All Good Things Must Come To An End

I DID IT!!!! I cannot believe it’s time for me to leave the place I have grown to love and call home. I’ve fallen in love with a country, its people and its culture. Looking back on the past 10 months I am in awe of what I have learned: about myself, about traveling and about another country.
It feels just like yesterday I received my acceptance letter into my TEFL program in Cambodia/Thailand. Had someone told me a year and a half ago I would pack up my life, leave my family, friends, boyfriend and my 8 month pregnant sister, I would have told them they were nuts. But I did and I am SO thankful I made the move! I came out here on my own, without a job, not knowing what to except and from these experiences I believe I have grown so much as a person. I am a stronger, a wiser, a better person then before (hard to imagine I know). I’m not going to lie, times were tough, but the good days outweighed the bad and I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for this experience. My heart was broken twice while in Thailand: once by a boy, and once by the country’s people. I healed from the first, but my heart still aches for Thailand as a whole – what an experience to be here during times of turmoil. I’ve witnessed a country come together as one and unite to rebuild and it’s been eye opening. I could write for pages and pages about my time here, but I will leave it at this. I am truly blessed to have done what I’ve done and seen what I’ve seen. This is not goodbye – not to Thailand or my traveling days. I am not sure what lies ahead, but I am excited to see what’s next in the life of Sarah Earp!

Island Hopping: Final Day

All I’ve got to say is thank God for Dramamine.
This morning I packed my bag and headed to my 9am ferry back to Phuket. This was the beginning of a never ending day(s) of travel. Phi Phi to Phuket, Phuket to Bangkok (last minute dentist appointment, dinner w/ a friend, trip to the night market to buy yet another suitcase, then a few hours of sleep), Bangkok to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Seoul, Seoul to SEATTLE!
After taking the world’s craziest boat ride of my life, I have set up camp at the Phuket airport as my plane does not leave for another 4 hours – what a dud. I still feel as though I am rocking back and forth and want to puke (but I won’t as I hate it). Thankfully I was one of the few that didn’t lose my breakfast on the ride here (thank you Dramamine aka my new best friend). Waves were crashing over the bow and at the windows in every direction. I felt like I was on an episode of the Deadliest Catch minus the whole crabbing/fishing thing.
Safely on dry land to the airport I went. Having made it through security with no problems I was feeling pretty good. Tomorrow will be the real test. I am scared out of my mind to tell you the truth. Hoping and praying the visa/custom people just make me pay a fee for overstaying my visa instead of locking me up in some Thai jail like I read they might. Here’s hoping.
See you all very, very soon!!!

Island Hopping Day 8

Apparently living in Thailand and not working out for 10 months causes one to become out of shape.
This morning I decided to be ambitious and get a head start on the day. The weather looked as if it was going to hold up (atleast I thought it did) so off I went to tour the island. My first stop was the Tsunami Memorial.

The 2004 tsunami hit Phi Phi hard and the aftermath was devastating. It practically wiped out the entire island and took many lives of locals and tourists alike. A major rebuilding program in recent years has left the island looking remarkably better – if you were unaware that such a catastrophe had taken place, you might think Phi Phi is just another beautiful island under a lot of development, rather than one that was destroyed and is being rebuilt.
After walking up and down beach where the memorial park was suppose to be, a local finally told me they have taken down the sight and are in the works of building a much bigger/better memorial. Since there was sadly nothing to see, I went to my next destination: the view point. This is where I discovered how out of shape I am.
I felt like I was climbing the Great Wall in China – there were seriously an absurd amount of stairs to climb before reaching the uphill trail that would eventually lead me to view point #1. Sweaty doesn’t even begin to describe the condensation streaming down my body. I finally made it to the first view point where a cute little Thai man was selling water - I had never been so thankful in my entire life! After taking a few pictures I decided to make my way to the next view point despite the dark grey clouds rolling in. I should have just stopped there. Picture me hiking up a mountain in flip flops on an unpaved trail in a torrential downpour – it was quite the sight. Somehow I managed to stay on two feet and not slide down the slippery path along the way. The rain stopped by the time I made it to view point #2, however the wind did not. Soaking wet and freezing (well what I consider freezing now) I stayed only long enough to take in the amazing view and snap a few pictures. It was well worth the hike, but boy am I out of shape. Two more days until I hit the gym back home – thank goodness for that!

By the time I reached my hotel it was as if the rain storm never hit – clear blue sunny skies. Off I went to the beach where I intended to gain as much sun as possible before going home. No one is going to believe l lived in Thailand for a year when they see how pale I am! I can’t say I got a good tan, but I can say I managed to fry myself. We’re talking Kentucky fry chicken fry myself. My poor massage lady I went to (yes I treated myself to another massage) did an all over aloe vera rub on me and kept saying “oh, so red, like barbeque”. Her and I both were rather entertained by it all.
A great hike and a good burn – just how I imagined spending my last full day on the beach. Life is good!

Island Hopping Day 7: Part 1

I did NOT sign up for this!!

Near death experiences definitely were NOT on the brochure I looked at when signing up for my day long island tour.

The girls I met up with in Krabi were now in Phi Phi and we decided to make the most of our time here and do a day trip around the nearby islands. We found a great deal: 500 baht ($15) for a full day tour of snorkeling/kayaking around all 6 islands in the Phi Phi area. This program started at 10 and ended at sunset. It included breakfast, lunch, snacks, dry bags and fresh fruit. What they failed to tell us was that we would have to risk our lives to get to some of these destinations!

We were all a little hesitant to go on the trip to begin with b/c of the terrible weather, but we figured screw it, what else were we gonna do, sit in our rooms and watch TV in Thai? No thanks. Rain shmain - I'm from Seattle for crying out loud.

Our first stop was awesome! The rain had briefly stopped and we jumped off the boat and snorkeled around amazing coral - I think I saw more snorkeling than diving! I got tired of snorkeling and decided to go back to the boat to get a kayak to ride around. I went back into this secluded area where big boats could not fit through - it was incredible!!!!! My neck hurt from straining so hard to look up at the enormous limestone cliffs. It was so peaceful back there! I will never forget it!

