just a feeling

Mango shakes, mosquito bites, showering with someone, dirty clothes, cut feet, crazy dreams, these are a few of my favorite things.  Luang Prabang pleases in every sense of the word.

I'll Try Anthing Once

Shit, how is it February 12th already? So much has happend in the 15 days since I last posted.  It's overwhelming to decide what should make the cut.  I'll give it a whirl-ski anyhow.
So, leaving Chiang Mai was bittersweet.  Marcelle and I had become quite comfy in our room at the Same Same hostel, which we lovingly referred to as our palace.  We had also hit a groove with our fellow residents and I wasn't too keen to wave goodbye. Everyone is on the road though, and I think it is probably easier to be the first to say goodbye.  Spending my last afternoon playing the DJ game with and awesome fellow Anthro major from Berkeley was a more than perfect closing to my Chiang Mai chapter.  When I boarded the bus to Laos, I was ready and excited.  My excitement was temporarily hampered when I realized my AC vent was broken and I had no arm rest on my chair.  My ride was spent clutching my seat, trying not to fall out as we traversed ever winding roads, while a 10 degree jet stream of air assaulted me.  Kinda miserable, but the moment I got of the bus I forgot how shitty it was.  Plus, I was in fucking Laos, which is no time to be upset.  We decided to skip out on Vientiene and headed straight to Vang Vieng.  So shortly after stepping off one bus, we hopped onto another.  This ride was vastly more irritating as I had an old man gently caressing my leg for nearly 7 hours, but again, the scenery outside my window was more than enough to keep me happy.  We stumbled into Vang Vieng with incredibly high spirits; it was so damn gorgeous.  Picture huge karst mountains etched out by the waters from millions of years ago and the snaking green Mekong flowing through the jungle goodness.  Or fucking Google image that shit.  So what does one do in this environ, you ask?  You rent a giant tube, and you float down the river of course!  I'm not sure who initially had this brilliant idea, but I would like to shake his/her hand.  Marcelle and I went down the river sober our first time, but still I felt as though I was tripping.  The mountains were so green and I swear I could feel the sun hitting my shoulders and pulsing through my body.  We just sat in silence and floated, taking in every inch of scenery.  We tubed the next day as well, only this time it included the ever-present bucket and stops at the multiple bars along the river.  Two buckets of whiskey and a Beerlao into our journey, I decided it was time that I ziplined off of a giant scaffold into the river, because how could I not?  In a drunken haze I clambered up the wooden ladder without looking back.  Upon reaching the top of the ladder, it suddenly occured to me that, whoa, holy shit, this is really fucking high and I may shit myself.  It must have shown on my face because a lovely Australian dude offered to let me zipline with him, telling me when to let go so as not to die in the rocks.  I obviously survived as I am writing on this here blog, and the thrill was well worth it.  As if this weren't enough, the next day Marcelle and I rented rickety old bikes and embarked on the quintessential bike ride through rice paddies.  When I imagined  southeast Asia, this was what I envisioned.  Perfect mountains, beautiful people, cows roaming around, puppies playing, crystal blue pools of water--bomb.  Our 7km bike ride led us to the blue lagoon, where we explored an amazing cave, which had remarkably few tourists ambling around in it.  We biked back into town immensely satisfied, high on our surroundings. 
To be continued...

Same Same but Different

As I predicted I am complete shit at keeping up with this blog.  So it goes.  It's hard to do anything here in the land of excess, "no drugs or illegal activities" plastered to the wall of every establishment.  Old white dudes parading around with young, beautiful Thai women; drunk Australians beating their fists on a makeshift bar in the street.  Chiang Mai is certainly different than the south, but debauchery is alive and well, my friends.  Marcelle and I have turned inward, happy in our own bubble of self awareness, letting the reality of our new lives wash over us fully.  An afternoon at Doi Suthep , the most sacred of temples in Chiang Mai, really hit home.  As we sat and discussed the 'whys' and 'whats' of life, Marcelle and I became simultaneously aware of everything, one of those moments where you just kind of forget yourself and just are.  I was mesmerized by the endless stream of devotees, circling the giant gold pagoda with flowers clasped perfectly in their praying hands, whispering prayers under their breath.  Marcelle and I laughed to see a monk take a photo with his cell phone camera, tattoos littering his body.  Still, Doi Suthep felt a bit like Disney with all the white folk milling around, looking for the best angle with their huge, expensive cameras.  The remedy to this Disney effect lies down a random side street in the Old City of Chiang Mai.  A wat that Marcelle and I stumbled into haphazardly just as a ceremony was beginning.  The wat itself was spectacular, a three parter with all the gold and shimmering fixings, complemented by a dilapidated stone temple that had collapsed during a terrible storm hundreds of years prior.  As we were making our circle around the temple, we heard chanting begin.  I was so excited at the sound of it.  We wandered to the front of the temple cautiously, knowing we weren't dressed appropriately to enter.  Lucky for us giant black coats sat at the front door, inviting us in.  Being in this temple with the monks chanting so perfectly--I get goosebumps just thinking about it.  I won't go so far as to say it was a spiritual moment for me, but shit, it was definitely something.  Like the feeling I got while listening to George Harrison's 'I dig love' on a ferry, looking at everyone's face, so fucking happy to be where they were (how corny, right?  I can't help myself though!).  Of course no day is complete without getting a bit fucked up, and sharing a joint with some cool dudes from California before hitting the sack was more than perfect.  I'll leave with the line I wrote last night before passing out:
"Slightly stoned, listening to Apple Scruffs.  and Fuck."

