Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Nong Khai
Our last day in Chiang Mai was Friday. It was a bittersweet goodbye. I was sad to leave because I had grown attached to the city and was finally able to navigate around easily. We had experienced all the city had to offer, so it was nice to arrive in a new location. The group departed for Sukkothai on Saturday, and stayed until Monday. There, we stayed in a very nice hotel and were able to swim in a pool! We spent many hours poolside--eating, reading, chatting, etc. There isn't much to do in Sukkothai, other than visit the remnants of Thailand's first capital. Which, of course we did. We rode bikes around the area and saw the beautiful ruins. I'll have to upload pictures soon, because they are literally breathtaking.
After Sukkothai, the Cal Poly group took an 8-hour bus ride to Nong Khai. We arrived at the Mut Mee Guesthouse, which is where I am sitting now. It is along the Mekong River, which borders Thailand from Laos. Aside from the mosquitos, this place is close to paradise. We're staying in varying types of bungalows, and there is a floating restaurant on the river. At the moment, I'm enjoying the breeze while sitting in the outdoor cafe. Again, I'll have to upload pictures.
Today was our first full day in Nong Khai, and we were able to visit another tribe (the Isan). The highlight of this experience was eating a cricket and red ant eggs! The cricket was actually delicious. Imagine the taste of chicken with the texture of a sunflower seed, and there you have it! This weekend, my friends and I are traveling to Laos. I'll update soon!
After Sukkothai, the Cal Poly group took an 8-hour bus ride to Nong Khai. We arrived at the Mut Mee Guesthouse, which is where I am sitting now. It is along the Mekong River, which borders Thailand from Laos. Aside from the mosquitos, this place is close to paradise. We're staying in varying types of bungalows, and there is a floating restaurant on the river. At the moment, I'm enjoying the breeze while sitting in the outdoor cafe. Again, I'll have to upload pictures.
Today was our first full day in Nong Khai, and we were able to visit another tribe (the Isan). The highlight of this experience was eating a cricket and red ant eggs! The cricket was actually delicious. Imagine the taste of chicken with the texture of a sunflower seed, and there you have it! This weekend, my friends and I are traveling to Laos. I'll update soon!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Cooking
On Saturday, I took a Thai cooking class! Emma, Stephanie, Sarah, Danielle, Dana, and I participated in a program called "Thai Farm Cooking School". We first visited a large market where many Thai cooks purchase produce or meat. We then arrived at a farm where we learned how to cook Thai cuisine. Our instructor guided us around the farm and taught us about the different fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are commonly used in the dishes. We then cooked five different courses (which we were able to pick from a list). I learned how to make green curry with tofu, coconut soup, basil and tofu stir-fry, spring rolls, and bananas in coconut milk. After cooking, we were able to eat everything we had made--I can't remember the last time I had been so stuffed! They were all delicious.
Caves
Some friends (Stephanie, Kaitie, Alicia, Randy, Matt, Justin, Dana, Lexie, Emma, Laura) and I traveled to Chiang Dao on Thursday. The purpose of this excursion was to explore caves! In order to get to Chiang Dao, we took a 2-hour bus ride. It was relaxing to roll down the window, listen to my iPod, and look at the scenery along the way. I was surprised to see that as the bus picked up travelers at each stop, the driver would merely slow down--this means that these people literally had to run to get on the bus!
So, about the caves...
There were many Thais and tourists there, most likely because of the Buddhist shrines inside. Different worship areas were set throughout the caves, and people would light candles and pray at each. Our group seemed to be the most adventurous of all the visitors, because we were the only ones to wander deep into the caves. We chose to stray from the path and explore. Luckily, most of the group brought flashlights, because soon after we wandered, it was completely dark. We climbed over rocks, under rocks, and crouched through crevices. Some of us were slightly injured along the way, but that was soon forgotten because of the cave's unbelievably breathtaking beauty. There were amazing rock formations throughout the caverns, and bats! Lots of them! Towards the end of our venturing, we discovered a pool of water. It appeared to be very shallow, but as we peered around, we discovered that it curved and dropped to about 40 feet deep! Throughout this entire exploration, we kept relating our experience to different movies--The Goonies, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, etc. I kept expecting to stumble upon skeletons or buried treasure!
