Asia Adventure 2009

Stay tuned....

2009-10-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

.....Hello everybody!

I would like to apologize for not posting anything from my last month in Indonesia. I had a wonderful time scuba diving and taking more dance classes. I was just way too busy to spend time on the computer!!! I'm now home safely and planning my next Asia Adventure--scheduled for spring 2010 to Korea.

So...stay tuned for....

AsiaAdventure2010

In memorial

2009-06-12T02:05:00.001-07:00

May 21

After many long weeks of mourning my lost camera and abstaining from picture taking, I feel it is finally time to move on.

Goodbye old camera. I will miss you.

Hello sexy new red camera!!!!!

Indonesia!

2009-06-12T01:44:00.000-07:00

We finally made it out of Malaysia and into Indonesia. We are way behind schedule.

(And I still don't have a camera so I have to stifle my creativity. I couldn't refuse taking a picture with these masks that a salesman was trying to sell us our first day in Jakarta, so I had to borrow Staci's camera.)

Happy 30th Birthday to me!

2009-06-12T01:33:00.000-07:00

Semporna, Malaysia
May 15
The big 3-0.

During our first day of diving, our dive master found out that my 30th birthday would be in a few days. He said that a party had already been planned for that day for two of the employees who were completing their dive master certification. He also said that I should stick around and the party could also be for my birthday!!! Staci and I really hadn’t planned on spending so many days in Semporna, but once I decided to do my underwater photography class and the extra night dive, it worked out to be able to celebrate my birthday with them.

After spending several days diving with Scuba Junkie, I was lucky enough to have made many friends, both at the dive shop and other travelers. I’m so glad I stayed because we all had a wonderful time celebrating. Of course, I missed spending the time with family and friends, but it was a birthday party that will not quickly be forgotten.

(Sorry, no pictures. I’m still mourning the loss of my old camera so I haven’t bought a new one. And even if I did….what happens at a 30th birthday party in Malaysia, stays in Malaysia.)

Scuba Junkie

2009-06-12T00:50:00.000-07:00

Semporna, Malaysia
May 11

After finishing our exploration of the jungle, we were ready to do some exploring under the sea.

We journeyed to Mabul Island and hooked up with a scuba diving outfit called Scuba Junkie. It proved to be one of the most memorable few days of my trip. Being PADI open water certified, but with only about 13 dives under my (weight) belt, I was pleased to notice a great improvement in my diving skills during my 7 dives in Malaysia. I was much more comfortable under the water than ever before. After the three dives on the first day, I was hooked. I did my first night dive the next day and enjoyed it immensely. As a birthday present to myself, I rented an underwater camera and took the PADI Underwater Digital Photography class, which consisted of 3 more dives and a course book that I had to read and answer questions.

I can remember back to my first dives in Hawaii when I brought along a cheap underwater film camera but was so stressed out at just trying to breath and stay alive that I forgot completely about taking pictures. I was amazed at how much I had grown as a diver, when I was able to control my breathing and buoyancy enough to stay virtually still long enough to really focus on taking some truly amazing pictures. I was in love with underwater photography. I most certainly will have to invest in a new camera and the underwater case that goes with it.

Can you spot the pygmy sea horse in this fan coral?

(If anybody wants to get me a belated birthday present, I need the Waterproof Case WP-DC31!! Hint! Hint!)

Welcome to the Jungle

2009-06-12T00:48:00.000-07:00

Malaysian Borneo
First couple weeks in May

We went to the jungle.
We saw some monkeys.
It was fun.
The end.

(I am way behind on my blog, so this is my attempt at catching up. Plus, since my camera was stolen, either the pictures from these places were stolen, or none were taken due to the lack of camera.)

2009-06-12T00:38:00.000-07:00

Kota Kinabulu, Borneo, Malaysia
May 1

During an evening out on the town in Kota Kinabulu, I had the most unfortunate luck of getting my purse stolen.

Up until this point, I had been surprised at how safe this area of the world was in terms of personal belongings. They trusted each other so much that we soon trusted them too. During long bus rides, the driver would stop every few hours for us all to get out and use the restrooms and get food and drinks. Everybody left their belongings on the bus without thinking twice. At first we were wary, but we soon learned to relax and trust them. We were also often leaving our bags in “storage” if we arrived at a hostel before check-in, or wanted to explore without our bags after check-out. This “storage” area, when staying at most hostels, was just an area near the counter, not really locked up. But nothing was ever taken. Possibly, it is the combination of religion (both Muslim and Buddhism are devoutly practiced), the fact that everybody knows everybody, and the deeply held desire to save face, but the result is a region that you feel very safe in.

Until your purse gets stolen.

I must admit that it was really my fault. I should not have taken off my purse to play pool, but I did. I took it off and set it down on a bench that was right by the pool table, only to go back after the game and realize the purse was nowhere to be found. I immediately informed all the men in the pool hall that my purse had been stolen. Most of them did not speak English, but soon the word got around in Malay what had happened. After some discussion, it was decided that the person who most likely stole the purse was a young guy that nobody really knew because he was from a different province. And he was long gone by this point. Several of the men went out in search of him while we called the police. We went to the police station so I could fill out a police report but there was really nothing to be done. Inside the purse, I had several hundred ringgits (Malaysian money), my cell phone, my camera and various odds and ends, such as a notebook that I had been using to take notes, hand sanitizer and chapstick.

Luckily, I had a support group back home that was on the job 24/7 so that my phone number could almost immediately be suspended. There was nothing I could do about the camera and money though. The camera had been well used and was starting to show many signs of its age. It was nearly time for an upgrade anyway. I had rather hoped that the camera would last until I got back to the States so I could take my time researching a new one, but it wasn’t in the cards for me. There were several days worth of pictures on the memory card that I hadn’t copied to my laptop yet. Those will be gone forever and that is, by far, the most painful thing for me to lose. That is why there is quite a date gap in this blog, because I have no pictures to show.