and fuck, indeed.

Two Words: Thai Massage

Yesterday, after a long day of lounging in bed and reading, I decided I had earned a massage.  As many of you know, lounging can be quite tedious and I was experiencing some minor neck pains from straining to lift my head every few hours.  I wandered down the hall with Marcelle and we entered into the small, clean massage parlor called Lolita (naturally).  We striped down and put on the comfy linen smock provided to us and settled in for an hour of fucking awesomeness.  As the skilled women carefully hit each pressure point, I drifted into a state of pure bliss.  Definitely worth all 300 baht it cost me, a pretty steep price when you're traveling.  Koh Tao has been a special place, not just for the epic massage.  After the excess of Koh Phangan, it has been so nice to relax on a quiet island.  Hiking to Tanote bay from our bungalow in Sairee beach was awesome, with cheap snorkeling and secluded, pristine beaches.  We spent the afternoon amongst parrot fish, enjoying curries and pad thai.  I have been enjoying Koh Tao enormously, but I realize the intense amounts of foreigners keeps me from fully realizing that I am indeed on the other side of the world, in Thailand.  To remedy this, Marcelle and I are off to Chiang Mai!  More to come!

Ang Thong Death Trip

It is astounding to me that in the few days it has been since I last wrote here, what feels like a lifetime of adventure has taken place.  The ceaseless excitement of traveling does not disappoint.  The most remarkable experience thus far would certainly have to be the boat trip from hell to Ang Thong marine park.  It is not entirely fair for me to call it a boat trip from hell because I was absolutely exhilarated by the immediate danger of riding a small speed boat into a storm.  What started as light drizzle soon became a heavy rain fall and the water was turbulent to say the absolute least.  As I looked across at Marcelle--clearly scared completely and utterly shitless--I couldn't help but smile.  Not happy to see Marcelle suffer, but happy that we even had the opportunity to experience something as crazy as this boat trip together.  We were graciously rewarded for our dangerous journey by the some of the most stunning views I have seen in my 23 years of life.  I simply am not gifted enough with the English language to impart the beauty of the things that I saw and I have no desire to try.  Anyone and everyone that has the opportunity simply must go for themselves.  I leave you now, loyal blog readers.  I have not taken the time to fully form my thoughts, so I am praying that a day on the beach with a notebook will open up the gates.  Until next time!

Awaiting on you all

The feeling of putting on Arcade Fire Sprawl II while driving through lush Thai landscapes.
The effects of drinking three buckets of rum.
The conversations had over authentic Pad Thai.
The sun on my skin.
The kindness of the local people.
The greenest hills I've ever seen.

Smile country.

Day One: Komodo Spotting

Today marked the first official, clean, enjoyable day of our journey.  After finally getting our backpacks at 3am last night, I had the most mind blowing, earth bending shower ever.  This shower was on par with the shower I had after three days at a music festival, camping in a pile of dirt.  Just sayin', it fucking ruled.  Needless to say, moods lifted substantially once we were clean and had our shit.  Spicy red curry and a ride into downtown Bangkok were warmly welcomed.  Getting away from the intense tourist scene of Khao San Road was definitely much appreciated.  Khao San feels like a mix of Epcot and hell, I just can't put my finger on it.  Uniquely amazing, to say the least.  I am looking forward to escaping to the beach and just soaking up the sun for a while.  The Full Moon party taking place on the 19th is an added SCHWING!!  As predicted, we have taken an astounding one photo (of a donut in 7-11 of all things), but I hereby solemnly swear on this here blogitty blog blag, that I shall take some photos of all the things I am seeing.  Oh!  And speaking of things I am seeing, we saw a KOMODO DRAGON today.  At least it was a Komodo as far as Marcelle and I are concerned.  Huge ass lizard, creepy snake-like tongue.  All the markings of a goddamn Komodo.  We sat an observed this giant beast in awe, as it was in a park in the middle of the bustling business district of Bangkok.  I may never know what this behemoth was for sure, but it was a sight to see.  What better note to end on than a Komodo Dragon spotting.  I bow out now, until the next time!