Songkran
As I mentioned in a previous entry, Songkran is a New Year's celebration in Thailand that lasts from Saturday to Wednesday. Chiang Mai is the ultimate destination for this holiday, and there is no possible way to stay dry when walking outside. After we returned from Pai on Monday, we were able to partake in the festivities. Chiang Mai University invited the Cal Poly group to participate in a parade, but when we arrived at the route, we encountered pandamonium and were unsure of where to start. This was fine with me, because I wanted to be able to watch. The parade consisted of different groups dressed in traditional Thai apparel--mostly dancers and musicians, who played enormous drums. There were also floats, which were actually crafted in the back of the participants' pick-up trucks. Each one had a statue of Buddha, with elaborate decor and flowers surrounding him. Along the route, the Thais sprinkled water on each Buddha, as well as everyone else in the parade. Since water was strewn throughout the streets at every moment, we werev all obviously drenched at the end. Oh, and I almost forgot the most entertaining part--a dancing horse!
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I was able to experience the real chaos of Songkran. My friends and I walked along the moat, which surrounds the "old city" area of Chiang Mai. Here, there were cars in bumper-to-bumper traffic, with masses of people EVERYWHERE. Water (from squirt guns, large buckets, etc.) was thrown at everything and everyone. Many people rode in the backs of trucks to drench passersby, and many also lined the streets. The water was definitely not clean by any means (since the most popular way to refill ammunition was in the filthy moat)! I tried to avoid the thought of this and kept my eyes and mouth closed! The Thais obviously did not care about this, since some were swimming in the moat! Gross.
To end the festival, we danced amidst a vast sea of people, while DJs and bands performed onstage. Thai girls stood on platforms and doused everyone with hoses. To say that I was drenched would be an understatement; it was as if I had jumped in a pool with my clothes on!
On Tuesday and Wednesday, I was able to experience the real chaos of Songkran. My friends and I walked along the moat, which surrounds the "old city" area of Chiang Mai. Here, there were cars in bumper-to-bumper traffic, with masses of people EVERYWHERE. Water (from squirt guns, large buckets, etc.) was thrown at everything and everyone. Many people rode in the backs of trucks to drench passersby, and many also lined the streets. The water was definitely not clean by any means (since the most popular way to refill ammunition was in the filthy moat)! I tried to avoid the thought of this and kept my eyes and mouth closed! The Thais obviously did not care about this, since some were swimming in the moat! Gross.
To end the festival, we danced amidst a vast sea of people, while DJs and bands performed onstage. Thai girls stood on platforms and doused everyone with hoses. To say that I was drenched would be an understatement; it was as if I had jumped in a pool with my clothes on!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Pai
So over the weekend, a group of us traveled to Pai (pronounced "bye"). The only way to get here is to take vans/buses through two hours of mountainous winding roads. I was so close to losing my breakfast! Anyway, when we got there I noticed t-shirts for sale that said "792 curves" (meaning 792 curves in the road to get to Pai!). I guess it's part of the character of the town.
Pai is really characterized as a hippie hot-spot. There were many white tourists (Europeans, Australians, and Canadians)--lots of whom walked around barefoot as they backpacked around the area. We stayed in little bungalows along the river at the Baan Pai Resort, complete with mosquito netting and no air conditioning. They were definitely beautiful and added to the experience. At the start of the trip, some of my friends and I rented bikes for the day. We ventured around the town and up a path to the outskirts of Pai. Here, we found a vast area of open land and hills. We explored shops and markets and did a great deal of eating throughout the weekend. Pai had a plethora of varying cuisines (Greek, Italian, Thai, American), all of which were so delicious! The nightlife in the town was really fun, and I was able to meet a lot of the other tourists. It was so fascinating to hear about their different backgrounds and cultures.
