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Published: December 18th 2008
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Hey Guys, I'm having an amazing time! So much so, in fact, that I have been avoiding the computer!! Let's see... here's a few quick highlights... first night was an unexpected night near Tokyo-- I LOVE Japan and can't wait to go back there...Just Can't elaborate enough how much I love japan. I never understood the draw to go there, but now I think it's because whereas places like Thailand and Mexico are third world, Japan is superior to the US in some ways... seems like I'd learn a lot spending more time there...
The first day or two of the tour was mostly traveling on trains and buses, but the last few days have been incredible! The first cool thing was riding bicycles through Sukothai, a really cool archaeological site... ruins of temples... a picnic lunch at the temples...Then a long bus ride to Lampang.. it was longer b/c we had to ride around to avoid being near a protest.. and then an hour Songthaew ride (this is like a pick up truck with a bench in the back and a roof... we finally got to the Riverside guesthouse, when I called dad at the office b/c I knew
Japan
Beers in the vending machines he'd be there! And sure enough he was struggling with a small staff to get out the morning sheet. Sorry guys!! All that seems so far removed right now though.. I am so thankful for the opportunity to come here but i'm sorry to hear that things are tough back at the office!
Yesterday we went to this beautiful elephant conservation camp and an elephant hospital. I got a 30 minute elephant ride which was SO much fun, and we saw them bathe and stuff... afterwards at the hospital we saw elephants who had stepped on land mines at the Thai-Burma border. They have prosthetic legs and it was sad to see them, but good that they are getting help. I think Tim would have loved that part of the trip. Then we spent a few hours at a hot spring... not the best one though so I admired the pretty garden and got a 30 minute foot massage for $5.
Then we got to the homestay, complete with an outhouse for the bathroom and mats on the floor for bed... I had an electric blue bug net over my bed. A weird mix between feeling like it
elephant ride
This is me on an elephant! was a princess bed, and then looking through the big holes in the wood floor and wide open windows!! I was scared to death of bugs but luckly haven't seen any yet. (one night the guesthouse we were staying out was especially close to nature-- buggy-- so I opted for the $6 upgrade to a nicer room... yay!!)Last night we had a band play traditional instruments for us and the homestay family prepared a dinner.. we all sat on mats on the floor. We also got a chance to try out the instruments and turns out I am not especially talented in any of them. Then they did a night show for us and we lit candles and ended up lighting and releasing a huge paper lantern into the sky. Once it got really high up it had a few fireworks.
Then today included teaching english to 8 yr old kids who were eager to hug and fought with each other over who could hold our hands... they were SO happy we were there. I was with a group of 6 Australians, and we were instructed to sing our national anthem.... though i skipped mine and lip sung to the Australian anthem, LOL! We rented bicycles for the day again and enjoyed beautiful countryside. There are fields of various crops (including pitaya) and large deep green mountains. There are also palm trees in the mix.! We rode through a small village too that is very poor but still really interetsing. Also saw an amazing temple-- it was the village's temple but was still bejeweled and gorgeous.. but small! Later we rode to a mushroom farm and picked mushrooms which were later prepared by our homestay mother... homestay was ROUGH but the best night so far!!! Great food too, though no one wants to make anything spicy for farangs (tourists) so i practically have to beg!
Tonight we are in Chiang Mai at People's Place hotel (the old wing is not what is on the website!) and I"m a little nervous b/c I know that there is lots of red party here and they are very angry about the new PM. I haven't felt anything scary though, except for the bus diversion but I only found that out from asking the trip leader... Anyway some of the group is chilling out this afternoon, some are driving 1 hr to another temple to see monks chant (would be cool, I admit) but I think I'm going to go get another nice massage... maybe they have a luxury spa or something... LOL
Tomorrow is white water rafting! Saturday we ride the night train back to Bangkok.
Well, like i said I am happy to be away from the computer, so I'm going to go! Love you guys very much-- mom, thanks for all the nice gifts before I left and for surprising me at the airport. Am using them all and writing in my new journal. Tim, thanks for the late night snow storm movie and for driving me to the airport, miss you! Also, everyone in my group is very friendly and we are all getting along very well, so no worries! Love you guys-- and I"ll put up pictures soon...whenever I decide to sit at the computer for a long time... LOL
xoxoxo
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Susana
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Owsome!
Hi Chelle, thank you for sharing your fantastic trip with us. I enjoy reading about it. I am traveling in my heart with you!!!!