Sadly that was about the only enjoyable thing on our trip. Originally I was really looking forward to our next stop: Maya Beach. This is where the movie "The Beach" was filmed. What the tour failed to tell us was that we were going to nearly die getting there. Our boat anchored and our guide explained to us we needed to leave our flippers behind (but carry our shoes on our hands) and swim to those stairs over there...okay, I thought, I can do this, it's not THAT far. Little did they let on that there was the STRONGEST current I have ever felt in my life. They didn't bother to ask anyone if they are strong swimmers or not. Had they asked or let on that it was going to be tough I would have taking the kayak option for sure. I kid you not I nearly died. Sure the first 2-3 mins were fine, but soon I was struggling against the current and the number of longtail boats nearly running over my head. I started to panic and let me tell you, panicking and water do not, I repeat DO NOT mix (I found this out last summer in Moses Lake - thank you Bonnie for saving my life - I could have used you again today!!!) After freaking out, crying, and nearly drowning I made it to safety or so I thought. Just when I thought it was over and I reached the rope that lead to the stairs, huge crashing waves threw me against the rocks and it hurt like hell! After risking my life again on the other side of the stairs (more rocks and water to navigate through) we made it to Maya Beach. Not going to lie, it looked nothing like the movie, but that's b/c they obviously did not film this movie during the monsoon season!!! We got hit with a crazy rain storm which left our bodies stinging - for the first time in 10 months I had goosebumps. We had a full hour at this location, so to stay warm we jumped into the water where we were constantly battling the waves. I held on to a bouy and got massive rope burn on my hands, but it was better then the needles being pelted into my body from the rain so I took it. Stinging, freezing, and badly bruised I was ready to move on to our next destination.

I wish it got better from there but it didn't. We ended up skipping the next island b/c when the tour went there yesterday there were too many jellyfish around. Fine with me I thought. Well unlucky for us, all those jellyfish must have made their way to our next destination b/c we got attacked by them. Oh man - the pain, not fun!

I am sure I can think of other stories from the day like when our huge boat stopped and the all the Thai men (minus the driver obviously) jumped into their Zodiak and went to grab the dead fish floating a few hundred feet out (there's their dinner for the night) and how I was turned into a mermaid, but I will save them for in person.


Crazy Thailand adventures were what I was after my last week here and I think I achieved atleast one today. More to come I'm sure of it.

Island Hopping Day 7: Part 2

All I've got to say is thank goodness I was wearing cute underwear!

After a supposedly relaxing day turned quite stressful I decided I deserved a little R&R, so off I went to get a massage.

My favorite massage has got to be the oil massage. An hour (sometimes longer if you're lucky) of complete relaxation where someone rubs warm oil over your entire body...yes please!

I cannot count the number of massages I have had in my time here so far - they are SO cheap that I've taken full advantage of them. My first few massages were a bit interesting, but since then I have learned the ropes and am comfortable with what they entail...until tonight.

I went to a new place (as I have never been to Phi Phi island before) and lets just say their rituals or whatever you want to call them were a bit different than what I am used to. For example, I was taken up to a dark room where beds were strewn along the floor and asked to take off my cloths - normal procedure EXCEPT this time they did not have anything to cover me with. The towel I eyed at the foot of my bed was to dab the oil off my body once the lady was done NOT to cover me up with like I imagined. There I was, in the nude, other than a really cute pair of Victoria Secret underwear (thanks to a good friend who sent me some undies in a care package). Did I mention a totally hot European guy was in the bed not even an arms length away for me...too bad his girlfriend was downstairs getting a pedicure - haha. Anyway, all was fine until I had to turn over and lay on my back. Yup, you can imagine it...tits up. I was so uncomfortable all I could do was laugh (and cup my boobs of course). So awesome.

Another experience to log. Gonna get myself a massage tomorrow as well - may try out a new place where they don't make me expose myself to all the strangers around me though.

Island Hopping Day 6: Phi Phi

I wish I had something exciting to report, but I don't.
Today was a bit of a dud.
I left my cute little hostel in Koh Lanta and headed off to Phi Phi in this order of transportation: minivan, ferry, more minivaning, more ferrying, minivan once again and finally a large vessel (passenger ferry maybe?) to Phi Phi Don.
The views were breathtaking as usual - HUGE cliffs everywhere, white sandy beaches and crystal clear aqua water.
I checked into my hotel and was pleasantly surprised - everything is much more expensive here, yet I managed to find a decent place for 1,000 baht a night ($30).
After unpacking and setting up camp for the next 3 days, off to the beach I went to catch some afternoon rays - not going to lie, I am a bit depressed with how "white" I am for living here for 10 months. I thought I'd get a great tan these last 8 days, but between the rain and the traveling from island to island, I haven't had much beach time - mai pen rai right?
Once the dark clouds took over I went back to my hotel to shower for dinner - I was meeting up with the girls I went to Krabi with my first day.
We had a delicious meal and walked around town - its a cute little place with lots of shops.
Oh, I almost forgot...I saw a monkey in 7-11 today. Yes, a monkey. I have now seen bunnies and a monkey in 7-11, what's next, an elephant?
Off to bed I go as Phi Phi has left me depressed - I feel very old and alone here. Seriously everyone here is MAYBE 20 and here with their boyfriend/girlfriend. Awesome.
O well, I need a good nights sleep as I have a big day tomorrow - snorkeling/kayaking tour around the islands from morning til sunset. Should be fun!

Island Hopping Day 5: Purple Earple #2

I cannot stop grinning from the day I just had. It may go down as the BEST day I have had in my Thailand experience thus far - that's a pretty big statement considering I've had some amazing times these past 10 months.

After having a restful night, I woke up bright and early and ready to start my day. I had arranged for a motorbike to be delivered to my hostel by 8am so I could start my tour of Koh Lanta.

There she stood - bright purple and ready to take me for a ride. I named her Purple Earple #2 (#1 was a rental car an ex had to drive around after someone t-boned him dropping me off). Anyway - she was a beauty and all mine for 24 hours.

I'm not going to lie, the beginning of our relationship was a bit shaky. I haven't driven a car in over 10 months, let alone a motorbike EVER, so I (and her) were in for a treat. The lady at the hostel looked a bit concerned when I shared with her the fact I have never driven a motorbike before, but after a quick introduction she handed me the keys and I was off...until it stalled.

I said a little prayer (no need to get injured 5 days before coming home, let alone a hospital visit as I am on an expired visa) and I eventually made it to the main road. Once there it was a piece of cake, except for the fact I had to remind myself to drive on the opposite side of the road then I am used to.

With no map to go by, it was just me and Purple Earple off to explore every inch of Koh Lanta. I think we may have achieved that - I literally saw everything and it was amazing!