Pai is really characterized as a hippie hot-spot. There were many white tourists (Europeans, Australians, and Canadians)--lots of whom walked around barefoot as they backpacked around the area. We stayed in little bungalows along the river at the Baan Pai Resort, complete with mosquito netting and no air conditioning. They were definitely beautiful and added to the experience. At the start of the trip, some of my friends and I rented bikes for the day. We ventured around the town and up a path to the outskirts of Pai. Here, we found a vast area of open land and hills. We explored shops and markets and did a great deal of eating throughout the weekend. Pai had a plethora of varying cuisines (Greek, Italian, Thai, American), all of which were so delicious! The nightlife in the town was really fun, and I was able to meet a lot of the other tourists. It was so fascinating to hear about their different backgrounds and cultures.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Some Other Fun Little Facts:
-Everyone in the group has mosquito bites. Lots and lots of them. I'm one of the lucky few who hasn't gotten them on my face.
-To relieve the itch of these bites, we use "White Monkey Holding Peach", a little balm that smells like Icy/Hot. I don't know why they don't sell it in the U.S. It's a lifesaver.
-When someone orders sausage for breakfast, they get a hot dog.
-I've been to 7-11 here more times than I've been in my whole life. Who would've thought that tomato soup chips and pizza flavored pretzels would be so tasty?
-The sunsets here are orange. And so beautiful.
-I've come to realize that I can't bargain at all. I'll have to get better if I plan to keep shopping at the markets.
This weekend is the start of the Songkran Festival (a week-long water fight for the Thai new year)! We don't have class for a week, so most of us are traveling to Pai from Saturday to Monday. Fun!
-To relieve the itch of these bites, we use "White Monkey Holding Peach", a little balm that smells like Icy/Hot. I don't know why they don't sell it in the U.S. It's a lifesaver.
-When someone orders sausage for breakfast, they get a hot dog.
-I've been to 7-11 here more times than I've been in my whole life. Who would've thought that tomato soup chips and pizza flavored pretzels would be so tasty?
-The sunsets here are orange. And so beautiful.
-I've come to realize that I can't bargain at all. I'll have to get better if I plan to keep shopping at the markets.
This weekend is the start of the Songkran Festival (a week-long water fight for the Thai new year)! We don't have class for a week, so most of us are traveling to Pai from Saturday to Monday. Fun!
More Animals
Some updates from the last couple of days:
Indian food, cosmic bowling, Thai cartoon movie, dance club, walk across the city, move to our new home (the International Center), massage, lack of sleep, school
Since class has actually been held for the last few days (as opposed to our field trips at the beginning of the trip), the schooling part of the program has finally become apparent. The chaos and excitement has settled down, and we've actually started to read and study for class during our free time. However, we still manage to find fun adventures!
For instance, last night a group of us went on a night safari! The facility was very state-of-the-art (think Animal Kingdom at Disney World), and before the safari began, there was a water show on the man-made lake. I could've sworn I was watching Fantasmic (again, the Disney influence)! It was so impressive! The safari consisted of a tram ride throughout the park with stops at each animal's habitat. The driver shined a light on each animal, and the female Thai safari guide offered her best attempt at English commentary. Of course, we rude Americans had to poke fun at this. Oh, and I had my first encounter with the Thailand rain last night. It poured, but it felt so nice to be out of the heat for once.
Indian food, cosmic bowling, Thai cartoon movie, dance club, walk across the city, move to our new home (the International Center), massage, lack of sleep, school
Since class has actually been held for the last few days (as opposed to our field trips at the beginning of the trip), the schooling part of the program has finally become apparent. The chaos and excitement has settled down, and we've actually started to read and study for class during our free time. However, we still manage to find fun adventures!
For instance, last night a group of us went on a night safari! The facility was very state-of-the-art (think Animal Kingdom at Disney World), and before the safari began, there was a water show on the man-made lake. I could've sworn I was watching Fantasmic (again, the Disney influence)! It was so impressive! The safari consisted of a tram ride throughout the park with stops at each animal's habitat. The driver shined a light on each animal, and the female Thai safari guide offered her best attempt at English commentary. Of course, we rude Americans had to poke fun at this. Oh, and I had my first encounter with the Thailand rain last night. It poured, but it felt so nice to be out of the heat for once.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Flight
Today was my first encounter with ziplining. It was definitely an experience I will never forget! This eco-tourism destination, called "Flight of the Gibbon", was located in a hill tribe in the jungle. There were a total of 18 platforms throughout the trees, and to each, we ziplined, belayed, or walked across a suspended bridge. Our guides, Dino, Leo, and Dundee, were young Thai men, and since I was with a group of all girls, they really seemed to enjoy us. They sang us American songs and knew all of the lyrics. Lunch was served to the whole group at the end, we received free t-shirts, and hiked to a waterfall, all included in a discounted price!