By the next day, it had really sunk in what had happened. I felt so sad that I didn’t feel like sight-seeing so I spent the entire day alone. For some reason, I was drawn back to the pool hall where my purse was stolen. Maybe part of me had hope that it would show back up, or somebody would find it. Maybe I needed to be there to really say goodbye and get closure. For some reason, or many reasons, I wanted to be back in the same place that the loss had occurred. So I went there and sat in a chair near the bench for many, many hours just thinking. Thinking and crying. I kept thinking about all the pictures I had lost and tears would come to my eyes. I felt intense hatred for the guy that had stolen the purse because he had also stolen my trust in the Malaysian people. When I thought of this lost trust, hot tears would fall down my face. For the first time, I felt vulnerable and bitterly cautious of everybody. Every new person that walked into the place was scrutinized, as I searched for the face of the young man that had stolen my purse. I thought he might return. I don’t know what I would have done if he did come back, but I looked for him regardless. I could trust no one. It made me so sad. I’m sure everybody there thought that I was a crazy white person for just sitting for hours, staring into space and crying every once in a while. But I didn’t care. Soon, very soon, my story had been spread throughout the pool hall. There were several guys that worked there that recognized me from the night before. They talked to me and tried to make me feel better. They also told my story to all those that didn’t speak English. I knew that my story was being told because I could hear the words “camera” and “cell phone” and “passport” mixed into sentences of Malay from all around the pool hall. It was rather humorous. My story started with those near me but pretty soon, it spread clear around the room. From across the three pool tables, I could hear the words “camera” and “cell phone” make it around the room. Guys would leave and new guys would come. They would notice me and ask and be filled in on the events of the night before…”camera”…”passport”….."cell phone”….

Some of the old men actually came up to me and in their very limited English, asked for my version of the story. They would ask what was stolen and I would tell them. Then they would ask “Passport?” and I would say no, I still had that, luckily. They would express sympathy and support and then they would go back to watching pool. One of the workers gave me a cold bottle of water. One gave me a napkin for my tears. One of the customers bought me some corn on the cob from the little child vendor passing through the pool hall. (I had been so depressed that I hadn’t eaten for hours, so it was a very welcome snack.) Slowly, through the kindness and sympathy of these strangers, the anger I was feeling toward all Malaysians eventually dispersed. I was able to eventually say goodbye to the stolen pictures of so many memories and I finally felt at peace.

Mukah Kaul Festival

2009-06-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
April 25

Our reason for going to Mukah was to attend the Mukah Kaul Festival, a harvest festival celebrated by the Melanau people living along the coast of Sarawak. Once a year the tiny villages gather together to show their thanks for the successful crops and ssssssss. We didn’t really know what to expect, but we were chasing festivals to see how many we could catch.
The festival started with a grand parade of the different village groups and dance troupes passing in front of the visiting dignitaries and stopping to display their gifts, either words or dance or performance. It was difficult to understand since the ceremonial parts were done in the different local dialects, but it was extremely interesting all the while.

(Pictures will be added once I get a faster internet connection!)

After the opening ceremony, we wandered around the festival area, sort of a mix between a county fair and a flea market. The different villages each had a little booth with samples of their food and drink that they had spent days preparing. Part of the reason for the gathering was for the social opportunity of sharing food and catching up with their friends from neighboring villages that they only see once a year at the festival. Many of the booths also had musicians playing the instruments and singing the special songs from their region of Malaysia.

(Pictures will be added once I get a faster internet connection!)

One of the more interesting rituals that took place at the festival was called Tibau. This involves a large swinging rope and many eager young men trying to see how many they can get on the rope at one time. In the following pictures, watch the young kid in the black T-shirt.

(More pictures will be added once a get a faster internet connection so you can really see what is happening!)

Since I had lost my hat, I decided that I should buy one at the festival to wear while walking around in the hot sun. It just so happened that while I was buying my hat (and taking lots of pictures, like I normally do) a photographer from a local paper was walking by that booth. He stopped and came in and asked if he could take my picture. I wanted a picture of the hat-maker putting it on my head so we had a little photoshoot then and there. I asked the photographer if I could get a copy of the picture and I asked if it would appear in his newspaper. He said that it would, but it would probably be several days. However, the next day, I was surprisingly given a copy of the paper by our driver because our picture had already made it in the paper!!!! It was soooooo cool!!!!!

The Boat Ride to Mukah

2009-05-24T01:16:00.000-07:00

April 24, 2009

Our time in Mukah was absolutely fabulous, but the most memorable part might have been getting there....

It started with a boat ride that you wouldn’t believe. I would have believed that it would end tragically! I thought about what the headlines would say as I fought for a seat in the crowded little “speed” boat. 40 people die in speed boat crash! In a boat made only for 10!

Here is the boat.......

...........Just kidding!!!

This is really our boat. (The tiny white speed boat in the background.)

Our nerves were already frazzled from trying to find the correct boat, but as we fought for spots among the head covered ladies, the plastic sacks of fruits and vegetables and the crates of chickens, our skills were really put to the test. I had to beg for people to scoot over to make me a spot and I had to tell Staci to go around to the back of the boat to squeeze into the only open spot I could see. I quickly made friends with the young Muslim girl next to me when she expressed her fear of the situation around us. Now, if she was scared, maybe I should be scared too!
But, I wasn’t scared. In fact, I was finally having the adventure that I wanted to be having! I finally felt alive! I was stuck on a boat with people that didn’t speak English but were yammering away in Malay. I was surrounded by their sacks of belongings, every once in a while, some bags would fall into my lap. I heard the live rooster calling out from his perch on top of the boat, but getting more quiet and tired the further we went. I watched all the kids slowly start falling asleep in their mother’s laps.
The boat turned off the main river and suddenly we were in another world. From the small windows of the boat, I could see out into this other world. A world of small wooden shacks on stilts, built along the tiny river’s edge. A world that probably had not seen very many tourists. A simple world with people bathing and washing clothes along the riverside and fishing for their dinner. A world of old men sleeping in the shade of the trees and children laughing with the purest smiles and giggles ever seen. Part of me really wanted to jump out at the next stop and explore. I felt that the tiny villages along the river held some wonderful adventures. I knew there wouldn’t be toilet paper, or toilets, for that matter. I knew there probably wouldn’t be electricity to charge my camera batteries or bottled water to take my Malaria medicine. But part of me wanted to get out and stay for awhile. Just stop my life and join these people in theirs. Part of me wanted to sit in the shade and just watch their lives happening around me. I wanted to laugh with the children innocently and with no worries. How nice would it be to forget about life for awhile? Forget about the economy. Forget about the loss of jobs. Forget about the Tae Kwon Do forms that I’m not practicing. (but should be!!)
Unfortunately, I didn’t get out. I couldn’t leave Staci on the boat alone and I didn’t know when the next boat would come along. I felt sad that I was stuck in my world and was not free to join them in theirs. But it would have been nice, I know it.