With Bob Marley and Slightly Stoopid blasting in my ears, the sun beating on my face and the wind blowing my hair, I was in my happy place. Life seriously couldn't get any better. I went from one end of the island to the other then back, oh and around the whole thing later that day.

When I was hot I parked my bike and jumped in the sea. When I needed a break from the sun I climbed into a nearby cave (there are some amazing caves out here). When I was hungry I stopped at local street-side stands where they were impressed with my Thai. When I wanted to take a break I found a secluded beach and plopped down with my book.

At one point tears were brought to my eyes from the beauty of this place and from pure happiness. I hadn't a care in the world and I loved every minute of it. Oh boy, here come the tears again - I'm sure going to miss this place I have come to love and call home!

PS Rethinking the whole car thing when I get home - gonna save up for a dirt bike or quad instead - WAY more fun and Seattle has a good metro system I can work with :)

T.I.T. party

As a going away party for Donna we threw a "This is Thailand" aka T.I.T. party.
After living here for nearly a year you learn some things happen only in Thailand, thus being a "T.I.T" moment.
For example, it's okay to cram a family of 5 on a small motorbike with a two month old in the front basket on the highway and it's okay to make and wear the most degrading t-shirts ever. For example, I saw a cute, old little Thai man wearing a "I F*** on the first date" t-shirt while exercising. Sad thing is he probably has no idea what it says or means.
We decided to have a little fun with these t-shirts and host a terrible "T.I.T." t-shirt party.
Surprisingly enough all the shirts we turned up in were rather tame compared to what is out there. Don't judge me or my friends by our shirts, it was all for the party. Here are some pictures...




After sunset we decided to move our rooftop party to one of my favorite pubs downtown: the Dubliner.
After a few pints and live Irish music, someone had the great idea to hit up Soi Cowboy - a local "sex tourist" strip in Bangkok. Against my will I went. Our T.I.T. party turned into a real tit party. There I was sitting in a girlie bar watching naked girls get baht thrown to them by nasty, fat white men. I've never felt so sorry for the Thai women and so disgusted by western men. Definitely a "This is Thailand" moment.

Ouch

I am officially falling apart.

First my big toenail was ripped of by some chic trying to impress some dude with her muay thai moves - which by the way weren't even good. Stacey, you could totally take her with what Gun has shown you!
Then I sweat off all my sunscreen and somehow managed to burn, no FRY, the back of my knees and ass - seriously don't think there is anything more painful...childbirth possibly, but I have yet to experience that, so I am sticking with burning my cracks to being the most excruciatingly painful thing EVER.
Lastly, I have a bruise the size of a fist on my right upper arm - only thing is I can't recall being punched. All I know is it HURTS and I keep bumping it.

Say a little prayer that I don't lay down the motorbike I am renting tomorrow!

Island Hopping Day 4

Today I hopped on a minivan and headed to my 3rd destination: Koh Lanta.
I've heard amazing things about this island, but to be honest, I am not seeing them... YET!
I arrived here around 2pm and found the cutest and CHEAPEST guesthouse ever. It's run by a really cool Japanese lady in her early 30s maybe and she is exceptionally nice and helpful.
My cute little room is costing me less than 500 baht a day (that's about $15 a night - did I mention I'm paying double occupancy, imagine how cheap it would be if I was sharing it). It has a/c, cable, internet, a hot shower and a pool - this is the life!
The only problem I've come across so far is this place is a GHOST TOWN! I kid you not, the island (or atleast what I have seen of it so far) is completely empty! Restaurants, shops and bars are all closed - I had to find a local minimart to grab lunch - will try to find a Thai restaurant for dinner- wish me luck.
It is the low (and rainy) season which explains it, but compared to the other islands I've been to the past few days, it's practically DESERTED! Kinda an eerie feeling, but at the same time I kinda like it. Being here solo (not only in my hostel, but on the island as well) will give me lots of time to reflect on my past 10 months...and rest up before I hit crazy Phi Phi island before returning back to Bangkok.
Off to find some dinner and rent a motorbike for tomorrow (scary, but exciting)!
Stay tuned for my next adventure :)

Island Hopping Day 3: The four "S's"

Sunburn – The sun finally decided to come out, so I packed my beach bag and grabbed a longtail boat to Phra Nang located on Railay beach. Can I just say I LOVE Thailand! It only took me ten minutes to get to this breathtaking beach from where I was staying in Ao Nang and within those ten short minutes I was in awe of what I saw around me. Crystal clear water and sky scrapping cliffs, absolutely amazing! There are over 600 established routes among these amazing karsts (limestone formations created from a collision between mainland Asia and India about 30 million years ago) thus making Railay beach every climber’s dream come true! There was no climbing done by this girl, but maybe tomorrow!

Storm – HOLY RAIN! I know I say this every time it rains here, but seriously I have NEVER seen anything like it in my entire life. After spending hours on the beach getting burnt (oops), I opened my eyes and realized I must have fallen asleep – within that time, the weather took a dramatic turn. The sky was now dark and looked as if the heavens were about to open. I quickly packed up my bag and prayed I made it to shelter before the storm hit…no such luck. My luggage was atleast a 15 minute walk from where I was and the heavens decided to flood the beaches and streets well before that. Drenching rain like I have never seen soaked me to the bone thankfully I was in my bathing suit so “mai pen rai” (no worries).

Street food – after a much needed relaxing day on the beach I was spent…and hungry! I only have a few days left in Thailand, so I am going to make the most of the cheap street food and eat everything I can get my hands on. Tonight I had the BEST barbeque chicken I have ever ate (yes, it even beat the death by chicken at the Casa del Rio) and Som Tom (a yummy papaya salad). For less than $3 I was left stuffed, but not enough to pass up my last “S” for the day…

Snickers Gelato – can you say yum? Icecream is my weakness, especially when it tastes as good as this stuff was. Oh my goodness. Snickers gelato just might be my new favorite thing – did I mention it is 94% fat free which obviously means I can have atleast 2 scoops AND splurge for a waffle cone right? According to my dad I’m already "fat and red” so why not add to my "fatness" and live it up my last week here!
**Off to my next destination tomorrow morning: Koh Lanta**

