Home: Big Sky Montana

It's so nice to be back in beautiful Montana. I had actually forgotten the spectacular the snow covered Rockies Mountains, green spring hills, and wild mountain flowers. Its been much colder here than I had become accustomed to in Asia.

There's nowhere like home, especially when it comes to family. I've got 10 brothers and sisters, myself being the oldest. It tends to get a little busy, somehow my family manages to entertain up to 20 people in one household. It can get a little hectic, but there is always something going on. My brother Dominic just won the Soccer State Championship last week, my 3 yr old niece and I have been working on learning Chinese, and I've been making hula hoops with my younger sisters.

I know I wont be able to stay long, so I'm enjoying my time with them. I'm headed to Seattle tomorrow to meet up with the rest of my family, everyone seems to have changed having been away.

I suppose the best advice I can give is to enjoy where you are and who you are with, because you never know how long it will last. Time moves faster than we realize.

Freedoms of the World, and a Love for Travel

“Traveling is like falling in love; the world is made new again." Jan Myrdal

Its such a strange feeling, being in love with the world. Accepting the land, the people, the cultures, and the governments, better or worse, simply for what they are. You cant begin to explain why it is you love the odd things about people; moles, birthmarks, odd digits, snaggle teeth, and so on. These oddities that make us unique are in a way like the countries I've visited. Every person is different, as is every country. They live by a set of rules, sometimes the same and sometimes different from our own. Cultures have their own likes and dislikes, ways of relating, of showing affections, and perform in a variety of work environments. 

I must admit, the world isn't as different as I thought it would be, at least different in the way I thought it would be. People are people, and we are all governed by the same set of invisible rules that makes us so. We feel happy and sad, stressed, eagar, and we all hope to communicate such things to the world. Some of us are far more fortunate than others, and for some, dying is just a part of every day life. 

The idea of freedom has been threatened in my mind, once defined as having the capability of doing anything you wanted any time you wanted to do it. This definition leaves out one very important aspect. Safety, and the rights to live. Not a threat by gunpoint or by anyone in fact. Rather the threat to life is having the ability to earn or grow food,  to be able to medicate or treat an illness, or even having the possibility to obtain clean drinking water. For them, freedom means simply a bottle of water, a loaf of bread, and a healthy body. 

I've taken these things for granted my whole life, everyone seems to have these freedoms, or so I thought. I didn't even consider the hard working families who live in the street gutters who will never have the freedom of education. I'm still understanding that and education means having the ability to think, problem solve, and create solutions to everyday problems. I've always been able to do this, I just never knew how free it made me.

Following the Ocean Waves: Vietnam to the USA

After having an epic 24th birthday in the beaches of Vietnam, sharing New York Cheesecake (oh yeah!) with my Mom, we flew back over the vast ocean back to good ol USA. The JOURNEY is far from over, in fact its nearly begun! I'll spend a couple weeks catching up with the family who are meeting me for a beach trip in California, then road trip back to my birth state, Montana.

I began my trip to New Zealand inspired by my favorite author Paulo Coelho in the Alchemist, and I find it most fitting to leave you now with another of his famous quotes:

“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”  

4,000 Islands in Laos: Relax in Paradise?

 

The 4,000 islands are found along the Mekong River in Southern Laos. A collection of tropical islands and teal blue waters are home to the, Irrawaddy dolphin, the only species known to live in freshwater. 

The dolphin has a blunt nose, resembling the head shape of an orca, and has a traditional body shape of a dolphin. The locals tell us there are only about 20 left in the area, and they can be seen up close on kayak tours.

 

After sweating waterfalls for about two days, we decided to move on to Vietnam, and leave behind this unusual place. Although it has been given raving reviews, there was something very unusual about the islands that I cant quite pinpoint. My mom and I cycled the main island and the smaller to watch the sunset, and we had a chance to inter tube a short ways down the river. 

Maybe now is a better time as any, but often when you hear travel stories, they always seem to leave out the negatives or glorify the bad events they do share. There was something very bizarre about visiting this place... no one ever smiled... never heard laughter... and it was always such a hassle to do anything... I'd be interested to hear other reviews... perhaps it was just bad timing?

I'm excited to be moving onwards, but am very weary about getting onto another bus. Laos drivers are insane!! The tour bus ahead of us rolled, threw the front windshield, and blocked the road sideways. Saw the bus, but everyone had been brought elsewhere before we passed. I can only hope the best. We've heard of SEVERAL incidents of serious bus crashes, people nearly dying in Vang Vieng, motorcycle incidents, and people going to hospitable here that don't even have running water.  I watched a guy in Malaysia give himself stitches with regular needle and thread. 

