What an experience! I am so jealous of the experiences you're having. Wish I could have taken a trip like yours when I was younger. Wish I had the time now. Can't wait to see all your pictures when you're home. You must have a strong stomach to handle all those drinks and the different foods from everywhere. Sounds delicious though. Love, Linda
I'm drunk just inhaling the fumes from your blog! But you look so adorable waiting for your massage - and all the scenery is breathtaking. I just hope you and Ashley are ready for detox when you get back! Love,love,love
FULL MOON! The full moon parties and bucket drinks are what happened to that guy I was telling you about?! He went there, drank too many buckets and ended up with a full moon tattoo on his calf when he woke up!!
I miss you and I'm glad you're having fun!! xoxo
monkey business Poor Ashley - she had a monkey on her back, and you ran as far away as you could! I'm surprised she's not frothing at the mouth from that! Just kidding, Alissa - love you anyway!
So have you been following amer political maneuverings both demo and repu? Strange race. Was thinking you should lay eyes on the Herald Trib but you're prob ingesting e-news with your breakfast.
Ice and rain last night, conditions perilous: not even those impressive monkeys would hazard an excursion this morning. Lucky you to be missing winter's wicked ways. love, more love T and j
any elephant photos yet? dont let them sit on your head!!
kelly and john came through last night and we got to play sigawatts... great to have all u worldly travelers stopping in cosmopolitan hamilton!!
POOR ELEPHANT! & BRING ON THE BUCKETS Alissa, I think I will really have a difficult time seeing these intelligent, beautiful creatures tethered. They also have memory and feelings.
I am already wanting to meet you in the elephant refuge.
On another subject, those bucket stands are amazing. There must be a lot of empty plastic buckets! I hope they recycle plastic. MOM
you wear too much sun screen and you dont have the bird flu. thailand looks super beautiful. bring one of those taxi/pickup trucks back with you. love you!
per your request Hey there! I keep hearing/seeing all these great places y'all are visiting and fun and amazing things y'all are doing- wondering how I will find time to duplicate even a small bit of the experience....
i agree, wow! i hope i can make it there... it does seem so close! i wish i had someone to show me around though, that must be a nice break from the rush letting someone else take over for you and show u around!?! i could go for a $4 massage right now!!
glad you could stop by and visit, wish you could have stayed longer, but thanks for making us part of your amazing trip! i think taupo is next on my list of must see's!!
40 cents for PAD THAI! After reading your blog and talking to you, I had a craving for Thai food. Of course you can get it everywhere. So after "work" today, we went out in search of the perfect thai food. 10.50 later...we found it! You could have had around 20 pad thai's for that much!!! I can't believe everything is so cheap! And are those girls really men? It looks like an optical illusion if you ask me!
All I can say is WOW. It looks absolutely gorgeous and fun and awesome and I can totally sympathize with the traffic! Russia is the same way - once our driver told us that if you were to follow all the rules of the road in Russia you would get absolutely nowhere, breaking the rules IS the rule of the road.
Anyway, it was fun to see that the ladyboys have better bodies than me. Kind of hilarious in that ironic way.
Keep updating, I looove this blog. <3
Wish we were THERE! Alissa: Thanks a lot for the birthday wishes. Reading about your first days in Thailand, it's mom and me who wish we were celebrating over there with you, rather than the other way around! The pictures are really great. Give Ashley a big hug for us. We love you. Dad
Alissa, i just read your write up on your stay @ my house! you are soo good at this blogging thing!! And th waitomo caves looked awesome!, i should take the girls!! i will def subscribe from now on! enjoy the rest of your travels! take care
Emma xx
Omg Moo Moo is the cutest.
Also, zorbing needs to come to U.S. I just spent the past 5 mins looking at videos on youtube and it looks like the most ridiculous amount of fun. Speaking of Ana Lucia, I just saw season 4 premier of Lost and it was good. Not shocking, but good!
Alissa, I have finally caught up with all of your postings and they are very, very enjoyable to read. New Zealand sounds unbelievable and I'm sure SE Asia is going to be amazing as well. Again, I am so jealous of everything you have been able to, but I guess I'll have to live vicariously through you for the rest of trip. Keep up the good work!
Did you have any idea, Alissa, before you embarked on this adventure, that you'd undertake such feats of daring? You've got guts, kid. I'm not sure whether your pluck or your devotion to your readers is more impressive. heaps of love, j
Well, after months of anticipation, the depature date is finally here! I leave November 3rd for a 5 month trip through Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and Laos. I set up this site so that family and friends can keep in touch and see what I'm doing on my "big trip".
My rough itinerary:
Nov. 3rd-Dec. 29th: Australia
Dec. 29th-Jan 27th: New Zealand
Jan 27th-Mar 20th: Thailand and Laos
Please feel free to leave comments or messages, I'll try to respond as frequently as possible!!... full info
Richard B
non-member comment
Thanks for continuing commentary/pix- helps us wintering at home understand the journey