Island Hopping Day 1 and 2

What a start to my island hopping adventure. After going to bed this morning at 5am (not by choice) I was awoken to the sounds of horrendous snoring in the other room where I was staying. You see, my friend Andy whom I did my TEFL course with 9 months ago in Cambodia kindly offered me to crash at her place in Phuket. I figured a free place to stay is always a good place to stay (unless you’ve read my Bali blog – we all learned that was a TERRIBLE experience)!
Anyway, July 10th I set off on my island hopping adventure. First stop: Phuket. I hadn’t seen Andy since we went our separate ways in Thailand back in October and it was really good to see a familiar face again. After taking the freakiest cab ride of my life from the airport to Andy’s neighborhood, Andy came to pick me up on her scooter since the taxi man had NO clue where to go (come on dude, your one job is to take people to their destinations, shouldn’t you atleast kinda know where things are before agreeing to take them?) Anyway, we spent the next few hours catching up and reminiscing about what we've learned and how far we have come since we left the States in September. That night Andy was hosting a party with her neighbor for some going away party. Since I was staying there I had no other choice then to attend, so there I was with about 20 complete strangers (15 of which were this HUGE bloaks in town doing Muay Thai training – seriously, never seen so many HUGE men in my life – it was kinda creepy) making small talk and having a good time. Just as I thought the party was winding down and I was ready to climb into bed, I was informed a taxi was there to pick us up…really? Again, not wanting to be the party pooper I rallied and joined the group. By the way, by taxi I meant pick-up truck. Picture this…10 of us (remember 8 of which were some of these HUGE men) squished into the back of the truck for our 45 min drive to Patong – a total sketch, sex tourist hang out in Phuket. Only in Thailand. I wish I could say what I saw shocked me, but nothing really does anymore. After being here for nearly a year, old fat farang men with tiny, young Thai women don’t even phase me, neither do the HOT katoys (lady boys). It’s a totally different world out here! Against my will I was forced to stay out until the wee hours of the night (or should I say morning) and trust me, it was anything but fun. Being one of the only sober people in the entire town was not exactly what I had in mind for my first night of vacation. Did I mention one of the girls I was with was showing off her muay thai moves while we stood in line for a club and as she stepped back she happened to rip off half of my big toe nail – OUCH doesn’t even begin to explain the pain I felt. Awesome. In pain and totally exhausted from my last week of school, all I wanted was a bed. After way too many hours I was finally able to convince the group to go home (at 4am) and I caught some much needed shut eye. Unfortunately that shut eye only lasted a few hours b/c I was awoken by the 15 snoring giants in the living room. I walked out and felt like I had walked into some strange ogar film. Knowing I would not be going back to sleep any time soon I decided to pack my bags and try to wake my friend to take me to the bus station and head to my next destination: Krabi.
Andy was dead to the world so I hung out in her roommates room until I heard the giants stir. I pounced at the opportunity to hitch a ride on the back of one of their motorbikes and was off to the bus terminal. Unfortunately along the way we got caught in an insane rain storm – gotta love monsoon season! We stopped at 7-11 to grab some ponchos, but apparently these are hot commodities as they were all sold out. I did manage to snag some plastic bags to wrap my laptop in. There I was, huge backpack on my back, a plastic wrapped laptop on my lap, my dive bag strung across my chest, holding on for dear life to an enormous man making my way to Krabi. What a sight.
At the bus station, I met up with some girls I met in Bangkok a few weeks ago through my dear friend Ms. Bowen and we set off on our 3 hour journey. I've always said I wouldn’t make a fun road trip buddy b/c I fall asleep anywhere and as you can imagine I was fast asleep before we even pulled onto the main road due to my lack of sleep the night before. My sleep depravation paid off though as I slept the entire way.
We were dropped off in what we thought was Ao Nang, but soon found out we were in Krabi town – about 15 miles from where we wanted to be. There we were 4 girls with gigantic hiking backpacks hitching a ride from locals. Hanging on for dear life we finally made it. Instantly I fell in love – beach, shops, restaurants, cheap lodging, what more could on ask for?
The girls and I were famished and went to this cute little Indian place were we had the yummiest chicken curry and naan bread EVER! Pretty sure I will be back there atleast once before I leave this place. Still recovering from my late night the night before I told the girls I was not going to be going out with them, yes even during the FINAL World Cup game…who is this girl? I must have been tired – I’ve barely missed a game yet! I really wasn’t having the 1:30am starting time though. I hung out with the girls for a bit, but was in bed by 11. Thank goodness I didn’t go out with them – my roommate for the night didn’t stroll in until well after 4am. I just can’t hang like they do anymore – I feel ancient! O well, an early bed time means more beach time for me tomorrow!!

Perfect Place

It shouldn't surprise you that somehow, even hundreds of miles away from home, word got out that I am one bad ass house/dog sitter.

House/dog sitting was seriously a second, no third or fourth income to my nannying, boutique shoe store and church nursery job in college. I absolutely LOVE dogs and what's better then getting paid for something you to love? Not forgetting to mention you usually get to stay in a really nice house where the fridge and pantry are stocked - the perfect thing for a starving college student OR a now homeless, soon to be jobless, teacher in Thailand.

My lease is up and a dive instructor of mine just happened to need someone to watch their house and dog on the exact dates I needed somewhere to stay before taking off on my own beach trip - doesn't get better than that!

Here I sit in an amazing house located in a neighborhood called "Perfect Place". The gardeners are out every morning and afternoon trimming the same leaf they clipped hours prior, neighbors smile and wai or wave every time you pass, the guards tell me I'm beautiful every time I come and go (always nice to hear!) and everything you need is within walking distance (7-11s, street food, community pool, work out facilities, etc). This place is seriously perfect, creepily perfect. I kinda feel like it's from the set of Stepford wives or Pleasantville. Did I mention I am with one of the best dogs I have ever met. She doesn't bark (unless she is chasing her frisbee), doesn't chew on anything, can go hours w/o having to pee and doesn't wake me up at night.

A nice house, a great dog, oh and a house cleaner who leaves me homemade cooked meals for when I come home - now this is the life.

Everything is just perfect here in Perfect Place.

God Bless America!

Happy 4th of July everyone and happy birthday Julie Hill!
This year I have learned holidays just aren't the same when spent away from family and friends.
It is 6pm in Thailand on July 4th (4am Seattle time) and I just now got wished a happy 4th by an Aussie of all people :) Thanks for remembering Michelle!
There were no parades, bbqs or fireworks this year. Instead I spent my day in Perfect Place where I am house/dog sitting for the next week.
My friend Kate and I went to Fashion Island where we had Starbucks and then went to the neighborhood pool (in between the rain clouds of course).
Dragon fruit, rose apples, mangoes and papaya have replaced burgers and brawts this year, but it was a nice change - as much as I miss American food especially summer barbecues, I LOVE the fruit here and I am going to miss it dearly!
Today was definitely different from years past, but none the less still a great day!
Don't worry America, I will be home in FIFTEEN DAYS!!!!!
Wishing everyone a fun, safe 4th!