 I suppose on the bonus side, it's very easy to get over the counter prescriptions... just ask any "pharmacist," but know what you're asking for/ and getting before you take it. One medication they offered my friend had Poison symbols on every side of the box, no instructions in English... but it came HIGHLY recommended! Needless to say, she didn't buy that version. 

Oh... and I've never really been a fan of Lonely Planet, till now. I would definitely recommend getting a travel guide before coming to SE Asia. Doable w/o it, but SOOO much easier with one, considering you probably don't speak their language :)

Street Performer Juggles/Balances 10 Contact Balls

I saw this street performer in Pai, Thailand. He was "practicing" as he does every day on a busy street full of motorcycles scrambling tourists and stray animals. It must take some serious concentration! He told me he can balance five on his head and was working for the sixth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhFc3cJY_j8
 I put the video on youtube, it takes to long to load it on this page ;)

Worlds Largest Water fight

Thousands of buckets of water, squirt guns of every genre, and kids with their painted red hands line the streets in celebration of the Songkran Festival. Each morning became a game between my mom and I to see who could stay dry longer while we playfully mazed our way through the gauntlet. They say when you can’t beat them, join em! My monkey backpack was filled with water and tube fed my gun while I sneakily drenched unsuspecting people. Of course everyone expected to get wet, but you never knew who would get you next. Adults, children, grandparents, locals and foreigners were all equals as we waged water wars and cleansed one another in celebration of the Lao & Thai New Years.

“Mi My Lao” or Happy New Year in Laos             

Tacomepai: Thai Organic Farm, Simply Paradise

There are places in the world that unexplainably special. The moment you walk in, an overwhelming sense of satisfaction takes over, and you know you’ve found a place your soul identifies as home. Tacomepai is one of those places, a tucked in organic farm that makes me feel as if I have found my Never Never Land. It seems to be a sink for travellers; the lost boys (and girls) never want to go home. We spend our days creating a fantasy of ornate bamboo tree houses, cosy mud palaces, boiling eggs in hot springs, and experimenting with the magic of agriculture.

Tree house hut at Tacomepai

A day of hard labour consisted of 10 of us casually hammering a wooden roof onto a hut, spending more than 3 hours playing in the hot springs, collecting morning glory leaves along the river side (like a spinach which we ate for dinner), and a late night with moonshine by the bonfire. We hack away at branches with machetes… getting a bit of firewood for the kitchen stove, and cook together as a family. Everyone pitches in what money and work they are willing to give, and together we create this incredible place, Tacomepai.

I like to call this "loo" the "White Thrown"

Everything we need we can make out of bamboo… any structure, shoe, plate, door latch, baskets, instruments… and once you’re shown how… perhaps anyone could make it! Even the pigs are happy! You walk over to their pen and they greet you with happy wet noses and wiggly curly tails. Feeding them is one of my favourite things to do! 

Happy Organic Farm Pigs

Free messages… if you get on someone’s good side ;) a school where the seats and tables are swings, a pond with rope swing and high bamboo platform to jump from, rice paddies, live music every night, and spectacular views of the mountains.

Travel Thailand by Motorbike, explore the open road ahead

 My friends, places like this are the reasons I travel. If I were to only have ever spent just a day here, the things I would learn and bring back home would still change my take on life forever. I could spend a very long time on this farm, cause they’ve definitely got it right!

3 Day Hiking Trek out of Chiang Mai: No Chillie No Power!!

 

After a experiencing the craziness of Khao San Road in Bangkok, I decided to take the advice of a good friend and head northward. The TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) hooked us up with a great package deal of 10 days travel including a night bus to Chang Mai and 3 day trek with elephant riding, jungle huts, bamboo rafting and white water rafting. Needless to say I was definitely looking forward to it! 

Riding an elephant was a lot like riding a horse, only a lot bigger! Its a bizarre sensation feeding an elephant a banana while you're riding on top of him. He will reach back with his trunk in a grabbing like motion, feeling for the sweet treat. Apparently elephants can eat up to 250kg of food per day. Unlike Koala Bears, they will only sleep 4 hours a day and spend 20 eating. Sitting on the wooden seat atop the elephant is a bit impersonal, so I moved forward to ride bare back. Holding on for dear life, I learned to move with the large strides the noble creature.

