Photo of Ko Mak

Thailand - Ko Mak

This past week I traveled south to Trat province, spending a few nights on Ko Mak (island). I spent my time between the beach and the Internet (finishing arrangements for my new job in Korea).

I spent more on accommodation than usual. As it’s high season now, places are booked and prices are double what they are other times of the year. And I needed a place with Internet access. But still $20 a night for a bungalow on the beach is better than you’d ever get back home, right?

I’m at the airport in Vietnam (10-hour layover), about to board my flight to Seoul, South Korea. Tomorrow morning I'll be seeing my new office and apartment, and meeting my new employer and colleagues. Exciting!

Back in Sangklaburi, Thailand

I'm in Thailand. I took the 7 hour bus ride from Bangkok to Sangklaburi. And I'm back at the orphanage in which I volunteered as an English teacher this June. This is a photo I snapped from the bus window--houseboats on the lake. Sangklaburi is in the mountains, near the Myanmar (Burma) border. There are so many refugees here. Conditions in Burma are terrible. People risk a lot escaping to Thailand.

8-day trek in the Himalayas

There were six of us: Elisa (from Italy), Ashton (from Fort Collins), Grady (from Nepal), Krishna (the guide), Rameesh (the porter), and me.

For those of you know the area, we trekked in the Lang Tang region, from Dunche, up to Gosaikunda, then back to Kathmandu.

For those of you who don’t know the area, we walked A LOT, a long way, up and down steep surfaces, through a variety of terrain. Though this trek would be considered an easy one, it was plenty challenging for me!

The scenery was gorgeous throughout. The particular point of interest was a group of five pristine lakes near the top of our ascent. Our highest elevation was over 15,000 feet.

To Asia Again!

Hi everybody!

I'm on my way back to Asia, this time with a slightly different itinerary:

1. Nepal
2. Thailand
3. Seoul, South Korea
4. Beijing, China

In Nepal, I'll visit my friend Grady, and hopefully my friend Jayash's family. In Thailand, I'll revisit the orphanage where I volunteered this summer. In Seoul, South Korea, I'll teach at a new after-school English language program. And in China, I hope to work or volunteer at the Beijing summer Olympics and Paralympics... and improve my Mandarin, and teach English, and visit friends, and learn more about NGOs in China...

So, with these guidelines in mind, let's see how things morph!

A Weekend's Festivities

Last weekend was my friend Nadine's birthday. We threw a huge celebration at a beautiful pavilion, on a hill overlooking the river.

Nadine is my housemate, a 9-month volunteer English teacher from Germany. She's an awesome gal, and a good friend. The large and diverse group that gathered to celebrate attests to the community's appreciation of Nadine's terrific personality and dedication to work.

Amongst the locals alone, there were Thai, Burmese, Mon and Karen guests. Then there were international expats, tourists, and volunteers, which included Germans, a Belgian, a Filipino, Australians, Brits, Americans... Needless to say, it was a very multicultural evening.

Power outages, tonight, were a non-issue because we lit the pavilion with tapered candles. Guests brought food and drinks for a buffet spread on woven straw mats. There was music, karaoke, and dancing. And Nadine and I prepared a group-integrating game (because EVERYBODY loves these--note of sarcasm?).

It was a wonderful time!

Time is Winding Down...

This is a picture of the Mon Bridge here in Sangklaburi. It is famous for being Thailand's longest wooden bridge, and connects Thai side with Mon side, across the river.

This past week I've been quite ill. At first I thought it was Dengue Fever (which two other friends have contracted), but finally antibiotics seem to be doing the trick for me. Thank goodness.

I would LOVE IT if I were able to go back and fill in the gaps in my this blog with more on my trip. This may be the closest thing I have to a journal. With a quick look back, I see that there are activities worth remembering not even alluded to, not to mention that I have a total of 2 entries for the whole of my visit to Cambodia.

In less than one week, I'll be back in Colorado. Crazy, how time flies! I'm excited to see my family and friends. I'm not sad about leaving Asia yet, because I expect to return very soon...