(We made it safely to where we were going, with a sigh of relief and no need for the startling headlines.)

Here are our bags, tied to the top of the boat. Right next to the basket with the live rooster. (See his tail sticking out of the basket?) And the following are pictures of the cramped accomodations inside....

Relaxing in Kuching

2009-05-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

Kuching, Borneo Malaysia

April 23, 2009

After our many days in the big city of Kuala Lumpur, we were ready to move on to something a little less busy. Our next stop was in Port Dickson. That wasn’t lively enough, so we just stayed there one night and moved on. We took a bus to Singapore and then caught a flight over the sea, to Kuching, in the Borneo part of Malaysia. Our goal was to make it to a festival in a nearby city that I had read about in a magazine. But we had a day to kill in Kuching first. We decided to just relax and explore the town with no set agenda and without doing any research for tourist things.

After a good Chinese breakfast, we decided to relax with a Chinese reflexology massage that emphasized spinal health. It also included a previously-unknown-to-me alternative medicine technique called ear candling, thrown in for free.

Supposedly, when a hollow candle is lit and put in your ear, it removes ear wax. I spent the entire time that the candle was in my ear trying to figure out the physics behind it and just couldn’t quite explain it. Later, I googled it and found out the entire concept is worthless. The benefits are a total myth. But, it was fun to try, regardless of its ineffectiveness. We received a fairly standard massage and then the attendants walked out--and we thought it was over. But, a few minutes later they returned with a contraption that looked a little too similar to a medieval torture device. We had to lay on this device, with our spine in the very center, causing our back to arch up. It wasn’t very comfortable, but I figured it was worth it for a healthy spine. After we were settled on our spinal contraption, the attendants started binding our legs together using heavy straps!!! I looked over at Staci with a can-you-believe-this-is-happening look and we both started giggling, unable to say aloud the jokes we were thinking inside.

After our wonderfully exciting massage experience, we decided to shop for awhile in a nearby mall. I was able to replace some yellow shirts that had been turned gray by the last laundry experience. I tried, in vain, to find a swimming suit that I was happy with.
I must admit that after our full day of exploring, we felt like a taste of home. For the first time in the trip, I actually missed American food and longed for a big juicy cheeseburger, like a Royal Red Robin burger from Red Robin.

McDonald’s would have to suffice.

My favorite night in Kuala Lumpur

2009-05-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

Batu Caves
April 19, 2009

My favorite night in Kuala Lumpur was the night we visited the Batu Caves.

The Batu Caves are huge natural limestone caves a little distance outside Kuala Lumpur that have been turned into a place for devoted Hindus to pay homage. Several important Hindu shrines have been placed into the caves, and can be reached by climbing the 272 steps up to the mouth of the big cave. Once a year, a huge festival takes place here, with thousands of devotees coming from miles around. This festival is famous for the especially devoted pilgrims that stick silver skewers into their tongues and cheeks and carry heavy burdens (heavy jars of milk, for example) for miles to present to the shrine. Our journey was much easier than that, no special body piercings and the only heavy thing I carried was my camera. In fact, our journey was surprisingly and serendipitously easy and fulfilling.

Before we started, I had seriously doubted our success in finding the caves. We had planned to go in the morning, but before we knew it, we had napped and interneted and tv’d the day away. It was late afternoon when we finally got around. We decided to go exploring, since we didn’t have much time left in KL. The vague directions to get to the correct bus were from my 2 year old Lonely Planet guidebook (which had been wrong soooo many times in the past) but we were determined to try. After a bit of wandering, we stumbled perfectly onto the correct bus station, and luck had it that the correct bus was just getting ready to leave. It was fate. For a couple of Malaysian ringgit (less than $1) we were able to take the bus, full of locals, that dropped us off right in front of the caves. As we were walking towards the cave entrance, there were many little shops set up selling beautiful flower garlands. I knew from watching Bollywood films and movies about India that these garlands were sometimes placed on shrines. I imagined it as an exchange for prayers and blessings. Since I had been going through a lot of personal turmoil and was trying to figure out a lot of big life decisions, I figured it wouldn‘t hurt to have a go at getting a flower garland to decorate a shrine. And of course, I wanted to fully experience the visit. As I was buying it, I chatted with the nice old guy making the garlands--I wanted to get his explanation of what they are for. It was a little difficult to understand his English, but I’m pretty sure he was telling me to put it around my neck, like a necklace. I didn’t want to look disrespectful like I was ignoring or disobeying him, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feeling a bit sacrilegious about wearing something I thought was for the shrines only. But, I put it around my neck anyway, and we walked in. As soon as we entered the gates and walked into the area around the caves, we were the center of attention. There were not any tourists that I could see, and it was exactly as if we had walked into a small town in India, or possibly the set of a Bollywood movie.

As we walked toward the steps leading up to the cave mouth, we were stared at, as though we were walking down a catwalk. People parted and stared. Men in the nearby cafes stopped eating to watch us. Entire families, with the beautiful women and girls colorfully dressed in saris, stopped talking and looked at us. Children screamed. (okay, so maybe I am exaggerating a bit now, but it was weird.) At first, I thought it must be because not many tourists visited the caves, except for during the big festival. Then my heart sank as I realized they were probably upset at me for wearing their sacred flower garland as a necklace!!! No!!! How horrible of me!! I was going to be struck down!!! I was so nervous and embarrassed! Just as I was trying to think of a clever way to sneak the flowers off my head, two teenage boys came up and asked to take a picture. I was not in a position to say no, so I somewhat reluctantly posed for a picture. Then we continued walking towards the steps.

