Chiang Rai, Thailand

In the guide books Chiang Rai didn't have much to show for its self and yet we had a weird desire to go there. As we walked around the small town I felt a stillness. There were not a lot of tourists and we were forced to figure out local transportation if intended to get around. It was fun solving our own problems and empowering to know we could do even if we don't speak the language. One night we wandered into an outdoor pavilion where people were sitting eating meats and veggies cooked on a domed table top cooker. Feeling adventurous we sat down. The kind workers showed us how to select our meats and veggies and then how to cook them all together on the table. It was our first "hot pot" experience and it was a successful one at that. In the evenings we would walk the streets and talk, which is something Jaims and I are really good at doing. Maybe because we were mission companions for 8 months and spent every moment together. We need little to spark new ideas and interesting discussion. Even after months apart we can still talk as though we saw each other the day before. I am really blessed to have such a beautiful kind and patient friend.

One of my favorite nights of the trip was when we happened upon a buddhist temple during a service. We quietly slipped off our shoes and went to kneel in the back. We sat for almost an hour (or until our knees ached) being filled with the peaceful spirit and chants of the monks. Thailand for me is a place of peace and pondering. Surrounded by beautiful nature it is easy to contemplate life and the paths we desire and choose to take. Although I am not buddhist I learned how to take time to be still. If anyone knows me they know that stillness is hard for me, but as we sat in those temples it was easy to stop thinking for a few minutes. I believe that when we stop thinking, we are actually opening ourselves up to true inspiration and guidance from God.  

In Chiang Rai we did go to one very touristy temple- although most of the tourists were domestic there were a few clearly foreign ones as well. The temple itself was creepy and not worth the trip out there but it was fun to learn how to jump on the local bus and meet more people from the area. I think more than going to sites, I really like simply meeting people and experiencing culture firsthand. 

*I love tourists because for many it means being pushed outside of their comfort zone to learn and grow- way to go tourist with the bright floral umbrella, no shame!*

*as a public health and international development student I couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit Cabbages and Condoms- check them out as they are doing awesome things in preventing HIV!*

Jaim

6/23/11

hey everyone!  doingreally great here! reallyreally love thailand and the thai people!  I love love meeting new people and hearing their stories.  on the bus on our way to the ferry to the island koh phang nan we sat in front of a few scottish guys that were playing hte guitar abit an i turned around and expresed my disappointment that they had stopped playing hte weezer song I loved so much, then one of em started playing falling slowly fro mthe once movie and i started singing along they he handed me the guitar and I tried to teach him blackbird...no dice :)  I got a wax job yesterday and it was the best waxing experience I've ever had b/c this woman was so so so sweet, huge hard, huge smile, and we're now good friends and I'm gonna give her a pass along card.  she runs an italian restaraunt here and a massage and wax and nails place - everyone here is kind of a jack of all trades,Her biggest dream is to go to italia, venice - and just sit on the gondola boats and see the city - I told her Id send her a post card.  her name is Dia.  There is a whole world of people to discover nad get to know out there - all it takes is for us to open our mouths and be willing to treat them like people and like our brothers and sisters.  i love seeing more of God's creations that I've never seen before - different plants, animals, food, sunsets in different countries, remnants from past civilizations, different religions and how many similarities there are between each religion.

We went fishing one night and I caught a fish!  the man fried up all the fish right there on the boat and we ate them and some raw squid dipped in this great chili sauce, yum!!! then we practiced scuba diving in the pool and went snorkeling and got massages on the beach by these adorable women and this older woman saw me admring her little plastic windmill creations and she pointed to one of the girls and said saomething to here and the girl comes over and hand it to me! can you believe that! I gave her a hug and she kissed me on the cheak. I've discovered that hugs and smiles are universal happy inducers and it just disarms people so quickly, I love that! we ended the day with a bonfire on the beach that night.  

 

We're now in chiang rai, up north, a little town, and while exploring last night we ewalked past a temple with a big golden buddha in it and women and maonks praying, we didn't even say anything, we just looked ate ach other, took off our shoes walked in and sat down with them, it was sucha neat thing, and so relaxing to just think while listeningto them sing.

 

I've discovered that my favorite fruit is here - so many fun different great kinds!  I love food and trying new stuff - fired bananas are a favourite as well hee hee!

 

love you all so much and thin of you often!