Let the packing begin!

Wow, my last weekend in Summakorn...the mooban I have grown to love and call home.
I seriously LOVE where I live - the neighborhood is absolutely stunning (and totally Thai).
From picture perfect lakes to the best restaurants and food venders around, I have fallen in love with the 'korn.
It has been my home away for home for nine months now and it is time to say goodbye.
Bittersweet really. I am sad to leave, but excited to see where life takes me next.
Off I go to soak up every last bit of this amazing place: the weekend market, my pool, Murrah (Buffalo) Cafe, Salad man, Olan, Sky Nails ($4 pedi), the "house" (best foot massage in all of BKK - for less than $10), 7-11 (for the chocolate milk), random spirit houses/shrines, Hot Chilis...the list is endless.
I am sure going to miss this place!

**Some might wonder where I am going after this since I still have 3 weeks left in Thailand and here is your answer:
1 week left in my condo; the next week I am house/dog sitting (works out perfectly since my lease is up July 3rd); then I am off to the Southern beaches for 8 days to relax and reflect then I am headed HOME!!!!!!!

**This may look like complete chaos, but there's actually strategic planning behind it all: 1 pile for my beach trip; 1 pile for my checked luggage; 1 pile for my carry-on (all my breakable souvenirs) and my handbag. Ahh the joys of packing.

How Sweet!

I have been sick (yes again) for over a week now - thankfully not the nasty bug I had when I first moved here, just an awful cold that won't go away...part of working with kids I suppose.
Anyway, one of the moms of a kid in my class bought me 2 juicy oranges from the market to make me feel better. She told me to drink lots of fluid (she obviously hasn't seen the HUGE jug I lug around from my Healthy Breakfast routine) and get lots of rest and vitamin C.

Glad I can have a mom looking out for me when mine is so far away!
I love random acts of kindness - thank you Judy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY G-MA!

NINETY freakin' THREE years ago a wonderful lady named Doris Irene Earp was born.
She has been a huge part of my life and without her I would not be here today.
She is my grandma and I love her to pieces, every crazy bit of her.
For those of you who do not know her, she is the kindest, gentlest, sweetest lady I know - that is unless you are on her "shit list" (yes this sweet British lady even calls it that).
My grandma makes me smile, laugh and feel loved...when she remembers who I am of course.
I wish I could be with her to celebrate her 93 years of existence, but hey, we have next year for that!
Love you grandma D!
See you in 24 days :)

I did it and I kinda liked it ...#15

For the few of you actually following my blog you read a post below that explained I am compiling a list of 30+ things to do my last 30 days in Thailand.

Well those 30 days have officially started - I can hardly believe it.

My first weekend in and I'm already able to cross quite a few things off my list.

The best/worst being #15: eat a bug; multiple to be exact.

"You can do it Sarah, it's all mental - you're not actually eating a bug, instead it's just a really crunchy french fry with legs yeah?" Okay, not really, but that's what I told myself and it worked. In went the grasshopper and I was done - sure a leg got stuck in my teeth, but I was saving that for later anyway :)

One bug down and one thing checked off my list - well done Ms. Sarah, well done. Or was I done? Nope. For some odd reason I decided to try another...go big or go home right? I decided to do both - go big AND go home (in 30 days)!

Next up was something that reminded me of either the caterpillar on Pixar's A Bug's Life or the fat grub worm like thing that Simba eats on Lion King when living in the jungle with Timon and Pumba.

These bad boys were a bit crunchy on the outside, yet squishy on the inside and oddly enough, kinda enjoyable.

What can I say, I'm officially Thai :)

Here are a few pictures from my experience:

Seattle Seahawks

Natanya is one of my closest friends and one of the only girls I can talk football with who actually gets it - not just the plays, but the stats and strategies as well. I think it was our love for sports that bonded us from day one.

Nearly two years ago we decided to take the plunge and make our friendship lifelong aka go in on season tickets together. We knew this was a big leap of faith - just think how awkward it could get if our friendship fizzled and we were left fighting over which one of our offspring would end up with our 2 tickets. After much deliberation we decided no matter what happened: one got married, one moved away, etc, etc. the Hawks would be what kept us together (even if they suck).

My day was made when I got word that Natanya and I are off the wait list and are officially season ticket holders for the Seattle Seahawks!!! I knew I was moving home for a reason ;)

Here are some pictures of our love for sports.

30+ things to do in my last 30 days in Thailand!

Where has time gone?
I cannot believe I have been living in Thailand for NINE months now!!
This has truly been one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I am not even done yet...with just over 30 days left in this beautiful country I have decided to compile a "to do" list before heading home.
Here it is:
1. Be a total tourist in the country I’ve called home for the past 10 months.
2. Get a massage atleast 1x a week.
3. Go to Hot Chili’s on a Thursday night.
4. Get a pedicure on the beach.
5. Go to Titanium (Friday or Saturday night).
6. Give a random taxi driver a Thai “Red Bull” just for the heck of it.
7. Eat as much street food for $1 as possible.
8. Take pictures around my moobaan, school, random pictures of the King etc.
9. Scuba dive as much as possible – too expensive and cold at home!
10. Sneak into the Sheridan and go swimming.
11. Go to Cabbages and Condoms.
12. Get a drink in a bag.
13. Drink a bucket on the beach.
14. Go to the Summakorn Market: spring roll man, gluay tord man, PICTURES!
15. Eat a bug.
16. Get a tattoo – henna or real…undecided.
17. Ride a motorbike taxi sidesaddle in a dress and heels.
18. Go to the fancy movie theatre.
19. Go play at one of the water parks on top of the mall (Suan Siam Water Park or Bangkapi).
20. Take another cooking class.
21. Do the bike tour of Bangkok.
22. Go to one of the tower top bars (Vertigo?).
23. Cheap Charlie’s.
24. Ride the BTS one last time.
25. Get a dress custom made.
26. Trip to Ayutthaya or the Summer Palace.
27. Go shopping – buy something I don’t think I deserve b/c guess what, I do. Plus money is just money and you only live once so why hold on to it (who is this girl???).
28. Buy and consume as many fresh pineapples, mangoes, rambutans and pomelos as possible – won’t get fruit this tasty for a while!
29. Go to Nest on Soi 11.
30. Drink a beer at Wit’s bar at JJ Market.
31. Go see all the Southern beaches (Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Railay)
32. Go see Central World 
33. Rent a motorbike and ride it around the islands.
34. Take in as much as possible and TRY to blog about it daily!
35. Try using the "bum gun".
36. Buy and try the random goodies (meat, sticky rice, etc) wrapped in banana leaves even when you have no idea what might be inside.
37. Go to the Night Market one last time.
38. Take a picture with Ronald McDonald doing the wai
39. Floating market trip.
Wish me luck - it's going to be a busy month.
See you all oh so soon!!!!