 

Hiking through Northern Thailand with my Mom

Oh, I forgot to mention, I managed to find my Mom in Bangkok, and that is of course her with me on the elephant!! She's still a little weary about the toilets around here, but she's having a blast! It's been amazing talking to other travelers about traveling with my mom, nearly all of them were excited about the opportunity and really wanted to meet her. No ordinary mom would travel half way across the world to do some jungle trek with their daughter :)  

Its hard to share the spectacular moments and bonding that happened on the trek, cause it was simply magic! A truck load of strangers headed off to the jungle, not one of them having a clue as to what they were getting themselves into. Well of course I had to break the ice... so I managed to convince several people, strangers, to try eating salted bamboo worms, grubs, and crickets found in elephant poo. You may be surprised... but at least 5 others gave it a go! Whoo Hoo!! ( I've got video... but it may end up in a audition video for survivor... )

 

Eating fried chicken noodles and veggies off bananna leaves with machettie carved bamboo chopsticks. Bond, our Jungle Guide always says "No Chile No Power!!" That means stick some of those spicy red and green peppers on your meal!

We found hidden waterfalls and palace sized caves that shimmered like diamonds. So close to bats you could have grabbed them, hats made of giant leaves, and a water pipe carved out of bamboo! Bond was a true jungle boy, scaling trees and eating the fruits of the forest. He seemed to know every fruit tree, and a thousand games to play with the provisions of the forest. 

These few days were an amazing time of my life I hope to never forget!!

Khao San Road: A Patchwork in Progress

In less than a ten-minute walk, the entire world opens up into a chaotic jungle of people, foods, aromas, and entertainment. With a unique mix of genres from rich to poor, small people, lady-boys, to children selling roses at 2am in the morning, the vibe at Khao San Road in Thailand ranges from inspirational to heartbreaking.

Children with their fathers sleeping on cardboard with the trash on the streets are found beside a cultural mix of live music and high profile markets in one of the wealthiest areas of the city. Everything from African Drums, Thai Fisherman Pants, native jewellery, alligator purses, and exotic foods can be purchased at these markets. Fried crickets, spicy Indian curry, chocolate dipped bananas, fresh pineapple, and chicken rice dishes are just a few of the items on the menu.    

From newborns to grandmothers, everyone here has goods to sell and readily jump at every single opportunity they may get. An average wage is about 250 baht per day for a hard working labourer, which is the average amount we may spend on an expensive single meal for two in Bangkok, or in US terms, less than $9 USD. As a tourist, my heart is split between enjoying my time here, and feeling terrible for the people lying miserably on the streets.

Backpackers and tourists are a major source of income for the locals. A simple item such as a brim hat may retail locally at less than 20 baht whereas a tourist will readily separate with 1-500 baht for the same item.

Until I moved to this area of town, I had yet to see a single beggar or unfed person, who by my calculations must be living like kings compared to his fellow labourers.  

Tourists from every region of the world, particularly from Asian and European countries come to purchase tailor made goods, enjoy luxuries like a Thai message, fish spas, and listen to live music.

Women ornately dressed in shapely hats covered in gold bells or spiralled rainbows, and carry trays full of goods from person to person urging a sale while adorable children sell roses to with their convincing smiles.  Streets bustle with eager taxis and tuk tuk drivers, and motorcyclists wiggle their way through on sidewalks and through crowded restaurants. If I ever though there were unusual or pointless law in the US, I now realize their usefulness in a city like Bangkok, where rules vary from person to person, and on more of a daily basis.

Khao San Road is a unique patchwork of cultures, music and foods that includes all walks of life and the range of classes within this versatile society. Although I have mixed and torn emotions about this niche of the city, it is certainly a must see eye-opener.

Goodbye Perenthian Islands, selamat tinggal!

After spending nearly a month diving in the Pherenthian Islands, I am proud to say that I am now a certified Rescue Diver. It was hard to leave my new family behind, I really felt at home amongst the sandy beach huts, starry night skies, and crystal blue waters. The last several days brought unexpected grey skies and monsoon rains in parallel with Japans disastrous Tsunami. As news hit the islands, generators and power sources were quickly switched on to monitor what may come. Not being able to speak Chinese or Malay, I had to do a bit of my own research to determine my safety on the island. However, regardless of what I was about to learn, the boats were no longer shuttling to and from the islands due to extremely poor weather conditions. 

We quietly awaited news of Japan, the tsunami, as we watched rains wash new rivers into the island sands. The sea level was slowly rising, enough to engulf the boat arrival platforms and wash away at the legs of the chairs at the neighboring restaurant. I had planned on leaving the island and continuing my travels to Bangkok, where I was looking forward to meeting my mom, who flew into surprise me on my journey.

The sky cleared enough for a boat, so I rushed my things together, ran in to pay the dive shop… when my loyal bank managed to fail me by putting a hold on my card. One more party night on the island, this time we had a proper going away party! About 8am I managed to speed off on calm waters and a sunny day back to KL and onto a flight to Thailand.

Oh… and a side note: Toxic fish and rotten eel boiled with local flies on top of rice... you shouldn't always eat what the locals eat. :P 

(1st bad dish I've had in about 7 weeks, not too bad!?!)