes, glowing plankton! It felt like a cruel joke when Mike said to jump in and move around to see it. I did as I was told and holy cow! I felt like Harry Potter screaming lumos maxima as the sea suddenly came to life around me. Everywhere I touched lit up in tiny balls of green light. My toes kicked and twirled as the light followed me around. Truly magical! Tammie, Rebecca and I had to practically be pulled from the water not wanting to let it end. Sadly, it had to and our perfect day was just about done. Once again I repeated our daily anthem, I can't believe we are here! Life is good. 

 

Planes, Tuk Tuk, and Tractor...

Getting to our resort was quite an adventure! We decided to save some cash and take the train to the airport. It was super easy, but a bit slower than expected. We rushed to check in and found that the Singapore airport is huge! You could spend a day just playing there. Luckily we made it to our gate, showed our tickets a plethora of times and sat down.

Getting through customs was easy and a man with my name awaited us to get to the resort. We had an extremely comfortable van to ourselves for the 40 minute drive to the boat. All I have to say is woah culture shock!! I knew there would be lots of scooters driving through traffic. What I didn't expect was the amount of small children standing at the front of the scooter seat with no helmets! Families of four were crammed onto one scooter, flip flops were the norm when it came to footwear, and rules did not apply. I cringed as they zoomed between cars and sped down the streets, just another day for them. 

 

Next up was a tuk tuk overflowing with our luggage. We raced down a small dock where we had to jump from one long boat to another. I was sure I was going to end up in the water while the men who were no doubt laughing at me watched. But I made it! The view was ridiculous as we approached the beach with crowds all around. Suddenly a tractor with a trailer reversed into the water. One more jump onto this vehicle and we were almost there! The tractor was used to bring people from the water, up the beach, and to a golf cart that drove us to our resort with a cool towel and drink waiting. Talk about transportation!!! 

Our room is beautiful, and even though once again you can see straight into the bathroom if you so desire, I love it. 

 

On our first full day we decided to start with a Thai massage. I was folded up like oragami and turned and twisted and popped. It was amazing! Listening to the ocean and a cool breeze all around wasn't bad either. 

 

For the first real excursion we decided on Phi Phi Island. We crammed ourselves and many others into a large speedboat that bounced its way through the water. The trip was not exactly what I was expecting. Our first stop was a tiny bit of very soft sandy beach. Boats were all around and hundreds of people all stood around trying to get the best pics. We did get to snorkel at the next stop. The water was so warm! Not a ton of fish swam with us, but a few cute ones were about. Each stop was filled with hundrends of tourists, but luckily the beautiful water made up for it. 

The best part of the day was Tammie joining us at Sand Sea! We were thrilled to have someone who knows more than us about Thailand and can help guide us. Starting with the best Indian food I've had since England! 

 

Railay Beach is an amazing spot. I just can't get over the view. I'm pretty sure a few extra days here could do me some good! 

People, People and More People

Did you know it's hot here?! I'm not talking Colorado summer hot, I'm talking constant sweat and sticky grossness everywhere. This whole humidity thing is very overrated. I'm ready for the beach! Thank goodness that happens soon.

Singapore is a pretty interesting city that I've enjoyed wandering around. We went on a Little India walking tour and learned how different cultures came to Singapore and how they all combine and work together. Little India is filled with plenty of gold shops, food stalls, and lots of colors. 

 

For me, no trip would be complete without a little Harry Potter. And I make no exceptions! Lunch was in a tiny cafe filled with Harry Potter fun. While this little restaurant, Platform 1094, did a great job of not copywriting my beloved entertainment they had plenty to make crazy fans feel right at home. From drinks that spark with fire, to wearing my Gryffindor tie while eating, I knew I was among my people. To top it off the food was delicious, and Johnny made a friend! 

 

Next up was a walk around the botanic gardens with hopes of seeing monkeys. Sadly they did not make an appearance, but I have plenty of time left. 

 

The river safari and night safari were great stops. The animals seemed to have space and going through the zoo at night gave us a chance to see tons of interactions between them. Sadly this is where we encountered the worst of the pushy tourists, and I was eager to get away from crowds and move onto a more relaxing spot. And that is where I am at this very moment. Lounging by the ocean with a cool breeze ready for my next country, Thailand! 

 

Longest Day Ever

I did it! I packed my bag and took items out to try to have space for treasures. I know people can pack lighter than this, but it's 45 days! And I've decided my camera and electronic accessories take up most of the space. But I can carry it all!

 

We flew to San Francisco and had about five hours to kill. Luckily our friends helped us with an airport scavenger hunt to pass the time. We found plenty of people in Crocs, and socks and sandals! Then it was to my little home for 16 hours. My amazing ostrich pillow worked wonders and I actually slept for a bit. We didn't see the sun for what felt like days, but we landed and stepped out into the glorious heat and humidity that I must now get used to. 

 

Apparently nothing is open in Singapore before 10:00 so a lot of wandering happened right away. The blisters already on my feet can attest to this. The gardens were amazing, and the indoor waterfall was spectacular. 

 

We followed this with a duck land/water ride to see more of the city. By this time I'd been up for far too many hours and the idea of sleep was a welcome one. We got back to our hotel and ate then I was out. Not bad for the first day! 

Experiencing a new culture is exciting and mind opening, but can anyone tell me why they like their bathrooms walls like this:  

I see you Rebecca!! 

 

This answer I may never know.  For now, the adventure continues! 

Here We Go Again

I'd like to start by saying that I'm really going to try this time! I will try to blog frequently to share my travels with friends and family, but also to be able to look back at all the amazing opportunities I've had. I guess it all starts here.

This summer is a whole new adventure for me! Where am I going you may ask. Asia! Yes, a very large place so let's narrow it down. Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. 

All of this is very new for me, and I'm nervous and excited all at once! I realized as I was getting ready for this trip I got very different comments than any of my others. Such as: "be careful," and "wow, you're brave," and "make good choices!" I guess I will do my best. 

Each time I take a trip people ask, "who are you going with?" My response is typically, Fulbrighters. This program changed my life in so many ways. One of the best of which, my travel buddies. On this trip I'm incredibly lucky to be going with Rebecca, my travel partner extraordinaire! Through many adventures we have learned the art of dealing with each other for extended periods of time. Good thing too since this journey is 45 days of fun! 

 

At this point I'm just excited to get there and start experiencing as much as we can. 

Just a quick 16 hour flight from California and we will be there. Good thing I have an amazing pillow! 

So for now I need to sleep to prepare for a long two days. Hopefully more posts will come soon with beautiful pictures!