Bangkok, Thailand

We stayed at the Atlanta hotel in Bangkok, suggested by the Lonely Planet book for affordable lodging. The hotel is full of history and the interior looks as if you stepped back in time to the flapper era or on the set of a "Clue" board game. This hotel advertised clearly "no sex tourists." If you didn't read it on the front of the entry, you would have read it walking to your room, written in there tour guide book and even on their coffee coasters. Even the context in which they posted was in utter disgust and disdain. It was a joke when Tim went inside to get change for the cab and the bell boy ran outside to check if I was a Thai woman he brought back.
We spent a good period of time in MBK, a huge mall of sorts for cheap shopping. In need of winter boots for Europe (our next destination) I unfortunately wasted 400Bht (about $12.00) on a pair that fell apart the next day. *Note to self: Make sure leather is not really pleather!

Phuket, Thailand

Panoramic view arriving by boat to Phuket:










My first sitings of "lady boys" and "old men with snakes on their heads" (old men with very young Thai women) were here in Phuket. Living in San Francisco, the lady boys aren't much of a surprise except how incredibly gorgeous they are. But the old men with snakes on their heads are sad to see, yet works for them and the women. Besides the taboo part of Thailand, the beaches are pristine, full of tourists and vendors are here too trying to sell you something. The King's 82nd birthday was just a few days away, so we were lucky to catch the Kings Cup boat races in practice. Before we left Phuket, we got a little R & R with pedicures and foot massages. The pedicures I don't suggest, unless you like your ingrown nails ripped down, but the foot massages were to die for.

Learning to Dive in Thailand

For about $420.00, I got my PADI Certification with a package deal for one day in the pool and 2 open water dives at 4 of the most beautiful dive spots. We visited Koh Pi Pi's Bida Nok/Bida Nai and Koh Ha Lagoon & Yai Cave/Cathedral. I've got a small fear of what's beneath the ocean, so conquering my fear was the goal here. In the pool, my gagging reflexes on the regulator were troublesome and taking off the mask and switching to use the alternative air source was working up my anxiety. The day of the dive my stomach was rumbling and I thought I would gag vomit into my regulator, my instructor assured me that I could still clear it out with the purge button and I would be fine. Finally we got up to the deck and I had one hand over the regulator & mask and the other hand held in my SPG & alternative air source and I made a clumsy foot first topple into the water. Our group got together, checked to see that I wasn't having an panic attack and we started to descend. Under the water, it was much calmer and in the clear blue waters the first HUNDRED or so fish started to appear. They were colorful and plenty, a whole new civilization and geography I just then discovered. It was incredible! I didn't once gag the next 2 days and I'm sure the scenery helped in distracting me. I'm officially hooked and conquered my fear and look forward to the new places I can dive!

Koh Lanta, Thailand

We stayed at the Koh Lanta Marine Park View Resort through recommendation from another hotel in Krabi, Thailand. Let me just straight out say, this a surely a dimond in the rough. Our 3 day stay became 5, then 7 and finally 11, whereas we easily could have stayed longer if it wasn't for the bigger urge to continue on traveling. The people who worked there were of another kind; they hung out, showed us around the island, partied with us and became like old friends very quickly. Our hotel room faced the breathtaking panoramic view of the bay, where monkeys would occassionally visit.
Down the road we spotted elephants being walked down the street, I've never been so close to an elephant, let alone get to feed it.
We went snorkeling at nearby islands, my favorite being the dark cave you had to swim through with a flash light before entering the most beautiful hidden lagoon.

Funtastic Voyage!!

It's finally happening after months of researching, debating, comparing and brainstorming, my boyfriend and I bought our tickets and we're doing some travels around the world! We have only 2 legs of the trip planned, after that we're one-way flying to anywhere we want. No kids, no mortgage, no time limit and away we go!

We depart October 1st to Okinawa, Japan for 2 weeks where my dad, stepmom and brother live. The 39th Annual Naha Great Tug of War Festival takes place and we can't miss the 656 foot, 44-ton rope being pulled by the East and West sides (22,000 people.)

Next we're off to Denpasar, Bali for at least a month's stay, looking forward to even more relaxation and soaking up new culture. After that we have lightly planned to head south to Australlia or venture north to the rest of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.) Then it's possibly India, Egypt, Africa and definitely Europe. 

As destiny would have it, Tim's cousin is on her own search of adventure, opportunity and enlightenment. Spontaniously, she is now joining us on our journey to Bali! It's so exciting to find another person with the same freedom and eagerness to explore the world.  We are so fortunate to have another companion on our trip and I wonder how many other friends and family would be open and available for such a trip?

We set our budget and plan to travel frugally to allow us to get to more destinations. We don't have a time limit and if a place suits us, we may stay awhile.

I've had 7 immunization shots, been on the phone for days, tying up loose ends, stored my belongings in the Taj-ma-Shed we recently built, researched this and that... lots of work to do before we go and it has been an awakening experience.

Tim and I hope to be able to update our blog as often as internet cafes are available. Please check back periodically to see updates to our trip.