I'm going to miss these little ones!

Healthy Breakfast

For my last month in Thailand I thought I would try out a protein shake for 30 days from a little place called "Healthy Breakfast" in my mooban. Some of my friends take part in this and really enjoy it (the results, not the taste). I thought, when in Thailand why the heck not.

After standing on some weird machine that supposedly measures your weight, BMI and a bunch of other things I cannot remember (nor read b/c they are in Thai) I was told: I am fat, my cells are of a 39 yr old, I eat too many carbs/rice/noodles (hello, I live in Thailand) and I don't poop enough per day. Did you know 3x a day is the target amount? I thought I was pretty regular, but according to this I guess not. Imagine having this conversation, out-loud, in public, with a bunch of people in the store. Gross and weird.

I'm a bit skeptical on how this rickety machine measures all of these things, but hey, I will give it a shot.

Every morning my "tasty" little shake will be delivered to my door at 6:30am along with a HUGE water bottle full of some sort of tea that is suppose to help with my immune system, allergies and headaches (hoping this holds true b/c my migraines are back in full swing - boo). By the end of the day I am to drink the shake, the HUGE bottle of tea AND ANOTHER jug of water.

Stay tuned for updates, this could be interesting...

I've reached my decision and I'm.......

For those of you without facebook and/or those that are not on my Thailand mass email list you may not have heard the news.

After being told on four accounts I would have no chance at staying on another year due to qualification reasons, 6 weeks before I headed home, the school decided to change their mind and offer me a renewal of my contract.

I was at a total loss for what to do and could not come to a decision for the life of me. I knew I had to go with my gut feeling, but at that point in time all my gut was telling me to do was to puke b/c I felt so torn.

I have been living it up while mentally preparing myself to leave the country I have grown to love and once again immerse myself back into the Washington (or possibly Oregon or Alaskan) way of life. I've been job searching, house hunting and car shopping from afar only to find out that MAYBE, just MAYBE it'll be put off for another year.

I had a HUGE decision to make and after much deliberation and many tears I have finally reached my decision.

You can stop crying now mom (and sister)...I AM MOVING HOME!!!!

Sure opportunity was knocking on my door and I know I would have made the most of my next year here, however I KNOW this is the right decision for me.

Thank you everyone who gave me tips, advice, words of encouragement and sent decision making juju my way.

I am very excited to come home, but sad at the same time. Thailand is an amazing place and I will always have a place for it in my heart. I've grown to love the people, the culture, the food, the cheap massages, the beaches and well, basically everything around me! I am lucky enough to have been given the opportunity to live here and call it home for a while. It's been an incredible journey and I'm happy to be leaving on a good note. I cannot wait to see what is in store for me back home now that I've had a year abroad under my belt.

I'm not ready to put my suitcase in the closet just yet, these are NOT the end of my traveling days! Alaska, South America, Europe...I will see you real soon, until then I am Washington bound!!

See you all in FORTY THREE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a little countdown my nephews made for me, I feel so loved!

Salad Man

You can't beat street food in Thailand.
1. Because it is so damn good and 2. Because it is so cheap!
I have grown to love a particular vendor in Summakron (my village) who I have started to call "Salad Man".
He makes the best salad I have ever had!
When I was first introduced to it I thought it was a little odd, but I have grown to love, no, more like obsess over the thing.
It's basically a bunch of random greens: Thai basil, cabbage, mint leaves (?), and various other leafy things I have no clue what they are. Then there's a surplus of different mushrooms, a curry rice ball all chopped up, chilies (these are in EVERYTHING here), peanuts, and a bunch of other things I cannot make out.
Sounds weird, but boy is it tasty!
Did I mention it costs 40 baht...that's equivalent of $1.25
I would eat it every night if I could, but there are too many other yummy vendors to choose from - I like to alternate every few days between them all.
Here is a picture of the salad (I added some left over cous cous, tomatoes and olives on top).

Bitching and bawling in Bali...

Let me start by saying my trip to Bali did not pan out the way I had imagined. Sun, beaches, surfing lessons, diving, and yoga classes were definitely not had on this vay-cay.

Having to wake up at an ungodly hour on my first day of vacation should have been the first indicator that this was not the start of vacation I was looking for. My alarm went off at 3:35am Wednesday morning and I could have sworn I just closed my eyes. For the first time in my life I had to fight the urge to ignore my alarm and stay in bed - usually I am a morning person, but apparently not THAT early. Up I went and into the shower. By 4am I was packed and ready to meet the taxi I arranged the night before - only one problem, it was nowhere to be found. Awesome.

There I was hot, sweaty (I didn’t know if could get so freaking hot at 4 o’clock in the morning) and waiting for my cab. I called the company and 20 minutes later they sent another. Great, already running late and it wasn’t even my fault. Thankfully there was not a single car on the road and we were able to make it to the airport in record time.

Once there the fun began. I needed to change my Thai baht into both US dollars and Indonesian Rupiah. As you can imagine, not a lot of places are open as of yet, even at the airport. I finally found a bank that would give me US money (for my Indonesian visa) but no one, I repeat no one would give me rupiah. As I saw the lines getting longer and longer for check in I decided to skip the money exchange and do it once I was in Bali.

An hour and 40 minutes of standing in line, I finally made my way to the front of the line. Once I checked in, I looked at my ticket and read the plane starts boarding at 5:45am. I glanced at my phone and realized I had three minutes to get through the "exiting the country" line AND security. No big deal. This is going well I thought. Did I mention I got to the airport EARLIER then the 2 hours they tell you to? How in the world are people suppose to make these things when it’s the airport itself that is causing all of the problems?!?! With luck on my side, I cleared the departure lines and customs with no issues and went straight to my gate.

After a fairly smooth ride, I thought to myself, that wasn't SO bad and now that I've got all the bad juju out of the way everything else should go well. Wrong! Little did I know those were the least of my problems along the way.