Soon, we were approached by an older guy. Luckily, he spoke English really well, so we soon learned that he worked at the caves as a chanter of religious songs in front of the shrines. After I heard that, I had so many questions for him!! I asked if it was okay that I wore the flowers as I did. (It was.) I asked if he would chant for us so we could hear him. (He would) I asked if he would show us around and show us what to do, so we could be like the natives and not tourists. (He would love to.) He showed us that we should take off our shoes before climbing the stairs, as the locals do. He introduced us to the priests at the different shrines. He asked the priests to pray for us and they did. We didn’t understand what they were saying, but every once in awhile we would hear our names. We got the red marks on our forehead, and also white marks. I asked what the different marks meant. (But I don’t remember now.)

The most spiritual moment was when we were seated in front of a big shrine and he chanted 3 whole songs for us. He used a microphone and his voice echoed throughout the tall cave. Even though we didn’t know the words he was singing, they held an eerie power that cannot be explained. Staci and I were both lost in our own thoughts and prayers and dreams but his words were so moving that we both had tears in our eyes. When he finished, we thanked him profusely and gave our tithes like true devotees. We even received some blessed fruit and another flower garland that had been draped on the shrine. We also rang a huge bell, to let our prayers be heard. After that, we descended the stairs, me very reluctantly and sadly. I did not want to leave. I wanted that night to continue and continue.

As we neared the bottom of the stairs, our guide invited us to eat and took us to a nearby restaurant and then took us to catch the bus. As the perfect ending to the perfect night, we walked up to the bus station just minutes before the bus came to take us back to the real world.

Welcome to Malaysia!

2009-05-17T05:56:00.000-07:00

Kuala Lumpur
April 16-21

After a grueling overnight bus trip (and several border checks), our first stop in Malaysia was the capital, Kuala Lumpur. We stayed there for many days….which are all now a blur.

Malaysia is a very interesting country, a melting pot of Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures.
We spent a lot of time experiencing each culture by eating. We also spent a lot of time sightseeing (or should I say walking around the city getting lost?) and, I must admit, a lot of time in the air-conditioned hotel room with wi-fi, the movie channel, toilet paper and hot showers.

As for eating, we tried to eat a variety of Chinese, Indian, and Malaysian food.

This was a great fruit stand in Chinatown, across from our hostel.

Our first Malaysian chicken satay....yum!!!!

One thing I like to do is try things that look interesting, even if I do not know exactly what they are. For example, I think these are heart-shaped chicken nuggets.....
As for entertainment and sightseeing, we tried to get a mix of cultures there as well.
One evening we saw an absolutely out-of-this world Indian dance performance. The stamina and flexibility and talent of this dance troupe was incredible. We were in awe. They made me tired just watching them. On one hand, I was inspired to come home and dance and motivated to train harder. But on the other hand, I can never dance as wonderfully as they did, so what’s the point?

Another evening we watched a short Malaysian dance performance that paled in comparison, but was good for us to experience.
Of course, we had to do the normal tourist things:

KL Tower
Petronas Towers
Butterfly Park

And no trip to Malaysia would be complete without monkeys.

Leaving the Las Vegas of Thailand

2009-05-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

April 15--Phuket, Thailand

I did not think I was going to like Phuket after reading about it in the guidebooks and looking at all the billboards on the bus ride in, advertising large shopping malls and cabaret shows. But, as usual, you can find beauty if you only look hard enough and have the right attitude. Since I am not a huge fan of Las Vegas, I wasn’t excited about a city that, in my mind, seemed like the Las Vegas of Thailand. Lots of bars, transvestite shows, tourists and….did I mention tourists? Many people like Las Vegas, but that just wasn’t what I wanted my tranquil, spiritual and meditative trip to Southeast Asia to be like.

However, I made up my mind and I was bound and determined to make the best of it. It actually turned out to not be very hard at all to find special memories and to make the best of our stay there. Looking back, we had a lot of great laughs and memorable experiences. It was a fabulous ending to our month in Thailand.

UPDATE:
The photographer that took pictures of me for the biker magazine has now e-mailed me. (I had my doubts that he would actually write, but he did!!!) Here are a few more pictures of us at the Phuket Bike Week.

Notice the big water gun in the woman's hand marking the beginning of the Thai new year. (see previous blog entry for explanation.)

Patang Beach -- Phuket, Thailand

2009-04-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

The sunsets from Patang Beach were quite possibly the most beautiful we have seen so far. For several evenings in a row we relaxed on the beach, watching the sun slowly sink bringing a relief from the heat of the day.

Several times in the past few weeks we had noticed strange orange “stars” glowing in the sky from towns along the ocean. I knew I didn’t recognize the constellations they had formed and they were awfully orange and close to us to be stars. But we had no other explanation until relaxing on the beach one night. From one end of the beach we noticed the orange “stars” being launched into the sky and had to get a closer look to try to uncover the mystery. It turned out that they were actually mini-hot air balloons that the locals were selling to tourists as Good Luck Balloons. These balloons were large sacks with an opening at one end that contained an oil-soaked fabric coil that would burn for several minutes while the sack slowly floated up into the sky. I’m sure they are not the best things for the environment but they were very beautiful.

New Year Festival -- Phuket, Thailand

2009-04-26T04:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Buddhist New Year 2552!!!!
April 13

The real reason we were in Phuket (Poo-Get!) was to participate in the Buddhist New Year, or Songkran Festival. This is also known as the Water Festival because all day long water is thrown every which way soaking absolutely everybody! We hadn’t made it very far from our hotel that morning before we were absolutely soaking wet. Luckily, we were prepared with our swimming suits under our clothes.

The streets were filled with parades of trucks full of people throwing water on anybody and everybody that they passed. I felt really sorry for the many moped drivers that got splashed in the face while trying to drive on a wet road with traffic everywhere.

