Xin Nian Kuai Le!

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Ah, the phrase of the month: xin nian kuai le!! or happy new year. As I wind down from celebrating that old fashioned western new year that takes place on january first and is only celebrated for one night, the chinese new year has arrived in a rush of choreographed dances, holiday bonuses in red envelopes, and masses of red decorations. It appears to be celebrated for at least 5 or 6 weeks, to cover everyone's differing vacation times (seems illogical but really should cut down on the travel traffic.) Next travel blog will feature two travel guests, dear old mum and dad are coming on a whirlwind tour of southwest china/vietnam, so if they dont' live to tell their tale of squat toilets and filthy hostels and night buses where people cut money out of your bags while you are sleeping, I will tell it for them, by way of this blog.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful christmas! Mine was spent in beautiful thailand, no joking when they call it the land of smiles. Everyone wants to be your friend, everyone wants to help you, and wonder upon wonder, no one stares at you! The streets of bangkok are crawling with white people, very strange. Even I stopped staring after a few hours.

Flew into bangkok at 4 in the morning (cheap flight) and set out the next day for some serious exploring. Wandered into a travel agency to peruse the nearby tours, had my eye on a few that advertised elephant riding - knew I only had 5 days so had to stick around bangkok. ...Walked out half an hour later with a ticket for the night bus to Chiang Mai (a city 12 hours ride to the north of bangkok), the same evening, and a receipt for a full day of elephant training in the jungle of Chiang Mai. Needless to say, the travel agent was very convincing.

*Tip: thought I had time to down a curry before my bus ride, but ordered a little late, luckily i asked them to put it in a bag for me. Proudly handed me a small baggie filled with boiling red curry. Ask for a box.

Arrived in chiang mai following morning after a brutal bus ride, half spent trying to find a semi comfortable position in a chair that tipped back only 45 degrees, and half spent glaring at my fellow bus riders, daring them to try to steal my bag, which was tucked safely under my 3 shirts. Checked into my hostel and was picked up an hour later by Eddie, my elephant trainer for the day. I won't try to explain the joy of spending a day with an elephant. for those of you who know my life goal(s), you will realize that the position for life goal number one is now open. Also i am open for ideas.

Anyway you could never say I learned nothing this year - I can tell an elephant to open its mouth, lift its leg up, go forwards, backwards, left, right, slow down, and stop. A glorious day, which left me wandering around in a happy haze for the rest of my trip.

...except for christmas day, which found me racing through the streets of bangkok in the back of a tuktuk, as my tuktuk driver desperately tried to win gas coupons from the government by dumping me in front of jewelry warehouses in the hope i would buy something. Finally told him I wasn't buying anything and to leave me alone, and began walking. Flagged down the next tuktuk to getme back to civilization and lo and behold, it was my driver, grinning from ear to ear as he offered me a ridiculous price to get back to my hostel. Spent christmas evening being followed around by an overeager african football player, managed to shake him and went home to skype my family, who survived their first christmas without me... i am slowly fading into the past it seems.

*Interesting fact about Thailand: they love their king. and buddha. Temples every 5 feet, complete with standing buddhas, sitting buddhas, laying down buddhas, alternate position buddhas, etc... and an army of bald orange clad monks napping by the doors or praying.

Had my first thai massage... amazing. Actually yelled when my lady crunched all my toes inwards. Also considered ditching the rest of my life and learning thai massage at the temple and eating curry every day for the rest of my life. Oh I forgot.. took a cooking class in chiang mai, successfully made a delicious red curry, spring rolls, pad thai, and hot and sour prawn soup. prodigy.

*Oh they aren't lying when they say thailand is cheap either... 30 baht equals $1. I walked away from a restaurant that charged more than 60 baht for dinner. Also everyone speaks english. incredible place.

Before allowing the post thailand depression to set in as i left the land of smiles and re-entered the land of frowns and pushing on buses, i celebrated western new year in hongkong with a visitor from xiamen. Dragged myself through the last couple weeks and now vacation is here!

*Shenzhen life updates... Upon receiving an unexpected guest one evening, i took the metro to one end of shenzhen and upon returning.. my poor pink bike had been snatched from it's falsely safe looking metro bike rack. Have bought bike number three, gorgeous and red, and even bought the more expensive uncuttable lock. Fingers crossed it doesn't go the same route as bike#1's stubborn lock, because then I'll be stuck. Is freezing here. but not literally because the other day it rained. Am considering buying another blanket before the parents arrive tomorrow evening. Was given a giant bag of milk tablets that taste something like chalk, have been eating them like candy. My chinese seemed to be getting better until this evening when i asked a travel agent what time he would be working tomorrow and he said 'yes'. Clearly i have my good days and my bad days.

Fingers crossed i don't lose the parents on our vacation. Best chinese new year wishes to all of you!!

avalon

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