 

jaim 

Koh Phangan, Thailand Beaches and the Full Moon!

When most people think of Thailand they think of beaches. Up to this point I had come to believe that Thailand was made of mountains and valleys that cradled small water ways. I had no idea that the beaches would be just as glorious as the golden temples and pagodas.

If you have backpacked through thailand I am sure you heard tail of the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan held each month and now on the half moon as well. Since we do not drink alcohol or enjoy 'shroom shakes we decided to head to the island in between the full and half moon. And oh man, was that a good idea! An island practically to yourself is never a bad thing- in most cases I would even support it as long as there are enough fruit smoothies to keep me going and I am not stranded.  We stayed in a bungalow on the beach that provided us with front row seats to the dramatic ebb and flow of the tide. To be honest I didn't take a lot of pictures or do anything too wild. I swam, slept, walked and thought a lot. It was a place of peace and contemplation. A few times we went off on the scooter to find new beaches and see wildlife. But overall this was a simple stop on the trip where we could simply just be.

*this woman does nails, waxing, and cooks oh yeah she also looks to be 20 years old tops- she is in her late 30s!*

*massage on the beach with fresh aloe vera*

*always a kind smile nearby*

*night fishing with our guide*

*dinner*

*all the party people ready for the full moon*

Siem Reap, Cambodia: home to the temples of Angkor

I don't know when it started, perhaps it was the national geographic book with its huge pictures of the temples, or even Disney's Jungle Book. I mean who didn't want to find an abandoned temple full of monkeys?! Whatever it was- I was eager to see the Temples of Angkor in person. I wanted to see the huge faces of Bayon, the trees reclaiming their land over the stones, and the temple of Angkor Wat as the sun rises. Even though Siem Reap, the city next to the temple complex is a days drive from where we were in Thailand, we decided to trek across the country leave our car at the boarder and spend a glorious 24 hours in Cambodia. At the boarder we decided to get express visas online which cost a little extra but was worth it as the hustlers will charge crazy fees and lie to get as much out of you as possible. Since it was our first time we figured we would avoid it by printing our own at an internet cafe. As we approached the boarder on foot we realized how confusing this place can be. Not only did everyone want to help you but they all seemed to tell you different things.

*a gas station!*

Because we had limited time and didn't want to waste any of it we hired a driver for the 24 hours we were there and it worked great for us. When I went back with my husband later the boarder was very cleaned up and organized. Maybe we just went at the right time but we walked up the visa office with our application and we got our visa within 5 minutes and that was it! The government now even provides a free bus for tourists to the local bus and taxi station which is really helpful. From there you only have two or so hours until you reach Siem Reap. If you plan it right you can even get there in time for the sunset!

It is funny how hard I will work to see the sunrise and sunset on a trip. At home getting me out of bed before the sun is nearly impossible but put me in another country and a 4am alarm is nothing!

Once Jaims, J and I all arrived in Siem Reap we found a nice little hotel and then went straight to the temple to get our passes for the following day which also allowed us in to see the sunset that night! We followed the crowds up to a temple on the hill and watched as the sun fell over the Khmer Empire. Despite the large number of people it was remarkably peaceful. We finished the night with a fish foot massage, in other words we paid to put our feet in a pool of water as fish ate off our dead skin. It was nasty! I only lasted 10 seconds. Jaims and J fought through the giggles and made it to a minute. They are so brave and now free of dead foot skin! Oh well I will just have to live with my dead skin. After a few fruit smoothies we went to bed in preparation for the next morning- Sunrise of the Angkor Wat!!!!

*yes Jaims is stunning at 5am- I wish I could say the same for myself*

I cannot express how worth it it is to wake up early for those special hours as the sun fills the sky. We decided to climb to the highest point we could reach on the temple- which at the time was pretty high as there was no tape or security on the main temple. I sat there on that massive structure built hundreds of years ago, in silence and pondered the majestic potential of man. More than history I love beauty and how through out time man has sought to beautify his surroundings. Sometimes it makes me feel small and useless but then I remember that my life is not over and I still have much to contribute to this world. Although I doubt my contribution will be in the form of a compound or new empire, I hope my influence and love will carry, on passed to others for generations to come. I love the strength and determination of Angkor and am grateful for all of the many organizations and countries who have contributed to its restoration and preservation.

*Beware these little cuties are sometimes little stinkers*