All people, young and old, local and tourist alike, carried around water guns and squirted anybody that came into their range. We had originally planned on grabbing some breakfast but when a truck stopped in front of us, I looked at Staci and said “Let’s go!!” We jumped on the random truck and joined in the fun of splashing everybody! Several hours later, we were completely soaked, starving and had no idea where on the island we actually were since we had driven so far. We jumped off in front of a nice looking restaurant and found solace from the splashing water inside the building.

After lunch we befriended a really nice Thai family in a different truck who took us around all afternoon. We even went with them to their house to refill the big buckets of water in the back of the truck. This family was really hilarious (or cruel!) because they bought ice and put ice bags in the buckets so that the water was freeeeeezing cold and shocked all of our victims.

Probably the funniest moment came when the seemingly nice, caring, and innocent mother took her bowl of water and threw it right in the face of the passing traffic cop. I thought I was going to die laughing!!!

My favorite tactic was aiming for the old white tourist men that weren’t expecting anything. Their surprised looks were priceless. After surprising somebody with a splash of cold water, everybody would laugh and yell "Happy New Year!!!!!" They also made a paste of baby powder and water and spread it on your face for good luck in the new year.

We had been warned to not take anything out that day that shouldn't be wet, and they were right. Everything was completely soaked by the end. The picture above is a little blurry because it was taken from inside a ziploc bag. You know me, I had to risk bringing my camera but I stored it in my pocket in two ziploc bags. It got a little wet still, but survived.

This was quite possibly the craziest festival that I have ever attended. Literally, the entire town was involved in the festivities (whether they liked it or not!) and were soaked.

Big Bike Week -- Phuket, Thailand

2009-04-26T00:56:00.000-07:00

April 12

The next stop on our southern journey through Thailand was in a city called Phuket. (Don’t worry, it’s pronounced Poo-Get.) We originally had planned on going there to celebrate the Buddhist New Year, or Songkran Festival. We were doubly excited after I read in the paper that a Bike Week was also planned for the time that we would be in Phuket. (Don't forget, it's pronounced Poo-Get!) Since Staci and I both ride motorcycles back home, it seemed like a perfect event for us to attend.

Immediately upon arrival, we headed to the beach to try to see some bikes. Unfortunately, many of the activities were already over, but we could still walk around and look at the little tents set up with merchandise for sale and see the few bikes that were there. I immediately zeroed in on a very beautiful copper bike, and joined in the conversation near it.

They noticed that I had asked Staci to take my picture with it, so they asked if they could take my picture with it as well. Pretty soon, the owner of the bike came over with a biker friend. It turns out that they are in a bike club and have a bike shop together. And they just so happen to publish a biker magazine. I really thought they were joking when they asked me to pose for the cover of their magazine!!! It took me a few minutes to realize that they were dead serious. I of course asked several questions, asked to see an example of their magazine and demanded that I get the pictures for my scrapbook. (I also asked to receive a copy of the magazine with me on the cover, but we’ll see if that really happens since I won't be going back to Phuket.) Before I knew it, their professional photographer was getting out his equipment and he was ready! I quickly put on lip gloss (what else could I do?!?!) and smiled. I asked if I needed to pose in a certain way, but they said I should just do whatever I feel comfortable doing. They probably didn’t realize that I actually ride motorcycles, so I hopped on the bike and started smiling!!!! It was over before I knew it, but it was really fun!!! The photographer showed me the pictures on the camera when he was finished and they looked really awesome!

Here are the pics that Staci took during the photoshoot!

This will probably be the cover shot. It doesn’t look so good from this angle, but it looked really awesome on the professional’s camera!!!

Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand

2009-04-23T06:45:00.001-07:00

After a fruitless transition day in Bangkok, we headed for the island of Ko Pha Ngan with the purpose of attending the Full Moon Party, just to see what all the fuss was about.

It turned out the island was teeming with adventure, you just had to know where to look. And sometimes adventure came in the most mysterious and dangerous packages. But, what happens in Ko Pha Ngan, stays in Ko Pha Ngan. Staci and I have sworn each other to secrecy so that some of the adventures will stay mysterious.

But there are a few things I can share with you all…

We stayed outside the main tourist town in a very nice resort called Golden Hill. To get there, we had to trek up a huge hill to the reception building, but it was worth it. They had little bungalows, a swimming pool and a great (albeit expensive) restaurant. They unfortunately did not have wi-fi, so that’s when my blog got way behind. However, it was nice relaxing on the beach and not having the distraction of the internet. I finished the book I was reading and yet another one, so I felt like I was finally making progress on the stack of books I had brought.

Relaxing on our own private beach....

One lovely afternoon, adventure came in the form of hiking and waterfalls. We spent the day moped-ing around the island in search of waterfalls. Several of them were listed on our map, so we had fun exploring the bumpy dirt backroads in search of Paradise Waterfall, Phaeng Waterfalls and Than Naam Rak Waterfall.

Reading

2009-04-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

One great thing about having an extended holiday is having a chance to finally read!!!

Back home, I have so many books that I want to read but I never seem to make the time to actually read them! It’s too easy to be guilted into doing the dishes or laundry. And there are fun distractions like Tae Kwon Do and dance classes and, of course, spending time with friends and family.

So, it is nice to have the time during this trip to actually read, since I enjoy it so much!

Here is me reading some more.....And still reading.....

Sukhothai

2009-04-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

We are now headed towards the southern towns of Thailand with a few planned stops along the way.

Our first stop is a 6 hour bus ride south, in the town of Sukhothai.

There is a really nice historical park with several ancient temple sites. We rented bicycles and spent the day touring around the different temples.

We met up with a very nice girl from Holland and spent the day cycling around, drinking lots of water, taking a lot of pictures, getting very sunburned and having a grand time.

Goodbye Chiang Mai

2009-04-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

Now that all of our classes are over, it is time to move on from Chiang Mai and move south.

It was sad to leave Chiang Mai, a city that had almost begun to feel like home. After being there for so many days, we had developed great friendships with the workers at the Thapae Gatehouse Lodge. The wait staff at the restaurant almost knew what we were going to order before we ordered it!

We had a wonderful time practicing the Thai language with Wahn Jai!

