Bangkok

     Firstly, I'd like to mention how absolutely horrible Thailand is about free WIFI.  They do not offer free WIFI anywhere.  There is no free WIFI at the mall and there is no free WIFI even at Starbucks!  It has been quite frustrating!  I was originally staying at my aunt's house who has WIFi, but then I went to stay at my cousin's condo and there is no WIFI.  I was unable to get on the net except for through my uncle's ipad.  Now I have discovered a prepaid WIFI connection here, but it is quite slow.  Anyways, this will be a long blog post containing events from a few days because I was unable to get online previously. 

Sunday 1/20/13

     On this day, I went to the Don Wai Market with some of my family members.  The market was filled with everything you could possibly think of from foods to toys.  When we first got there, we had lunch.  There was 7 people in our party and we had a seafood feast.  The cost was only 50 U.S. dollars!  Seafood is pretty expensive in the United States and a meal this big would have been at least a couple hundred if not more.   

 Don Wai Market

 On the riverboat.

 Another riverboat sailing by.

There was some really cool houses located on the river, some small and some very large.  There was also a lot of lush greenery everywhere.  It was very beautiful on the river!

     At the end of our cruise, we were sold ice cream of off a little long boat that pulled up to the side of our riverboat.  It was absolutely delicious although I have no idea what flavor it was!  HAHA!  We also bought bread on the riverboat in order to feed the catfish.  I had no idea fish enjoyed bread, but it was really cool to see them eat it up.

In the evening I met up with a couple people from Couchsurfing.org, a traveling website and went to a really nice rooftop restaurant/bar called Nest.  It was a great view of the Bangkok skyline.

     I met up with them by taking a taxi alone for the first time!  It was a very pleasant experience and my taxi driver was a really nice guy.  We communicated pretty well and he told me that my Thai was pretty good!  His favorite soccer team is Liverpool and he is a big fan of Gerrad!  I'm telling you, knowledge of soccer gets you far in this world...

Tuesday 1/22/13

     On this day, my aunt picked me up from my cousin's condo in order for us to go and get my National ID card made.  I am officially a Thailand Citizen!  I always had dual citizenship since I was born here and my mother is Thai, but getting my ID card made it official!  Traffic in Bangkok is absolutely horrible and so we really did no do much except for my ID card, but I saw a lot of great things as we were driving in the city. 

 Democracy Monument, located in the center of Bangkok.

 Thailand is well known for beautiful temples.

 Tuk Tuk

 They are everywhere in Bangkok!

 My taxi driver from the night before told me that "Farang" meaning white people in Thai, love to ride tuk tuks.

 Motorcycles are everywhere in Bangkok because the traffic is horrible!

 Young boy wearing a tradition school uniform.

A temple that was destroyed by water damage last year and is currently under renovation.

 Delicious exotic fruits!

Wednesday 1/23/13

     Today after going for a swim, I wandered the flee market and shopping center close to the condo.  I ordered some street food for dinner.  I thought I ate spicy food at home, but man... Thai spicy is crazy spicy!  I had to eat a couple pieces of candy to stop my mouth from burning.  Slowly but surely, I am becoming braver.  I am always very nervous when I try to order food, but it is fading.  After I order though, I feel really good about myself.  Really making an effort to be all the Thai I can be and speak as much as I can!!!  HAHA  

 View from my cousin's condo in BKK.

 Beautiful pool!

 Goofing around with my underwater camera.  The pool attendent forced me to wear a cap.

Such an awesome pool!

     Bangkok is a very busy place and it smells horrible in some parts, but I am really enjoying it.  I love seeing all the kids walking around in their uniforms after school, all the different vendors selling all their foods, and I just love being in a new place.  There are a lot of beggars and I am the same as I have always been and drop a little bit of money in their cups.  I just can't walk by and give them nothing you know, it is just too hard.  Anyways... what is 10 or 20 baht to me?  30 cents, 60 cents?  That little bit of money can go a long way here, at least a little meal.  If you can spare it, do it!

"If you haven't got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble".  -Bob Hope

Phi Phi Islands

     So much for getting enough sleep!  I hear a knock at my door at 3:30 AM asking me "Are you coming with me or not to Phi Phi Islands?"  As sick as I was, I did not want to miss this opportunity, so I packed a small suitcase and hopped in the car.  The 10 hour or so drive was not fun to say the least, but I made the most of it, looking out the window at the beautiful Thai countryside.  So much to see, can't let being ill get in the way.

     Unfortunately I was very sick and drowsy was one of my conditions.  I was not able to do a whole lot.  As many of you know, I am an avid swimmer and it was rather unfortunate that I did not swim at all.  I did walk around and enjoy the beautiful views though.  We were really only there for one day, two days of driving and one full day there.  My aunt had business there, but it looks as though she may need to go back soon and if so I will probably go with her.  My cousin Jut is still on the island working.

 Ferry boat from Karabi to Phi Phi Islands.

 Phi Phi Islands

 My cousin Joop, restaurant chef.

    Many songbirds in wooden cages all over the islands.

GORGEOUS!

 Sitting at the bow of a Thai long boat.

 Inside of a Thai long boat.