An acquaintance of mine from the condos I live in in Thailand recently moved to Bali and offered his second bedroom for me to crash while there. Free accommodations are not something to pass up, so off I went to find his place. Before doing so, I needed to exchange my money so I would have the correct currency to pay the driver. There were not many options at the airport, so I went with what I saw first, little did I know I would get screwed and they ended up taking about an extra 2,000 baht out of my pocket. Live and learn I guess.

After being screwed by the locals once, I quickly realized it was going to happen again and again while I was there. Balinese people are nothing like the Thais. Where are all my smiley happy people? Already I missed the comfort of Thailand!

My first afternoon/evening in Bali were great. My friend met me at his place once he finished work and took me to the nearby beach where I laid out and watched surfers ride the waves. We later went to a sports bar to watch some big Australian match, ate yummy food and drank good beer. Sadly this was the best day I had in Bali.

My second day, although productive, was a total dud. I woke up to the sound of rain pelting against my window. I recently blogged about the rainy nights we've been having in Bangkok and, well, these are nothing compared to those in Bali. Thankfully the downpours seem to last only an hour or so, and off to the beach I would go...or so I thought. Apparently the rains in Bali are not like the ones in Thailand. I kid you not the rain lasted ALL FIVE DAYS that I was there. We're talking can't even get outside to get a cab b/c the roads are flooded kind of rains. So there I was stuck in the house with no cable, no internet and no a/c in the main room. I watched 3 movies and wrote ALL of my term 3 reports for my kids (which by the way were not due for another 5 weeks).
That night I went out with my friend and his family for dinner and along the way he noticed he needed to get gas. He then realized he did not have any cash on him so I lent him 100,000 rupiah even though my wad of cash was quickly going. I thought, thats okay, we're going to a cheap dinner and I can pull cash out tomorrow...wrong on both accounts. We ended up going to some 5 star restaurant that I could barely afford the water at. Knowing I didn't have much cash left I purposely ordered the cheapest thing on the menu, no appetizer and water only. Did I mention while at dinner I got completely embarrassed to be with the people I was there with? The guy repeatedly snapped his fingers at the waiter then refused to let him put his napkin on his lap for him - he was so incredibly rude the entire time that I kept hoping no one thought I knew them other than some random chick they found at the beach that day. Doesn't anyone have manners anymore, especially in a place like that? The bill came and it got totally AWKWARD. My friend and his dad offered to split the bill and when it came up short I offered to pay the difference and they agreed that was fine. Okay I think, that's it. Little did I know 4 days later when it's time to leave the guy has the nerve to ask me for the money from that dinner - did I mention he never paid me back for the money I lent him for gas or even thanked me when I bought him lunch and a bottle of tequila to say thanks for letting me stay (more to come on this later).

Unfortunately the night only got worse. I won't go into details, but basically I fell asleep while watching a movie and woke up to being touched/groped/etc with things I do NOT want to be touched with. I ran into my room and locked the door. So not only is this guy a jerk, he is a total perv as well. Quality. Sorry buddy, but I am not a bootie call.

Once in my room I obviously cannot sleep b/c I am so disgusted, so start planning my escape. The next day we are suppose to leave on a 2 night/3 day trip to the coast for surfing and diving. I figure I'll just use him for a ride there, take money out and get my own place. Little did I know at this point that I would be stranded without money b/c neither my of my bank cards OR credit card would work in Bali. There I was, without access to money and stuck with a creep.

Like I mentioned before, the rain never let up the entire time I was there, so we never did make it to our coast destination. Apparently the roads are terrible, especially in the rain. Knowing I could not stand being around this guy any more than I had to, I went to a city called Ubud about 2 hrs away for the day. I really enjoyed seeing another part of Bali and wish I would have had more time and money to stay there for a few days...back to my "friends" house I went. The following day I wasted time in Kuta where I went from coffee shop to coffee shop trying to pass time until night when I could crawl into the comfort of my locked bedroom.
Just when I thought things could not get any worse, shockingly they did. The day of my departure I get to the airport earlier then needed (mainly b/c I did not want to sit in that dang house any longer). Once it was a decent enough time to check in I was told "oh...hmmm...". Right away I know that's not a good sign. Yup, they double booked my seat on a sold out flight. It's between me and a cute little family for who "gets" to give up their seat. Obviously I am not going to break up a family, so I bite the bullet thinking how long could it be, a few hours? Wrong. Air Asia only flies out of Bali once a day...yup, there I was stuck in Bali for an extra night. With no money or a credit card, you know what that means, back to my "friend's" I go.

I will say thankfully this guy offered to lend me $100 USD to get me by for my time there and boy did I stretch that out to make it last...all the way up until he once again did not have enough money for breakfast, so I lent it (and of course the money he did not pay me back for gas) and the uncalled for multiple taxi rides to the airport. While stranded at the airport thinking I was getting on the next flight that afternoon (obviously before they told me they only flew out once a day) the freaking jerk had the nerve to ask me "So Sar (sorry buddy, we're not friends, don't call me Sar) when can you transfer the $100 I lent you and the money from the dinner with my parents"...are you joking me? Pretty sure the money I lent you for gas, lunch, breakfast, etc was more then my fair share of dinner that night dude and I told you repeatably as soon as I get to BKK the money ($100) will be in your account, no more, no less (although I am beginning to think I should just pass on paying him back; however, I know my conscience will catch up to me). Oh the nerve. I respond to him and we decide we're even - EXCEPT that he needs to give me 30,000 for the breakfast money I lent him that morning. Normally I wouldn't care, but after the hell I went through with him and not having access to money, every penny, or should I say rupiah, mattered especially when I needed 150K for my "International Exit Fee". We agreed this was fair and he would leave it on the table when he left for work. Let's just say I woke up that morning and went to leave for the airport and no 30K was anywhere to be found. I texted him and got a total jackass comment about how he "forgot". Great, now I dont have enough money to leave this freaking country b/c I was counting on his 30K b/c I only had 120K in my wallet. What to do you wonder...yup, I had to beg random people at the airport for money, not even kidding. Probably one of the most humiliating things I've ever had to do.

I am sure I could go on and on about these terrible events (and sadly there are more) but I think I am getting carpal tunnel from typing a novel so I will leave you with that.

Despite the minor (some might argue major) hiccups that came with the trip and the crazy amount of rain, I still managed to have a decent enough time and get another stamp in my passport to see another part of the world!