My last dance class….

2009-04-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

My last day of dance classes has finally arrived. I must admit that I am excited for the last day. This Thai dance stuff is gruelingly difficult. I have such admiration for the ladies (like my teacher, Ying) who do it, day in and day out. And they make it look so easy!

The best part for me was at the end of the day. My teacher and the owner of the dance studio dressed me up in the appropriate costumes for each dance and then I had to perform all the dances. They took videos of each dance so that I can refer to them once I get home! And believe me, I’ll need it!!! After a few more months of traveling, my brain will be so full that I already know I will not be able to remember these dances.

By this point, I was tired. I was tired and I had a headache from my hair being pulled up so tight and having such thick make-up layered on my eyes. But it was so worth it. These pictures turned out so beautiful that it was completely worthwhile.

Sword Dance

Candle Dance

Fingernail Dance

Candle Dance

Umbrella Dance

(No pictures at this time)

And the end of each class, the way a student says thank you to their teacher is by this special bow.

Korp Kun Ka Ying!!!!

Karen Hill Tribe Women

2009-04-03T09:12:00.001-07:00

Chiang Mai trek…

2009-04-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

Supposedly, the thing to do when you go to Chiang Mai is to go on a trek. So….we went on a trek.
Step 1. Ride in the truck for nearly forever.

Step 2. Walk around the orchid and butterfly farm.

Step 3. Ride in the truck for nearly forever.

Step 4. Stop and see members of the Karen hill tribes.

Step 5. Ride in the truck some more.

Step 6. Ride an elephant for awhile.

Step 6.5 Get thrown across the river in a cage.

Step 7. Have lunch. Pad Thai wrapped in banana leaves.

Step 8. Ride in the truck some more.

Step 9. Hike for an hour to a waterfall.

Step 9.3 Get distracted by a cute little hill tribe girl trying to give me a butterfly.

Step 9.64 Finally get to the waterfall.

Step 9.8 Get wet because it is so gosh darn hot.

Step 10. Ride in the truck some more.

Step 11. Go white water rafting. (Luckily, there are NO pictures of this because we were wearing the dorkiest helmets and life vests ever.)

Step 12. Float down the river on a bamboo raft.

Step 13. Eat ice cream and relax.

Step 14. Ride literally forever in the truck, back to Chiang Mai.

Step 15. Relax back at the hostel.

Thai cooking class…..

2009-04-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

An evening of Thai cooking proved to be one of my most enjoyable activities in Chiang Mai.

The dance classes were cool…but a lot of work. Shopping was fun….but hard on the pocket book. Meditating was also interesting….yet I find it too difficult to clear my mind. The cooking class was fun and easy…and we got to eat the results!!! Not only that, but I will have something wonderful to bring back with me to share with you all---the knowledge of how to cook Pad Thai, spring rolls, sweet and sour vegetables and red curry soup. And this purchase won’t add any weight in my backpack--only on my waist if I eat too much!

Spring rolls and Pad Thai! YUM!

Sweet and Sour Vegetables and Red Curry Soup

More Chiang Mai....

2009-03-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

More shopping.....

More eating!!!!

More shopping.....this time for books!!!

And more meditating.....

Enjoy the snow, Wichita!!!

2009-03-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

While you guys are enjoying your 16 inches of ice and snow, just know that it's warm and sunny here in Thailand!! You are welcome to come and visit!

Here I am at the breakfast table, blogging and e-mailing and drinking a wonderful mango smoothie...

Muay Thai, Meditation and Massage

2009-03-28T01:15:00.000-07:00

Since our days were spent busy either taking massage classes in Staci's case, or dance classes in mine, we were really too tired in the evenings to do much. We still found the energy to go shopping every once in a while. And we definitely had a good time eating....and taking naps.

Here are the other things that kept me busy....

One evening, Staci and I fell into a tourist trap, er, uh, I mean, attended a Muay Thai kickboxing flight. When we got there, we realized that we were in a sea of other white-skinned, English speaking westerners--not a Thai in site except for the waiters and…uh….young, pretty Thai girls. (That topic deserves it’s own special blog. And no doubt there are many many websites about it already….) It was fun to see real kickboxing to compare it to what I had learned in class. One thing I can say is that they can be really brutal!!

One night, I attended a monk chat and meditation session at one of the local Buddhist monasteries.

One day after a strenous dance class, I treated myself to a Thai foot massage!

Food....

2009-03-28T01:07:00.000-07:00

So far, the food has been absolutely wonderful!!! Best of all, we haven't gotten sick once! I have even started brushing my teeth with water from the sink and drinking bottled water in glasses with ice from the street vendors--and still haven't gotten sick!!!

For a snack between dance classes, I had sticky rice and chicken on a stick everyday. Yum!!!!

One night, we ate at a restaurant that had frog on the menu!! I couldn't pass it up!!

Transportation….

2009-03-28T00:57:00.001-07:00

There are many ways to get around Chiang Mai. Of course, walking is the easiest (and usually safest), but sometimes you need to get to places faster.

The first few days of dance class, I got there by moped!!! The traffic was too crazy though!!!

Then I started taking the red taxi trucks. They were much cheaper!!

Dance classes in Chiang Mai…..

2009-03-28T00:23:00.000-07:00

One of the most challenging but rewarding things I am doing in Thailand is taking a week of traditional Thai dance classes. I signed up for a 20 hour session, and had originally planned on taking 4 hours of dance classes per day for five days. But after two days of four hour dance class, I was so worn out that I could barely move!!! My muscles were so sore I could hardly make it up the three flights of stairs to our hostel room!!! My mind was having a hard time remembering the dances and I just was not making any progress. I was mentally and physically burned out. So, I talked to my teacher about taking only three hours per day and having a day off every couple of days. My teacher was relieved to hear it, she was just as tired as I was. So, now instead of being a chore, dance class is fun again!

Candle Dance

Umbrella Dance

Fingernail Dance

Shopping in Chiang Mai….

2009-03-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

The purpose of coming to Chiang Mai was to take some time to relax. It’s funny that relaxing is about the last thing we have done so far! There is just so much to do!!!