 Thai long boat

 All of the long boats are decorated with flowers at the bow.

Karabi ferry port

     Although the Phi Phi Islands were beautiful, it did leave me with something absolutely horrid...  The worst mosquito bites I have ever had.  I did not feel the bites but clearly there were a billion of them... =/  I have bites all over my arms and shoulders and I feel like I look diseased!  I hate it!!!

I met a girl from Israel on the ferry ride back and I showed her my mosquito bites and she told me, "You are going to have an amazing trip, because now you have low expectations".  HAHA!  I really liked it and had to share.  

     Since I had a huge amount of down time, being sick and sitting in a car for so long I decided to start a book and hopefully find a love for reading again.  Currently reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes which I have been meaning to read for years, wonderful book so far!  I am already really loving Thailand because A) a lot of people wear football (soccer) jerseys and B) a lot of people wear Bob Marley clothes.  Two ups on the U.S.A. for sure because I hardly ever see anyone there wear either one!  HAHA!

A Thai "drive-thru" we stopped at on the way home.

My first Thai ice tea in Thailand for my Thai ice tea lovers!  (Delali and Caite ;-])

Random Fun Facts:

1) Although Thailand is a predominately Buddhist nation, there is a large Muslim population in the south of Thailand because it is close to Muslim nations such as Malaysia.

2) In Thailand, you do not pump your own gas, an attendent does it for you.

Right, I did the best I could to enjoy the most I could in my horrid condition and the Phi Phi Islands were gorgeous!  Feeling much better now, but still need a good nights rest to get back to complete health.  Back in Bangkok now and it is 2:36 AM, bed time!

Replayed this song a few times during my illness/trip in order to help keep looking Up!  

"When everything is goin' wrong
Don't worry it won't last for long
Yeah it's all gonna come around
Don't let it get you down
You gotta keep holdin' on." -Shania Twain

Hello from Thailand!

     Firstly, I am very ill... sore throat and a cough that I must have caught on the plane.  Hoping I am better by the morning and will be heading to bed shortly after I write this at about 9:30 PM Bangkok time.  Don't think I have tried going to bed that early in years.  Sickness and being under slept doesn't make for a good combo.  With that being said...  HAHA  

     I was throughly impressed with both of my flights yesterday, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.  Flying is much different than I remembered!  The meals were quite decent, for example on Singapore Airlines, they fed us Korean Beef with white rice, crackers and Tillamook cheese for one of the meals.  I mean come on, they sprang for the Tillamook... well done!  We all had our own personal televisions with hundreds of selections in movies and music.  There were over 50 movie options which were primarily very new releases.  I just kept trying to tell myself that it was like having a lazy day at home, watching movies and relaxing to get through the length of the flights.  Singapore Airlines even gave us hot towels a couple times, quite the treatment even in Economy.  Unfortunately though, the chairs are awful as we all know and my lower back is still suffering a bit from sitting in those chairs for so long.

The airline attendants were dressed in tradition clothes on both flights.  This is an attendent on Singapore Airlines.

This little cutie kept looking over wanting to play.  Made me miss my babysitting family, the Chakrabarti's!

     Today I ran around town with my aunt as she did business errands.  At one point she left me in the car to move it in order to get another spot.  I, of course was not able to get the car to start (Hybrid automatic) and a taxi cab driver was yelling at me to move...  It was pretty overwhelming for a moment...  Driving on the right side of the car on the left side of the road in a new country!  Shortly after he found another way to maneuver out of the parking lot, I was able to get the car to start...  -__-  

     This is how they park in Thailand.  Cars park normal and then other cars park in front of those cars.  When you want to leave and a car is parked behind you, you search in the line of cars who has a driver inside and ask them to pull forward.  Any cars that are actually parked and unattended, you just push forward by hand to get them out of your way...  My aunt showed me this method today... HAHA!  Can you imagine this happening in the states?  Not at all!  

 Lots of country pride!  Flags and pictures of the King, Rama IX are everywhere in sight.

 Crossing Rama VIII bridge.

Eating one of my favorite Thai meals, kao mun gai in a little restaurant in Bangkok.  Two chicken and rice dishes, two soups, and two bottles of water costed about $2.30 in U.S. currency.  Everything here is so cheap!

  

Victory Monument, military monument located in Bangkok.  It is entirely western in design.  In front of it is a picture of the current king.

Other Random Fun Facts:  

1) 7/11's are located everywhere on every block like a Starbucks would be back at home.

2) Toilet paper is used as napkins.

Right, best get to sleep so that I can start enjoying Thailand not sick!  xoxo

"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear". -Buddha

Packing and Cleaning... (The worst things to do)

     Time Flies!!!  I am flying out of San Francisco International Airport on Sunday.  Three more nights in good old Sacramento, California...  I can't believe it!  I am so excited to get out of here!  It is so tedious to have to pack and clean, but that is what one must do as they move out and as they leave to travel.  I am exhausted!  Here is a little video of a dilemma I am having...

My faithful sidekick Delali helping me clean my house.

The saddest part of moving was taking down my David Beckham Fathead.

Alright, just a quick little Blog post...  The next one will most likely be when I am out of the states!

"Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning".  -Gloria Steinem

Can't believe I am about to live out my dream...

xo

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

     I am so excited for 2013!!!  I know it is going to be the best year of my life!  People always say this about the upcoming year, I know I always have, but this year I really mean it!  I am about to travel the world for fun, unemployed, for several months...  It really doesn't get better than this!  I can't believe I fly out in 11 days though...  Still quite a bit to do but I think I can get most of my packing done in the next couple of days.  That is the goal!  I want to have a solid week of just seeing friends and family and mentally preparing for this crazy journey.  MUST GET THINGS DONE!!!

     I had a wonderful New Years with a few of my closest friends.  I had people over at my house, hung around here for a bit and then went to good ole Sutter Street.  It was crowded, but I am so glad we went there instead of downtown.  There was a shooting in Old Sacramento, 2 deaths and 3 injuries.  It is so sad to hear that this kind of stuff goes on.  Anyways, had a wonderful time with all my friends having some drinks and dancing up a storm.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

  Got to look fancy going into the New Year = ]

Delali and I always laughing!

 Pretty in Blue ;-)

 Seth, Tabitha and I ringing in the New Year!

     Today Kevin and I decided to take a little walk in Folsom, next to the American River because the weather was so nice.  It was very cold, but really sunny.  Can't be cooped up indoors on a day like this.  I figured I'd explore how much I could possibly do with this blog and so I decided to record a little video.  It will be great to post some videos in some amazing places just like this!  

First blog video!

  At the American River in Folsom, California.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right".  -Oprah Winfrey

Graduation Station

     On December 15th, I had a wonderful graduation party thrown for me by my mother.  She catered the whole party, so you know the food was fabulous!  A Thai feast for a small army was made.  Huge thank you to my mother and uncle for all that they did in throwing me this party.  THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!  It was so nice to see so many family and friends come by in order to celebrate my success.  I really love and appreciate you all!  

Below are just a few of the many pictures taken at the party...  (Please do not be insulted if I did not post our picture together, it just means I probably didn't think I looked very good in it, you were beautiful ;-] haha)

 Chose not to walk for graduation, but cap and gown was loaned to me by my best friend Delali.

The longest friendship I have ever had is with this guy, Taylor.

 Katie, provider of the best laughs of my life and one of the best friends you could ever ask for.  The memories are endless with this one.

 Delali, the best best friend anyone could ever have!  She keeps me young and provides me with a lot of support in all aspects of my life.

Master Chef on the right, my mother.

All the great cards I received on graduation day!

 The beautiful journal Katie got for me to take along my travels.

     Now that Christmas is over and I have 18 days until my flight to Thailand, it is crunch time!  I am starting to panic, but continue to get reassured by my friends that everything will get done.  Most people leave on a trip and all they have to worry about is packing for that trip.  I have to worry about moving out of a house on top of all that...  

      Man, I am going to miss this house!  Living here alone has been such a learning experience.  I don't know if I could ever have a roommate again, it is just too fantastic to live entirely alone.  So many amazing memories were made here.  Living in Old Folsom when you are 21, 22, 23 really provides you with some of the best times.  It is basically the ideal situation.  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but all memories non the same.  I have to thank my uncle for allowing me to live here, which in turn has led me to a very entertaining youth and to gaining a lot of independence and knowledge about myself.

A BILLION THANK YOUS TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE!  I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART AND I WILL MISS YOU DEARLY!  YOU'LL BE IN MY THOUGHTS AS I TRAVEL THE GLOBE!  

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold".  -Joseph Parry

California State University, Sacramento Graduate!

     Today was my last final and I am now a California State University, Sacramento Graduate!  It is so thrilling to not have to go to school anymore, but I can't believe how fast time has flown!  This semester came and went and now I have a Bachelor's Degree in Social Science, and a Minor in History.  I also finished my course to become Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certified.  It was a little bit overwhelming handling 6 classes at once, but I did it! 

   
     After my final, I went through my closet.  I already have five garbage bags full of clothes to donate and still have several loads of laundry to do.  I bought way too many clothes over the years.  I also don't know how to get rid of clothing, so it has stock piled.  It is weird to get rid of everything, but it will be nice to get a brand new wardrobe whenever I settle down again.

      Tomorrow marks my one month countdown to leaving the United States!  I can't believe it!  In one month I will be starting the craziest adventure of my life.  So excited to start my travels at the place of my birth, Bangkok, Thailand!  Where it all began...  One thing I really feel like I missed out on in life was relationships with extended family.  My family moved to the United States and I have never really had cousins living close by to have that kind of family dynamic.  I am so excited to see all of my cousins, aunts and uncles in Thailand and to feel connected to them in that way.  

     I am very excited for my graduation party this Saturday!  It seems as though several family and friends will be coming and I can't wait to see them all!  Today after I knew I was done with college, I turned on Bob Marley, looked up to my father, and said "I did it, thank you."  To everyone above and here below, I thank you for all the love and support today and all the days of my life. ♥

Good luck with all the Christmas shopping everyone...  I am WAY behind, let me tell you!

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas".  -Calvin Coolidge