The end is near and I'm spending it with my family. Have I mentioned how much I can't believe two years have gone by and I'm headed out of here? Anyway yesterday really couldn't get any more Thai than it was. Scratch that it couldn't get any more Isan! My sister had mentioned the day before that we were all going to head out to the field and eat some fish. I hadn't been in the fields since year one mostly cause there isn't a whole lot to do, but we were on a mission to eat fish this time around so I was okay with heading out there once more. I was not so okay with the 6am intended wake up time, but this is Thailand and I didn't expect anyone to actually be awake ... read more

Here was my redemption moment, could I really ask for a better way to go out with a bang here in Thailand. I have just a few weeks left here, soccer failed miserably, I now have an obsession with running and BAM this 5k run falls into my lap like a gift from Santa. I had to prep all my crazy superstitious ways, so my outfit was ready, the breakfast prepped and the bandana bought. I chow down on a very delicious although not so sports bar like breakfast while stretching out to some P90X. Naturally nerves are wanting to bust on in but I'm punching them in the face and keeping them away. The alarm sounds to let me know that I should head to P. Aajong, who will also be running the race. He ... read more

I've talked about eating them and going out to hunt them but this little section is about actually farming them. Of course I'm talking about crickets. I might take it up once back in America since I'm not sure how else I'm going to get my hands on these guys. I had a soccer game today but the highlight of the day wasn't that game but instead all the cricket searching I did before hand. My sister had informed me that we would be doing this and I have to say when she first told me I thought, great I get to be dragged around while I anxiously wait for my game to start. We headed out, me dressed and ready for the game her buzzing on and on about her new truck. I clinged to ... read more

When I had first come to Phnom Penh a few days ago with Dress, I had gotten my hopes up that I would be trying a tarantula. Honestly I don’t know what has come over me that I want to try gross things like tarantulas. On top of that I feel a bit more guilty eating tarantulas than I ever have eating chicken, cow, and pork. I don’t know if it is because I have directly worked with them before or because I just find them more interesting, but whatever the case I have a sense of guilt when I go to eat them. But curiosity overcame guilt and when we came across an bug vendor I had to pick up a tarantula. I am sure there are a few things passing through your mind right ... read more

The next leg of our excursion was taking us to Phnom Penh. After some breakfast, we all hopped on a bus and took off for a several hour journey to Phnom Penh. I have to say traveling in Thailand looks amazing after traveling in Cambodia. The buses are a bit more janky, you are lucky if you have a bathroom, you usually get a meal, and it rarely breaks down. None the less we made it to our destination and found our way to Capital Guesthouse. After the amazing way we were treated at Happy, Capital was a disappointment. Not only was it more expensive at $8 a night, but it was ugly and the staff was less than friendly compared to Happy. We checked in, threw our stuff down and headed out for some food. ... read more