We’ve been spending a lot of time (and too much money) shopping in the many night bazaars. I’ve spent many hundreds of Baht (1 USD = 33 Thai Baht) on…..clothes! I hope my backpack can zip when I need to leave Chiang Mai! And hopefully my clothes-laden backpack doesn’t break my back! But technically, I needed more pants to replace the ones ripped in Bangkok!

(I need to take pics of us shopping!!! Stay tuned...)

One of my biggest purchases (biggest in price….and size) was a huge elephant painting nearly 4 feet tall! I do not know what got into me, but I fell in complete love with this painting. The colors are beautifully matching my theme colors of this trip (purple, red and yellow) and the elephant will match my elephant-themed “belly dancing” room back home.

Here is a picture of me and the artist!

Train to Chiang Mai……

2009-03-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

Instead of taking a bus or plane, we decided to try the overnight train to get to Chiang Mai. Since it had been so hot outside (and so hot inside the hostel rooms and temples), we thought it would be a good idea to splurge and get the air-conditioned sleeper car for the fourteen hour train journey. The train was very old and very metal and rambled into the station nearly half an hour late. We were lucky enough to have a nice train station worker befriend us to make sure we got on the correct train and into the correct air-conditioned car. Never would we have imagined it could be so cold! It was so cold that it was nearly impossible to sleep! We were like little ice cubes in an old-fashioned aluminum ice cube tray, rattling up the train track into the hills of Chiang Mai.

Our first hostel….

2009-03-25T05:53:00.000-07:00

Our first hostel was not hostile at all! In fact, except for loud traffic noises at inopportune times, a lack of air-conditioning, and 3 flights of stairs to walk up to our room, it was rather nice! There was free internet downstairs in the lounge area and we made use of our cute little laptops!!
The café had great food and drinks so we had breakfast there every morning and relaxed there in the evenings.

As with most hostels, the bathrooms are shared and they are down the hall from the rooms. There was only one shower with hot water but it was so hot and humid in Bangkok that a cold shower actually felt nice! We were awakened in the morning by the sounds of the women brushing the sidewalks with their handmade brooms.

Our days in Bangkok…

2009-03-25T00:06:00.000-07:00

Our days in Bangkok were pretty similar. We walked to the “sky train” every morning and purchased a day pass to get around the city. Bangkok is a very busy city with so many sights and smells, not all of them appealing. It was amazing how many little food stands line the street. People in Thailand are always snacking, so it’s perfect for me since I like to eat many small meals throughout the day. We did try the street food and haven’t gotten sick….yet!!!

One day we stumbled upon a water taxi, which was a boat taxi system set up on one of the many canals running through the city! It was fun to speed along the canal in a boat getting occasionally sprayed with cool water.

One day we took a Tuk Tuk around to so many different temples that I lost track which was which!! It was a long and tiring day and we were “templed-out” by the end.

One afternoon was really difficult on my supply of pants! (Keep in mind I only brought three pairs of pants!)

Ripped Pants #1 2:30 p.m.

We were sitting outside the Vietnamese Embassy waiting to get in to get visas and I somehow ripped my pants sitting on the curb. In my defense, the curb was really sharp and my pants were really thin. The rip was in a not-so-decent place, so we nearly died laughing at all the ingenious ways we could think to disguise it. If I were the Vietnamese, I wouldn’t let me in the country.

Ripped Pants #2 5:30 p.m.

With about 5 minutes left to go in my Muay Thai kickboxing class, I was trying to think of every trick in the book to get to finish class. I was nearly passing out because of the heat, strenuous exercise and lack of water breaks. I was learning how to count in Thai, and when the teacher said to do 50 (in Thai) more kicks, I joked and smiled and asked innocently 15? (In Thai, like English, 15 and 50 sound very similar. He didn’t let me get by with only 15, unfortunately.) However, when we started to do knee kicks (I don’t know the name for this move, but you take your knee and act like you are jabbing it in your opponents ribs), Staci got my attention and said that she thought I was done. I was grateful for the distraction, but then she motioned to my pants. I put my hand around to my pants…but instead of feeling fabric, I felt butt cheek. I had ripped my pants so bad that my entire butt was hanging out!!! I was soooooooooooo embarrassed! By that point, the real kickboxers had shown up to train so the gym was full of young Thai men in their tiny little Thai kickboxing shorts showing off their perfectly ripped abs. I was extremely embarrassed by the less-than-perfect backside that I was showing them, so I quickly said my thank you’s and goodbye’s and giggled my way out of the gym…backwards.

Muay Thai Kickboxing Class

2009-03-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

One of the first things I did in Bangkok was to sign up for a Muay Thai kickboxing class! Luckily, the hostel that we were staying at has a gym on the roof where they train local kickboxers. The class was soooo much fun, but also a lot of work!!! I’m used to exercising in air-conditioned places, so it was very difficult working out in such heat and humidity! Within seconds, my clothes were literally soaked with sweat. (I’m not over-exaggerating! See the all-too-realistic pictures)

The 1.5 hr class started with 5 minutes of jump rope, followed by several kicking bag exercises and hand held target practice with the award winning trainer, Pinoy. He was an older gentlemen that didn’t speak English--but had won many championships in his day. He had a nice cut over his eye with stitches to prove that he was still quite active. The workout was so difficult, I really felt like throwing up several times! (I blame the heat)

When you can feel your brain and teeth rattling around in your head, you know you are getting a good workout.

You know when you are in a Muay Thai kickboxing class when the “break” is 300 sets of ab exercises and you have to beg for a drink. I didn’t tell them that I had previous martial arts experience, so they just thought I was brand new.…and a super fast learner. I was invited to stay and have them train me for the local fights. If only I had a few months (and extra brain cells) to kill….The workout was over when I literally ripped my pants from kicking so much!!!!! (No joke! It was the second pair of pants I ripped THAT DAY! Good times.)

All in all, it was a wonderful experience--and I have the bruises to prove it!!!

Leavin' on a jet plane....