Picture this...

For those of you who read my last blog, you'll know I mentioned the start of the rainy season and by rainy season I mean crazy, torrential downpours. In the 26 years of my existence (in Seattle, WA for crying out loud) I have seriously never seen anything like this.

Anyway...all my RIS friends are nearly done with school (jerks!) and for those of them who are not returning next school year, a mad clean out of their past 2-3 years of purchases is taking place - things are just too expensive to send home. No complaints from this girl that's for sure. Last week alone, I nearly doubled my DVD collection and even added a new suitcase to my name.

Getting this new suitcase home is what I want you to picture. For those who have not seen my latest ride, it's a cruiser like bike with a bell and cute little basket at the front - pretty sweet if I do say so myself.

At first I had the brilliant idea of balancing the suitcase on the front of my bike (on top of the basket). This worked for all of maybe 2 minutes until the rain started. And by rain I mean buckets of water falling at a rapid pace totally drenching you. I soon realized my balancing skills were quickly failing as I could not see two inches in front of me nor could I hold on tightly to the slippery plastic handle. There was only one thing to do...wheel the thing behind me of course.

I wish you could have seen me try to get this thing home. It was absolutely hilarious. I had the giggles the entire time and still do when I think about how ridiculous I must have looked. The Thais I met along the way and the guard at my condo laughed hysterically when I arrived - rightfully so.

Here is a picture of me soaking wet and my new suitcase - really wish I would have got a picture of me on my bike with it. Maybe I'll have to reenact it next rainfall. Nah. PS Don't mind my hunchback - for the first time while being in Thailand I was actually cold (with soaking wet clothes on - not really a good feeling).

Let the rainy season begin...

Despite the 100 degree weather we experienced during the day today, I think the rainy season has officially started.

I type this at 12:57am - for those of you who know me, know I am rarely up this late (especially when a 9pm curfew is in order for all of Bangkok).

The only reason I am is because I cannot sleep for the life of me!!!

My entire room is lit up by streaks of lightning.
Car alarms are going off from loud bangs of thunder.
Did I mention the insane amount of rain that is falling or the fact that I left my laundry out to dry overnight, oops. Definitely won't be venturing out to get that tonight!

It has now been over 3 hours since this insane storm started and it doesn't look or sound like it is going to end anytime soon. I've tried everything: drinking warm tea (with the a/c cranked of course), reading a book, an eye mask and even ear plugs - all to no avail. It's going to be one long night. Sigh.

Let the rainy season begin...

Watch it - it's powerful!

Green Day-21 Guns:War of Thailand

Am I 15 again?

For the first time in my life I have a curfew.

After a completely chaotic day in Bangkok with riots, explosions and too many fires to keep track of, a city wide curfew was put in order last night and has been announced today that it will be kept up until Sunday May 23rd (if not longer). Everyone must be indoors by 8pm and not allowed to leave again until 6am.

Around 7:30 last night my friend Stacey and I headed out to the back soi of our moobaan to stock up on some last minute things we might need incase all hell continued to break loose here in our beloved city.

EVERYONE was racing around getting food and water to keep them fed and hydrated for the next few days. Both 7-11s and Tesco Lotus were already shut because they had run out of everything, but thankfully we were able to get what we needed from the small Thai grocery store down the street. I have never seen so many people squished into a tiny convenience store in my entire life, the lines were insane!

Walking back to our condos all was quiet and peaceful. There was a real eerie feeling about everything around us.

Both Stacey and I didn't want to be alone so we decided to watch a movie and have a sleepover.

I seriously felt like I was 15 again: curfews, movies, sleepovers; all was missing was the teenage drama - thank goodness that's over and done with in my life!

The Land of Smiles No More.

The smell of smoke fills the air.
The sound of explosions fill our ears.
Will this ever come to an end, and if so, will it be peaceful?

For nearly the 3 months now the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) aka the Red Shirts have been protesting in the heart of Bangkok. In the beginning all was peaceful, just some signs of concern - there was even a sense of a party with drums being played and horns being blown.

April 7th this all changed when the Red Shirts stormed the country's parliament and a state of emergency was announced throughout Bangkok.

Three days later, the deadliest clash in more than a decade between protesters (in this case the Red Shirts) and the military erupted, leading to the deaths of more than two dozen demonstrators and military forces.

Violence erupted again last week when protesters once again ignored an ultimatum to end their occupation in downtown Bangkok by Wednesday. Seh Daeng's (a well known Red Shirt leader) subsequent shooting by an unknown assailant raised tensions further and at least 35 people have been killed and 240 wounded in the latest wave of unrest. The government has imposed a state of emergency in 22 provinces and metropolitan Bangkok.

As of today, May 19th at 1:30 pm, 7 Red Shirt leaders have surrendered; however many Red Shirts were not satisfied with their leaders decision to surrender and end their rally. They have now set fire on various spots around the rally site and other parts of town.

We are not sure when or how this will end, but we are all hoping and praying a resolution comes quick.

Please join me in lifting up the people of Thailand and the country itself in prayer. My heart has become a part of this culture and it pains me to see so many lives taken too soon (on both sides).

War is never the answer.

PS Please know that I am currently in a "safe zone" and will not be venturing out of it anytime soon...I am even staying home from school (as are a number of teachers who do not believe we should still be open - don't even get me started on our head of school - she is unbelievable!). If things continue to get worse, I know I am only a plane ride away - no matter the cost or headache it may cause. Safety comes first in my book.

Flight of the Gibbon

What better way to start a Thailand adventure then to sail through an amazing rainforest via zip-lines!
Early Wednesday morning the girls and I hopped into a taxi and headed downtown to catch our private mini van out to Chonburi, Thailand. Chonburi which means "city of water" definitely lived up to it's name on this day...let's just say we got caught in a torrential downpour w/ thunder and lightening while being strapped to metal cabels hundreds of miles above ground...freaky? I think so!
Anyway, back to the beginning. After a 90 minute van ride, we were well out of the city and in the heart of the most incredible rainforest in all of Thailand. It was absolutely stunning!
The next 3.5 hours were spent gliding between 26 different tree top platforms including the longest and highest in all of Thailand reaching over 300 meters long!
I've been wanting to do the Flight of the Gibbon since getting to Thailand and I am so glad I was able to share it with close friends from home.
Many laughs and a few screams were had by all.
Check out www.treetopasia.com for more information.



Check out the video of Julie taking out the Thai man below - HILARIOUS!