Throughout my trip thus far, and especially today, I have really grown to appreciate how friendly the Thais are. They are all so willing to help without receiving anything in return. For instance, today after we hiked to the waterfall, a Thai woman was waiting at the bottom with damp towels and iced herbal tea (for free!). I was so impressed! A group of us recently went to a cute little restaurant across the street from our hotel. The people who work there are all young Thai adults, and we've already become friends with them. They're so happy, and they love visiting with us! Americans really seem to be appreciated here, which is kind of odd sometimes. I have noticed a lot of staring children, and some people have even asked to take pictures with us!
Throughout my trip thus far, and especially today, I have really grown to appreciate how friendly the Thais are. They are all so willing to help without receiving anything in return. For instance, today after we hiked to the waterfall, a Thai woman was waiting at the bottom with damp towels and iced herbal tea (for free!). I was so impressed! A group of us recently went to a cute little restaurant across the street from our hotel. The people who work there are all young Thai adults, and we've already become friends with them. They're so happy, and they love visiting with us! Americans really seem to be appreciated here, which is kind of odd sometimes. I have noticed a lot of staring children, and some people have even asked to take pictures with us!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Trekkin'
So my idea of "roughing it" with the hill tribe wasn't exactly our experience last night. We stayed in actual rooms with actual bathrooms. Crazy! Our lodging was an eco-tourism spot, and the accommodations were made by the hill tribe villagers.
So, rewind...to start off yesterday, we stopped at a tribal museum to learn a bit about the local hill tribes. The group then went to Doi Inthanon National Park, had lunch, and started our hike down the mountain. The highlight of this was obviously the waterfalls. After slipping on lots of rocks, we were actually able to swim under a huge waterfall! We continued on our hike and arrived at our first hill tribe. They served us coffee that they had grown, and we were able to venture around. After another short hike, we arrived at our final destination: the Karen hill tribe. The setting was unreal. The small bungalows set against the green hills looked as if we had stepped into a painting. The tribe served us dinner and performed in front of a campfire for us. The Cal Poly crew offered some of our own talents in return (Stephanie and I danced the ending of our Orchesis finale!).
Today, after our departure from the hill tribe, we visited the "King's Project" agricultural center, and then rode elephants! So cool. Our final activity was bamboo rafting down a river (which felt like a combination between Huckleberry Finn and the Jungle Cruise). There were small huts along the way, so the local Thais all offered us a "Sawatdee kha" greeting and a couple of splashes of water. To end the day, some friends and I got sushi. It was definitely nice to have a non-Thai meal. Delicious!
So, rewind...to start off yesterday, we stopped at a tribal museum to learn a bit about the local hill tribes. The group then went to Doi Inthanon National Park, had lunch, and started our hike down the mountain. The highlight of this was obviously the waterfalls. After slipping on lots of rocks, we were actually able to swim under a huge waterfall! We continued on our hike and arrived at our first hill tribe. They served us coffee that they had grown, and we were able to venture around. After another short hike, we arrived at our final destination: the Karen hill tribe. The setting was unreal. The small bungalows set against the green hills looked as if we had stepped into a painting. The tribe served us dinner and performed in front of a campfire for us. The Cal Poly crew offered some of our own talents in return (Stephanie and I danced the ending of our Orchesis finale!).
Today, after our departure from the hill tribe, we visited the "King's Project" agricultural center, and then rode elephants! So cool. Our final activity was bamboo rafting down a river (which felt like a combination between Huckleberry Finn and the Jungle Cruise). There were small huts along the way, so the local Thais all offered us a "Sawatdee kha" greeting and a couple of splashes of water. To end the day, some friends and I got sushi. It was definitely nice to have a non-Thai meal. Delicious!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wats
Today I went wat (temple) exploring with a couple of friends. Pictures are better to describe them, rather than words. You'll see why. Tomorrow, the whole Cal Poly group is going to visit a hill tribe and stay over night with them. While we're there, we get to swim in waterfalls, ride elephants, and go bamboo rafting. There won't be any running water or toilets, but I think I can live without.
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