2009-03-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

During our layovers in the airports, we tried to get online using our cute little laptops!!! (or we tried sleeping)

Our first flight was to Chicago, then Japan (Narita) and then Bangkok, for a total of 22 hours and 30 minutes on a plane and 5 hours and 50 minutes waiting in an airport! It was exhausting, but well worth it.

Bags are packed, I’m ready to go…....

2009-03-20T02:29:00.000-07:00

With our bags packed and all of our Wichita good-byes said, we were ready to head down to Dallas. A special callout to Staci’s dad who so graciously took us to Dallas (For five dollars! Add it to my tab, Sir….) and to her sister, who put us up for the night and hauled us to the airport at 5:00 in the morning.

Going Away.....

2009-03-20T02:28:00.000-07:00

A big part of my pre-adventure planning included spending time with all of my friends and family before departure. In my opinion, one of the hardest parts of leaving home for an extended period of time is missing out on all the fun times and get-togethers with my friends and family. Thanks so much to all of our friends who had going away parties for us! I really enjoyed them all. It is awesome to have such a wonderful support group of friends back home. With such loving family members as the root and supportive friends as the stem, I feel like a flower that could endlessly grow and explore without limitations.

Pre-Adventure Planning

2009-03-20T01:10:00.000-07:00

To fully tell you about this Adventure, we have to journey back several weeks before I stepped on a plane. Usually when planning for a trip of this magnitude, one would want to start months in advance. Unfortunately for me, in this case I only had a few weeks! I only had a few weeks to do several months worth of work. It's amazing how many little things there are to do to prepare for a trip. The actual trip was easy--once the plane ticket was purchased and the first four nights lodging booked, that was it! It was all the little things (and a few really big ones) that had to be taken care of at home that posed the problem.

My Asian Adventure To-Do list:

Change address with everybody (doctor, dentist, magazines, Cessna, YMCA, etc.)
Get on facebook
Make blog
Order laptop bag
Get Malaria pills
Return Staci's costumes
Get rid of stuff I don't need anymore
Buy locks for suitcases
Get new USB drive
Pay car tags and taxes
Do taxes
Take checks and cash to bank
Finish presents for everyone
Buy backpack
Practice packing backpack
Pick clothes for trip
Clean 323
Reduce car insurance? Change car insurance?
Research/buy new phone (blackberry curve?)
Buy converter/adapter
Find apartment for when I come back
Forward mail with post office
Make appt with eye doctor for sometime in the fall
File shots with insurance
Get shots
Buy scrapbooking magazines that I'll miss
Get extra check from insurance
get video from Gina Salerno
Hang out with mom's family
Hang out with dad's family
Hang out with Jason
Get hair cut
Get laptop (Vivienne Tam HP!!!!!!!!!)
Get Birkenstocks (black/grey Darlington)
Review Chase Visa statements
Pay Ron for TKD patch
Take motorcycle to Staci's garage
Take basket to parents to keep my mail in
Order new scrapbooking magazine subscriptions
Take car somewhere?? Parents?
Pay doctor bill
Take stuff to the Goodwill
Sign up for Paris writing workshop
Do something with United voucher
Get new health insurance starting in April
Buy Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a Shoestring
Pay Amy $47 for gold wings
Pack up all of my stuff
Call about storage units and look at a few
Buy plane ticket
Have ice cream with Sharla and Lisa
Finish Morocco scrapbook
Finish Angie's scrapbook
Have get-together with Christina and Angie
Have get-together with TKD girls
Get 12 passport pictures for visas
Have TKD going away party
Have belly dancing studio going away party
Go to Amira's show
Hang out with Hillary and talk about Vietnam
Teach last Tiny Tykes TKD class (have Lisa watch)
Go scrapbook shopping for the last time

Trip Specs:

2009-03-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

Warning:

With this blog, I plan to keep track of everything. And I mean everything. I apologize in advance if some of this is boring or too personal. And some of the pictures might not be suitable for all audiences. I plan to use this blog as an aid in the construction of my scrapbook when I get home, so I want to document everything. Please skip over any parts that are boring or do not interest you. However, even as I say this, I know that I will not have time to keep this updated regularly and will not be as descriptive as I would like. So, be patient if you don’t see updates for days at a time. I’m too busy having my Asian Adventure…..

“It's the good girls who keep diaries; the bad girls never have the time.”
~Tallulah Bankhead

Who:

Jessie
Staci (Savage Harmony)

Together known as: T.B.D

Staci and I have danced together for over a year now, focusing on tribal belly dancing. We journeyed together to Denver last April for a workshop and performance and have really hit it off. Our dance name is T.B.D., which does, and can, stand for many things. Since our dance style is constantly changing and we are adapting, learning, and growing as dancers, we wanted a name that could move with us. Therefore, the T.B.D. could stand for anything and everything. Here are just a few examples:

(To be determined....)
(Tribal Belly Dancers....)
(Tired Belly Dancers….)
(Traveling Brave Divas…)
(Thrive. Breath. Discover…)

What:

A three month Asian Adventure

When:

March 15 - June 15 2009

Where:

Southeast Asia including Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia

Why:

To fulfill a long-time dream of mine to travel in Asia. I want to focus on the martial arts and native dances of the areas I visit. As always when I travel, I will try to immerse myself in the culture, food, sights, smells and languages of all regions as much as possible. I still plan to do Korea, Japan and China in the future, but for now I only have time for the southeastern Asian countries listed above.

How:

Since Cessna offered the VLP (voluntary layoff plan), I was able to quit my job in exchange for a severance package. My hope is that by sacrificing my job (since I’d rather be traveling anyway) I can save someone else’s job that has a house, kids, and responsibilities (and who really wants to be working).

Goals for Trip:

In addition to taking classes of interest in these countries (such as Muay Thai kickboxing training and Thai Massage classes), I have several personal goals for the trip. I will list them here so that I can be accountable and you can all motivate me when I’m being a slacker.

~Stay in shape in order to test for my 3rd degree black belt in August
~Do my Tae Kwon Do forms on a regular basis
~Stretch daily to be able to do the splits
~Do ab work daily to get six pack abs….

Now…..
Let the Adventure begin….